Und wieder ist eine neue Period vorüber und mein Philosophie Professor hat einen Text zum Anlass geschrieben. Er trifft wieder so gut, dass ich ihn gerne teilen möchte.
Seit dem Umzug hab ich endlich einen Ofen (yay!), was eine Rarität in den Niederlanden zu sein scheint, zumindest in Maastricht in den Studihäusern. Jedenfalls ist Backen für mich seitdem zu einem Moment der Mediation geworden. Nach einem lange Tag vor dem Laptop und den Büchern, mag ich nichts lieber als mich im Rezepte suchen und Zutaten zusammen werfen zu vergessen, Handy und Laptop beiseite zu legen und meine nur noch meine Hände zu benutzen. Den Geruch, der die Wohnung umschwebt tief einzuatmen und mich dann später an meinen kleinen Leckereien zu erfreuen. Und weil sharing caring ist, verteil ich auch immer mal gerne Muffins in der Uni in den Fächern von Freunden, wo sich normalerweise immer nur Papierkram ansammelt. Unsere "Pidgeonholes" dienen der Informations- und Dokumentenübertragung zwischen Uni und Studenten, aber das ist mir zu lahm. Kleine Notizen, die den Tag erheitern und Schleckerkram sind doch viel schöner!
Zurück zum Backen, Teun hat sich vom Brot Backen inspirieren lassen und inspiriert damit uns Studenten in der Reflektionweek mal einen Schritt von der Uni zurückzutreten und uns ein paar Gedanken um eines der essentiellsten Dinge in unserem Alltag Gedanken zumachen - der Nahrungsaufnahme. Here we go:
"With exams and paper writing coming to an end, and the first signs of spring poking through the greyness of winter, reflection week is here again. While there are many restorative things one could do (it’s your last chance to see the Rembrandt exhibition in Amsterdam!), perhaps none is more soul-soothing than spending an afternoon or two baking bread.
Much of what we do during the academic year feels very far removed from the essentials of life. We spend most of our days reading hyper specialized texts and writing about cutting edge science and social developments that are refinements of refinements. Thinking about desert-based distributions under conditions of scarcity, functional explanations of evolutionary developments, or post-modern interpretations of the work of Orson Welles is all tremendously interesting, but somehow one doubts that it would be useful in any way if civilization were wiped out tomorrow and we would have to survive on our own. In that sense, our studies alienate us and make us unfit for fulfilling our most fundamental needs, especially during exam week. We might be ready for graduate programs and careers, but can we fend for ourselves if the ecosystem of late-night openings at Albert Heijn, pizza delivery services and 24-hour fast-food would stop working?
Whenever I feel this way, I like to bake some bread. It starts with simple flour. Dead dust from the Earth that is combined with Water, and yeast from the Air. Infused with life though rhythmic pulling, consummate stroking, vigorous tugging of our hands in communion with the dough. Followed by silence and magical rising, nature’s response to our honest effort. But on our terms, as a firm punch knocks out the air and shapes the formless mass into loaves that swell again in a second rising. And then to the Fire, where controlled heat makes them shine, stretch and summons a golden brown with flecks of burnt black. And as we cut into that crackling crust, through firm airy flesh, we realize that it was our mixing of labour with the elements, our mastery of nature’s forces, that has brought into this world, ex nihilo, our lunch.
Whatever happens, nothing can take that feeling away. It’s one essential we’ve got covered, one fundamental need we can meet ourselves. And maybe that realization can reassure us that we’re not totally out of touch with the basics of life after all. It allows us to relax, and treat the baroque sophistication of our education as a luxury once again, one we can enjoy because we know that, no matter what, we will survive and even thrive.
I wish you a very happy and reassuring reflection week"
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