No Water, No Electricity, Two Children: Reina on the Early Days

Details

  • Interviewee: Reina
  • Role: Community Member
  • Community: Nieuw en Meer
  • Date: 2026-01-14
  • Language: en

Summary

In this interview, Reina shares her experiences of living in a community since its inception. She began her journey with two young children in an area lacking basic amenities like water and electricity. Despite these challenges, she describes the early days as beautiful and reminiscent of paradise. Community interactions were characterized by freedom and acceptance, although she highlights the necessity of establishing rules for collective living. Reina acknowledges that managing differences among residents can lead to tension but emphasizes the importance of finding harmony for the greater good.

Key quotes

The most beautiful.

We accepted everything from each other. Everything.

You have to accept that people do not have the same ideas as you, and still you have to make a deal.

Sometimes you feel that something is really wrong, and it makes you angry.

Transcript

**[Reina]:** My name is Reina, and I have been living here for many years, from the start, from the beginning.

**[Interviewer]:** How was the beginning?

**[Reina]:** The most beautiful.

**[Interviewer]:** Can you tell me a little?

**[Reina]:** Oh, this will be a long story. I came with my two children. Elvis was five years old, and the other was one and a half, three. There was no water, no electricity anywhere in this area. First we were in the big building. There were no walls, just one big space.

This was for some time. Because of the small children. There were very few cars, and it was so free. It felt like paradise. Really. It is still nice. I enjoyed living here very much. The beginning may have been hard, but it was very well meant.

**[Interviewer]:** How was the community life here at the beginning?

**[Reina]:** Perfect. We were all free. Very free.

**[Interviewer]:** It is beautiful.

**[Reina]:** Yes. It was. We accepted everything from each other. Everything. It was a great time. And still, it is so nice to be here. People have different ideas, and we live in a very small community. The people who live here also work here. You always have to come together.

We have our rules here because we have to make our own rules. Sometimes this creates tension. You have to accept that people do not have the same ideas as you, and still you have to make a deal. That is the only way. When people only stand with their own ideas, it does not work.

Sometimes you feel that something is really wrong, and it makes you angry.

**[Interviewer]:** That is important.

**[Reina]:** Yes. It is. Sometimes you feel it inside. In the end, you have to make it good for everyone.