During my social work internship, I met many different people with assistance needs.
My very first encounter with the people in the residential group let me see their direct connection to the present moment and their great sensitivity. After just 20 minutes, they placed deep trust in me, gave me hugs, happily told me who they were, and shared their opinions about me freely and openly. While “our” nature is highly conditioned, “theirs” is very unfiltered, knows hardly any prejudices, and usually reciprocates love and goodwill in a beautiful and feeling way. My time with them got me out of my thought bubbles, which had nothing to do with me and my actual life, and I enjoyed small, subtle things with them, played a game of cards with great sincerity, and got caught up in numerous jokes. They opened up the space for me to find a connection to my more original self, which enjoyed life in a more playful way, as if I was allowed to let my inner child out in their presence.
After ten days, I left the facility for the first time to go shopping at the supermarket. It was a culture shock. Most of the faces were contorted into wrinkled expressions, as if they were all just passing each other by, with complete detachment. There was no trace of the warmth and friendliness I had just become accustomed to, “out here.” After my very friendly “Excuse me?” the checkout person repeated her sentence, annoyed and slightly aggressive. I walked out, intimidated and stunned.
Translation Laura Liska
Image Jan Göschel at an inclusive Waldorf school in Taiwan in 2011. Photo: Private
