I haven't posted since we left Illinois. On the first night, Monday, exhaustion got the best of me; last night, we didn’t have access to wireless in our hotel room. So, I guess that means I have a lot to say! I’ll try to be brief and give more of my personal thoughts on what we’ve done rather than recounting each leg of the trip to avoid redundancy among our posts.
Though I’ve been out west twice (once to California, and once to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas), I flew both times. Our entire trip took me through states that I’ve never driven through and some of the scenery was pretty spectacular. We drove through Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The highlight of the drive was definitely today, through New Mexico. We finally got that “out west” feel, with Robin swearing that she saw tumbleweed (some of us were skeptical about this). Unfortunately, my need for sleep and the dark of night prevented me from seeing EVERYTHING on the way out here, but I think I got my fix of mountainous scenery regardless.
We made two major touristy stops along the way. The first was on Tuesday, when we visited the Oklahoma City Memorial. I found it a little difficult to see because of the context. I’ve visited New York, Washington DC, etc. and viewed my fair share of memorials but have always felt somewhat prepared for them. Though this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment stop, it was still strange to go abruptly from the relaxed atmosphere of a van road trip, sitting for hours with friends in sweatpants, to such a powerfully serious experience. I also felt that I needed longer to really take in the memorial and give it the proper respect that I felt it deserved. Regardless, I’m still glad that we went. It helped me put some things into perspective, especially with New Years creeping up on us. Which is tonight! I haven’t even written my overly ambitious list of resolutions yet; I’m ill-prepared to greet the new year.
Our second sight-seeing experience was today, in New Mexico. We visited Sky City, a historic pueblo village atop a mesa that is still in use today. Unfortunately, my camera battery is almost dead and I couldn’t find my charger before leaving, so I didn’t get any pictures at Sky City. Adam did though, and he is the photog in the group, so I think we’re covered. We had a spectacular view of the surrounding land from the mesa and had a very informative (and occasionally humorous) tour guide who told us some stories about the culture’s history. We had a brief, but interesting, conversation after the tour about feeling like tourists and outsiders. Though we weren’t trespassing and were obviously contributing economically to a system that they themselves had established, some of us were still struggling with playing the tourist role. I didn’t feel guilty, persay, because we weren’t disrespectful by any means. I couldn’t help feeling like we’re always promoting this us-them culture and keeping Native Americans in the role of the Other by being spectators that pay a fee to come visit their village, hear their stories, browse their artwork for sale, etc. I don’t have an easy solution to this feeling, obviously. Our intentions weren’t malicious and we were simply trying gain some firsthand knowledge about their culture, but if I’ve learned anything from our readings and discussions in CI 403 this semester, it is that one doesn’t necessary have to harbor any ill will to contribute to a system that keeps certain people and cultures in the role of the Other.
Contemplations aside, it really was neat. I was glad to get out of the car and do something intellectually stimulating and really feel like I was outside of the Midwest. We’re spending the night at Mark’s house (which really does have a spectacular view, he didn’t exaggerate) and ringing in the new year… though it feels odd to start my year in a different time zone. I’m not sure what’s in store for tomorrow, aside from a professional French toast breakfast courtesy of Adam and his mad cooking skills. Til then… Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
11:13 a.m. Car Post
Right now we are approaching Albuquerque, New Mexico on our way to Acoma, Sky City, to see a Pueblo community. Word is that on this three hour excursion, we will pay $20 to be tourists to this Indian community while being badgered to buy a pot (as in pottery). Can you tell I am a little skeptical? We will see.
Yesterday we traveled about 15 ½ hours from Columbia, Missouri through Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas. From there we traveled to Oklahoma City, where we stopped to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building and the brave rescue crews that responded minutes after. I remember vaguely seeing my mother watching the news when it happened, but I don’t remember details. I don’t know if I have seen footage or not from the time but walking around the memorial, I almost lost my breath trying to imagine what those minutes were like 13 years ago.
The memorial was very beautiful, and I think appropriately and respectfully designed. There were 168 white and gold chairs where the federal building stood to represent the ones that lost their lives – employees in the building, visitors, and five people who were killed outside of the building. The reflecting pool, the center of the memorial, was the 5th Avenue that the building was on. While hundreds of buildings were damaged from the bombing (16 structures besides the federal building were so damaged they had to be torn down and rebuilt), one tree that stood maybe 100 feet across from the building survived. It’s called the Survivor’s Tree. I’m really glad we stopped at the memorial. It was Emily’s idea – I think it was a great one and definitely worth it.
From Oklahoma City we went to Amarillo, Texas and ate at Tex-Mex at Acapulco restaurant. We were all really hungry by the time we stopped for dinner (8:30pm), and the highlight of the meal included Alyssa’s plate-sized 1 lb. burger that was literally bigger than her head. We finished out the night by arriving in New Mexico, and we stayed at a hotel in Tucumcari.
Overall, I think the traveling is going very well. Mark has insisted on being the driver the whole way, so the rest of us are shifting positions at our rest stops to change it up (mostly me, because I get antsy). We have all been reading (Alyssa with her Twilight books, Adam with The Accidental Asian, and Em and I with our teaching books for next semester), listening to music, and sleeping (Branden being the winner here! Haha). We all seem to be enjoying ourselves and Branden has not surprisingly seemed to fit right in with us. It’s great. I’ve never been on a road trip with this many people and have never traveled through these states by car. My favorite so far, of course, has been New Mexico. I love the Southwest region and have seriously considered moving to this area. It’s nice to drive through here – and I imagine it will only get better.
It’s very hilly here and I’m feeling a little light-headed – I think it’s time to take a break from typing. I’ll update again tonight or tomorrow.
11: 13 am
Yesterday we traveled about 15 ½ hours from Columbia, Missouri through Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas. From there we traveled to Oklahoma City, where we stopped to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building and the brave rescue crews that responded minutes after. I remember vaguely seeing my mother watching the news when it happened, but I don’t remember details. I don’t know if I have seen footage or not from the time but walking around the memorial, I almost lost my breath trying to imagine what those minutes were like 13 years ago.
The memorial was very beautiful, and I think appropriately and respectfully designed. There were 168 white and gold chairs where the federal building stood to represent the ones that lost their lives – employees in the building, visitors, and five people who were killed outside of the building. The reflecting pool, the center of the memorial, was the 5th Avenue that the building was on. While hundreds of buildings were damaged from the bombing (16 structures besides the federal building were so damaged they had to be torn down and rebuilt), one tree that stood maybe 100 feet across from the building survived. It’s called the Survivor’s Tree. I’m really glad we stopped at the memorial. It was Emily’s idea – I think it was a great one and definitely worth it.
From Oklahoma City we went to Amarillo, Texas and ate at Tex-Mex at Acapulco restaurant. We were all really hungry by the time we stopped for dinner (8:30pm), and the highlight of the meal included Alyssa’s plate-sized 1 lb. burger that was literally bigger than her head. We finished out the night by arriving in New Mexico, and we stayed at a hotel in Tucumcari.
Overall, I think the traveling is going very well. Mark has insisted on being the driver the whole way, so the rest of us are shifting positions at our rest stops to change it up (mostly me, because I get antsy). We have all been reading (Alyssa with her Twilight books, Adam with The Accidental Asian, and Em and I with our teaching books for next semester), listening to music, and sleeping (Branden being the winner here! Haha). We all seem to be enjoying ourselves and Branden has not surprisingly seemed to fit right in with us. It’s great. I’ve never been on a road trip with this many people and have never traveled through these states by car. My favorite so far, of course, has been New Mexico. I love the Southwest region and have seriously considered moving to this area. It’s nice to drive through here – and I imagine it will only get better.
It’s very hilly here and I’m feeling a little light-headed – I think it’s time to take a break from typing. I’ll update again tonight or tomorrow.
11: 13 am
Leaving 2008 behind...
We made it - we're finally in Colorado at Mark's house!! It feel so nice not to be in motion.
We passed through a lot of states yesterday in our nearly sixteen hours of travel. We began in Columbia, MO, went through Kansas City, made our way to Oklahoma City, then Amarillo, TX (where we had some great Mexican food), and finally Tucumcari, NM, where we spent the night. I requested that we stop in OKC to see the National Memorial there, and I'm so glad we did. It was really beautiful and I hope to add pictures later. We were talking as we walked through the memorial, and we were so young when Oklahoma City was bombed. I don't think I understood the reality of the tragedy until I saw hundreds of chairs memorialing the victims, including several heartbreakingly small chairs symbolizing children who were killed. It's definitely a cool thing to see if you happen to be passing through Oklahoma. (But be warned that that's about ALL there is to see in that long, flat state. Eek.)
Today seemed like a short one compared to yesterday, and I suppose it was. We got an early start and headed west through New Mexico to Albuquerque before stopping in Acoma Sky City to see the Pueblo settlement there. It was our first taste of American Indian culture, and it was pretty amazing. First of all, Sky City is located in an amazingly picturesque area, so the view is breathtaking. Also, it claims to be the oldest continuously-inhabited settlement in the country, dating back to the 12th century. Our tour guide stressed the Pueblo's history with the Spanish, which was anything but pleasant. A major part of Sky City is its mission, established by Spanish missionaries, and for quite some time, Spaniards punished those who refused to practice Catholicism. Many were whipped and sent to a lives of servitude in Mexican missions. Eventually, the Pueblos converted (or at least publicly) and the brutality ended. Now, the people in Acoma practice a combination of Catholicism and their native religion, which is more environmentally based. Very few families actually live in Sky City full time, since there is no electricity or running water there, but many people own houses and property there but live 9-12 miles away in other villages. I think my favorite part of the society is that it's matrilineal society, so all of the property is owned and inherited by the women, while the men do all the governing (to make things even?) - I could get used to that. :)
(Side note: our visit to Sky City was also the first time we experienced being white people observing the Indians...it was okay...? Sky City has capitalized on white America's desire to see their native culture, so I think that feeling like tourists is inevitable - we wouldn't have been able to see anything without being tourists, and I don't think that the people resented us because they've chosen to open their lives to the public. I'm sure we'll have a very different experience at Rock Point - I HOPE?)
I realized that I forgot to talk about the bilingual program at Rock Point Community School, which is what I'm really excited to see. As many of you know, I will be working with a lot of English language learners next semester, and probably throughout my career in urban education. Although my students will no longer be labeled as ELL, many of them will probably not be entirely bilingual. From conversation with Mark, I've learned that the students at Rock Point are dealing with the same problems as many of my Spanish-speaking students in the suburbs - they learned to speak both the Navajo native language and English socially at home, but they have no basis for academic language, which is what they need to have for my class. (If that doesn't make sense to you, think about it this way: social language fluency is knowing what a table is, while academic language fluency includes the comprehension of phrases like "table of contents" or "periodic table.") Likewise, many of my students will enter my classroom with both Spanish and English social language, but little to no academic language. I'm very interested to see how the bilingual program works, since it has been recognized by academia as being one of the first successful programs in the country (or so says Robin, who has done some research on it - right, Robin?). Hopefully I'll take away some usable strategies.
Last, but not least, we're hoping to make this blog a multimodal (Oh! An education buzzword!) project, incoporating photos and possibly video footage - we'll see how that goes...
That's all for now - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
(P.S. On Good Morning America this morning, people on the street were asked to describe their year in three words, and one man took the words out of my mouth: "Glad it's over." Haha. But really - here's to 2009.)
We passed through a lot of states yesterday in our nearly sixteen hours of travel. We began in Columbia, MO, went through Kansas City, made our way to Oklahoma City, then Amarillo, TX (where we had some great Mexican food), and finally Tucumcari, NM, where we spent the night. I requested that we stop in OKC to see the National Memorial there, and I'm so glad we did. It was really beautiful and I hope to add pictures later. We were talking as we walked through the memorial, and we were so young when Oklahoma City was bombed. I don't think I understood the reality of the tragedy until I saw hundreds of chairs memorialing the victims, including several heartbreakingly small chairs symbolizing children who were killed. It's definitely a cool thing to see if you happen to be passing through Oklahoma. (But be warned that that's about ALL there is to see in that long, flat state. Eek.)
Today seemed like a short one compared to yesterday, and I suppose it was. We got an early start and headed west through New Mexico to Albuquerque before stopping in Acoma Sky City to see the Pueblo settlement there. It was our first taste of American Indian culture, and it was pretty amazing. First of all, Sky City is located in an amazingly picturesque area, so the view is breathtaking. Also, it claims to be the oldest continuously-inhabited settlement in the country, dating back to the 12th century. Our tour guide stressed the Pueblo's history with the Spanish, which was anything but pleasant. A major part of Sky City is its mission, established by Spanish missionaries, and for quite some time, Spaniards punished those who refused to practice Catholicism. Many were whipped and sent to a lives of servitude in Mexican missions. Eventually, the Pueblos converted (or at least publicly) and the brutality ended. Now, the people in Acoma practice a combination of Catholicism and their native religion, which is more environmentally based. Very few families actually live in Sky City full time, since there is no electricity or running water there, but many people own houses and property there but live 9-12 miles away in other villages. I think my favorite part of the society is that it's matrilineal society, so all of the property is owned and inherited by the women, while the men do all the governing (to make things even?) - I could get used to that. :)
(Side note: our visit to Sky City was also the first time we experienced being white people observing the Indians...it was okay...? Sky City has capitalized on white America's desire to see their native culture, so I think that feeling like tourists is inevitable - we wouldn't have been able to see anything without being tourists, and I don't think that the people resented us because they've chosen to open their lives to the public. I'm sure we'll have a very different experience at Rock Point - I HOPE?)
I realized that I forgot to talk about the bilingual program at Rock Point Community School, which is what I'm really excited to see. As many of you know, I will be working with a lot of English language learners next semester, and probably throughout my career in urban education. Although my students will no longer be labeled as ELL, many of them will probably not be entirely bilingual. From conversation with Mark, I've learned that the students at Rock Point are dealing with the same problems as many of my Spanish-speaking students in the suburbs - they learned to speak both the Navajo native language and English socially at home, but they have no basis for academic language, which is what they need to have for my class. (If that doesn't make sense to you, think about it this way: social language fluency is knowing what a table is, while academic language fluency includes the comprehension of phrases like "table of contents" or "periodic table.") Likewise, many of my students will enter my classroom with both Spanish and English social language, but little to no academic language. I'm very interested to see how the bilingual program works, since it has been recognized by academia as being one of the first successful programs in the country (or so says Robin, who has done some research on it - right, Robin?). Hopefully I'll take away some usable strategies.
Last, but not least, we're hoping to make this blog a multimodal (Oh! An education buzzword!) project, incoporating photos and possibly video footage - we'll see how that goes...
That's all for now - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
(P.S. On Good Morning America this morning, people on the street were asked to describe their year in three words, and one man took the words out of my mouth: "Glad it's over." Haha. But really - here's to 2009.)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
From Oklahoma on to Amarillo
A day full of driving ends with: Follow the yellow sunset to Amarillo! After one of my now-famous cat-naps, I awoke to a beautiful sunset seen between the turbines of a wind farm outside of Texas, still in Oklahoma. Each state that we passed through now has an added musical element. On entering Oklahoma we had to sing the theme to the musical, of course. And Texas? Well, a little bit of the Dixie Chicks never hurt anyone.
On a more somber note, we made a stop in Oklahoma City to see the national memorial to the ’95 bombing. I am really glad we took that side trip. The memorial is impressive, and Oklahoma City is a city that I would like to explore more, after seeing just a small part of it. Empty chairs for the victims line the site where the federal building once stood. Some holiday teddy bears or flowers sit in some of the chairs. Two massive, marble gateways section off the site from the surrounding city. They are marked with 9:01 and 9:03, the times directly before and after the 9:02 explosion. The street in front of where the federal building once stood is now a black surface covered in a thin layer of water that reflects the surroundings. Everyone was quiet. There was very little to be heard beyond the flow of the water or a kid asking his parents a question. A fence on one side of the memorial site holds different artifacts or tributes to the victims. That fence was originally used to protect the site while it was under construction. People seem to have left behind a few license plates (some recent ’08 and ’05 tags), but I could not figure out the significance there.
There is not much that I remember specifically about the bombing – it seems to have become one of those historical moments in my early life that is blurred together with the OJ Simpson trial and the Clinton scandal. I would never say that they have similar significance, but they are moments that I recall seeing an event, but not necessarily experiencing the whirlwind of emotions that would go along with comprehending the wider national impact. I still felt a pain being on that ground. One that can not be explained because I feel for something that I never knew.
On a more somber note, we made a stop in Oklahoma City to see the national memorial to the ’95 bombing. I am really glad we took that side trip. The memorial is impressive, and Oklahoma City is a city that I would like to explore more, after seeing just a small part of it. Empty chairs for the victims line the site where the federal building once stood. Some holiday teddy bears or flowers sit in some of the chairs. Two massive, marble gateways section off the site from the surrounding city. They are marked with 9:01 and 9:03, the times directly before and after the 9:02 explosion. The street in front of where the federal building once stood is now a black surface covered in a thin layer of water that reflects the surroundings. Everyone was quiet. There was very little to be heard beyond the flow of the water or a kid asking his parents a question. A fence on one side of the memorial site holds different artifacts or tributes to the victims. That fence was originally used to protect the site while it was under construction. People seem to have left behind a few license plates (some recent ’08 and ’05 tags), but I could not figure out the significance there.
There is not much that I remember specifically about the bombing – it seems to have become one of those historical moments in my early life that is blurred together with the OJ Simpson trial and the Clinton scandal. I would never say that they have similar significance, but they are moments that I recall seeing an event, but not necessarily experiencing the whirlwind of emotions that would go along with comprehending the wider national impact. I still felt a pain being on that ground. One that can not be explained because I feel for something that I never knew.
Monday, December 29, 2008
What do I want or hope to gain from this trip?
I've been thinking about this question a lot lately.
I guess I have considered this trip to be a turning point in deciding what I might want to do with my life or where I might want to go. Sounds slightly epic, yes?
This trip has come at a point where I'm not sure where I'm going in my life (and for real, I actually feel okay about this): My thinking of the world, my future, and my place in the world has really shifted since I enrolled in an American Indian Studies course last spring. I took AIS 102: Contemporary Issues in Indian Country with Tony Clark. It was really my first perspective (sadly, unfortunately, shamefully) of American Indians besides a grade-school, PG-version of Columbus, pilgrims, and Thanksgiving. In that course, we discussed wellsprings of Indian identity. Although it was an introductory 100-level course, it was the most challenging class I have taken and one that I have spent the most time and energy on. This course began my passion for this area of study.
I don't know how to describe it. It sparks something in me. I feel like everything that AIS is and stands for is meaningful, and it's something that I want to be a part of. I've thought seriously about staying a ninth semester to minor in AIS and then go onto teaching, and even more recently have thought about graduate school in AIS. But this decision weighs on several things, including class availability and financial issues.
I am about to embark on a semester of student teaching, which also is a factor in what I'll do after this semester. If I feel like teaching is something I want to pursue, I might graduate in May and apply for jobs. So a lot of my decision is based on my experiences student teaching (which I have a lot of anxiety about but am preparing myself slowly).
But back to this trip. This trip has the potential to do so much! Make connections, share personal experiences, learn about the way others see the world, develop new relationships and strengthen the ones I already have, reflect on where I've been and where I want to go, and maybe break down some racial barriers that I or my group or someone reading this blog might have.
My biggest fear is that we will be viewed as six white people coming to 'observe Indians'. I'm afraid the people on the reservation will think we are there just to say we've seen Indians. I can't tell if this apprehensive feeling is an act of prejudice. I want so much for this experience to be meaningful for both our group and the people on the reservation. I won't lie to say that I have high hopes for what will happen this trip. It seems like we are off to a good start -- Adam, Alyssa, Emily, Mark and I safely met up at the airport (airport delays and dysfunctional technology aside), and have picked up Branden successfully in Hannibal!
We're now in a Best Western in Columbia, Missouri. Emily is asleep and Alyssa is reading her second Twilight book. The guys are next door. I need to wake up in 5 hours to get ready to go so I'm going to sign off. I didn't mean for this post to go this way -- I wanted to talk about what I knew about Rock Point from some research I've done this semester - but I guess that will be for tomorrow night!
Goodnight.
I guess I have considered this trip to be a turning point in deciding what I might want to do with my life or where I might want to go. Sounds slightly epic, yes?
This trip has come at a point where I'm not sure where I'm going in my life (and for real, I actually feel okay about this): My thinking of the world, my future, and my place in the world has really shifted since I enrolled in an American Indian Studies course last spring. I took AIS 102: Contemporary Issues in Indian Country with Tony Clark. It was really my first perspective (sadly, unfortunately, shamefully) of American Indians besides a grade-school, PG-version of Columbus, pilgrims, and Thanksgiving. In that course, we discussed wellsprings of Indian identity. Although it was an introductory 100-level course, it was the most challenging class I have taken and one that I have spent the most time and energy on. This course began my passion for this area of study.
I don't know how to describe it. It sparks something in me. I feel like everything that AIS is and stands for is meaningful, and it's something that I want to be a part of. I've thought seriously about staying a ninth semester to minor in AIS and then go onto teaching, and even more recently have thought about graduate school in AIS. But this decision weighs on several things, including class availability and financial issues.
I am about to embark on a semester of student teaching, which also is a factor in what I'll do after this semester. If I feel like teaching is something I want to pursue, I might graduate in May and apply for jobs. So a lot of my decision is based on my experiences student teaching (which I have a lot of anxiety about but am preparing myself slowly).
But back to this trip. This trip has the potential to do so much! Make connections, share personal experiences, learn about the way others see the world, develop new relationships and strengthen the ones I already have, reflect on where I've been and where I want to go, and maybe break down some racial barriers that I or my group or someone reading this blog might have.
My biggest fear is that we will be viewed as six white people coming to 'observe Indians'. I'm afraid the people on the reservation will think we are there just to say we've seen Indians. I can't tell if this apprehensive feeling is an act of prejudice. I want so much for this experience to be meaningful for both our group and the people on the reservation. I won't lie to say that I have high hopes for what will happen this trip. It seems like we are off to a good start -- Adam, Alyssa, Emily, Mark and I safely met up at the airport (airport delays and dysfunctional technology aside), and have picked up Branden successfully in Hannibal!
We're now in a Best Western in Columbia, Missouri. Emily is asleep and Alyssa is reading her second Twilight book. The guys are next door. I need to wake up in 5 hours to get ready to go so I'm going to sign off. I didn't mean for this post to go this way -- I wanted to talk about what I knew about Rock Point from some research I've done this semester - but I guess that will be for tomorrow night!
Goodnight.
Oh my.
Well, here we are in Colombia, MO...WHAT DO I HAVE TO SAY??
I've been talking about this trip with pretty much everyone and anyone who will listen over the past few months, so I've had a lot of time to think about what we're doing, why we're doing it, and what my expectation are. I've had a lot of skeptical reactions from my friends and family, most of whom are convinced that I'm generally on a mission to save the world, and that I will undoubtedly fail along the way. (Hopefully that's not the case.) I'm not sure that I'm saving the world, but I will certainly do what little I can to change it, and a big part of that for me is exposing myself to cultures with which I have little familiarity. It wasn't until a couple years ago that I realized how much you can learn simply by going somewhere you've never been before, and since then I don't think I've turned down a single opportunity to do just that.
I'm starting to get nervous that when we get to Rock Point, we're going to be seen as a group of outsiders (which, granted, we are) who are there to observe what happens in the Navajo community (...which...we are?), and that might not be taken so well. Robin voiced her concern, too, and I'm definitely worried that we'll make the students and teachers at the school feel uncomfortable, and maybe even put on the spot, by our presence. We know, of course, that our intentions are good, but sometimes it's hard to sincerely show it, and I haven't figured out how to get around that obstacle. Mark advised us that it might even be a good idea to avoid making eye contact with students the first couple days we're there because it might be perceived as rude. I know that in many cultures this is true, but it worries me that looking at a student in the eyes, which I intend to mean, "Yes, I am listening to what you have to say and I am respectfully interested," might actually come across as just the opposite. I guess at this point, I just hope it won't be as much of a problem as I'm worried it will be...
Otherwise, I'm extremely EXCITED to reach our final destination on this trip - and I'm even looking forward to the day of driving tomorrow. I'm traveling through a part of the country I've never seen before, and I can't wait to see what's coming next. :)
I've been talking about this trip with pretty much everyone and anyone who will listen over the past few months, so I've had a lot of time to think about what we're doing, why we're doing it, and what my expectation are. I've had a lot of skeptical reactions from my friends and family, most of whom are convinced that I'm generally on a mission to save the world, and that I will undoubtedly fail along the way. (Hopefully that's not the case.) I'm not sure that I'm saving the world, but I will certainly do what little I can to change it, and a big part of that for me is exposing myself to cultures with which I have little familiarity. It wasn't until a couple years ago that I realized how much you can learn simply by going somewhere you've never been before, and since then I don't think I've turned down a single opportunity to do just that.
I'm starting to get nervous that when we get to Rock Point, we're going to be seen as a group of outsiders (which, granted, we are) who are there to observe what happens in the Navajo community (...which...we are?), and that might not be taken so well. Robin voiced her concern, too, and I'm definitely worried that we'll make the students and teachers at the school feel uncomfortable, and maybe even put on the spot, by our presence. We know, of course, that our intentions are good, but sometimes it's hard to sincerely show it, and I haven't figured out how to get around that obstacle. Mark advised us that it might even be a good idea to avoid making eye contact with students the first couple days we're there because it might be perceived as rude. I know that in many cultures this is true, but it worries me that looking at a student in the eyes, which I intend to mean, "Yes, I am listening to what you have to say and I am respectfully interested," might actually come across as just the opposite. I guess at this point, I just hope it won't be as much of a problem as I'm worried it will be...
Otherwise, I'm extremely EXCITED to reach our final destination on this trip - and I'm even looking forward to the day of driving tomorrow. I'm traveling through a part of the country I've never seen before, and I can't wait to see what's coming next. :)
Some KWL for the trip
What I want to see (prioritized somewhat):
K – Know
We are walking into a culture that might act very shy toward outsiders. We may interact very little with students, if we get to know them at all. This is not a place (just like the rest of the world) where a loud white American will be welcomed with open arms. This is not to say that I expect the environment to be hostile, but what I am getting at is that I will have a lot to prove in very small ways.
W – Want to learn
Our professor talked with us on the ride out tonight about the isolation that he felt as a white man in Navajo country, even after two years of teaching at Rock Point School. He left the school because of the isolation. I like to say that I do not fear culture shock. I do genuinely hope that I experience some culture shock in the short time that we will be in the schools or around people on the reservation. I value so much the things that teach me how I am the different one in someone’s home or community. Home and family are two topics that I keep in my thoughts almost constantly. I want to see what goes into a sense of home in other students’ or other peoples’ lives.
Some guiding questions:
How do teachers from outside this culture adapt to teaching at Rock Point? What ‘luggage’ will students come to school with? What ‘luggage’ will I, as an instructor, have to check at the door?
L – Learned
To be seen!
- Learning
- Teaching
- Monument valley one more time
- An starlit sky with no light pollution
- Snow in the desert
K – Know
We are walking into a culture that might act very shy toward outsiders. We may interact very little with students, if we get to know them at all. This is not a place (just like the rest of the world) where a loud white American will be welcomed with open arms. This is not to say that I expect the environment to be hostile, but what I am getting at is that I will have a lot to prove in very small ways.
W – Want to learn
Our professor talked with us on the ride out tonight about the isolation that he felt as a white man in Navajo country, even after two years of teaching at Rock Point School. He left the school because of the isolation. I like to say that I do not fear culture shock. I do genuinely hope that I experience some culture shock in the short time that we will be in the schools or around people on the reservation. I value so much the things that teach me how I am the different one in someone’s home or community. Home and family are two topics that I keep in my thoughts almost constantly. I want to see what goes into a sense of home in other students’ or other peoples’ lives.
Some guiding questions:
How do teachers from outside this culture adapt to teaching at Rock Point? What ‘luggage’ will students come to school with? What ‘luggage’ will I, as an instructor, have to check at the door?
L – Learned
To be seen!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Anticipation.
Tonight is the eve of what is sure to be a spectacular practicum experience. Tomorrow, I'll be embarking on a three-day long car trip westward to Rock Point, Arizona with four of my peers and a former professor. There, we'll be working closely with a school on the Navajo reservation. We're unsure at this point as to how involved we'll be. Our professor, Mark, has explained to us that the culture there is very different from what we are used to and might require a lot of adjustments on our part in order to be accepted in the classroom by both the students and the teachers. Our activities there will range from observations, individual tutoring, small group work, and full-fledged teaching, depending (again) on how we interact with the teachers and students and how well we are received. Mark has assured us that, regardless of how big or small our roles in the classroom end up being, our experience will definitely be a unique and worthwhile one because of the substantial cultural differences. He specifically mentioned basketball as the extracurricular activity that the school is most invested in and I am really excited to see a few games.
Though it is the primary focus, teaching will not be the only highlight of this trip. We’ve allotted some time in our travel plans for sightseeing out west. Though I’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, I’m sure it will be an entirely new sight in the middle of the winter. There are a few other landmarks we’re hoping to visit, though my inability to find my camera charger at the moment might make photographic documentation of my trip a non-option. Regardless, it should be a great time. I really adore the other students that I’m traveling with and am glad to have the opportunity for an academic, but fun, road trip during my last year of college.
Though it is the primary focus, teaching will not be the only highlight of this trip. We’ve allotted some time in our travel plans for sightseeing out west. Though I’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, I’m sure it will be an entirely new sight in the middle of the winter. There are a few other landmarks we’re hoping to visit, though my inability to find my camera charger at the moment might make photographic documentation of my trip a non-option. Regardless, it should be a great time. I really adore the other students that I’m traveling with and am glad to have the opportunity for an academic, but fun, road trip during my last year of college.
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