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 :)
