Germany: Home to...playgrounds?

What better time to catch up than when you have a 5 hour layover?! No better time!

Germany was a wonderful place where I could completely geek out about childhood, and teenagehood, and the like. I came to Germany for two reasons: to look at Steiner education (it was born here) and to look at playgrounds. The latter, I cannot say to people without busting out laughing. It kind of sounds ridiculous when you tell someone that you are looking at playgrounds—and I have received plenty of strange looks and questions in return. But, it’s what I was doing and I wasn't going to lie to them!

So why was I looking at playgrounds for a few weeks? When I was in the UK I learned about these places called “Adventure Playgrounds.” APs are places that are more than your set of monkey bars (which strike up enough debate in the playsphere to begin with—who knew?). They provide children with the chance to really take ownership of their play and harness their creativity. Plus, sometimes they have animals! Adventure playgrounds are filled with sand, water, mud, sticks, logs, rocks, piles of wood, and all the tools that children need to combine these. And when I say “piles of wood,” I mean actual piles of wood. Children are typically allowed to build and work on forts in said playgrounds. And yes, these children, who can be as young as 7, are able to check-out hammers, scout for nails, and use saws. Hence why these beauties are not really in the States yet. They have not reached popularity for two reasons: 1) Gross, kids get so dirty there, and 2) Tools are dangerous! WE MUST PROTECT THE CHILDREN FROM DIRT AND JAMMING THEIR FINGERS!!!!

Pretty ridiculous, right? As I’ve said many times on here, if you teach children properly and give them chances, they will rise to the occasion and surprise you. The children cannot just go and get a saw and start cutting wood. They have tutorials, adults are on staff, and children teach children. I always asked the managers about safety and liabilities. Each one of them said that they had fewer accidents than most schools in the local area. When children are in a place that is unstable, unlevel, they generally pay more attention, the same as we do. If a child enters a “safe” playground, he/she will probably not have as much awareness for their surrounding and be more likely to get injured.  When I spent time at the playgrounds, I did not see children crying, falling, or running into things. I saw children who felt empowered. I had children come up to me (one with a saw in his hand) and tell me about their projects that they themselves had planned and completed. I saw children using their hands to create, which let’s be honest, handwork is a dying art. I am a megafan of adventure playgrounds! So, now can you see why I wanted to look at them for a few weeks? J

Besides hanging out with kiddos, I was able to go on a few adventures while I was in Germany. One of my favorites was a trip to KulturinselEinsiedel—Germany’s largest playground!! I first heard about this place in the UK and knew that I had to get over there. The playground is actually in the middle of nowhere. You drive through the woods and then, boom, you are there. The playground has sort of a fantasy environment and feels like a small village. A group of artists and carpenters are on staff and create year-round. Lucky for me, I was there in winter and snow. Which was actually lucky because I felt creepy enough being a 22 year old walking around this place by myself, climbing through tunnels and up in trees. Turns out, the playground was not really designed to accommodate 22 year olds, as I had a difficult time fitting into the underground tunnels. Lucky for me, though, there were still plenty of things to climb on and to see! Plus, they had some animals, which tended to kind of spring up in strange locations. It was absolutely a hilarious and wonderful place. I would have had a field day there if I was 10! Although…I did kind of have a field day there…which is why I knew that adults couldn't fit in the tunnels…whoops!

Another one of my favorite times in Germany was going to The Avett Brothers concert!! It was the most hilarious mix of expats from the south and Germans. I wasn't sure how crowded the show was going to be because, well, to be honest, I really didn't think that folky music would be that popular in Germany. Turns out, Germans have a thing for southern folk music! (Which is why I heard “Country Roads” being played at the beer festival and everyone was singing along.) Marvelously enough, I ended up only 10 FEET from the stage AND in a section of people from South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina, and various other southern states. Needless to say, the evening was the perfect fix of southern love that I needed! Crazy how hearing the word “y’all,” even in Germany, can make you feel at home. Because that is how I felt in this crowded music hall with hundreds of other people around me—at home. 

Just to update y'all, I am in India now! I've been here a week and it has been a great adventure--filled with lots of sights, smells, and plenty of getting confused :) 

The Things I Did in Italy Besides Eating...

Because let's be honest...I could probably write a rather lengthy post about the food that I ate. The last few weeks have been a great combination of new and old things. For the old, I was able to drop my jaw like a bass (this is no joke, I feel like I walked around Italy with my mouth open half the time haha) and see Pompeii, Rome, and the history of Italy. I was able to see some friends and share our joint experiences of living overseas. And for the new, my beliefs on childhood were challenged and I learned about cultures and traditions through new friends.

While I was in Italy, I spent the majority of my time in Reggio Emilia, a small town with a lot of charm close to Bologna. Besides the fact that I was STILL not able to escape the snow while I was in Italy, it was a beautiful experience there. The reason that I traveled to Reggio Emilia was because it is birthplace of the Reggio Emilia philosophy (I know, the name is real creative, right?). The school movement very first began after WWII, when schools were created for the new era of life. This movement continued into the 1960’s, when it began to take more shape into the philosophy that is recognized now. Inspired by educational philosophers, the Reggio Emilia way of teaching was created to be more in tune with the Democratic society that Italy was becoming. The schools are intertwined with the city, a cooperative initiative, making the city one of the most child friendly cities in Italy. This statistic is based off of the fact that the pre-schools are accessible to all families, and that over 90% of children in Reggio Emilia attend a toddler center. So, you can imagine why I ventured there, huh?

The Reggio Emilia philosophy was one of the reasons that I designed my proposal around exploring educational philosophies. My mother works in a Reggio Emilia inspired pre-school and that is how I was introduced to the world of alternative education. Being at the source got me thinking and it got me a little frustrated. The seed was planted last year at Sewanee in one of my courses and, reading this article, it was revisited. What Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia have in common is that they were born from modest beginning. They were also born from people who believe in children. Now, each of these philosophies represent privileged educations—educations that continue to be “successful” (I use the quotes because what defines them as successful can be subjective) because they empower children and believe in children. Soooo what the heck happened? When did society lose their respect for children? Of course children have their own unique needs. And when that was more recognized, we gave them their own rights. In doing so, however, did we alienate them? We keep children inside school walls, in playgrounds. Granted, they can’t vote, drive a car, or shop for food, but does that mean that they are less superior beings of society? If we allow children to believe that they belong in their city as much as adults do, will that change the way that they grow-up? Children are capable. So, how can we change society’s perception on childhood? Here lies my frustration, as well as the frustration of countless educators and policy makers that I have met. These are just thoughts, and lord knows that I’m not going to find any answers while I am abraod, but, I figured that I’d share a little of what was challenging me while I was in Italy.

NOW onto something completely different…

Naples and Rome. First, the fact that I was not hit by a motorcycle in either city is a shock in itself. Good lord people in Italy drive like crazy people! I went to Naples first, and had no idea what to expect….besides pizza, let’s be honest. And besides the deliciousss pizza that I had there, the highlight was visiting Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvious. Pompeii was absolutely nothing like what I thought it would be. When I learned about it in history, we saw the pictures of the ash, of course, and so I expected it to be this depressing ashen place, frozen in time. And granted, I did feel frozen in time, as I did visiting many places in Italy, but, since the volcano, Pompeii has been cleaned up. First off, it is GIGANTIC! The old city of Pompeii is absolutely huge and not designed for people who get lost easily. I would like to add to that statement: ITALY is not designed for people (like me!) who get lost easily. I was lost in Italy all the time. All the time. But, it is not all bad. In fact, there are many fantastic things that I have found when lost! Anyways…Pompeii. Fantastic. The city would have been a beautiful place and although it is cleaned up, it was still a haunting place to be. I loved visiting there and getting to go on top of Mt. Vesuvious was a remarkable experience. Who would have thought that you could spend more than an hour walking around the top of a volcano?? That is how in awe I was with its vastness.

Rome was marvelous for two reasons: 1) I have never felt so small and young amidst all the history and 2) I got to have a SEWANEE REUNION! Luckily, it turned out that there were three Sewanee folks in Rome at the same time! So Mary Gray, Andrew Bradshaw, and I shared a lovely pasta dinner and got to catch-up. It was the absolute perfect time to see some Sewanee people and I am so grateful that I got to see both of them. It was the perfect start to the weekend. Rome, for me at least, was one of those places where I was always just in awe over something. I absolutely loved the city. It was the type of place where I was both grateful and sad to be traveling by myself. There was so much to see there, that I was really glad that I was able to have my own schedule and pick what I wanted to do each day. The beauty in traveling alone is that you do not have to comment on something with someone. I could walk around the perimeter of the Coliseum and just be alone with my own thoughts and emotions and not worry about having to put my feelings to words. On the flip side, experiencing places as historically significant and well known makes you want to be with someone else. It was a bizarre mix of emotions, but in the end, being alone allowed me to have random conversations with strangers and be lost all the time. Because, lord, anyone’s sense of direction is better than mine! Side note, I LOVE how strangers talk to each other when they are traveling! I’ve never been in the super market and gone up to someone and introduced myself randomly.  Like being a freshman in college, travelers seek conversations and new connections with people. Changing strangers to friends while you are traveling is one of the beautiful things in the world.

Now, I’m in Germany! I’ve only been here a week, but it has been a jam packed week of awesomeness so far! I spent last week in Munich, where I was able to visit my friend Kristen from studying abroad, Neuschwanstein Castle, a freaking cool adventure playground, attend an Avett Brothers concert, and go to the dark beer festival. Ya, I said it was a busy week! I feel like I should include a Germany post separately, as to not make this one super long….I’ll have to do that then. 

Walking in a Finland Wonderland

I've come to the realization that when I walk around in Finland, I actually feel like I am living in a snow globe.  I have never been around this much snow!! And it keeps going! Amazing. Everyone here laughs at me when I start to ramble on about the Finns ability to be warriors of the winter season. I can't get over it, though. After being here for 5 weeks, it has ceased to amaze me. When I boarded my plane bound for Finland, I was terrified of the snowy weather that lay ahead. And when I landed and saw the amount of snow surrounding the runway I thought that I was crazy to come here. Living here, though, I feel like I am in this magical Narnia of a place. The trees here are tall and beautiful and always dusted with a layer of snow. The air is cold and smells pure. The nights are orange. The connection to the natural world is so intense and it is intertwined into the lives of those who live here. I just love it.

For the last 5 weeks, I have spent time in some wonderful schools! I got to meet some awesome kiddos and take part in their wintery play. Playing outside in the winter always reminds me of that one scene in "A Christmas Story," when Ralphie's brother, Randy, is getting wrapped in clothes by his mother. When he is finallllly ready to go outside, he screams, "I can't put my arms down!" Well, I have to say, now that I have experience getting kids ready to go outside, that statement is not far off. But once these kids are outside, they are in their element! Seeing the way that the children here play just reaffirms my belief that children have an innate connection with the natural world. They are so observant, so aware, and it is beautiful to witness. And may I say, the coolest thing about snow is that it is basically like playing with giant blocks that can be molded into any shape that you want. I have seen some fantastic creations come from snow--snowmen of all shapes, foods, houses, and tunnels. I just love hanging out with kids...is it obvious?? :)

Ok, so I have to share probably one of the CRAZIEST things that I have done so far this year--winter swimming!! What is winter swimming? Winter swimming is swimming outside in the icy water. Sounds fun when you describe it, right? And despite how horrendously terrifying it sounds, it is surprisingly popular here.  And not just because the water is warmer than the air outside (true but scary). People who swim everyday swear that it fights off illness and keeps them healthy. The woman that I stayed with for a week had done it before and talked about doing it while I was staying with her. It was one of those things that when I first heard it I thought, "no way!!" I mean, what sounds worse than swimming around in water in a frozen over lake? Well, I figured that I was in Finland, and if this was semi-normal, I was doing it! We made plans to go winter swimming one afternoon. We met up with a 70 year old woman who goes everyday! The lake was beautiful! It was completely frozen over, with the exception of a small chunk that was ice free via a circulation pump. The three of us walked out onto the dock in our bathing suits, water shoes, and gloves and headed towards the stairs. I got into the water and although I felt like my breath was taken away, it didn't stop me from screaming. It was such a strange feeling! So invigorating! I climbed out of the water after 20 seconds and felt my skin freezing. Then, I busted out laughing. And I mean really laughing! The three of us were hunched over with tears coming out of our eyes. We could not believe what we did! We ran into the locker trailer and continued to laugh. It was such a pure and blissfully happy moment. I can't even begin to describe how foreign your body feels after you get out of the water. You feel the cold under your skin, but with it, comes a rush of adrenaline. I loved it! I absolutely loved it. We went again the next morning. The whole experience was hilarious and I am so glad that I did it.

On Sunday I head to Italy! I'm excited to begin a new part of this journey! And although I have loved my "Winter Wonderland," the next time I come back will be in the summer :)

6 Month Marker-Finland

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the untimely posting on my part. Things have kind of been a whirlwind since the holidays.

Current location: Finland! A fun fact about Finland--they consume more milk than any other country in the world. And their population is a smidge more than 5 million, which is the size of greater Atlanta.

Six months ago today, I boarded a plane for South Africa. As I sat in the airport terminal, I felt of excited and nervous, unaware of what was ahead of me. What I have learned is that these feelings do not go away. I continue to experience both of them and that is what has been amazing about this journey. I am so thankful for the last 6 months. All of the teachers, children, schools, friends, and strangers that I have met. I cannot wait to see where the next 6 will lead!

So, to mark today, I went cross country skiing, a Finnish pasttime. Let me say something about the Finns, they are ROCKSTARS when it comes to handling the winter elements. Maybe it is because I grew up in Atlanta, a place where even the mention of a "wintry mix"  (I still don't exactly understand what that means...) is enough to cancel school the following day. In Finland, they know how to deal with snow and ice, and it absolutely amazes me. Children play outside at school unless it is past -15 C (5 F). Like I said, these guys are rockstars. We got to the ski tracks (yes, tracks, I will explain) and were greeted with perfect, beautiful weather. I rented the skis and received a short lesson on the proper form. Since I have never cross country skied before, only downhill, I laughed for the first few minutes, unable to get the motion of picking up my heel figured out. Cross country skiing is like running, but with skis on your feet. As you move one foot forward, you propel yourself almost like you are skating and release your unattached heel. You can ski in two ways, either on tracks, which are indentations in the ground to keep your skis parallel, or you can skate (probably not correct vocabulary), which is making sweeping diagonal motions off to each side in order to move forward. It was a packed day at the ski tracks and the scenery was stunning. The routes went through the forest and along bodies of water that had iced over completely. It was so beautiful. It was so much fun and I can see why it is so popular here.

Maybe I will start training for a biathlon?