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Start
My
arrival at Holma College in Sweden appeared to cause some confusion.
It seemed that no-one knew I was coming and no-one knew quite what
to do about it!
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| Relaxing
over a meal |
The
students who greeted me in the main lounge were very friendly and
welcoming but there didn't seem to be anyone in charge.
Eventually
an assistant turned up who told me that someone would try and find
me a room after dinner.
Meanwhile
I was entertained by a series of students, all in their early ‘20s,
who came and went while helping to prepare dinner.
Enthusiastic
students
The
students were mostly Swedes with impeccable English, but there were
also a few Germans and Americans, and even one guy from Tajikistan.
One
by one they impressed upon me the value of the studies they were
undertaking at Holma, which they described as having a more holistic
and spiritual approach than conventional education.
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| Finding
peace and quiet |
Most
of the students were staying at the college for a whole academic
year, during which time they followed a series of short courses
in all sorts of esoteric subjects, such as liberating dance, yoga,
original play, sustainable development.
They
were full of enthusiasm and seemed very sincere.
After
a dinner of refried beans and various salads, I was eventually found
a room to stay in, and over the next day or two found myself relaxing
in the peace and quiet of the surrounding area, which was extremely
beautiful and rest-inducing.
The
students continued to impress me with their warmth and friendliness
and with their attempts to live by following their hearts and not
just their minds.
Lack
of organisation
 |
| Group
dynamics |
On
the other hand I felt frustrated by the course on group dynamics
which I had come for, which seemed to consist of a series of pointless
exercises and games without any attempt to discuss our objectives,
or what we were hoping to achieve.
It
mirrored the general lack of organisation and structure of the college.
My
personal feeling about Holma College was that the students meant
well.
However,
in the absence of any discernible leadership they were missing the
sense of vision and purpose necessary for the long-term continuity
of a community and for somehow making their principles concrete
in the real world.
So,
good-bye Holma, and onto Damanhur, an "internationally renowned
centre for spiritual research," in the Alpine foothills of
northern Italy.
Right
to reply
Holma
College felt that rhoda's comments weren't entirely fair, and have
exercised their right to reply, to put their side of the story.
Read
the Holma College reply.
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