PAOLO AND THE MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF THE WORD EXCHANGE

{L'article en version française}

After our workaway at Esther's and then at Ugo&Eric's, we continued our journey on the next hill, meeting and living a few weeks with a friend of Esther: Paolo.

Ten years ago, Paolo was co-owner for a bar in which he had worked for nine years of his life. Gradually, the routine made him decide to change his life. So he left alone, with his backpack, for South America, not knowing if he would ever return.  Unfortunately, two and a half months after his departure, a terrible earthquake struck Chile while he was there, causing many victims.
After this disaster where he witnessed the fragility of life, he decided to return to his native country, Italy. He has chosen to live more peacefully, being close to nature and his friends, and having as little recourse as possible to money.

- CURIOSITY LEADS TO KNOWLEDGE -

An old refuge that Paolo and Alberto are renovating

Since childhood, Paolo has always been curious by nature. His passion for wood began very early, helping family members to tinker. He then continued to experiment and practice disciplines that crossed his path. Ten years ago, he was able to learn from Vittorio (a self-taught builder) how to build walls and roofs in dry stone [that is without any mortar, only stones and patience 👌]. One thing led to another, he accumulated a lot of knowledge about construction. Now he is proud to tell us that he feels autonomous to build a house. In this way, since January 2018, he has teamed up with Alberto, a childhood friend, to renovate a very old stone refuge in an artisanal and ecological way.
He was also able to learn the art of basketry after a short apprenticeship with an old man who kindly taught him his skills.
Through these ancestral techniques, he adopts a way of life in accordance with his principles, using natural materials and methods that require taking time. He willingly gave us this time to continue this transmission of knowledge. Thanks to him, we were able to learn the basics of building a dry stone wall. We also each made our first willow basket! 😎

Learning how to make a wicker basket - Our dry stone wall

 - A SIMPLER LIFE -
Now, to earn money, Paolo uses wood, stone and his love of gardening; skills he has acquired over time. His slower pace of life gives him more free time to dedicate himself to his friends, his entourage and enjoy the nature around him. This also enable him to continue the restoration of an old stone house, in which he currently lives. This property is being lent to him free of charge by a friend in exchange of the renovations he is doing.

- A COLLECTIVE AFFECTION -
In the village, Paolo is known and appreciated by many. This is easily explained by his caring personality, overflowing with joy, not counting his time to listen and be helpful.
He is very dynamic and likes collective projects. With three friends, he organizes days of mutual aid based on the simple principle: when one of them needs it, the others come to help him.
Wanting to contribute to the region's vitality, this same group of friends is preparing a summer festival in which groups and musicians from the region will perform.

In addition to these projects, Paolo likes to organize "workshop" days where he invites his friends and family to share knowledge. During our visit, we were able to offer a diy soap workshop, and thus teach knowledge acquired during our trip. 🤓

Artisanal soap workshop

With about ten people (friends and neighbours who have become friends), he participates in a reading group. Every fortnight, a meeting is held at a different member's home. Guests listen to this person read a passage from a book, a poem, a manifesto or any other text. They often develop subjects that are important for them, such as ecology, feminism, or even discuss alternative ways of life. These moments are important because they allow these friends - aged 26 to 75 - to see each other frequently, as well as to discuss and debate.

Paolo, this energetic man, is also a member of a travelling film association. Ecology is the main theme of the films chosen and shown in 15 participating villages. Each in turn, the town provide a municipal hall to welcome spectators. After each screening, the inhabitants of the next village prepare an aperitif. Thus, these events make it possible to create a place of meeting and exchange between people from the same territory.

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All these people are familiar with the word "exchange", whether it is conversations, points of view, services, but also with their homemade products.
Thus, when you live with Paolo, you can enjoy Alberto's honey, Vera's and Tino's preserves, Lorenza's olive oil, Gina's eggs, Franco's olives, Gina's and Fiorenzo's hazelnuts...

The meeting with Paolo was very exciting, because he is a man who really gets involved through concrete actions. He rehabilitate a society of mutual aid and interdependence, while the current trend values individualism.
He contributes to the emergence of intergenerational places, meetings for exchanges, debates and learning.
Paolo is a creator of a local network, and I would even say that he is an inventor of a policy for his territory, an alternative way of living where the collective is at the heart of it.

Concert organized with friends