| Welcome to Mount Bachelor Academy's Looking
Glass Winter 2008.
LA
MANCHA workshop - Romania/Poland
A tour of Communist Krakow |
One of the
host in Valea Plopului in Romania |
Four
months ago, I first found out I was a staff selected for
La Mancha, and I began a journey. One month
ago, I thought “Is this trip even worth it?” As
I used every skill within my knowledge and power to coerce
every last assignment out of my students as we prepared
for the La Mancha trip. Then, three weeks ago, I
was on a plane bound for Europe. I again found myself
dreaming of what was to be of this free trip to Europe. It
was when I saw the eyes of the first man in the village
with calloused hands and a weathered smile that I began
to realize that this trip would cost me my Americanized
ignorance and blissful consumer alter-ego. As the
intricacies of this simple village unfolded before my eyes
I saw the values of the horse and cart over that of my
pick-up at home. I saw my Master’s Degree turn into
a piece of paper as I began to I understand why I dream
of farming my vegetables instead of buying them. I
heard the similarities of people regardless of their origin
of birth or language of communication. And as the
village faded into the busy city of Krakow, I saw, felt,
tasted, heard, smelled and touched Communism first hand.
I could not stop myself from wishing to trade some of my
security for the security of these people as well. But
I realize that I couldn’t, I was trapped by the freedom
of being American, unable to share my bounty of security. Then
I saw the destruction of the Holocaust as we visit Auschwitz
I and Birkenau. The feelings were so overwhelming
that I felt selfish to eat a piece of bread where less
than 70 years ago people lived or died over a piece of
bread in this very place I stood. Again, unable to share
my bounty. Feelings? I still don’t have
feelings of this place, for right now my heart is overwhelmed
and my mind too busy to conceive it. Now just weeks
after leaving the United States with 18 of my students
and 3 of my co-workers, I see La Mancha as a trip that
took the simplicity of my life and made it complex, while
taking the complexity of my life and making it simple. In
the end, being able to see a bigger world through my own
eyes and a bigger self through the world’s eyes. There
is no way for me or any person who has experienced La Mancha
to ever say “I am just one person” again, nor
for any one of us to see the cup as anything less than
half full. Red Ashcraft, Phase II
mentor
 |
 |
Village
Zack T.
Rolling
hills of happiness and laughter
Pure
sense of the simple life, no overwhelming
Distractions
or fancy attractions
A
roof over their heads, food, water and love
Nothing
else matters, what you see is what you get
There
is no need for more
The
generosity of people glistens in children’s
eyes
Their
innocence and purity makes life that much better
House
constructed by love, hope and beliefs,
Shows
life in a different light
The
life of simplicity, love, and happiness
The
life of the village |
The
Village Experience.
Sage
F.
Today
I tasted the most incredible bread, the warm soup
with soy because today is Friday, when they do not
eat meat. I tasted thin crispy apple pie, so
delicious. I touched many hands of kindergarten
boys, them taking me to their rooms to show me their
beds, their toys. Seeing them laugh, smile,
them having much fun taking my camera and playing
with it. I see everyone in the village working,
everyone has a purpose. A smile, and a helping
hand. I see dogs play with each other running
up and down the hills. I see thousands of pictures
I have yet to take. I see healthy little toddlers. I
taste smartees to bribe them and get them to taste
them and come play. I hear dogs barking children
laughing, tractors, music, I hear happiness. I
hear love. I hear people unite I smell the little
girls and boys lunch, they are about to eat. I smell
mud mixed with horse poo. I smell fresh cut
wood. I smell nature. I smell how we are supposed
to be, simple and clean. I taste village life.
I touch village life, I hear village life, I smell
village life. I see and experience the village.
|
Birkenau/Auschwitz
Camp. Sharing sadness, hope, bread and water while Alex
W. was playing violin. |
Short
Life
Pat
H.
Sunrise
or nighttime
I
waste away quietly
Fate
held within hands who wish to kill
Beyond
these bars
A
land of question and belief
Breath
withdrawn from within
Questions
unanswered, shall I find heaven or hell
This
is where life has led me
Holding
back horrific screams
Death
ahead calling me forward
Life
as I hold so dear, comes to an end facing ahead may
the truth be revealed. |
FOR MORE PICTURES FROM THE ABOVE EVENT click here
|
