Love Grows Like Bamboo

Monday: February 1st 

Monday was such a fun and relaxing day. Allie, Yen, Li and I went to the Living Roots Ecovillage for an Acroyoga class. Michael, the owner and teacher, is very into yoga and invited a previous volunteer, also named Allie, to come teach a class. She and Michael demonstrated multiple poses while we all watched in awe. I have minimal experience in Acroyoga. I practiced a bit in Portland and sometimes Christian and I would play around with some poses but otherwise I am a beginner. Yen had some experience as well but for everyone else this was their first experience. The most important lesson Allie taught us was that Acroyoga is more about bone stacking than strength and flexibility. If your legs and arms stay completely vertical when holding someone, the bones can line up and support your partner. If your limbs are at an angle then your muscles have to do all of the work.

Li perched calmly in throne pose 

As we watched Michael and Allie we were all becoming more nervous, excited, and slightly intimidated.  The first pose we tried was bird. The flyer, the yogi on top, begins standing while the base, the yogi on the bottom, is lying down. The base lifts their legs up and the base places their feet on the flyers hips. The base bends and stretches their legs getting a feel of the flyers weight and center. Once the two feel comfortable the base bends their knees into their chest enough that the flyer can make contact with their hands, and the flyer’s feet raises off the ground. So the flyer is laying flat above the bases whose legs are in a strait vertical line.

It is like playing airplane with a child. When comfortable enough the flyer and base can disconnect hands only connecting feet to hips. From bird we moved into different poses like folded leaf, mermaid, bow pose, and inversions! The class went really well and we all went into poses that we once thought were impossible. Even Li joined in on the action! It was extraordinary to work with other like-minded humans in this very trusting form of yoga. We all put our fear aside, trusted one another, and achieved so much together.

Me and Edward in shoulder stand 

Yen in mermaid with Edward

We left class filled with a blissful feeling of community. When we arrived back to the hostel Brian and Tim told us we should all take another day off due to Scott’s request. None of us opposed this wonderful idea. Christian and I decided to leave and find somewhere to sit and work outside and to have some alone time. We ended up at the French Lick Winery. Most of the grapes came from Oregon, Washington, and New York so we felt right at home. We shared a glass on the patio and began talking about the drama that had been happening in the house. Our time at the Lost River Hostel had so far been a mixed experience.

We had learned so much in such a short period of time, and met some amazing people, but the tension in the house seemed unavoidable. It was starting to feel that even though some moments were the absolute best, the bad times were beginning to overshadow the positives. We left the house to have some alone time but we ended up talking about what was bothering us and what wasn’t working. Even when we left the house we were spending our energy negatively from being upset with our living situation. Having difficult times at work is completely understandable, but when your coworkers are also your housemates, tension is going to rise. We decided we needed to talk to Scott and reevaluate if it was worth the negative emotions. After contacting Scott we planned to call him in the morning to discuss our options.

Those who have read all of this blog are probably thinking, “What? Where is all of this coming from?” A lot has happened here in the hostel that I have not written about. I began this blog to look back at to remember what happened day to day. I wanted to exert my energy remembering the positive aspects which have been the absolute best. In five years I may remember one or two awkward moments that happened here, but I want to be able to remember the positives clearly and fully.

Later that night Allie, Christian, Li, Yen and I wanted to watch Ace Ventura. Since it was past quiet time we decided to set up a cozy space in the somewhat furnished shed outside. There was no electricity or furniture so we brought candles, mats and blankets. We came prepared with popcorn, wine and a laptop to watch the movie. We all cuddled together to watch Jim Carrey as the hilarious pet detective. It was nice to be outside of the house because we could be as loud as we wanted.  I could not be more grateful for these four people. It is obvious how much I adore Christian but I have completely fallen in love with Yen, Allie and Li. They are my family away from home. I have learned so much from them during the hard times and the most precious moments. I cannot believe that two weeks ago these people were strangers. Love grows like bamboo, strong, quickly, and beautifully.