{"id":169,"date":"2018-01-11T04:43:39","date_gmt":"2018-01-11T10:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/?p=169"},"modified":"2018-01-29T05:37:58","modified_gmt":"2018-01-29T11:37:58","slug":"first-full-day-at-ari-jan-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/2018\/01\/11\/first-full-day-at-ari-jan-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Standard Day at ARI"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.98″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Hi! My name is Katrina Little and I\u2019ll be sharing about our daily activities at ARI.<\/div>\n
In the morning we roll out of our chilly beds and conduct the very entertaining Japanese\u30e9\u30b8\u30aa\u4f53\u64cd (rajio taiso, radio exercise) at seven in the morning. It is quite cold. But we wake up together and settle into a positive mindset first thing in the morning. We finish it with a prayer led by the chairperson of the day and then swiftly start on Foodlife work to warm up with a bit of manual labor before breakfast. In true Japanese fashion we change our shoes about 10 times before sitting down for breakfast: the indoor dorm slippers are traded for personal muck boots (perhaps with a pair of laundry room shoes in between to cross the one step between the upper floor and work boots), which are replaced by the boots for the certain building we work in at any given time, and then again switched for normal boots to go back to the main building, Koinonia, where we leave our boots outside and tiptoe inside to where another pair of indoor slippers are waiting via wooden slats reserved for socks and bare feet when changing out of muck boots. Although it seems tedious, it\u2019s a very good method to keep everything orderly and clean. Without it, mud and manure would be all over socks and floors and make cleaning a disaster. It is only possible to maintain the mayhem if everyone cooperates with the system and works to create that community system.<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.98″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/IMG_9635-1-e1515499618992.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.94″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/Screen-Shot-2018-01-11-at-6.09.25-PM.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.98″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

\n

On the first day all of the St. Olaf students were split into multiple smaller teams to learn different pieces of the daily farm chores that happen all at once, twice a day. My small group mixed feed for the chickens and pigs in the mixing room. The piles require constant attention and continual preparation to ensure proper oxygenation and mixing. Our job in the mixing room is very important because we make the feed for a lot of the different teams taking care of different animals depend on us to give them standard, quality feed. In one of our class sessions hosted by Yukiko, a staff member at ARI, we were taught the official ARI mission statement<\/a>. Part of it features a strong sense of community. My beginning assignment in the mixing room made that part of the ARI experience very apparent. What we did as a singular cog in the machine allowed so many other cogs to turn, creating a system of dependency, but also one of teamwork and community. I felt a twinge of pride when I first realized this, even though I wasn\u2019t as efficient or familiar with the details of the work as I wish I could had been from the very beginning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.98″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/KakaoTalk_20180111_045359562-e1515672921697.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” alt=”Our special meal outdoors to celebrate the New Year” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.98″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

\n

Our clean up from morning Foodlife work is followed by a well appreciated breakfast and then morning gathering in Oikos Chapel. The member acting as the daily chairperson (who also said a prayer at approximately 7:05 AM) is asked to share something, perhaps a meaningful story, with everyone. They are not required to choose a religious topic, but rather something they wish to share or think would be a positive thing for many to hear. We also sing a song and might read a quote from a religious text. The space is filled with calm feelings and positive thoughts for 40 minutes every day as we once again gather as a community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.94″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/KakaoTalk_20180111_061633592.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.94″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/KakaoTalk_20180111_045355681-e1515673081105.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.98″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

\n

After that we typically have a speaker or perhaps a quick class, then lunch, another period for educational activities, and then go back to more Foodlife chores. The afternoon chores are typically a continuation of the morning work or a close variance. My portion of the work so far has consisted of polishing eggs clean of any dirt or feathers that might be stuck and checking for damaged eggs. Here too I found that often-mentioned sense of community. My peers and I were surprised when staff members or volunteers joined us in the egg room to help polish all of the eggs quickly, but were very glad to get to know them and ask them questions. As shared laughter and ARI\u2019s motto came to my mind: \u201cThat we may live together.\u201d<\/p>\n

I really value the sense of community that we are building with this special group. It has a lot of goodness and sincerity that I hope to also develop with my classmates, and eventually learn from in order to bring back to campus. I believe it is an essential skill for creating the trend of environmental sustainability with those around me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.94″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n

Things to consider back home:<\/div>\n
1) follow the law of nature as much as possible<\/div>\n
2) use what is around you<\/div>\n
3) the forest is the best teacher<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_video _builder_version=”3.0.98″ src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/KakaoTalk_Video_20180125_0517_45_645.mp4″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Hi! My name is Katrina Little and I\u2019ll be sharing about our daily activities at ARI. In the morning we roll out of our chilly beds and conduct the very entertaining Japanese\u30e9\u30b8\u30aa\u4f53\u64cd (rajio taiso, radio exercise) at seven in the morning. It is quite cold. But we wake up together and settle into a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2226,"featured_media":273,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
Standard Day at ARI<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
Hi! My name is Katrina Little and I\u2019ll be sharing about our daily activities at ARI.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
In the morning we roll out of our chilly beds and conduct the very entertaining Japanese\u30e9\u30b8\u30aa\u4f53\u64cd (rajio taiso, radio exercise) at seven in the morning. It is quite cold. We finish it with a prayer led by the chairperson of the day and then swiftly start on Foodlife work to warm up with a bit of manual labor before breakfast. In true Japanese fashion we change our shoes about 10 times before sitting down for breakfast: the indoor dorm slippers are traded for personal muck boots (perhaps with a pair of laundry room shoes in between to cross the one step between the upper floor and work boots), which are replaced by the boots for the certain building we work in at any given time, and then again switched for normal boots to go back to the main building, Koinonia, where we leave our boots outside and tiptoe inside to where another pair of indoor slippers are waiting via wooden slats reserved for socks and bare feet when changing out of muck boots. Although it seems tedious, it\u2019s a very good method to keep everything orderly and clean. Without it, mud and manure would be all over socks and floors and make cleaning a disaster.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
\"\"<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
On the first day all of the St. Olaf students were split into multiple smaller teams to learn different pieces of the daily farm chores that happen all at once, twice a day. My small group mixed feed for the chickens and pigs in the mixing room. The piles require constant attention and continual preparation to ensure proper oxygenation and mixing.<\/div>
Our job in the mixing room is very important because we make the feed for a lot of the different teams taking care of different animals depend on us to give them standard, quality feed.<\/div>
In one of our class sessions hosted by Yukiko, a staff member at ARI, we were taught the official ARI mission statement. Part of it features a strong sense of community. My beginning assignment in the mixing room made that part of the ARI experience very apparent. What we did as a singular cog in the machine allowed so many other cogs to turn, creating a system of dependency, but also one of teamwork and community. I felt a twinge of pride when I realized this, even though I wasn\u2019t as efficient or familiar with the details as I wish I had been.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
\"\"<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
Our clean up from morning Foodlife work is followed by a well appreciated breakfast and then morning gathering. The member acting as the daily chair person (who also said a prayer at approximately 7:05 AM) \u00a0is asked to share a meaningful story with everyone. They are not required to choose a religious topic, but rather something they wish to share or think would be a positive thing for many to hear. We also sing a song and might read a quote from a religious text. The space is filled with calm feelings and positive thoughts for 30 minutes every day.<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
\"\"<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
After that we typically have a speaker or perhaps a quick class, then lunch, another period for educational activities, and then go back to Foodlife chores. The afternoon chores are typically a continuation of the morning work or a close variance. My portion of the work consisted of polishing eggs clean of any dirt or feathers that might be stuck.<\/div>
Here too I found that often-spoken-of sense of community. We were surprised when other staff members or volunteers walked into the egg room to help us polish all of the eggs quickly, but were very glad to get to know them and ask them questions. We also shared laughter and ARI\u2019s motto came to mind: \u201cThat we may live together.\u201d<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
\u00a0\"\"<\/div>
\u00a0<\/div>
Things to consider back home:<\/div>
1) follow the law of nature as much as possible<\/div>
2) use what is around you<\/div>
3) the forest is the best teacher<\/div>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,6,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ari","category-farming","category-food","post_format-post-format-video"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1128\/2018\/01\/KakaoTalk_20180111_045355681-e1515673081105.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":563,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169\/revisions\/563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/esj-2018\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}