12 students, 12 weeks

Okay, where to begin.

I'll start with some of the simpler stuff. I'm just finishing up my first week of training with GMI (Green Mountain Institute) in Portugal. The name of the founders and trainers are Judith and Michael Jamieson, a married couple who split their time between Bennington, VT and somewhere outside of London, England. Michael is of British ancestry, Judith from New York/Vermont area originally. There are 12 students in the program whom I am slowing getting to know, some better and faster than others. Many of the students come from across the US, one from Mexico, one originates from France, one lives here in the Algarve region of Portugal, though he lived the first 40 years in Germany (immigrated to Portugal 20+ years ago).

I live with 4 others; 2 women, 2 men. I would have to say that thus far, communal living has been the source of my greatest angst. Those of you who have known me or spent much time with me in my home know that I'm obsessive about neatness, organization, and order. I also have a relatively quiet existence, preferring to read rather than socialize or make small talk, preferring to rise early and retire early. Now, my housemates are doing everything in their conscious power to be kind and accommodating to my preferences. They have been very considerate and responsive to my expressed desires. I, too, am trying to let go and relax, recognize that 'my way' is not the way - just a way.

The apartment is,..... how can I describe it? Traditional southern Portugese, well-worn, and quirky. My housemates and I describe it as living in the ghetto. There are some electrical wiring issues; if a heater is on and too much other power is drawn, the electrical system becomes overwhelmed and shuts down. The first few days we were noticing that the gas stove was pooling a clear liquid. While it didn't smell, it did become alight when we held a match to it. Alas, a few issues with the stove but a secondary source of heat was discovered which came in handy when the electrical units shut down! The location is just one road off the main beach in town so I can hear the ocean waves from my bedroom. Unfortunately, we are discouraged from opening the metal grates when we are sleeping or away from the apartment as it's a 'call' to would-be burglars to scavenge our contents for goodies. Alas, there are still the preverbial mosquitoes in paradise.

I am most enamoured with the people in the program. I have known myself, historically, to be someone who can be too easily annoyed with others but I'm genuinely smitten when I look into the eyes of any one of them. We are different, unique, have varying levels of training and education, and still we come with a wish to learn how to skillfully put our hands on others and be of service. I have gravitated to one very wonderful woman, in particular, who feels like a sister from another life. My connection with her feels effortless and easy, familiar. Laressa and her partner, Ali, share an apartment nearby - while she is in training with me, he works via phone/internet and some travel. She has been so kind as to make available her internet connection so that I type in comfort, without being on the clock at a smokey internet diner. Thank you, Laressa - I will repay your kindness in good chocolate and the occasional beer.

Speaking of beer, I enjoyed my first brew in a week last night as we came out of our 5th day of class. We are not to combine alcohol and massaging so my opportunities to imbibe are few. We went to a British-styled pub where rugby played on one TV and football (soccer) played on another. Also, no coffee for over a week now. I've shifted to herbal tea without too much pain or anguish. The diet for me is centered on fruit (the oranges are mindblowing, grown locally) and bread (baked fresh daily just a 2 minute walk from the ghetto). The kitchen is a challenge for my culinary habits; the storage space for each of us is limited and the utensils sparse. But I am well-fed and don't go without.

The class schedule is a little more rugged than I anticipated. We attend Monday through Friday, approximately 8:30am to 7pm with a 2 hour break for lunch. Every 2nd Saturday is also a class day but generally shorter. I'm pleased with this as my funds for exploring further afield in Portugal are limited. I walk a lot and because I am close to the beach and cliffs at the east end of Luz it's easy to access some nature. Outside of class and basic life habits (eating, shopping, sleeping, personal hygiene), I read and walk and stay near the water.

Class time is split between theory and practice, maybe 1/3 theory and 2/3 practice. We work on each other as students, switching between giving and receiving a massage. I know it's likely tough to summon up any kind of sympathy for this new grueling schedule considering that I spend an hour or so each day receiving a massage but it's surprisingly intense - particularly because the content is so new to me. Anatomy and Physiology are strange new subjects for me and I've never been at ease with Biology or the other sciences. My head spins a little when I try to get a handle on the names of the 4 gabillion body parts.

Even considering my experience of feeling a little over my head and overwhelmed, I'm orienting myself to the space, the place, the people, the practice, and the schedule. I find myself wondering how I will one day 'connect the dots' between my history/training/passion for psychotherapy and this new frontier. Today, as part of meeting the course requirements, I had a 1 and 1/2 hour massage with Michael. I imagine they would like each of us as students to develop a sense of what a good massage feels like and how their structures and system fall into place as a whole. There were many times during the unbelievable bodywork that I could feel the easy overlap between working the mind/body/heart bridge in massage. While not clear, I still trust that the pieces will fall into place and the mystery will reveal itself, magnificent as always.

I miss home some. I miss Bradford and Ben greatly. I find myself sometimes wishing the time away, counting the weeks or days. But as I lay on the massage table under Michael's masterful hands this morning, I felt so alive with the experience and the possibility of learning how to be so skillful, so supportive as a practitioner with the ability to 'touch' someone so profoundly, well, I found myself thinking that another 11 weeks will never be enough time to absorb and learn all that awaits me.

That's the thing with me, I need to remember to be awake where I am rather than traversing the wilderness of my mind and missing the moment that lies before me.

I am taking pictures as I wander through my days and explore this new place. I have yet to figure out how or if I can somehow connect my camera to a computer and link my pictures to the internet. I hope to write a weekly update by blog so this is the way I can translate my experience for now.

Sending you my love.