I'm not a JW, never have been.
My friend described Bethel as a place where one can be trained up in a trade and help with the printing of WTS literature. He described it as a self sufficient home where many witnesses aspire to go because you're only arpund other followers and it doses you up good on spirituality. But then i read about it online and apparently there's bells ringing and quick meals and it's really hard work and it sounded somewhat like an INSTITUTION?!?!
So, i'm asking especially to hear from those who lived there themselves, what's Bethel all about?
Would i be right in assuming it is different in different countries (we're not in america).