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Eya Sól's avatar

Interesting read🙏 i never did ma myself, but have many friends who did or do. I like your way of describing those between the lines things and how performance and dicipline become art, that’s beautiful 🪽🩵

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Eric Vinagreiro's avatar

Thank you. It means so much that you got something out of it.

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Eya Sól's avatar

🦋🪽

I actually went to a Nordic folk school (a non-formal, residential school focusing on personal growth, community, and creative or practical subjects rather than exams or grades) when I was 19/20 years old, and there we had different programs. I attended the yoga program, but two of the others were called “Martial Arts and Zen” and “Aikido”, so I have lots of friends who’ve practiced martial arts 😍

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Eric Vinagreiro's avatar

I have come to truly appreciate alternative schooling. I wish it wasn't so misunderstood. In Norway I believe things are different. We look at people like this as strange and weird. A consequence of being next door to the USA i think.

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Eya Sól's avatar

Haha yeah, but we weirdos who went to Waldorf schools and folk schools and such have learned to take those skeptical, squinting looks we get with a wink — and to own our alternative ways and otherness.

In fact, it feels kind of good, even freeing, to be different! Because here in Norway we also have a bit of that same attitude toward alternative things. But the concept of folk high schools (these are only a year and is volunteerly done after regular high school, wich in norway is up to 18/19years og age) is actually quite common here in Scandinavia, and in that sense more socially accepted than, for example, Waldorf schools...

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Eric Vinagreiro's avatar

It sounds awesome..I have learned a lot about how Nordic nations rebuilt there educational systems. It's so progressive. We're still stuck with out dated philosophies here in Canada. And the US forget about it. Some people want to go back to chalk and slate tablets.

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