Group Analytic Contexts, Issue 77, September 2017

24 Group-Analytic Society International - Contexts
It was my first GASi-congress and before, I was a bit afraid
about the dangers of incohesion there, so for me, these meetings were
of central importance, not only the biking.
Sarah Kalai, Jerusalem, Israel: Hiker
I was apprehensive about taking part in the symposium for two reasons.
The first was that Berlin was the city of the state that brought huge
destruction to my family, my people, the world. The second were
memories of the Lisbon symposium reminded me of how uneasy it
was for me.
So, I was glad to join a group, some of whom I knew from
the forum, to help in my first contact with the city and later with the
symposium. In addition, the structure that included a median group
and social dreaming promised containment.
Fiona Parker, Northern Ireland, UK: Hiker
It was lovely to meet everyone on the first evening in the median group
and the bike/hike shirts were a delight – the logo was perfect as were
all the greetings in different languages on the back. I felt a little bit of
an outsider to start with in the median group and on hearing Irish
voices knew that I was being given an opportunity to think about my
own crossing of borders in relation to growing up in Northern Ireland.
It was really important for me to hear German voices at this group and
being told to speak slowly; preparation for the conference.
Markus Schirpke, Berlin: Biker
When I heard about the project of bike and hike the wall it was
tempting and daunting to have a three-day physical and psychological
experience with people I mostly didn´t know before.
Sarah K. Small, Portland, USA: Hiker
I was inspired to attend the GASi conference, initially, for the chance
to meet some dear colleagues whom I’d only known in tele
conferences for a year or two, but not yet in person. It would also
serve to celebrate the completion of some long complicated personal
projects; and a chance to visit family & friends in England as well.
Also, it’s true that Groups are a lively edge of my psychotherapy
practice here in Portland, Oregon and I’m ever glad to learn more
about groups.