Entering Civilization

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Physically I hadn't had it easier in years. Back in the bush there had always been wood to chop, bread to bake, rabbits to feed, grain to grind, school to teach, and floors to sweep. Here I felt out of my element maneuvering a whining vacuum cleaner across my carpeted living space, and I often wore earplugs to cope with the racket. Still, compared to my bush house, which also served as a toolshed, woodworking shop, school, and food-processing plant, this one was tremendously easy to keep clean. It was no longer necessary for me to cook three meals from scratch a day; I found that, as a family of three, we ate substantially less.

The only wood I had to chop or pack was for the fireplace, and after 11 years of hand washing, having an automatic washer and dryer was sheer fun. I noticed on my daily walks to the post office (this felt like real freedom after waiting one month to six weeks between trips for mail in the bush) how each dryer vent from the houses beside the road exhaled the same smell of fabric softener. In civilization, everyone's laundry smelled the same. In the bush, my clothes came off the line permeated with the smell of wind and rain. The modern convenience I had the most difficulty adjusting to was the television set, and eventually I threw it out in favor of expanding our bookshelf.

Home School vs. Public School

For Natalia and Ben, the most radical change was attending public school after having been home schooled their whole lives. Suddenly they were forced to ignore their impulses; their lives became governed by clocks and schedules. In modern society, children are fitted into the tight harness of someone else's schedule. Constant diversions and a whirl of activity quickly become their reality. In the bush, our lives moved with the cadence of the seasons. I'm left wondering when people ever have a chance to grow and cultivate the gardens of creative thought that lead to invention.

On the first morning of school, I walked my children a half-mile up the road to the bus stop. I felt guilty about handing them over to the public system. However, I had given them the choice, and both were eager to make friends. This wasn't so easy. Ben cried on the first day and developed a stutter, which has thankfully subsided.

To our dismay, Nat's greatest fear materialized. At the outset she was completely rejected by her classmates. However, her independent learning proved to be an asset. She remained conscientious about her work and ended up winning the academic achievement award, bestowed annually on one student in the graduating class.

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