Picture from istoyanov
We are now in the 12th class – it’s not far from separation; separation between those who will try to make their abitur (like a college graduation) and those who will leave. A separation after twelve long years which most of us have witnessed over the full time. A separation we have to celebrate!
Waldorfschool: That’s also a way of traditions. First day at school, second class test, eight class play, foreign language play, twelfth class play, year’s work (a special work focusing on one topic and during one year), forest intern, agriculture intern, industry and social intern. Art journey.
Art journey, that’s not like before when they were away two weeks, drawing and painting, in Prague or Florence. The “central abitur” has tightened the plans, now it’s just seven days or eight, the last class was in Barcelona. Now it’s our turn.
When 34 students have to find a decision you can be sure of the frontiers which grow up fast. We are, as you can say, a class with a good community, but also a class of voting duels. Usually there are two groups, ideas: The “progressive party”, the adventurers, searching for the new, strange, unusual. And the “traditionalists”, who strive for the well known, good, harmonic. We had that situation when we chose our class play, we have it by choosing our art journey.
Five cities were nominated for the first pre-selection: Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam – and Istanbul.
Why “- and Istanbul”? For the one hand, because I nominated it together with a classmate. That means, we both put up our hands – and he said “Istanbul”. I heard it – and was confused, ’cause who is able to telepathy? But it’s that way, you see: There is it, beautiful Istanbul.
Two cities were out of chance: Paris – we don’t like French; and Amsterdam, who wants to smoke pot does it at home, or so. It stays a trio. Who choses what? For sure you can’t just generalize: Everyone has his own personal reasons. But eventhough a critical mass the same.
Vienna: That’s Austria, nearly Germany, German language – and European Football Championship. Who want’s to go there? The slightly despaired, “home sweet home”, that’s one side. The other is – racism. Does not sound beautiful, but truth is truth is sometimes ugly. Most important German.
Barcelona: There’s been the last class. That’s sun, strand, sea – but also language problems and, as we heard from our predecessors, smashed douches, bad rooms. Who want’s to go there? The sun-chasing, bathers, overall tourists. Of course, a beautiful city (Vienna too!) – Dalí, Miró, Picasso, art as much you want. But at the end the strand is the only thing to count. And to get there fast.
Istanbul: That’s new. That’s unusual. That’s – Turkey. “That’s Turkey” – as positive as negative. Positive: The adventurers. A (nearly) strictly strange culture, away from the western world, into the oriental, something, you don’t know. But eventhough: Negative. That’s Turkey. Ghetto kids, headscarf, Marco W. (a boy currently kept there in prison which caused a great interest in the media). “What kind of arguments are that?” asks the open-minded. Despaired, uninformed, racist arguments.
There are many -ists in this class. At the end we’re all -ists. Traditionalists, sun fetishists, overall tourists, artists – on the high wire act of consent. But most important: At the end individuals – not individualists. Everyone one vote, one decision, win, defeat, agreement. Acceptance of the majority. A nice journey. One last week, together, like nevermore.
