Our guest writer this week is Megan Walker. Megan describes herself as a small town girl from New Zealand who in her year of adventure spent a summer working as a work scholar in Atsitsa, Skyros Island, 2011.
In this blog Megan shares her experience of Atsitsa, where she experienced a taste of the Skyros way of living - a community focused atmosphere that's perfect for building lasting friendships and making unforgettable memories.
Skyros island itself is a little rugged, with an old time feel that allows you to wrap yourself up in just being in the moment. There are around 3,000 residents and about 40,000 goats. Skyros Village is beautiful, and is built high up behind a great rock, to protect the people from Pirates in earlier times. According to Greek mythology, Achilles was hidden on the Island as a young boy by Lycomedes - King of Skyros - to prevent the prophecy that he will die should he go to war. Rupert Brooke, a British Soldier who was to serve at Gallipoli, is buried on Skyros Island in an Olive Grove in the South West of the Island. He famously wrote the WW1 poem 'The Soldier'.
Upon arrival in Atsitsa I was greeted by all sorts of welcoming faces. During the welcome speeches by John and Zoë, I finally worked out what those little bins were for beside the toilets... A fellow work scholar took me up to Hut 27 - my new home for the next couple of months. Some huts had power points, not ours, but it was certainly home. Marina and I were always coming back with something new to make it more homely. Our nearest bathrooms were just up the steps behind our hut, and it is notable to say that they had no ceilings at all. While this may sound a bit strange, it is pretty impressive to have a shower at night time, and be looking up at the stars!
My hut mate, Marina Sossi and I quickly became good friends; she was an amazing support for me at Atsitsa, and a fantastic yoga teacher.
We had an awesome group of permanent staff, from the Admin Team, the Kitchen Staff, the Teachers and the Work Scholars. Each and everyone had something to offer, and we worked well together. It was nice to be in an environment where personal development really meant exactly that, and we all had space and support to just be ourselves. There is a distinct lack of communication with the outside world which for the most part is embraced. Limited internet and terrible cell phone service mean that the outside world sifts through in only small increments. For me, it was a welcome respite from the internet.
As Work Scholars, we saw to the day to day running of the Centre. We were rostered on to work shifts, either early or late most days, and we could be doing anything from helping in the kitchen, housekeeping, sweeping steps, working in the bar, setting up and clearing the dining room or making up huts. In our free time, we could choose to go to courses, go to the beach, lie in hammocks, and head in to the Village or to a neighbouring beach - anything we liked! Orla and I even took to stealing off with Dave the Sailor's scooter on our days off to get away and explore the Island. We ventured away to 20 minute beach, Aios Petros Beach, Lanaria and Skyros Village - bliss!
The Centre is based on the ancient Greek philosophy of Democracy. Participants very much directed what would happen during their session, and there were regular community and 'demos' meetings to facilitate open communication and discussion about what was happening at the Centre. Any censure of behaviour was public, and then people moved on. Issues were discussed openly (a very strange notion to a conservative hard line kiwi!) and honestly, thus giving everyone the chance to talk about it and move on. Oekos groups were formed, where groups of up to eight people met daily to talk, and be listened to. Further to that, co-listening was also encouraged, where two people meet on a regular basis to talk and to be listened to - no discussion. I learned a lot about communication at Skyros, and even improved the way I interact with others.
The sessions were set in 10 day lots. New 'participants' would arrive on a transfer, and would spend the next ten days in huts and doing courses. The first four days would be a set of courses, then a day off in the middle (mid-session) to have a break and go into Skyros Village, and then another set of four days of courses.
While I was there, I learned to windsurf, went on siesta sails, went abseiling, took writing and art classes, balloon making, took up yoga, meditation, and laughter yoga, sang and danced. We came up with cabaret performances, danced the night away in the bar, and laughed until we couldn't breathe. The more in-depth courses were things like 'body mind centring', 'how to have the best year of your life' 'dancing the rainbow' and 'image work'. Some of the courses were more challenging than others, and it was nice to be able to choose to do as little or as much as we wanted.
What a summer I had! Although my Grecian tan will slowly fade, the friends, the food, the courses and the Atsitsa sunsets will remain in my memories. I feel so privileged have been a part of the team this year, and I would love to return again to rekindle some of that Atsitsa magic.
To Zoë, John, the Teachers, Marina, Paulina, Orla, Tara, Barbara, Matt, Kuky, Tom, Anna, David, Michelle, Mark, Dave, Virginia, Jamie, Takis, Dimitri (Fiona!) and anyone else I have missed, Thank you all for an amazing Summer.
Megan shows us that there is much more to Atsitsa than its courses, such as a beautiful setting, yummy food and great company. All of which have a positive impact, making Skyros the holiday to remember.
Skyros will be running holidays in Atsitsa from 21 July - 21 September 2012, or if you need that much needed break a little sooner, why not try our weekend workshops at The Grange by the Sea which take place throughout the year. See
www.skyros.com for more.
In this blog Megan shares her experience of Atsitsa, where she experienced a taste of the Skyros way of living - a community focused atmosphere that's perfect for building lasting friendships and making unforgettable memories.
Skyros island itself is a little rugged, with an old time feel that allows you to wrap yourself up in just being in the moment. There are around 3,000 residents and about 40,000 goats. Skyros Village is beautiful, and is built high up behind a great rock, to protect the people from Pirates in earlier times. According to Greek mythology, Achilles was hidden on the Island as a young boy by Lycomedes - King of Skyros - to prevent the prophecy that he will die should he go to war. Rupert Brooke, a British Soldier who was to serve at Gallipoli, is buried on Skyros Island in an Olive Grove in the South West of the Island. He famously wrote the WW1 poem 'The Soldier'. 
Upon arrival in Atsitsa I was greeted by all sorts of welcoming faces. During the welcome speeches by John and Zoë, I finally worked out what those little bins were for beside the toilets... A fellow work scholar took me up to Hut 27 - my new home for the next couple of months. Some huts had power points, not ours, but it was certainly home. Marina and I were always coming back with something new to make it more homely. Our nearest bathrooms were just up the steps behind our hut, and it is notable to say that they had no ceilings at all. While this may sound a bit strange, it is pretty impressive to have a shower at night time, and be looking up at the stars! My hut mate, Marina Sossi and I quickly became good friends; she was an amazing support for me at Atsitsa, and a fantastic yoga teacher.
As Work Scholars, we saw to the day to day running of the Centre. We were rostered on to work shifts, either early or late most days, and we could be doing anything from helping in the kitchen, housekeeping, sweeping steps, working in the bar, setting up and clearing the dining room or making up huts. In our free time, we could choose to go to courses, go to the beach, lie in hammocks, and head in to the Village or to a neighbouring beach - anything we liked! Orla and I even took to stealing off with Dave the Sailor's scooter on our days off to get away and explore the Island. We ventured away to 20 minute beach, Aios Petros Beach, Lanaria and Skyros Village - bliss!
The Centre is based on the ancient Greek philosophy of Democracy. Participants very much directed what would happen during their session, and there were regular community and 'demos' meetings to facilitate open communication and discussion about what was happening at the Centre. Any censure of behaviour was public, and then people moved on. Issues were discussed openly (a very strange notion to a conservative hard line kiwi!) and honestly, thus giving everyone the chance to talk about it and move on. Oekos groups were formed, where groups of up to eight people met daily to talk, and be listened to. Further to that, co-listening was also encouraged, where two people meet on a regular basis to talk and to be listened to - no discussion. I learned a lot about communication at Skyros, and even improved the way I interact with others.The sessions were set in 10 day lots. New 'participants' would arrive on a transfer, and would spend the next ten days in huts and doing courses. The first four days would be a set of courses, then a day off in the middle (mid-session) to have a break and go into Skyros Village, and then another set of four days of courses.
While I was there, I learned to windsurf, went on siesta sails, went abseiling, took writing and art classes, balloon making, took up yoga, meditation, and laughter yoga, sang and danced. We came up with cabaret performances, danced the night away in the bar, and laughed until we couldn't breathe. The more in-depth courses were things like 'body mind centring', 'how to have the best year of your life' 'dancing the rainbow' and 'image work'. Some of the courses were more challenging than others, and it was nice to be able to choose to do as little or as much as we wanted.What a summer I had! Although my Grecian tan will slowly fade, the friends, the food, the courses and the Atsitsa sunsets will remain in my memories. I feel so privileged have been a part of the team this year, and I would love to return again to rekindle some of that Atsitsa magic.
To Zoë, John, the Teachers, Marina, Paulina, Orla, Tara, Barbara, Matt, Kuky, Tom, Anna, David, Michelle, Mark, Dave, Virginia, Jamie, Takis, Dimitri (Fiona!) and anyone else I have missed, Thank you all for an amazing Summer. Megan shows us that there is much more to Atsitsa than its courses, such as a beautiful setting, yummy food and great company. All of which have a positive impact, making Skyros the holiday to remember.
Skyros will be running holidays in Atsitsa from 21 July - 21 September 2012, or if you need that much needed break a little sooner, why not try our weekend workshops at The Grange by the Sea which take place throughout the year. See
www.skyros.com for more.
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