Alex takes on the American challenge.
THE SUGGESTION that Alex, a fourth year as a student at The Mount - a Camphill further education college in East Sussex - should spend a month on her own in America seemed outrageous! After all, she tends to be quiet, shy and retiring unless drawn into the limelight by her friends. And she likes Mum to be on the end of the phone for support.
But Alex's tutors thought she needed a challenge and settled on the idea of a trip to Camphill Soltane in Pennsylvania. Soltane is a large Camphill community, more like a village than the college environment Alex is used to. However it includes students from 18 upwards, workshops and a life style that would not be wholly unfamiliar. Of course, at Soltane they also speak the same language - more or less!
So the question was put to Alex. Could she do something so momentous on her own? And to everyone's delight (except possibly Mum's) she said "Yes". After the decision was made, the fears and doubts and tears set in, but Alex had the resources within herself and the support of everyone around her to carry this adventure through.
At the end of February she flew with one of her tutors, Andrew, to Philadelphia, and from there took a car journey through snow covered countryside to Soltane. The journey seemed strange, frightening and very long, but they made it. Soltane seemed very big, with nice buildings, woods, and lots of snow. Fortunately they had gone prepared with warm clothes and boots.
Alex met lots of new people and everyone was friendly. She took over the usual jobs of Annie - a Soltane resident who was to travel back with Andrew to spend some time at The Mount. One job was to collect the recycling from every house and sort it, negotiating snowy pathways through the trees - and on one occasion an ice storm! The food was different too. Alex missed her usual toast and breads for breakfast and there was no morning coffee for Andrew! But the most challenging thing for Alex was having to make so many choices.
Choices are hard for Alex. She prefers to have everything mapped out so that she can follow her routine or be well prepared for changes. To keep facing choices about what she wanted to do was very hard; and in the end she managed to convey that it was the choice, not the options, that she was unhappy with, and the co-workers prepared a timetable for her which made her much more comfortable. Everyone at home thinks that was a real triumph for her.
Alex works in the wood workshop at the Mount, so it was new for her to be in the sewing room. But she took to using the sewing machine and made herself a shopping bag. She also spent some time in the pottery, had one day in the weavery, and attended a talk on astronomy as well as going on one or two outings, including seeing the St Patrick's Day parade in Philadelphia and the Liberty Bell. She was impressed with how big everything was - although the huge supermarket had isles full of everything and just too much choice! Even Andrew, while he was there, took one look at the 61 brands of toothpaste and did a runner!
Andrew had a few days in New York then returned to England with Annie, who took up Alex's timetable at The Mount. She even spent a home weekend with Alex's family and saw Buckingham Palace, the Horse Guards, the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day and the Pearly King and Queen in Covent Garden.
Alex's mum, Liz, says she was really impressed that while it was a huge learning curve, Alex was just "getting on with it". She had to step forward alone at the customs control point and have her fingerprints taken - not easy for anyone! Alex now seems "more at home with herself", and having done the trip, nothing else seems too scary.
At the end of the month's visit, Soltane co-worker Rachel brought Alex back and collected Annie - who said she would rather like to stay! It is hoped that future exchanges might take place as it seemed an enriching experience for all concerned and the only cost involved is the fares plus pocket money - but next time maybe at a time of year when there is a bit less snow!
