A day in the life of a co-worker

" What am I letting myself in for? And why?"
Questions I asked myself before joining the Camphill Community at Clanabogan. Actually these are questions I had asked myself 12 months previously on the other side of the world! I was starting community life in New Zealand. I therefore knew what to expect and upon returning to Ireland had applied to join a community much closer to home.
A typical day? Much of the work is shared amongst the co-workers (normally 2 - 4 per house - from a wide variety of backgrounds and countries) and villagers, depending on abilities, preferences etc… I start around 7.30 am preparing breakfast and helping villagers get ready for the day ahead.
I work ½ day on the farm and have become very experienced with a pitchfork! 3 villagers work along side me, all of very different personalities.
Lunch at 1 pm is a chance to chat with others from my house and is followed by hectic dishwashing and a welcome mug of hot chocolate.
In the afternoon I stay in my house minding a villager who needs a little extra care whilst cleaning and preparing supper.
Supper at 6.30 pm is another communal meal and a chance to unwind and maybe read a little. Some evenings are house-sits, some introductory course, some a walk to the local pub, some the cinema etc…
Days work can finish as late as 10.30 pm but the workload is not hard and many breaks are taken.
I find that it is a wonderful opportunity to try something different. It is an alternative life with a good support system and great chance to make new friends! It is refreshing to be not motivated by money and not only working for oneself. It offers many different challenges from cooking meals for 20 people to acting on stage or learning to play a musical instrument (badly in my case).
If you can spare 6 - 12 months and would like a chance to challenge and possibly charge your outlook on life and what it has to offer I would call. You never know you may even get a chance to know yourself!

Barry Mullen, March 2003

Impressions

We come from completely different parts of the world, from different cultures and ways of life. We live and share together everyday.
Our names are Aisha (from Chile) and Catherina (from Germany).
When we just came here, we didn't know anything about the community-life and it was really surprising how friendly, helpful and open the people are. After a short time we were already part of this life.
We are in the Camphill since 6 months and we really enjoy it. We develop ourselves in a very important way, everybody is accepted and it doesn't matter how you look like or if you are a villager, a houseparent or a co-worker, all people have the same opportunities.
The villagers are our friends and we respect them. They are human beings as we all are.
Another thing what we also find very important is, that we have such a big connection with the nature and animals. All what surrounds us has an importance and an influence in the life of the Community and we know, that everything is done with love conciseness and thought for everybody.

Catherina & Aisha