Much Needed Update: The Craziness Continues

It's been a while since I've posted and I apologize for that. To be entirely honest things have been hectic and busy. Additionally, doing posts like this require quite a bit of energy, something I didn't realize at first. However, as one could imagine a ton has happened since my last post and it would be impossible to include it all. Granted there are a couple of things that did happen that are worth mentioning.

First off is the teaching. This has proved to be quite difficult. I teach in 3 different communities (Rosebud, Parmelee, and Spring Creek) 4 days a week. In total I teach 11 different classes grades K-8 and they are almost always mixed. A couple of these classes have now exceeded 20 students and when I only see each class once a week, it becomes difficult to remember names and connect with the kids. Granted there are some I've connected with better than others. However, the biggest challenge is discipline. Some of these kids have none and some just have so much energy they just can't focus and sit still. Finally, add in the fact I'm trying to teach these kids about Catholicism, which in all honesty, is a very complex topic that ends up getting watered down in order to teach most of the kids. An unfortunate result is that what makes it special is lost in the process. However, overall the kids are in all honesty wicked cute and wonderful. That being said, I have a new found respect for elementary and middle-school teachers who teach five to six classes a day. I struggle through getting four classes on Wednesday. Feels like a marathon.

Second, is the craziness of what's been going on. To set the stage, I've learned so much about myself in such a short period of time that it's honestly overwhelming. The result is that sometimes an outlet is needed. Generally I prefer to work out as we have a ton of weights and chains and other heavy objects which work really well. However, sometimes, just sometimes...ya gotta do something different. Sometimes, you just have to do something crazy. I've already done that with the earring. The other night, in much need of a haircut (last one was six weeks ago) it was decided that I was getting a mohawk. While the process was a little stressful and the outcome I was unsure of...I have to say a few things that have surprised me. First, I have received almost endless affirmation of how good the mohawk looks. I was expecting the opposite. Second, I look at myself in the mirror and sometimes I don't recognize the random dude staring back and that's exactly how I feel about myself sometimes. I don't know myself like I thought I did so the mohawk has become a physical manifestation of my inner spiritual struggle. Bold (Mike thinks I look like some cage fighter dude), different, chaotic, and aggressive (in conjuncture with the earring). So that has been very surprising.

(Also, I've secretly been excited about the recent expression of appreciation for angsty music among my community. As a matter of fact as I write this I'm listening to Linkin Park cause they're my jam, yo.)

Finally, today we went to a one year memorial service. It was an interesting experience for a couple of reasons. First off culturally, it was once again incredible to see the dramatic difference between Lakota and Mainstream American culture. In this case I think the Lakota have the right idea. The family morning cooks for everyone who comes and does a massive giveaway of goods and things. This may seem confusing until you look at it this way: the people coming are supporting the family that has suffered the loss of a love one while the family takes care of the people supporting them. It's a mutual two-way relationship of give and take, the way healthy relationships are. So we were invited and we arrived there and were fed very well and received a lot of very nice gifts during the give-away. In all honesty we received some very nice things that obviously weren't cheap. We did the best to show appreciation by staying after to help clean up which I hope got how grateful we were across.

The second part that was very interesting was the role reversal of going from majority to minority. I never really considered my privilege before but this experience put that in perspective. Being the minority and strangers we (the JVs) were watched because people were probably suspicious of us. Wondering what we were doing there and what our intentions were. We were the only white people in the room and also strangers. Without a doubt there were probably sweeping generalizations made about us and understandably so considering history. But our actions, either broke down or built up the stereotypes of our race and nation. Something that was never really a factor before. Thus I wasn't just representing myself but everyone else who was of the same skin color and nationality. That was a very eyeopening being on the other side of that perception.

As always thanks for reading. Prayers for Jessica, Mike and myself are always welcomed and appreciated. God Bless and keep checking back for more posts!