Three months ago, I landed in the Island of the Gods with a small traveler’s pack and my first-ever pair of flip flops. As I waited for the bus from the plane to take me to immigration, I looked around and smiled. I had finally arrived in Bali.
Why was Bali the target on my world map for the past year? This answer is unfolding as I spend my days here; one that I won’t try to unravel at the moment. But I do know that the experiences I’ve had here have changed me forever.
That being said, this is not your typical mid-quarter evaluation.
In Bali, there’s an expression when someone asks, “where are you going?” to respond “cuci mata”, meaning “washing my eyes” AKA walking around and taking your surroundings in. This is how I spent my first month here– not just with Bali, but with Green School and Student Village as well. Truth be told, I didn’t know what I was doing when I first got here. My placement in this job/internship was to supervise the boarding residents and to help organize the program. I had no idea that I would be stepping into a real-life situation that synthesized almost every aspect of my studies at Evergreen.
Last year in Making Meaning Matter and Making to Ornament, I explored the intersections between 3D printing, hand craft/ making, and cultural studies or technology. In these programs I had three main inquiries that drove my projects:
-What is the relationship between nature, society, and self through the a manifestation of physical living spaces– our homes?
-When we are bombarded with “comparison fatigue” and digital information, what (or who) exactly do we want to engage with as tender?
-In a world already bombarded with too much stuff, what is worth 3D printing and therefore making more plastic?
Student Village is home away from home. Working and living with an international group of teenagers has challenged me to question who I am, what my values are, and how I can cultivate education on a daily basis. I’ve realized that every breathing moment is an opportunity to teach, share, and connect. And in a digital age where teenagers are glued to their devices, this can be doubly challenging, making every spare moment a precious opportunity. Furthermore, developing this sense of belonging in youth who are far from home requires me to be more open, aware, and sincere. Perhaps the relationship between nature, society, self, and our living spaces (home) simply boils down to the one thing we are all seeking– love.
If love is what we all have in common, than we must cultivate it through building community. According to Etymonline, the word community comes from “late 14c., from Old French comunité [meaning] “commonness, everybody.” The Community Days are just two hours a week but have proven to build upon Student Village mission to “walk the talk” of Green School. It is during this time that we put our hands together and learn by doing. And much like the philosophy of Evergreen, I myself am a student alongside them, learning and building life skills such as gardening, preparing food, and learning about how to track and manage my own waste. It is through these actions that I have found one solution to my third inquiry of what is worth bringing into the world that is already loaded with too much stuff?: Community. A small group of people who are seeking to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
Another solution to this question is something that has been following me in my own personal and professional development. This is the one thing that since I’ve been in Bali I’ve realized I should nurture and grow for the rest of my life. It is the thing that I know brings people joy and is my gift from the universe since I was a child. That thing is art.
Since day one of this internship, I have been the sign maker, the card painter, the white board drawer, the logo designer, the aesthetic whisperer, etc. My supervisors, Edu and Carol, have encouraged me to do this by giving tasks and projects that keep me busy– and happy. I have chosen to take on a more serious role involving communications of Student Village– starting the website, doing the Facebook and Instagram, designing a blog, doing a newsletter, etc. In the following months I would like to get more involved with the Green School communications team and build my skills.
For the permaculture sector of my internship contract, I have helped develop and maintain a permaculture garden here at the Village, as well as multiple other gardens throughout the site. Penny Livingston’s course taught me a lot about (again) the value of building community and bringing people together for the common intention of growing food. Permaculture practices from traditional Balinese staff will be noted on my academic blog.
Looking ahead at the next 5 weeks, I will be focusing on documenting the terroir of this site, including some key ingredients that are used in Balinese cuisine and their nutritional component. These will be documented on my blog. I am also excited to take part in the Green Educator Course offered by Green School at the end of November!
The past three months have been a monumental multicultural experience. I have made lasting connections with all ages of people from around the globe, taken part in a Bahasa Indonesia class, explored Bali and surrounding islands, challenged every notion of bravery through diving and motorbiking, and (last but not least) helped start a sustainable boarding program for the “Greenest School on Earth”.
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