Elements of a transformational learning process as described by Mezirow (2000)—a disorienting
dilemma, critical self-reflection, social interactions, planning for action, and building
competence and self-confidence in new roles and relationships as a result of taking action—are
intertwined into each of the themes and subthemes. So for example, living in pristine nature and
experiencing a different life style may represent disorienting dilemmas; interestingly, being part
of the social community on course, where participants are thrown in with and unable to escape
from people of different backgrounds and ages, may also represent a disorienting dilemma, as
well as provide the social interactions that contribute to building competence and self-confidence
(c.f., Mezirow, 2000). The subthemes within the experiencing a different life style theme represent
stages of the OAE experience (breaking with normal life, lifestyle on course, and returning home),
and in some cases, anticipating the returning home stage allowed participants to plan for actions
post-course. However, many participants did not find outlets for their newfound commitments
post-course, a finding we return to in the discussion