No telephones, no electrical energy, no time, no trendy know-how. It’s quite a bit to surrender, and a 12 months is a very long time. Was it powerful? Sure. Was it price it? Unbelievably.
Mittagundi is a not-for-profit out of doors training centre arrange like a pioneer-style farm in a distant Victorian valley. Assume log cabins within the bush, wood-fired stoves, an enormous veggie backyard, and cows which are milked by hand every morning.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to name it my house for a 12 months, operating applications for younger individuals (aged 14-17) who spend ten days with us, starting with an in a single day hike by means of the gorgeous Victorian Excessive Nation, adopted by white-water rafting on the Mitta Mitta River, cross-country snowboarding, abseiling, and naturally, serving to out on the farm earlier than mountain climbing again out and returning house.
So what did I really study from having no know-how for a 12 months?
When you don’t have any know-how for a 12 months you study to understand the little issues a lot extra
1. It’s a Huge Adjustment
Once I first moved to Mittagundi I had simply graduated highschool. I had no concept what it was like to maneuver out of house and reside with seven strangers I’d by no means met, particularly as they have been all older than me. Additionally, it’s fairly powerful to remain in contact with family and friends when the one entry to the skin world is through a corded landline shared between everybody.
Let’s simply say I bought fairly good at writing letters. Which is to say, my subsequent level…
2. Letters Are the Most likely the Most Underrated Type of Communication
I wrote a ridiculous variety of letters throughout my time at Mittagundi. It nearly turned a routine. Moderately than checking my cellphone earlier than mattress, I’d write a letter.
At first, it was simply to my nearest and dearest, however I step by step expanded, writing to individuals I cared for lots however didn’t converse to as typically within the ‘real world’.
There’s one thing so healthful about letters, and it feels unbelievably heat and fuzzy to obtain one. I nonetheless write them now and can’t advocate it sufficient. They will also be a extremely wonderful means of debriefing your day when you have somebody you belief to ship them to (or you may simply hold them for your self!).
Learn extra: I Spend Over 2 Hours A Day On My Telephone – What Might I Do As a substitute?
3. Residing within the Current Is the Greatest Type of Residing
It’s extraordinarily troublesome to distract your self from the current when there’s nothing to distract your self with. It’s really easy in on a regular basis life to get caught up within the buzz of know-how, all the pieces is so busy, and we’re continuously swarmed with notifications.
However one thing I learnt at Mittagundi is the significance of slowing issues down. Get pleasure from that second within the sunshine, spend time in comfy silence with individuals, search for on the stars.
Learn extra: Right here’s Methods to be Current on Your Subsequent Outside Journey
Benefit from the swim with out mentally planning the Instagram put up
I keep in mind as soon as studying a quote from an individual strolling the Appalachian Path, who mentioned they have been ‘learning to move at the speed of a human’. I don’t know who mentioned it, however it’s caught with me. We all the time transfer so shortly, but it’s so essential to take our time with life, to get pleasure from being human.
4. There Is Nothing Extra Satisfying Than Going to Mattress Drained
Residing with out know-how means all the pieces must be completed by hand. Within the morning somebody would wake within the semi-darkness to mild the range so there was porridge on the desk for breakfast. One other individual would milk the cow in order that we had recent, creamy milk to drink and prepare dinner with, and the pigs and chooks needed to be fed too.
(I went by means of a stage after I’d learn Animal Farm to the pigs whereas they have been consuming their breakfast, however they began oinking a bit too excitedly as I used to be studying, so I needed to pull the plug on that one.)
Meals was way more thrilling anyway
Days can be spent chopping wooden, working within the veggie patch or orchard, making preserves on the wood-fired range, constructing fences, or no matter odd jobs wanted doing.
There was no scarcity of labor to be completed, however it doesn’t matter what it was, whether or not it’s cleansing out the chimneys or mucking the dairy, it was stuffed with laughter.
After dinner, when everybody was feeling full and content material, we’d hang around by the hearth earlier than heading to mattress. Consider me, regardless of my mattress being on a little bit of an angle (its builder most likely wasn’t what you’d name a professional skilled), I’ve by no means slept higher.
Work exhausting, sleep exhausting
5. Actual Connections Are Shaped Face-to-Face
At 18, I used to be the newborn of the group. Nonetheless, I’ve by no means earlier than discovered myself forming such sturdy connections with individuals in such a brief period of time. Direct quote: ‘I didn’t realise 27-year olds might really be enjoyable!’
When there’s no know-how to interrupt up the preliminary awkwardness, you’re pressured to push by means of it, as uncomfortable as that could be. But it really works wonders, and after a month I couldn’t think about my life with out these individuals, who have been proper there with me by means of the entire tears and frustrations, prepared with an enormous hug, a cuppa, and an uncanny potential to make me chortle uncontrollably.
Learn extra: An Ode to Our Adventurous Pals
6. Taking Your self Severely Will get Boring
If I had a greenback for each time I did a surprising sing-a-long efficiency at dinner, had a cow pat frisbee thrown at my face, or ate a ridiculous quantity of cake, possibly I might really efficiently fund my adventures. Life is enjoyable, individuals are humorous, and all the pieces is simply so nice while you cease caring about what you appear to be and what individuals consider you.
Be like this man. He grabbed an infinite pumpkin and paddled it like a canoe down the Tumut River. Why? For the pure enjoyable of it, after all.
7. Showers Are Overrated
When having a bathe requires chopping wooden, lighting a fireplace after which stoking it till it’s scorching, you will get fairly grubby. Actually? There have been undoubtedly occasions after I went weeks between showers. I do know it’s gross. But when everybody’s a bit smelly, you don’t actually discover it. And boy, showering turns into an nearly holy expertise while you permit a number of days for the anticipation to construct.
So, whereas I wouldn’t advocate this a lot for on a regular basis life (for the sake of your loved ones and mates), it’s nonetheless one thing I’ll always remember.
In hindsight, I most likely might have used a tenting bathe (ah nicely!).
Don’t advocate spontaneous cow hugs except you recognize the cow (and the proprietor) nicely
That’s All People…
No! It’s actually not. My 12 months with out know-how was by far probably the most difficult, thought-provoking and character-building certainly one of my whole (albeit comparatively brief) life. It taught me to understand so many issues about life, such because the wonders {of electrical} lights, and the unbelievable potential of electrical kettles to boil water nearly instantaneously.
But crucial issues it taught me by far, is the significance of open communication, being current in on a regular basis life, and friendship (clichéd I do know, however I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true).
If you wish to expertise what Mittagundi has to supply, they’re all the time on the lookout for passionate people to volunteer on applications. Or, if you recognize an adolescent who would profit from one of many ten-day applications, give them a push within the path of Mittagundi. Trust me, you gained’t remorse it.
FAQs Residing With No Know-how For a Yr
What’s Mittagundi?
Mittagundi is an Outside Training Centre that runs life enriching applications for younger individuals. You’ll discover it in Glen Valley, Victoria.
Are you able to volunteer at Mittagundi?
Yep! Mittagundi loves to listen to from individuals who wish to share the stoke of nature and journey. Attain out to them on the Mittagundi Fb web page.
How do you inform the time with out a cellphone?
The solar is fairly helpful right here (if it’s darkish, it’s most likely about dinnertime), however in any other case analogue clocks and watches final for a very long time.
What about climate forecasts?
Residing in synch with the land means you slowly develop a really feel for what’s coming subsequent. Storms typically construct slowly, and there are hints and clues within the days beforehand as soon as you recognize what to search for. Studying to learn the climate is a extremely cool talent however it takes lots of follow.
