This whole idea of a group of foreigners landing in unknown territory to somehow participate and take part in one anothers lives raises a few challenges. Ostensibly the group of foreigners (edgeryders) are initially there to meet one another, share and learn some new skills but then also turn some of that energy around into the surrounding neighbourhood and city beyond. We are supposing that from day one of the gathering local Materans are also invited to somehow join in the LOTE process along with the design of the present/future unMon.
But what do the entry points look like for ‘ordinary’ local folk? And even for some of us ‘ordinary’ unlocal, edgeryder folk? What kind of meeting grounds are we actually preparing for one another? What do we hope to be communicating with one another? Who will translate for who? Is it simply about translating words or do we rather hope to be translating truly innovative, yet unspoken, even untranslatable, intentions, ideas, dreams and ways of being, ways of taking action? This will be a bunch of humans coming together with the desire to somehow collaborate and learn from on another, to codesign new urban, social as well as very personal possibilities. What do humans need?
How do we create space for body/minds/spirits to stay integrated, feel present, embodied and sustainable in an environment of high level learning, innovation and exchange? What will a group of foreigners and locals meeting up need in order to feel comfortable in themselves, to truly step forward, to put forward their various thoughts, ideas, viewpoints? And what kind of space or spaces will they need so as to then try things out, to create…make mistakes, play, experiment, co-work, prototype…?
Ok so these are simply the beginnings of a few of my questions. What is this gathering and exchange going to look and feel like to all of us aliens when we land on this new planet? I want to hear more about hosting/curating some sort of open, common learning space for us all (in body/mind/spirit) to feel welcome. I do have a few ideas of my own but no point in sharing unless I am even on the same page as anyone else. Thanks.