One of the really fun parts of spending a week of learning on Washington Island was experiencing an American island culture. On signs everywhere, I saw the phrase, "You are now north of the tension line." In essence, they were telling all us urbanites and surbabanites to calm down, relax and just enjoy being away from it all. The last time I slept in a room in summer without air conditioning was when I served as a counselor on the creative side at our Athens church camp. The difference was that in Wisconsin, it was really cool and comfortable both day and night.
Washington Island is a blend of Scandanavian and German cultures, evidenced by the Lutheran church, the many sausage "wursts" and the fish boils. The church above is the Lutheran church where our sessions were held as well as their Norwegian chapel, the Stavkirke, built across from the Lutheran church inmeditation garden. On Wednesday evening, one restaurant held a fish boil. I thought I knew what one was but soon realized I had no clue. Great lakes whitefish are placed in a huge iron pot along with potatoes, onions,etc. along with spices. At some crucial point known only by the boiler, a can of kerosene is tossed on the fire to cause a "boil over." And then he runs like the dickens. The boil over causes the skin of the fish to burn off and separates the bones from the flesh. It was probably one of the best fish dinners I ever enjoyed.
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