On Friday, all of us boarded our super comfortable van on Friday and headed out to Kimberton, Pennsylvania. After a two and a half hour drive, we finally reached Camphill Village. We were greeted by the volunteer trip coordinator and settled into a comfortable little home. That night we went over our itinerary for the next two days and bonded as a group. Around 8:30 A.M. on Saturday we got up and headed out on a tour of the village. We stumbled on a very interesting looking tree and visited several homes and the farm. We saw several baby cows and the rooms in which they make cheese. After the village tour, we worked in the apple orchard by dividing up our jobs and working with one of the villagers. Amanda was the brave and adventurous one out of the group! She climbed trees and picked out the rotting apples. Vicky, Fatima, and Anwesha helped plant compost around the trees. Andrea and Ayuni helped pick twigs with the villager. After hard work, the group split into pairs and went to specific houses to meet different people and help with any other tasks. Some of us washed windows and others helped collect firewood and recycle materials to ensure all the wood was used properly and efficiently. After that, we all split into different pairs again and went to specific houses to eat supper with the families. We experienced the kinds of dishes they ate (which included mostly salad, potatoes, and beef). We experienced how the adults suffering from disabilities were able to comfortably eat and spend time with their families. They were all given their own space and preferences to ensure that they were all happy. After supper, our group headed back to our house and spend the night playing Apples to Apples. On Sunday morning, we got ready for brunch and again split into different pairs and visited other houses. We had brunch with the other families of the village and learned more about how the workers started working in the village. Also, we interacted more with the people at the village and talked about the activities they did to keep themselves busy. Some of the women in the village would knit scarves and hats to sell in a near by shop. Some of the men would help collect firewood and plant trees. After brunch, the group went into the woods to help plant several maple and pine trees. The group planted a total of 16 trees! After that we headed back to our home and packed our bags and loaded our van. We visited the family of the volunteer coordinator to say goodbye and headed back towards New Jersey! Many of us felt like we accomplished something by helping the village take care of the environment and by spending time with the villagers. Many of us expressed feelings about how we wish to become more involved in community service. Some of us expressed how we learned more about how to interact with people that suffered from disabilities. The trip sadly came to an end but the group will get together again for a post trip service! It was an amazing and unique learning experience that will never be forgotten!
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