I’m Competent. Wow, thanks Bates.
June 21, 2008 by showson2So, frequently retreats are held at Upaya where people come with their teacher and take courses and involve themselves (slightly) in life here. For the past two weeks, a yoga retreat has been going on, which means that tons of yoginis (that’s apparently what people who teach yoga are called) are staying on campus with us. As part of their retreat they must perform 30 minutes of samu (work-practice) each morning while residents at Upaya (the people who live here full time) perform samu from 9:40 to 12 and then 2:40 to 4. As a guest practitioner I work in the kitchen in the morning and have the afternoons off for my research.
This is where I spend an insane amount of time: the kitchen.
In the mornings I usually have the task of breakfast clean up and over the past week have been the lead breakfast clean up person. That title means I have to direct the group of yoginis assigned to clean breakfast with me. Now, cleaning the kitchen at Upaya has become similar to using a TV remote for me, I know how. So when my mom asks me how to change the channel, I’m at a loss at how to explain it because I just do it. So, admittedly, breakfast cleanup was a little shaky at first as I was unsure how to organize it. But as time went on I noticed that some of the yoginis seemed to have a hard time making connections. Like if you ask where a gigantic pot goes and you are directed to under the island to the right side bottom shelf, the next gigantic pot you are holding you would assume goes under the island to the right side bottom shelf right? Well it doesn’t work like that. Some of these people can’t seem to grasp their task though they do it morning after morning. And then they roll their eyes at me! And I want to say “Look, you’re the 40 year old. YOU figure it out.” Maybe they need to stand on their heads more.
But all sarcasm aside, I was complaining to a friend about this situation of having a band of spandex clad helpers to direct and they mentioned the fact that perhaps my liberal arts education should be credited partly with aiding my ability to think through problems and make connections. I really couldn’t agree more. My education in general but especially my three years at Bates has helped me become a more engaged thinker. I’ve been encouraged to question what I’m exposed to, which is often a difficult thing to do. I am also given the space to draw connections for myself which is enjoyable and exciting. So whether I’m typing a paper on the performance of gender or staring at an industrial sized salad spinner, I am confident in my ability to navigate the task at hand. And living in the real world makes me realize that this is a valuable skill that not everyone possesses and I should be grateful. Which I am.
Shhhh,
Steph














