1st week in Vegetarium

My first week at the vegetarium felt like stepping into a completely different world after leaving the big city for a small mountain village. I hiked up from Bov carrying a heavy backpack, arriving late in the evening on September 1st. It turned out to be Inka’s birthday, so my very first night was spent at a party with everyone, which was a great way to break the ice.

The next few days were all about taking everything in and getting used to the new rhythm. Everything felt fresh and unfamiliar, so I spent a lot of time just soaking in information. I jumped right into the daily work: fertilizing, gathering horse manure, collecting firewood, clearing paths, and marking out new areas. I also spent time in the garden, keeping up with the watering.

It had been a while since I last cooked, but I got back into it and prepared a meal for the group, along with learning how to make proper smoothies. Beyond the routine work, there were a few memorable moments. We went to a fire ceremony on the other side of the mountain hosted by a 70-year-old practitioner of Buddhism. He painted our heads, shared some of his perspective on life, and then we all just sat around eating good food and talking casually.

By the end of the week, I’d learned to identify a few local herbs, met Filip, and helped him unload a heavy stove from his car, picking fresh berries along the way. Overall, I felt good throughout the whole week. It felt like I was constantly improving, getting great practice with my English, and getting better at working within a team.