The Navajo Nation was nothing like I expected. We all had our preconceived notions about who the people are, what their struggles are but I was very wrong. We were give the opportunity to meet the Navajo people, live among them for a whole week, experience their culture and learn so much about them. Navajo culture calls for them to be more shy but when they do speak, it is powerful, it is meaningful. In Navajo culture they put a huge emphasis on family, tradition and nature and these are the 3 things that keep their culture alive. Through years of oppression, abuse, social injustice, and so many other problems, they are still here today fighting to maintain a way of life that is very simple and very beautiful. They have every reason to hate us and not want to take us into their homes but yet they took us in, let us live in their homes, eat their food, and shared their stories.
Although we saw so much beauty in nature, ate some of the best found, hiked in some of the coolest places, what really resonates with me after this trip is a new perspective on life. Everything in Navajo culture has a meaning or serves a purpose. Nothing is just there or done without a purpose and I believe it is something in our society today that we strongly lack. They showed me how beautiful life really is and what matters the most in life and it is something I will never forget.
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