Champagne from a Paper Cup

So the title...that's simplicity, not necessarily sustainability but perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself. I have now been in LVC for 3 weeks. One of those weeks was spent in Orientation. Half of the 2nd week was spent settling in, and the last week and a half have been the real deal: working, living in community, trying to make my lifestyle more simple and more sustainable.

So, let's break it down.

Orientation

Exciting! It was a ton of fun, and that's where I got to meet all my housemates. We found out that we all like coffee, among other things. I was trained in nonviolent personal safety techniques (which I got to use 48 hours later...but I'll get to that), as well as learned about living in intentional community, simplicity, and sustainability. I also went through a day and a half of anti-racism training. That training gave me a lot of thoughts, and a lot of interest in exploring my ideas, philosophies, etc. regarding my personal views on race. Essentially, I learned a lot more about white privilege. I knew it existed, but I had never really sat down to think how pervasive it was in our society. That makes me really sad, but hopeful that over 100 of us now have ways to fight it. Also, it helped me be more open to building community in a neighborhood in which I am racially in the minority.

Part 2: Delaware

Welcome to a neighborhood unlike any I've ever lived in before! We moved in, we picked rooms, we got a lot of free food. Our first full day in Wilmington, we found the library and the bank. We also got a tour of the city...and it really is a "small city with big city problems". Day 2 in Delaware, I don't really remember what we did...but it wasn't much. We started work on Day 3. I love my job! I am in a classroom with 12 one-year-olds, and I adore all of them. Each one has his/her own personality and it's going to be so amazing to see them continue to grow and learn what it is to be a person for the next year. I also love the community I'm living in. We went to the neighborhood church last weekend, where we were also in the minority (as in the only ones there who were white). Everyone was so welcoming and so excited that we were there. It was one of the best services I've ever been to because it had so much energy and excitement, and it was all completely dedicated to God. I want to find that enthusiasm in myself this year. I really am going to work on getting to know myself through exploring my faith. I also walk to work every day and say good morning to everyone meet. Most people probably just think I'm a lunatic, but some people tell me "God bless you" and to have a nice day. Phase 2 will be coming out of my shell more and telling people my name, asking how they are, and learning about them...it would be really nice to have a community of people on my way to work. We also are starting to get to know our neighbors. The pastor of the church came and sat on our porch this morning and talked to us. He's really dedicated to helping out the LVCers and promoting community in the neighborhood. He will be a good ally for us in the coming months.

Essentially, my experience is beginning to be life-changing, and I feel it will continue to be so throughout the year. I'm also learning about budgeting, grocery shopping, and cooking. We all eat as a community 4 nights a week, and almost every night is community night because we don't know anyone else our age. It's good that we're getting to know each other. Each night we eat together, 2 people cook and we share all the other jobs and weekly chores. It's a lot like a family at least in structure, and I know that we will be family by the end of the year, if not before. We get to meet our host families in a few weeks. We each get a family to ourselves, to kind of sponsor us and have us over for dinner or whatever every once in awhile. It will also be nice to know people outside the community.

Anywho, Labor Day weekend...Have a good one everybody! Be safe!