Open House Announcement and Learn-Work-Share Report

Mark your calendars for our Open House September on 22nd, and come celebrate 10 years of anthroposophic inpatient care at the Rudolf Steiner Health Center!

Bring your friends, your family, and anyone you think might be curious about what we do. Stop by anytime between 2pm and 5pm for a tour, tea and lemonade in the garden, music, nursing and movement therapy demonstrations, and patient art work on display. We hope to see many old and new faces!

I was particularly fascinated by the Asian campers during the Girls B Well camp. One was Korean, one was Japanese, and two were American-Chinese. I had the fortunate experience of overhearing a conversation between the two latter during a walk through the woods. They talked about the thick accent of their parents and how they understood Chinese, but weren’t that great at speaking it. I witnessed them bond over a shared favorite color and other important things. They were both shy in the beginning of camp, but they blossomed as they week went on. As the friendship grew I so enjoyed watching them, There is something very significant about the ability to connect with another human being, How is it possible that a stranger transforms into someone you cannot possibly imagine not being a part of your life? What is it about relationships that creep into one’s heart, forever changing a person? Whenever I go someplace, have a new experience, or try something new, it is really the people - the relationships - that make the most impact. -Anna Pasternak, July 2013

There were many lessons learned and new experiences had during the Learn-Work-Share program at the RSHC. It would be impossible to say which was best or most profound. The Girls B Well camp was particularly special. The first morning many girls piled in - awkward, not knowing what to expect. They were all of that age where they are not sure how to act or if it’s okay for them to still play, sing, dance and act like kids. Throughout the week they learned they could! The first day, some scarcely opened their mouths during singing and by the last day we couldn’t get them to stop singing while cooking, hiking, playing..

It was also great to see them realize while it was fine for them to dance, sing, and play, they could be so mature in so many other ways- “We can use the knife to chop the veggies”, “I’m going to cook a whole meal for my family”. They also had the chance to start thinking about how they could be in control of taking care of their bodies. They had the chance to think about what foods to eat for nourishment, what products to use on their skin, hair etc... Beyond this they started thinking about how to take care of their world!

The program was great for the campers and patients, but it is probably us, the participants, who benefit the most. Learn-Work-Share has been such a unique opportunity for me. At the age of 21, when I am making so many decisions about my future, it has given me the chance to pause, expand my horizons, and think about what impact I want my life to have on those around me.

-Abigail Lyons, July 2013

Sitting next to Natalie, at lunch they day we went to the Farmers Market, she kept trying to pass everything she didn’t like by. First came the zucchini hummus, and just as she skipped over herself and passed it to Joan, Joan passed it back to her for a no-thank-you-bite serving. Next came the vegetable plate with the tomatoes - a veggie Natalie knew she didn’t like, again she was forced to take one. She tried the hummus first and finished the helping on her plate and then slyly went for seconds. The tomatoes she made a big deal about having to eat. Finally she ate it, making disgusted faces throughout her chewing process and, when finished, proclaimed she didn’t like it. Five minutes or so passed and next thing I know she is asking if there are any more tomatoes because she liked it! Unfortunately they had all been eaten already.

I was very impressed by how the girls took to the singing, especially after all of Dr. Molly’s warnings on how all they did was scream and shout the lyrics last year. They learned the songs exceedingly quickly (4 songs on the first day) and could do even the challenging rounds all mixed up. Walking back from the Farmer’s Market and chopping and cooking in the kitchen, the girls would initiate singing and set up the rounds after one person holding down each entry. They always wanted to sing even the most “boring” of the songs and the songs they always said they didn’t like as much. I was also relieved by how comfortable I felt leading them, as well as the patients, in singing songs.

-Graeme Durovich, July 2013

From the Support Retreat (Work):

It is Friday evening, supper time. The tone of the gong is still resonating in the air mingling with the hustle of staff and patients trying to find their way through the crowded dining room to their name tag place. Although this is the usual routine, today it is somewhat special. It is the last night with the patients.

I look around and find my place at one of the small tables, happily realizing Louise and Christine are also at this table. They are already there, of course, rearranging the pace cards to sit next to each other! As they sit, Christine asks Louise excitedly “do you have Skype?” Louise replies “Why yes I do but I don’t really know how to use it.” Christine touches Louise’s cheek and says “let’s use email instead then.”

Christine calls me over asking for paper and pens to exchange emails. While writing and figuring out how to read each other’s hand writing, Louise says to Christine “I’m so glad to have met you; it is not often, when we’re so old, to find someone that you really like and feel so connected with.”

Louise then turns to me as if she suddenly realized I was there and says “the most important part of life is the people you meet and love”

-Emily Biffis, July 2013