Thursday, 16 August 2007

Tuesday 14.08.2007

The day started bright and sunny. It was a new day for us with a very exciting program, which included a visit to the Ålands Peace Institute and the first rehearsal of the Fashion Show !

The very first morning time accomplishment was the group picture. It features all the volunteers, workcamp responsibles at Emmaüs, and light-haired Walter wearing F.C. Barcelona shirt.

We were chatting for a while before dispatching the day's tasks when, incidentally, Carina told us about a couple unusual facts of Ålands. One odd thing is that some of the elderly crows in the world reside here. The oldest denizen crow of Ålands is 30 years old. It is healthy with feather still shinny black all over. Some of you might wonder how one could find out the age of the bird. The answer comes out very simply as ravens are well known to be watchful and inventive. Therefore, our crow had learned enough elements of our language to tell his age.

Then, tasks were assigned to us. Most tasks were the continuation of previous days, like mounting shelves for the cirkeln, painting the sign for the Peace Park, renovating sunk floating candles and making more new for next year's Hiroshima commemoration. Anna, who is specializing on painting, started a new job consisting in repainting parking places. Of course we continued Emmaüs perpetual sorting and baling movement everyone knows so well.

About this endless work everyone knows so well, it reminds me of that ancient story, Jonas and the Great Bale. It tells how Jonas, who dared disobey God commandment, is thrown overboard during a huge storm to calm the seas. Jonas is miraculously sballobed by a large fish, who many believe is a Great Bale. The ageless Bale and his playmate Jonas live by the seas for years, but eventually Jonas grows up and loses interest in adventures. One day Jonas prays to God and asks forgiveness and thanks God for being so forgiving, and, as a result, God commands the Bale to vomit Jonas out. Jonas alands in Ålands. The Great Bale is left alone and depressed. People tell that henceforth the Bale workaholically attempted to drown his sorrow by starting the endless work everyone knows so well now.

After having lunch and some rest, we headed our bikes to the Ålands Peace Institute. After the so warm receptions our Emmaüs group was offered at every place we visited in Ålands, I was secretly expecting of being welcomed by a taking off flight of doves. Nothing in that style happened, indeed the Institute was very peaceful when we arrived. We met the managers, Justina and Miquel, whom we already met before, and the trainee, all working there. We learned about the history of the institute, about its missions, and its links with other organizations both national and international. Miquel (who comes from a catalonian speaking region of Spain as me) told us about the EVS volunteering program in which he is participating.

Later on we all had diner at Emmaüs. Excitation became increasingly visible on everyone eyes when the hour of the first rehearsal for the Fashion show came. The first show rehearsal was an amazing experience for us the workcamp volunteers and the many other enthusiastic models and women who are working a lot to make this great event a reality.












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