You-gi

Sometimes, an experience in your own country can be much more powerful than taking a plane to the other side of the world.

It was a cool, windy August afternoon when I arrived to the Zuiderpark in The Hague, just a train ride away from my home town. This was where I was going to spend the next twelve days, as a participant to the training course Towards a Nonviolent World. Ghandi, and stuff.

“Welcome!”, he said, when I arrived at the gate of the venue. Of course it wasn't Ghandi, but there were some similarities. He introduced himself and then added: “I'm just going for a walk. See you later!” Who is this guy, I wondered. But a lot of time to think about it, I didn't have.

People started to appear from all over the place. It was a regular routine start: name, origin, time spent travelling. First time in this country? As the only Dutch participant, next to youngsters from Italy, Turkey, Spain and Croatia, I felt like an internal ambassador for my country. At home and at the same time out of place among so many Europeans.

Then, there was one guy from India. It was him who I saw at the gate, minutes before. Soon after, when we were divided into small groups to manage our self-organised venue, we both became 'caterpillars'. Every day, we had a task to fulfill. Clean the toilets. Prepare the tables. Cook the lunch. Do the dishes. Report the day. Karma yoga, we called this. And karma yoga, it was.

Talking about life. Philosophy. Cleaning up. Physically, mentally.

Asking questions, getting answers. Know yourself. Know the other.

Find opportunities, take chances. Take it easy, hold onto your goal.

Focus.

He spoke about Ghandi-gi. He explained that in India, the suffix 'gi' is added when talking respectfully about a person.

Twelve days is a short time, so we decided to use it wisely. We continuously confused ourselves. We made assumptions, we found realities, we made mistakes, and we became stronger. We complained when we needed to, but most of all, we complimented what we appreciated.

- You are talented.

- You are beautiful.

- You are an inspiration.

- You are a storyteller.

- I learned from you.

- You moved me.

- You-gi.

- You-gi.

Listen. Learn. Live.

What a life.

And now? Our time as a caterpillar has expired. Our wings are ready!