Today we had snow day! Even though Gallup got less than an inch of snow, it was enough to cancel school. Since most of the roads outside of the city are made of dirt, they can get really muddy and icy with just a small amount of precipitation, causing buses to not be able to pick up the students that live on those roads. We were all a little bummed because we have already grown to love interacting with the students and learning from our cooperating teachers. However, we made the most of our day off and instead of going to school, we filled the day with relaxing, exploring, learning, and Star Wars. (Yes, we went to see Rogue One).

Traversing, Trading, and Trusting in the Force

This morning, we got to sleep in and then had a lot of fun hiking around Rehoboth and playing in what little snow there was. Then this afternoon, we we to Perry Null’s Trading Post and pawn shop, where he gave us a tour of the “Saddle Room” and told us a little about what he does and the role of pawning in Gallup. His shop acts like a bank as well as a store, as his customers will bring in jewelry or other items of value in exchange for money and he will hold them in his vault. He also buys and sells authentic Native American jewelry and rugs, which are one of the main sources of income for the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi who make them. So, naturally, we shopped around and bought some gorgeous jewelry made out of turquoise and other stones, while also admiring the beautiful hand-woven rugs and Pendleton coats that were a little out of our price range. After we left to pawn shop, we all went to Rogue One, the first Star Wars movie for a couple of our group members. (And we all loved it, no matter how many times we had seen it!) Today was a great end to our awesome first week here in Gallup!

Prom!

You all remember how fun it was to go to prom, right? You got to get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner with your date and/or a group of friends and you just felt like a million bucks. Well, many of the students in the Gallup schools live below the poverty line and want to have fun at prom and you, yes YOU, can help make that happen! One of our cooperating teachers is organizing a prom dress swap where students can bring in a dress they wore last year and swap it out for a new one, or they can pay $5 for a dress that has been donated. And that’s where you come in! If you or someone you know has an old prom dress that will never be worn again, donate it to this great cause! You can send the dresses (and maybe include a nice little note) to:

    Roberta Saldaña

    ℅ Miyamura H.S.

    608 S. Boardman

    Gallup, NM 87301

Thank you so much! This will truly make a difference in the lives of Gallup students. As Noah Tiegs, a student on our trip, said, “Everyone wants a night to look beautiful.”

Until next time,

Payton