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| Fabulous Grand Canyon!!! |
From October 17th to 23rd, we went to the South West as a trip. It was really different from the East Coast which we went last semester. I experienced valuable things, such as visiting Acoma Pueblo, Grand Canyon, and felt the strong power of the nature from each place. In addition, meeting the university, high school students and Native American changed my outlook.
I have never seen such an extensive landscape and peculiar landforms. When I saw the desert from the window of an airplane, I have seen a Japanese sand hill in Tottori prefecture, but it was really different. I was shocked and it was a desert I had imaged. There are no trees or green. When I went to Acoma Pueblo which is known as “Sky City”, it was a first time I have seen the mesa. About 30 people still live on a high rock. When I stood on it, I felt spiritual the moment I couldn’t believe being on it. Through our bus passed on the Route 66 which means “the Mother Road”, we could see the huge view, such as mesa, purple mountains and desert at the same time. Especially, the rocks of the Grand Canyon were interesting. I couldn’t count the number of rocks, it was like a mass of rocks. The color of rocks was changed by the moving sun. I was really curious about the geography. I feel like there are a lot of things I don’t know yet.
Through the trip, I learned the history of the South West in the U.S. Especially, I learned about a way of Native American’s life. There are 19 Pueblo Indian tribes and most of them live along the Rio Grande. In the architecture, people who live in the South West, they live in the house which was made by abode structure. All buildings were really similar and I felt the wisdom of people in the South West. It was invented by them for the weather or protection from enemies. Especially, when I went to Acoma Pueblo, I saw people who live there make a living by making and selling their handmade potteries and corn bread. Around me was all brown. I felt like a time slip. In food, I experienced traditional South West food, such as Tacos, chili and fried bread. I thought if I know about the history of the South West well, I can complete about the origin of the U.S., so it is also important thing to learn.
I heard a lot of different languages everywhere. In the Grand Canyon, I enjoyed hearing languages from the circumference wherever I walked and it is also for the famous tourist spot attractiveness. I heard German, French, Chinese and also Japanese at the same spot and actually I communicated with them in German, English and Japanese. In Pueblo Cultural Center, Sky City and Acoma school, I heard their native languages. It was something new for me. I was impressed by them. In the Grand Canyon, it was a first time I have heard a lot of different languages at the same time. I thought it was a world heritage. Also, first and foremost, I think I had a good experience to hear Native American languages. I felt they were sacred languages.
Through the tour of church or cathedral in Santa Fe, also before the trip, we went to the cathedral in Spokane. I learned about them well. I didn’t know there are two kinds of church, church and cathedral. In the Cathedral, it focuses on how Jesus died and there is a confessional and a bishop who is responsible for the main church in an area. On the other hand, protestant shows a cross means spiritual life. Christianity is very interesting. Unlike Buddhism, the religion has a vivid image, like stained glass and colorful pictures. On the other hand, Buddhism is a more monotone. Whenever I go to a church or cathedral, I’m enchanted by the beautiful interior. I’m not Christian, but the more I learn about the religion, Christianity, the more I’m curious about it. It has very deep history and it is not only religion but also I think it is beautiful.
We visited the University of New Mexico and Acoma junior and senior high school. From this semester, we have a lot of opportunities to visit university. I really appreciate the experiences. In this trip, I had a fabulous interaction between them. In the University of New Mexico, I talked with students who study Japanese. A man who is from Spain speaks English and Japanese fluently and he is going to come to Japan next February. I was interested in his dream that he worked in Disney World as an internship for ten months last year, so he wants to work at an upper Disney company. He is only a year older than me, so I was motivated by him. Also, when I visited Acoma school, at first I thought students who commute there are different from high school students in Spokane, but they are really same, except they are Native American. When I communicated with a girl, she taught me about her family and her life. Actually, she was a really common girl. I always think if we don’t communicate with each other, we can’t know each other well, especially when I’m in America. This trip gave me an opportunity to talk with not just American people but international students who study Japanese and Native American. But there is no border by the different culture, we can communicate, if we have a feeling I want to tell. Still now I contact them on facebook.
In conclusion, through this trip, I think we had a lot of opportunity to interact with local people. The East Coast, it was like a city, so I felt people were a little busy and I didn’t have time to communicate with them. On the other hand, in the South West, we visited a lot of local people and we learned they keep on own history and nature preciously. I like the vast view, antique atmosphere and the time passing slowly. I have had a few wonderful experiences in my life.