Work, but in the best possible way

by Kate Bodiker – First Year Film Production Major

Friday was nothing but work, but in the best possible way. We got up and followed the usual morning routine of exercise and daily chores and then moved on to harvest beans, chard, and lettuce. It’s amazing to see the impacts that ARI’s farming and work techniques have had in the week we’ve been here.

After we finished up there, it was time for a quick breakfast and then we were off to shoot two interviews. One was with the current librarian who shared about how a lucky coincidence saved her life during the Great Japan Earthquake, and the other was a Japanese graduate who now works as a teacher at an institution similar to ARI in northern India. It’s mind blowing how much I have learned about the film production process in this week’s span, both thanks to our professor but also because of the skills and perspectives of my fellow students, who have managed to teach me so much.

After lunch, it was time for us to shoot some footage around the campus, and for the other group to set up an interview in one of ARI’s many gardens. We wanted to focus specifically on the livestock because it was the first day we were allowed to visit them due to a policy—anyone from out of the country has to wait at least a week before being around the animals and has to wear clothes that they got in Japan. Since we only needed a few people, Jeremiah, Alyssa, Peri, and I got into what we affectionately called our “farm chic.” We really leaned into the silliness of wearing clothes that aren’t our own, and even took at album cover photo in them for Instagram.

Once we got our fill of filming chickens, goats, and pigs, we headed back to the house we are staying at for a small break before going back to set up for another interview with a participant from Sierra Leone. All of the participants have such powerful stories about their faith and their belief in their community—I’m so blessed to be able to hear as many of the experiences as I have.

After we finished all of our work for the day, some other students and I went out to get conveyor belt sushi and just marvel at all of the Japanese culture as we biked around town and spent time together nurturing new relationships. We finished the whole evening with a ping pong tournament, where I beat our main contact at ARI in a high stakes final match. It was a great day of service, work, and friendship all around.