Alumni on ECLA
Adina Scortescu, Romania
Attended: Academy Year 2004/05 & Project Year 2005/06
Currently: Student, Le Cordon Bleu - Académie d'Art Culinaire, Paris
I first came to ECLA for the summer university because I needed an efficient broken-heart remedy; then I returned home for one year to finish my journalism studies. I came back for the academic year with the conviction that journalism is not my thing and that I should explore my other interests. I stayed for the project year thinking it would be a good preparation for a Master's degree in London. When I graduated, I was sure about two things: I don't want to go back to the 'regular' type of schooling; I'd like my children to have the chance of attending ECLA.
I got a lot during that period of time: the pleasure of working directly with the text, devoid of the crutches of secondary literature, then the stress of dealing with many sources; an addiction to German rye bread, a new sport - going to the sauna, some friends, one boyfriend, the time to think, a space where I could pursue my theatre-related fantasies, the chance of having the teachers I had dreamed of; and also three extra kilos, an interest in ethics, an inclination towards basic, sensual activities that pushed me to go on to study pastry, which is what I'm currently doing. If it's hard for you to imagine a connection between philosophy or literature and baking cakes, then - I'm sorry to let you know - you're not the ECLA type; not yet at least. If you come to ECLA and you're not that type of person, then you'll probably experience it as a continuous stepping on your toes which is painful and doesn't let you move on with your normal life. But if you are, your experience will be more like having received a blow to your head that made you suddenly feel excited, if not happy.
I was lucky; to me it felt like happiness. However, I did need more than one blow before I became comfortable with being surrounded by the same small group of people all day long, in the cafeteria, in the lecture hall, in the garden, even in the sauna. 'Being at ECLA is like being in your pyjamas all the time', this is how one of our teachers once explained why it is so demanding. As far as I'm concerned, I can't think of a better way to spend my life.