My Classes Begin

SEPTEMBER RAINS

I realize that it rained and stormed plenty, in New Hampshire during July and August, but on Saturday I rode my bike through a downpour caused by the tail end of Hurricane Hannah! (not that big of a deal, admittedly--no high winds, just wet, wet rain). I failed to learn my lesson, however, and ventured forth on my bike yesterday in a light rain that turned quite nasty on my way to the supermarket. I coped with the increasingly startling thunderclaps by swearing under my breath (not very granny-like, and not very Waldorfy, at all, I know). When it rains in New Hampshire, everything seems very dark--darker than when it rains in Edmonton. I really think those wide-open prairie skies let a lot of light shine upon us northern Canadians. Maybe it seems dark here because of the big old, beautiful trees, with their dense foliage. I thought the weather might continue as hot as blazes all month, but I found yesterday and today to be quite chilly, and hooray!--this afternoon the postman delivered my box of winter jackets, boots, and warm woollies that I had mailed to myself from Edmonton.

So, it's not really MY bike at all--Jan, my landlady, has given me the use of one of the bikes sitting in her yard. I had it tuned up and fitted with some safety and comfort gadgets, and wow, cycling is way easier and way more fun than walking! I have more Keene photos to show you, and if you're like me, you'll find looking at them a lot more interesting than reading this dry, black-and-white blog post. Just click here! Could I possibly wish for anything more, here in Keene? Well . . . perhaps a DESK, or someone to HANG OUT WITH, like my KEN, or one/some/all of my KIDS, or some of my BUDDIES, or my GRANDDAUGHTER.

I was very excited to get into classes last Thursday, re-connect with my twelve classmates, and orient myself to the layout of the university. It's a single building, quite small really, but friendly, inviting, and comfortable. Last week was just a two-day week, and we received lots of meaty assignments to carry us through until our next class day, tomorrow. We 'had to' compose a song on the recorder, draw a main lesson book picture, transcribe our notes on Goethe's Colour Trinity into a keepsake painting journal, find and identify symbols in some folk tales, read, read, read and prepare to present excerpts from our reading. I've done just about everything (of course). Our schedule is unusual--we attend classes Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:30, Fridays from 8:30 to 6:30, and almost every Saturday from 9:00 to 5:00. From September to December we will use some of our weekdays for visits to Waldorf schools in the area, and from January to May we will have a full schedule, carrying out internships (i.e. student teaching) in Waldorf classrooms.

I love the 'bits' that are stimulating because they are new or challenging for me--Goethe's Colour Theory and anthroposophy, the 'head' bits. (For example, Steiner provides information about the origins of human life that includes, but goes far beyond, what we know from science, religion and mythology. This week we read about the first of Earth's four evolutionary phases. All we were as people were subtle warmth bodies, without consciousness. Non-physical spiritual beings worked with us and through us, generating the next stage of development for us, for themselves, and for the planet. The first hints of the five senses became apparent. The first sounds were born. The first glimmers of light were perceptible. Time began. Earth was like a mirror, reflecting the beginnings of Life into the cosmos. How did Steiner come up with this stuff? He 'walked around backstage,' checking out the soul-spirit nature of everything that we can see and hear and touch. Every one of us can learn to 'go backstage,' as well, but it takes a lot of time, self-discipline and persistence to travel the path. Why learn about all this stuff? To stretch our capacity for imaginative thinking; to begin to learn what humans are all about, so that we can begin to learn what children are all about, so that we can identify what they need and bring it to them in our classrooms.)

I love the 'bits' that are fun and easy for me--singing, drawing, painting, playing recorder, reciting and memorizing, the 'heart & hands' bits. Not everyone in my program is pursuing a Master's degree, and I believe (although I'm not entirely certain of this) that I'm the only one among us who has experienced the responsibility of planning for and teaching a class of students entirely on my own.

Three of my four house mates have been away for part of this week. When I have the house to myself, the main-floor area is quiet enough that I can read and make notes at the kitchen table. When others are around, I have been working in the Antioch library or using my bed in lieu of a desk. In between going to classes, working on assignments, and taking pictures, I have been practicing my cycling skills and cooking meals for one. So there you have it--my first two (almost) weeks in a nutshell.

From Steiner:

There dims in damp autumnal air
The senses' luring magic;
The light's revealing radiance
Is dulled by hazy veils of mist.
In distances around me I can see
The autumn's winter sleep;
The summer's life has yielded
Itself into my keeping.