At the beginning of August for one week 14 friends from South Korea came to visit us in Newton Dee. They were a group of co-workers, parents and adults with additional support needs.
Their intention was to see in every-day life how we live, work and dance together before they settle into a community like ours. Four of the founding ladies had amongst them many years of experience at the Sheiling Ringwood School, Camphill Schools and Newton Dee.
Their planned project is called OKCHEON DAMJAENGI VILLAGE. They have identified a site and one of the brothers of the founders has drawn up plans for a community centre and homes near-by.
In the nearest City Daejeon, they have started already a centre where people come to work during the day.
We spend six full and rich days together. Our guests were staying in places of accommodation across the Village. The first day was put aside for guided tours through the Village and space was made for a conversation between co-workers and parents involved in the Okcheon Damjaengi Village project and co-workers from all aspects of Village life in Newton Dee. This became an experience of honest questions and deep sharing.
The next two days our visitors experienced our daily life. Workshops had invited teams of 4-5 people and prepared so that they could be involved in meaningful projects like weeding, harvesting, Estate work, store deliveries, wood and metal work etc.
Toy Workshop
Roadside Garden
Newton Dee Farm
Tea Break
Store Deliveries
Picking up the milk churns
Metal Workshop
Estate Team
People returned with smiling faces for lunch and supper, some with precious finished projects! For lunch many houses opened their doors, put extra chairs around the table and invited our guests for lunch.
Orion House Lunch
Cafe
Mealtimes in the evening became a space when we all, hosts and guests, spend joyous time together. It always was a feast, either prepared by the numerous people from our community who had volunteered to look after our guests or on two evenings we were invited to delicious Korean cuisine!
Beannachar
And our time culminated in a wonderful social Korean Scottish cultural evening, in which we showcased glimpses into each other’s culture.
Cooking preparations for the Korean Feast enjoyed by all at the end of the evening
The Newton Dee in-house Ceilidh band played and Ginny called the dances.
The younger Koreans gave a superb performance of a choreography to a piece of K-pop! The atmosphere in the hall was electric! And the parents sang a lovely folk song!
We had a touching exchange of gifts. David Newbatt had created a painting to take home to South Korea, which expresses the shared history of Korea and Scotland regarding Stone circles. People in both countries, 1000s of miles apart, built them … years ago.
Our guests gave us a precious piece of framed Calligraphy, which contains the essence of our guiding vision statement written beautifully in Korean! We will need to find a worthy place to hang it.
The train on Saturday left at 15:00 from Stonehaven. Time enough to do a quick whirl wind tour of the Shire! Astrid and Wolo took the group up the Mount Road to have a picnic tea break on the windy top overlooking the Hills and the Sea, followed by a drive down into the Mearns and Stonehaven, a coastal walk from Dunnottar Castle into the town, followed by a fish and chips lunch! (of course!)
Up in the Heather Hills
Dunnottar Castle
This is a quick description of a very beautiful and busy week. However, the personal accounts of our visitors which they shared with us once they had arrived back home safely, say much more.
Reflections on Our Visit to Newton Dee Camphill
As a father, I have always wished for Chanwoo to be able to live his own life. Through this visit, I came to realize that such a life is truly possible.
I also came to understand that everyone has their own special needs, and that, with a spiritual foundation, there are ways to help people avoid becoming slaves to material possessions and consumerism.
Through the four different workshops we experienced, I was reminded once again of an important truth: the value of the work a person does—and indeed the value of the person who does the work—is determined by the person themselves.
I have long worried that Chanwoo, who finds it difficult to clearly express his wishes, might be disadvantaged in society or exploited by social systems. But during this visit, I came to understand a simple truth: if there is a community that invites Chanwoo to work alongside others, shares meals with him, listens to whatever he has to say, and responds to him with care, then these concerns can be overcome.
The word “more” has been a powerful force for the development of our society, but I have come to realize that it can also stand in the way of living a truly human life. Rather than striving to live “better,” Damjaengi seeks to live “right.” We will continue to work toward becoming a Damjaengi and OnVille community where people can live their lives fully, meaningfully, and together. Kyuwan Kim
Kyuwan Kim – father and Heonsuk Park – mother of Chanwoo
First of all, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend a week seeing and experiencing Camphill firsthand, a place I had previously only heard about. I am also grateful for all the grace and inspiration I received during our time there.
I was deeply touched by the thoughtfully prepared meals and accommodation, and I was impressed by the way everyone treated each person with genuine respect and dignity.
I could feel that the passion and commitment to respecting and caring for people, and to putting the value of mutual care into practice, are the driving forces behind Camphill.
Through the workshops and visits to the houses, I experienced a sense of harmony and balance between the body, soul, and spirit. Seeing the people there living healthy and beautiful lives gave me both a sense of possibility and a challenge to reflect on my own life.
In particular, I was deeply moved by the value of work that gives life to people.
I hope that what we experienced here will not simply remain a memory of the past, but will continue to connect and grow in other people and in different communities and environments.
I pray that we will be given the wisdom, strength, and grace to make the efforts necessary to carry what we have learned at Newton Dee forward into our own lives and community. Heonsuk Park – mother of Chanwoo
With anticipation and excitement, we arrived at Cherrywood of Newton Dee Camphill. A beautiful bouquet of wildflowers placed on the round table welcomed us and became the beginning of a warm and meaningful journey that would unfold over the following week.
We stepped directly into the rich and diverse rhythm of daily life at Camphill, sharing its everyday moments and the small but precious tasks of daily living. It was not simply a time of helping with work. Rather, it was an opportunity to experience, with our whole selves, how to live together, each at our own pace and in our own way.
Living in Muhyeok’s time. What we value most, in the end, is people.
We dream of building a community where good people and good neighbors live together, care for one another, and create a good life together.
Boksoon Song – Mother of Muhyeok
Boksoon Song – mother and Jeongyon Jeong – father of Muhyeok
We were able to catch a glimpse of how much effort, dedication, and perseverance Newton Dee Camphill has invested over its long 80-year history. For us, who are only just beginning our own journey, Newton Dee became a great source of inspiration and a model to learn from.
I wondered how everyone—co-workers, villagers, and staff—could be so peaceful, kind, and full of smiles. Even when there are challenges and difficult times, Newton Dee has endured and continued to grow. Its history gave us the confidence that we, too, can write our own story of success.
A place where everyone can live and grow together, from cradle to grave—that is the kind of community we dream of creating.
And the Cultural Evening is something I will never forget.
We have received so much kindness, grace, and inspiration from Newton Dee. We will carry what we have learned back to Korea and do our very best to build our own community well.
And one day, when we have created our community in Korea, we would love to invite you all to Korea. Jeongyon Jeong – father of Muhyeok
From Newton Dee to Korea, With Love and Gratitude
There are no words that can truly express how grateful I am for everything Newton Dee has given to me and to our Korean group, and for all the kindness, love, and grace you have shown us. I don’t think I will ever be able to fully return all that I have received from Newton Dee. But I hope to carry what I have received here forward in my own way. I will do my very best in Korea and put all my heart, passion, and strength into building a Korean Camphill community.
I will always remember what I experienced and received at Newton Dee, and I will carry it with me wherever I go. I hope that what you have shared with us will continue through the work we do in Korea, and that one day we can share something of what we have built with you as well.
Even from far away, I will always think of Newton Dee, pray for you, and cheer you on. Please take good care of yourselves, everyone. I sincerely hope that you all stay healthy and well. With much love and huge hugs, Miya xxx
