From the moment I stepped off the Amtrak train in Leavenworth, WA I have been in awe of the landscape around me. The air is fresher, everything is green and taller than any building. The mountains rise up in every direction, completely surrounding us in the plain little valley where the Grünewald Guild is located. We’ve been here three weeks now and I still can’t get over the scenery. The mountains aren’t new to me, I grew up near the Sierra Nevadas, but this feels so much more impressive and wild. They seemed almost too surreal at first. Everywhere I turn it looks like I’m looking at award-winning photos of landscape, it’s hard to believe how extensively beautiful Washington is.

While my main goal for this summer was to form new community relationships through service (and I have absolutely done that), my second goal was to explore and learn. I’m in a new environment, and it’s definitely different from Valparaiso. When going out to the woods in the mountains for the summer with the goal of exploring in mind, you tend to think of outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, camping, swimming, etc. things that put you out in the thick of the outdoors to find a meaningful experience. Friends from home have constantly been asking me if I’ve found any good hiking spots nearby. I have, but I’ve found my own way of exploring the world around me. I wander around the campus with my binoculars to spy on birds, squirrels and the occasional deer. On top of a boulder overlooking the Wenatchee River is my favorite spot for meditation and time to let my mind wander. I’ve learned that not all exploring has to happen in the way you expect though, sometimes the little adventures find you instead of you having to look for them. You can explore through old art pieces stored up in the attic and start to learn the history of the artists who’ve lived and taught here over the decades. Even sitting quietly on the front porch of a cabin can teach you so much. You notice the rain in the bright sunshine that only lasts for five minutes, you hear the birds chirping as they move about in the rustling trees, you meet new people who bike past or stop by for a visit. 

The mountains have given me a very interesting lesson. The world can seem too big for us to handle sometimes, it can feel like we’re very small and not able to get very far or like we won’t measure up to the highest peaks. But, taking each day and task slowly and calmly, we can slowly build up ourselves and others. Exploring and learning bit by bit has allowed me to feel more connected to my space here and offered me time for honest, peaceful reflection.

Building up,

Gabby Unzicker

Grünewald Guild Intern