One of the hunters was talking about the cycles of the season and the corresponding work that needed to be done. He said "one has a sense that everything is getting done at the right time and all the right things are happening" - it was clear from his heartfelt declaration that he was completely - all of them were completely in harmony with nature. The same hunter shared that you could take everything away from a man, but not his skills. He was proud of his skills which are substantial, from making skiis to complex, ingenious traps to log cabins. With an axe, for the most part. Throughout is a sense of accomplishment, pride and fulfillment -- and honest, transparent communication. It is all an eye opener from my western consumer perspective. Too few if any in today's urban world are as happy as that. I think there's learning here for us urban desk slaves.
On this note, an interesting perspective was the Tet/Siberian natives and the problem with alcohol. They seemed unhappy, and blamed their alcoholism and situation on the Russians and their vodka. What stands out is they essentially have no disadvantage in terms of opportunity relative to the hunters. If anything, they have a community to fall back on. I recognize this projection of blame, being from Canada, where we have thrown so much money at helping and getting literally nowhere except criticized and in debt. I feel compassion but not responsibility.
This was very enjoyable - I find their ethos of hard work, self sufficiency, transparency of feeling, kindness and pride in what they have accomplished to be very compelling -- illustrating as it does what is needed for human fulfillment.
On this note, an interesting perspective was the Tet/Siberian natives and the problem with alcohol. They seemed unhappy, and blamed their alcoholism and situation on the Russians and their vodka. What stands out is they essentially have no disadvantage in terms of opportunity relative to the hunters. If anything, they have a community to fall back on. I recognize this projection of blame, being from Canada, where we have thrown so much money at helping and getting literally nowhere except criticized and in debt. I feel compassion but not responsibility.
This was very enjoyable - I find their ethos of hard work, self sufficiency, transparency of feeling, kindness and pride in what they have accomplished to be very compelling -- illustrating as it does what is needed for human fulfillment.