Days one through ...well..lets just say its been awhile

Hi there everyone! If you are reading this, you probably got an email, facebook message or telephone call from me letting you know a few things. For those who didn't know and are randomly reading this blog or for anyone needing a refresher course here's the skinny:

One: I have MOVED TO SODAK (South Dakota)

Two: I have graduated college and am teaching on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation at Little Wound elementary school. I will be the fifth grade teacher and will be working on math, English and social studies.

Three: I am living in teacher housing across the street from my school with a roommate, Mary, who is a fellow teacher and a nice (clean and quiet!) Georgetown grad.

Four: Currently I am writing from Chicago while I undergo training

Five: I am writing this blog to help everyone stay in touch with my life and all the wonderful experiences I am having

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post comments on photos or posts and let me know how you all in the wide world are doing:)

Ok so for starters I just finished induction, a weeklong stay in SoDak to get to know the area and meet the people, interview for jobs, etc. Driving in was long and tiring but also beautiful. In the past week I've been through 7 states I never saw before! Neat huh? Passing into SoDak was amazing, everything flattens out and all the world narrows itself down to the essentials: grass and sky, sky everywhere! Big beautiful blue skies with towering clouds that seem so close it's all I can do not to reach out and try to fit them in my pocket. When the rain sweeps in, you can see the wall of water moving toward you and when it hits, there should be a sonic boom or something, it's a real trip. I am in the middle of ranch world so cattle and horses graze in endless waving green fields. I almost stepped on a snake in the parking lot so there are other animals here too, I'll have to be careful! Maybe my cats will hunt them for me....? The colors here and fantastic, everything is 17 different shades, never solid like Ohio summers tend to be. They call SoDak the land of infinite variety, and I can see it. Really, a lovely place to live, I’m very excited.

The people are completely unique and very welcoming. We have been invited to a powwow which was amazing, lots of dancing and really good food! We also took a tour of the memorials and important sites to see around the reservations which was helpful and informative. Wounded Knee especially caught my attention; I did a report on the massacre there in like sixth grade and seeing the place where it all really happened was a powerful experience. One of the elders is holding a sweat (sweat lodge ceremony) to purify us before we begin teaching. That will take place later in August and I will definitely post about all of that.

That’s all I have time for now. I promise to update as often as I can. The institute experience (training) is supposed to be incredibly grueling and exhausting so I may not post every day until I start teaching but I will try very hard. Tomorrow we have opening ceremonies and we have a cheer we perform. For those of you who know the “I’m on a boat” YouTube phenomenon you would love our cheer. We rewrote the song and made it “I’m on a res” It really gets us pumped up, anybody that wants to hear can give a call or I will try to get video and put it on the blog. Ok well tat a for now fam and friends I love you all