Goodbye New Mexico

Throughout this week we have all learned alot. I enjoyed experiencing the Pueblo culture. It was interesting to see that we have so much in common with the Pueblo people. One of my favorite parts about this trip was Grandma. Grandma was an elderly lady of the Pueblo that openly welcomed us into her home. Grandma's big thing was family. No matter if it was blood, marriage, or just knowing someone, everyone was family. Grandma treated us as if we were all her family. I do not even know her real name because she just told us to call her Grandma. Grandma told us alot about the Pueblo culture. Pottery is big in the Pueblo, along with jewelry. This week we were also lucky to experience the St. John celebration. The men of each family who had the names of John participated in horse races. During the horse races the men would fight over a colored rope. Who ever had the rope at the end received the blessing at the end of the day. It was touching to witness the culture still thriving in the Pueblo. It saddens me that we do not have this sort of thing back in Michigan. I have learned so much on this trip. I have learned about hard work, family values, love, team work, and culture. I plan on taking this experience back to Michigan with me and sharing it with all my friends and family. I also plan on embracing any sort of culture I can find back in Michigan.

Hardcore Rafting: The Life and Times of Nick and James...

Today we went white water rafting on the Rio Grande. After the two hour bus ride, we met up with our guide and boarded our venturous vessel to begin our splash-tastic voyage. On our journey, we encountered many wondrous things that we were not necessarily accustomed to. These things ranged from mountains and fault lines to hidden feasting grounds and the seemingly unending dryness of the sun. As we paddled down the raging rapids the water seemed to calm us and give us the relaxation that we craved after our long week of work. The tranquility brought upon us by the naturally beautiful New Mexican mountainside showed us an entirely new side of the country that many of us had not previously experienced. This enlightening event taught us that we should not take for granted the opportunity that we have been given through this service trip.

I would also like to give a shoutout to Dominic, Aaron, and Kalin: Coatse amarawa? (hopefully we did not murder the spelling)

Temps

75 and breezy for the drive to Santo Domingo...95 and direct sun for the playground build and great mulch maneuver...90 and gale force winds with lightening for the beginning of the block party...

Today's wrap-up

After the group wrap-up meeting, today's highs included the block party, playing with the Native kids, and spending time with "grandma.". Lows were pretty universal...the heat and the hurricane force winds which blew sand, dirt, and wood chips into eyes, clothing, and mouths.

Another good event was meeting Steve-the-playground-guy's family and eating the salsa he and his wife made special for us.

Tomorrow we finish laying the mulch on the playground (assuming the wind hasn't blown it all away), and then we'll go to the Pueblo for lunch and the celebration of the feast of San Juan. We've been told that the events will be very "conservative" and "cultural" and we've been warned that it doesn't always go well for the chickens. On that note...

Hard labor and hospitality humbling

We spent the last two days at the Santo Domingo school working on the playground. Yesterday, we were invited to have lunch at the home of our host, Joanne. Her sister cooked for all of us, and Joanne and her grandma acted as hosts. They were so gracious and welcoming, and almost all the kids mentioned meeting 'grandma' and eating lunch in her home as the high of their day. The hospitality here is humbling. We've been welcomed openly and with genuine warmth. They take no notice or offense to our differences, and they freely answer our questions.

We've acquired some great friends here...Khalin, Aaron, and Dominic are local kids who have been working alongside us since Monday and get along with our kids very well. We'll be hosting them tonight for dinner and swimming.

We've racked up quite a lot of dirt, sweat, and grime these last two days. Some of us feel like we'll never be clean again! Our hard work has paid off. We've already cleared the large playground of a good portion of the weeds and prickers, installed a slide and climbing wall, and hosted a block party. Tomorrow we'll finish spreading the wood chips in the play area and observe a local feast day.

More pictures and videos!

The Set for Holes 2

After a long day of working at the Pueblo, we decided that we should make a "Holes 2" movie. All of us spent most of the day either weeding the dry, prickly weeds or digging holes for the slide and rock wall. At the end of the day, we were all covered in several layers of sunscreen and dirt. We also enjoyed eating lunch in the home of JoAnn's grandmother in the pueblo. (JoAnn is the director of Southwest Youth Services). We ate two types of soup made from beans, corn, pork, and hominy. We also had bread and tortillas made from their outdoor ovens.

James, Nick, and Ethan putting together the steps to the slide.

The group all worked together to bring in the slide to the playground area.

The entire group at the end of the day. The guy in front is Steve-the playground guy. He was amazing and is helping us build the playground even though he isn't required to.

Day 2: Yellow Shirts

Today we started building the playground for the Santo Domingo Public School. First we ventured off to Home Depot, following Mrs. Grosso the WHOLE WAY THERE! Lets just say, she isnt the easiest, or safest, person to be following on five lanes of traffic!!

(lEft) Way to early to be going to Home Depot!

loading 18 bags of concrete into the trucks

our view of the mountains on our 35 minute drive to the pueblo

digging holes for the slide

putting together the rock wall

DAY ONE - Happy Birthday, Hello New Mexico!

What a group! We've had to be flexible on this trip as we've experienced plane delays, slow rental car checkouts, inadequate sleep, and changing plans. The way of life in the Southwest is very different from what we're used to. schedules are merely suggestions, everything is flexible, and the mode of operation appears to be to "roll with it!". Through it all, the youth have been wonderful. It's a different experience to strive for a good trip and not be able to control the details, but I think a good learning experience. We know, of course, that other cultures are different than our own, even in the US, but knowing and seeing are not the same. Here in New Mexico, they know how to be warm and welcoming and create a great experience while still allowing the details to remain fuzzy. I think it's a good reminder that we really don't know how much we don't know.

We started our day at NACA, the Native American Community Academy, where they create curriculum that meets all public school standards but also offers classes that reconnect the kids with their native heritage. students have access to Native language classes, dance, art, and other key cultural heritages that are slowly being lost. It's the only school of it's kind in the Country.

An orientation and welcome was followed by pick-up games shared by the the two groups of youth, an impromptu lunch, and then off to the tree farm with the Youth Conservation Corps. Tres were certainly watered, but there were also some interesting animal encounters with toads, bunnies, and even a turtle that was hibernating against the heat (or so it seemed).

We celebrated Casey's birthday at Kelly's Brew Pub, a local favorite, and teased Casey about celebrating her Birthday for almost 24 hours (since a fine "happy birthday" was sung in the Denver Airport.)

The day ended with a short prayer service led by the Senior girls. Tomorrow we test our skills on desert hole digging. Until then...

Monday Pictures!

members of the Youth Conservation Corps and the HandsOn Service trip team joined together to play a game of pick-up soccer

Molly, Allison, Mrs. Pearl, Taylor, and Lenny (from the Youth Conservation Corps) watering trees at a tree farm in Albuquerque.

the HandsOn Service Trip group with the members of the Youth Conservation Corps from the Native American Charter Academy in Albuquerque.

Today is the first day we experienced in New Mexico. It was very interesting. We arrived at Native American Community Academy (nacaschool.org) which is a school for 6-11 graders. The school was new and each year they add on a grade. The classrooms were all separate buildings, like portable classrooms. Soccer is very big down down here. We got to meet the people in charge of Americorps. Here in New Mexico, Americorps is helping with Southwest Use Service Soccer. This is a week where soccer teams from all over gather together to not only play soccer, but also learn and embrace their culture. We got to meet teenagers who were apart of the Youth Conservation Corps. These students are paid to help plant trees and help in the community. Today we had played soccer/volleyball/hackysack, ate lunch, and helped them plant trees at a federal farm. Planting trees never seemed so difficult. There were a ton of baby trees all in black pots. We had to water each pot up to the top. It is very dry here in New Mexico so it was important for the trees to receive enough water. Watering took a long time. Today it was 96 degrees, but it did not feel that hot at all! There is no humidity so that is nice. I am looking forward to tomorrow, we are going to start our playground build at Kewa Pueblo.

Cha-Cha Slide-Airport Style

This is a video of us doing the Cha-Cha Slide in the Denver airport to pass time before our connecting flight.

A Whole New World

Today has been an amazing day in Albuquerque. Everything is vastly different from what we are accustomed to back in Michigan. The landscape, the weather, the homes, the lifestyle, everything. From our hotel rooms, the Rocky Mountains are easy to see. Not only can we see the mountains, we can see for miles across the desert overlooking the city and surrounding areas. There are few, if any, high rise buildings to be seen here, which makes it unique compared to most large cities we have visited. It is quite a sight! Albuquerque weather is wonderful compared to Michigan weather (or at least in my opinion). There is practically no humidity, so the 96 degree weather we experienced today felt like Battle Creek's 70. We drove through several neighborhoods today and saw a variety of local homes. There were several similar characteristics of these homes that we do not have in Battle Creek: adobe walls, flat rooves, large fences/gates in front, cacti, and grass barren yards. The homes had modern doors, windows, etc, but the walls were the traditional clay. The lifestyle, at least of the Native Americans we are working with this week, is much more laid back than ours. The schedule is very loose, and all times are estimates. The organizers of today's activities had no problem allowing us to push back our start time this morning because of our late arrival last night. They aren't rushed and really enjoy life--we should all take a lesson from them!

Travel Day-Sunday

'he HandsOn Service Trip members all met in downtown Battle Creek to begin their journey to Albuquerque. First though, Fr. Bob led us all in prayer before boarding the charter bus. Here is a picture of us before getting on the bus:

After loading the luggage and all piling onto the bus, we headed for Detroit Metro Airport. We got there about 2:10 after avoiding many traffic backups on I-94. Security and checking in to our flight went very smoothly. We had about an hour to roam the airport before taking off for our first stop, Denver.

The flight to Denver was very uneventful. Upon arriving in the airport, we found our next gate, A56, and then split up to find dinner among an array of choices including Pizza Hut, Mesa Verde, Ben and Jerry's, and the ChopHouse. After dinner and wandering for a little bit, the boredom began to set in. So we played games and talked until meeting back at A56. Just before we were scheduled to begin boarding, an annoucement came over the loudspeaker in Terminal A informing us that our plane had just left Albuquerque and our boarding time would be delayed an hour-now 10:20. We were all very tired and quite anxious to arrive at our final destination, but we managed to pass the time quite effectively. We sang Casey "Happy Birhday" at midnight Eastern time as well as singing and dancing in the middle of the terminal. We did the "Cha-Cha Slide" and the "Chicken Dance."

We boarded our second flight at 10:20ish and arrived in Albuquerque just before midnight Mountain time. We waited for our luggage, then rode the shuttle to the rental car place. After a long time (or so it seemed at 1am), we made it to the hotel and checked in. We had finally made it!

Tomorrow!!!

We leave tomorrow! Hooray! I have started to pack...has anybody else? It's going to be super hot, but luckily no humidity to speak of. I am super excited to fly there, especially through Denver. It is going to be so much fun. When we get back we should continue to keep in touch with the people we meet there, because this is going to be an experience of a lifetime. Just saying. Off to get a few more things done!

T-5 Days!

No one has updated this for a while, so I am. We leave in five days!!! And it's supposed to be about 95 degrees while we are there-so I hope everyone is prepared to drink gallons of water each day. I am working for HandsOn Battle Creek this summer and I wrote a short article on our trip for the Battle Creek Enquirer today. Hopefully, they will publish it. I am getting very excited and I know everyone else is too, so be prepared to read all about our awesome trip and hear about it when we come back.

On a side note, I am hoping that through this trip, we can come back to Battle Creek and become more aware of what is going on in our own community. And perhaps make as big of a difference here as we are planning on making in the Santo Domingo Pueblo and Albuquerque area.

Who are we?

We are a group of freshman, sophomores, and juniors from St. Philip Catholic HS planning a mission trip to New Mexico. This opportunity was given to us through HandsOn Battle Creek, and the Kellogg Foundation is funding a majority of the trip. We are in control of almost everything on this trip.This blog is going to follow the progress of the HandsOn service trip team through our planning of our trip. The trip is June 20th-26th, so soon!

We are all very excited for this trip, and we are going to be helping out in a Pueblo Community. We are planning on building a playground and doing cleanup around the community. In the midst of all the work we hope to get to know the Pueblo people very well. We are aware that their culture is very different from ours, and we want to learn everything we can while we are there.
We have a few projects going on right now. We are workings on fundraising so we can take a donation down to New Mexico that is from us. We have done an ice cream sale at St. Joe MS, and we are gong to be doing one at our high school next Wednesday. There is probably going to be some sort of dinner later in the month also. We have earned around $200 so far, and hope to earn more before leaving in June. Part of our group is working on ordering the playground equipment we will need to build. Also, at the end of our service trip we are going to have a little block party at the school in NM. We just want to say good bye to them and give them a little celebration before we go. By the time we arrive back in Battle Creek we hope to have made an impact in NM and bring some joy to the people we touch. Thanks for reading our blog, and please continue to follow us on this journey.

p.s. Through out our trip we will be uploading pictures to the blog.