Back on the Rez

Most of this blog thus far has been about my experience in NYC, a city that is full of concrete and skyscrapers, and even when you are sitting in the middle of Central Park you can look up and see buildings. However, 2 weeks after returning home from living in this environment for 2 months, I traveled almost 2,000 miles to volunteer with an organization called Re-Member on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

The best way to describe Re-Member is to directly quote their Pre-Trip Info Packet:

“Guided by the aspirations of the Oglala Lakota Indian communities we serve, Re-Member seeks to improve the quality of reservation life through relationships, shared resources and volunteer services. Through site visits and cultural immersion, we continue to develop a growing circle of advocates standing in solidarity with the Indian people of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.”

Pine Ridge is the poorest area of the United States however it is one filled with culture. The residents of Pine Ridge are more focused on building relationships and enjoying the company of others than being bound by a clock and always being “on the go”. Talk about a complete culture shock compared to the rest of my life this summer.

            I first visited Pine Ridge with my school for a S.E.N.D. trip (Alternate Spring Break) back in March, and fell in love with area and Re-Member. Not once during that week was I conscious of the fact that I was without my computer or cell phone and I thoroughly enjoyed building bunk bed components and helping to clean up the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center; despite the cold weather. The week went by entirely too fast and, within two days of returning to Assumption College, I started to look into when I could return to the Rez. Less than a week after returning I booked a trip back to Re-Member at the beginning of August.

My S.E.N.D. Group: C13

            Within minutes of returning to the Rez it felt like I had never left. I had missed the open land, being able to see for miles, and just the serenity of being in the middle of nowhere. I have always loved the outdoors, and being in South Dakota allows me to just take it all in. It was the first time I had traveled alone and I was nervous about having people to talk to, but that quickly subsided when I began meeting the other people on the trip. Everyone was extremely friendly and I ended up making friends quickly. We spent our down time talking or playing a wide variety of card games (most notably Crazy 8s and Phase 10), and I don’t think the week would have been nearly as great if I hadn’t meet the people I did.

The Badlands National Park

In order to keep things organized, the volunteers are divided into work groups and then assigned to job sites based on those. The first work day I got to put skirting on a trailer, which insulates the bottom and helps cut down on the amount of energy needed to warm the house in the winter. Using power drills to drill the wooden frames into the house was so much more fun than I was expecting and I’m glad that I got to go there on one of the work days. 

The Skirting Project

*photo courtesy of Joe Wechman

The remaining two work days involved bunk beds (which I had done last time I was there). Overcrowding in homes is a common thing on the Reservation and many children have never had their own (or any) beds. Re-Member constantly has 200+ families on the waiting list for bunk beds, so any work we do helps a little. The first day my crew worked on the beds we stayed at the workshop and built, sanded, and stained the different components of the bunk beds. On our final work day, we had the privilege to deliver 5 bunk beds to 2 families (providing 10 beds). I had never gotten to see the bunk beds completely assembled before, so it was wonderful getting to see the finished product, as well as the smiles on the faces of the kids that were receiving the beds. At the same time it was a hard reality of where we were bringing the beds. I knew the poverty that existed on the Reservation, but this was the first time I had seen it firsthand. We built the first 2 bunk beds in the basement of the house and in the second house we went to the beds were going to be the only piece of furniture in the rooms (with the exception of one room that was already equipped with a single bed). At the second home we went to, one of the young boys wanted to help us put the beds together, but since we didn’t want him to get hurt we let him help us put the ladder on (once the bigger components were assembled). He thoroughly enjoyed getting to use the power drill on all 14 screws to attach the ladder to his new bed, and I’m glad we were able to give him that.

Building Bunk Beds in the basement of a house

*photo courtesy of Joe Wechman

In addition to volunteering, when doing a service trip to Re-Member you also get to learn about the Lakota culture. Each night there are speakers who share their stories and wisdom and each morning (before the work day starts) there is Wisdom of the Elders, where the Re-Member staff shares some of the Lakota history. Before we began our work week, we did some traveling/sightseeing that included the Oglala Lakota Nation Wacipi (Pow Wow), Wounded Knee, and the Badlands National Park (where we also had a meditation which was really nice). And then later on in the week, on Tour Day (which was Wednesday for my work crew), we visited places such as the Red Cloud Indian School, Kili Radio Station, Bette’s Kitchen, Oglala Lakota College, and a trading post.

Top of the hill next to Bette's Kitchen
*photo courtesy of Joe Wechman

Oglala Lakota Nation Wacipi

Going to Re-Member not only lets me give back to a community that most Americans don’t even know is struggling, but allows me to grow as a person each time I go back. It feels like I’m doing so little (only helping to build bunk beds, etc.), but at the same time know that I’m at least making a small difference to the people on the Rez. It’s hard to truly describe a week at Re-Member. The week goes by extremely fast; yet while you’re living it, it feels like you are there for much longer. During my first trip, I vowed that I was going to return to Pine Ridge; however during this past week, I have made the decision to try to make it out to the Reservation every year. While I know that this might not be possible, I’m going to try my hardest to stick to this goal.

Sunrise at Re-Member

*photo courtesy of Joe Wechman

Saturday, June 23, 2011: It Seems Like Only Yesterday

              It seems like just yesterday I was waking up and loading into my mom’s Honda CRV for my parents to drive me to NYC; and now, 8 short weeks later it was time for them to pick me up. This morning was very bizarre. I had a dream about everyone going home and saying goodbye as we parted ways, but I kept telling myself that this wasn’t actually happening and it was all a dream. Ironically enough, at that point in time it was. However, when my alarm went off, I realized that in less than an hour my dream was going to start becoming reality. The 2011 Dream Careers New York Union Square internship program had reached its final day and at approximately 8:30a.m., we had to start the process of sending off friends to the airport. Just 2 months ago, we hardly knew each other, but now, after spending almost every free minute with each other, the thought of our group of 9 being separated was something none of us wanted to face.

Nick and Steph B. were the first to depart, and even after the taxi pulled away, I think I was still in denial. After the taxi was out of sight, I went back to my room and finished up packing before going down the hall to hang out with everyone, or rather help out with cleaning (it was time spent together so it really didn’t matter what we were doing). After a little bit Steph M. left and it still didn’t feel like things were real. Katherine’s mother and stepfather had stopped by and let’s just say Katherine and her mother have more or less identical personalities (it was so fun to watch). After some more cleaning, it was now time for us to send Shelby off in her taxi to the airport. At this point, it actually started to hit me that it was almost time to go home. My parents arrived within 10 minutes of Shelby leaving, and it was now my turn to pack up the car and share emotional hugs and parting words.

When I left for NYC on May 29, I had hoped that this summer was going to be a good one. But I was wrong; this program was by far one of the most amazing experiences I could have asked for, therefore making it an indescribably amazing and unforgettable summer. I had been so nervous about starting my internship, and I ended up loving the fact that the office was small and that it allowed me to get more hands on experience. And while I knew that I was going to make friends this summer, I didn’t expect to hit it off with a fabulous group of people almost right off the bat or to have some of the best memories of my summer after just being there for a week. I don’t know what I would’ve done without any of the people I have met. I have always been quiet among people that I don’t know very well and am fully aware of how awkward I can be at times; however I felt at home among the friends I made and that made the transition into city life remarkably easier.

Steph, Chandler, Shelby, Katherine, Steph, Tyler, Steven, and Nick I seriously have no idea what this summer would have been like without anyone of you. All the random comments, laughing for no reason, our NYC adventures and explorations and just enjoying each other’s company while getting to know each other a little bit better as the time went on; the memories we made this summer will never be forgotten. Our group was so random and diverse, but I think that’s part of the reason why we all got along. We have all had the privilege of entering each other’s lives and touching one another’s hearts and because of that we will never be the same people that we were before the program. Thank you for such an amazing summer, words can’t describe how much I’m going to miss all of you, and I have no doubt that even though we are no longer 2 seconds away from each other that we will always keep in touch.

Elina, Kasey, Krista, Sam, Jeunevieve, Heather, Steve, and Pauleen you all helped make this summer unforgettable and were always there if we needed you. Thank you for your tireless work and helping all of us become Dreamers, it means more than words can say.

Friday, July 22, 2011: Chocolate Coated Ending

            So other than Monday this week has been pretty laid back. It’s been really hot the last several days (it’s supposed to hit 100° today!), so time spent outside has been limited. Wednesday was my last day of work, which is weird that it’s over (I don’t think it will sink in until Monday). I got into the office and my computer decided not to work properly (and seeing as 99% of the work I do is computer related that was an issue). Eventually it decided to start working again (no one is quite sure what was wrong with it) and I was able to begin being productive.

            Yesterday I spent most of the day packing (and doing laundry). I still have a little bit left to do, but overall I’m about 80% done. Last night we had planned on going to Serendipity but then plans got changed to going to Serendipity tonight. Instead we went to Max Brenner’s Chocolate by the Bald Man. The ambiance was very cool and there were obviously chocolate/chocolate related things everywhere. I ended up with a Mocha Frappé and it came in a very strange ceramic cup with a metal straw (it was good though). The ceramic tray that Chandler and Steven’s fondue came on was designed to look like notebook paper and I found it entertaining (it doesn’t take much to entertain me). 

            Tonight we had closing ceremonies. The videos that the staff put together were great and it was a great way to wrap up the program. After all of us went back to 601 and hung out for a little bit. Eventually we got around to figuring out what we were going to do in terms of food (the ceremony got moved up a half hour so we didn’t go to dinner like we had planned). A few of us ventured to Amore’s, the pizza place right next to U-Hall that got shut down in the beginning of the summer for health violations and reopened about 2 weeks later. It wasn’t bad, but it also wouldn’t be my first choice of places to go. Afterward we all went to Serendipity, kind of making a full circle seeing as the first weekend we were all here we went there. We spent the night enjoying each other’s company and reminiscing about the summer. I don’t think it’s really hit us yet that we’re leaving in the morning, but at least for now we can postpone reality.

Monday, July 18, 2011: You Follow the Sound

            Ok so last night we were supposed to go to a movie, but for a couple different reasons that ended up not happening. Instead, Katherine, Steph and I set out to grab dinner. Instead of traveling west the second we left the dorm, we chose to venture east. We looked at a few restaurants and kept debating on which one to go into. We were standing outside an Afghan restaurant, Khyber Pass, trying to decide how adventurous we were going to be and I randomly pointed out a Care Bear tile that was part of the wall of the restaurant; that wound up being the decision maker (it was Good Luck Bear after all). It was a lot of fun. We sat at a table that was on an elevated platform thing, so we sat cross legged on cushions. We of course had to have traditional tea, and I even ventured to try the sauces for the bread (they were very spicy, but hey at least I tried them), and I have no idea what the dish I had was called but it was chicken in a yogurt sauce served over white rice (it was very good). I probably wouldn’t go back, but the experience was a lot of fun.

Today was a pretty typical day at work. Afterward I had decided to go see Girlfriend, an indie film that I had seen a trailer for ages ago and have really wanted to see (it premiered this weekend at a small theater in NYC). When I got to the theater and a lot more people were there than I was expecting. I ran into the 2 girls I met at the 100 Monkeys after party the other night and learned that they (Jackson, Jared, Ben G. and Ben J.) were going to be taking part in the Q&A that followed the movie (100 Monkeys did the score for the movie, and Jackson & Jared both acted and helped produce the movie). I knew there was going to be a Q&A but I thought it was just going to be with Justin Lerner (the director) and Evan Sneider (the male lead). I loved the movie. Evan reminded me very much of Michael (even though Evan has Down’s syndrome and Michael is autistic) and you could tell how genuinely excited he was about the movie (and he did a great job in it).

During the Q&A, there was no official moderator so Jackson stepped in (I got called “ma’am” (and not because I look old, but because of southern charm) when he called on me to ask a question). After the Q&A was over, we stood around for a bit to see if we could talk to the band, but it was kind of crazy. Ben G. ended up coming over to us though, and I asked him about a bracelet he was wearing (during the Q&A, it looked almost like my Re-Member bracelet, but it turned out to be for the Spencer Bell Legacy Project). I’m very glad I ended up going to the movie tonight (I thought about waiting until tomorrow to go); it turned out to be a great last Monday here in the city.

Sunday, July 17, 2011: It’s Been One Week

            It seems like during the week has fallen into a cycle of being somewhat uneventful. Monday was a usual day at work. Jen wasn’t in but she had already told me what needed to be done. After I got out of work I headed over to Brooklyn for an informational interview with someone from Ariel Publicity (the one from the alumi panel who is involved in the music industry, and I also got to meet the owner of the company).  He answered all the questions I had about working in the music industry and how publicity within the industry works. I really enjoyed meeting with him and was glad that he was willing to provide me with insight.

            I really didn’t feel like doing much of anything Tuesday. I walked around for a little but it was so hot I ended up going back inside to read. Our final seminar was last night, and Heather Hall talked to us about networking. Overall I really enjoyed it, and still find it fascinating how so many people are connected to one another.

            Wednesday at work I did a lot of running around because we had a big show that night. Turns out our NolaFunk banner wasn’t where it was supposed to be so we had to make do with just one. The venue was really nice, right on the water at South St Seaport. I had gone around with chalk to direct people from the subways to Beekman, however it started to rain about a half hour after the show started (so it all got washed away). The night was really long, and after standing for 7ish hours my feet were killing me, but apparently we had about 1,000 people come out to the show and they all seemed to enjoy it.

            I spent a lot of time outside on Thursday. I went back to South Street Seaport for a bit to get presents for people, and ended up getting “lost” a few times on the way there (I eventually found my way).  Once I got back to NYU, I ended up going to Union Square Park and reading for a few hours. It wasn’t overly hot out and there was a breeze so it was quite comfortable out. I’m worked another show again that night, and it was fun (even though I’m missing the Harry Potter midnight premiere).

            Friday, I finally finished my week long Harry Potter marathon, concluding with seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. It was really good, though there were a few parts that I wish they had done a little differently. It’s hard to believe that a series that I’ve followed since I was 8 has completely ended (yes the books finished awhile ago, but now that the movies are done it seems more official). That night Kate, Nadia and I ended up going to a bar with a couple other people. It was fun to hang out with everyone, but the bar was a little boring (I found it entertaining that it was called Brother Jimmy’s BBQ).

            Yesterday during the day Kate, Nadia and I went to a beach in Queens. The weather was beautiful, but it took awhile to get there (over an hour). I ended up only staying for 2ish hours because I had decided to go to the 100 Monkeys (and The Assembly Line) concert at Gramercy Theatre. Even though I ended up going alone, I met these 2 women while waiting in line, and hung out with them during the show (and then during the show we met up with another 100 Monkeys fan). The Assembly Line was amazing, and I’m definitely glad I got to see them perform before I left NYC (they’re from Brooklyn). The third opener, The Bleeding Horse Express, was also very good. I had never heard of them before, but will be buying their album very soon.

Finally, the 100 Monkeys; I had heard wonderful things about their shows before, however I still wasn’t entire sure what to expect. Part of me thought that more than half the audience wasn’t going to be actual 100 Monkeys fans but would just be there to see Jackson Rathbone (yes, I’m aware he’s one of my favorites too, but I went to the concert for the music; him being in the band was just an added bonus). The show ended up being a lot of fun. The energy the band has on stage is ridiculous and you can honestly tell how much they are enjoying themselves and how they feed off the energy of the crowd. I also loved the fact that they always switch instruments; I don’t think there were two songs in a row that didn’t involve some sort of switch. This was probably one of my favorite shows that I’ve seen, and will be making more of an effort to see them in the future. After the show was over, the band had an after party at Angels and Kings in alphabet city, where Jackson was going to be the DJ and Ben J., Ben G., and Jared were going to bar tend. I went with one of the women I had met and don’t remember exactly when we got there but the band didn’t end up showing up until 12:45 (we ended up talking to two girls who were already at the bar). It was ridiculously crowded, and of course when the band came, most of the people flocked to where they were (same thing when the band made their way over to bar tend). I ended up hanging out with one of the girls we had met at the bar, and it turns out that the non-profit she works for works with Pine Ridge (the Indian Reservation I went to over Spring break and the one I’m going to in a few weeks). The night was amazing, and I don’t know if I could’ve had a better last Saturday night in NYC.

Today, all of us went to Central Park for a picnic! We didn’t really do anything specific, just hung out on the lawn near the fountain, listening to music and enjoying each other’s company. A few of us ended up renting rowboats, and that turned out to be a lot of fun (though I know my arms are going to hurt tomorrow). I can’t believe that we’ve been here for 7 weeks! It seems like just yesterday all of us were dressing up to go to the polo match on Chandler’s and my birthday (when in fact that was 6 weeks ago). I have a feeling that this week is going to go by entirely too fast, though I do miss being home and everyone from school.

Sunday, July 10, 2011: Welcome to the Jungle

            This weekend was definitely more eventful than during the week! Yesterday we aimed to get several things off our NYC bucket list. The first stop was Goodburger for lunch, as it was a movie from our childhood that all of us fondly remember. I got the classic goodburger and fries and it was a lot better than I was expecting (though looking back I wish I had gotten orange soda as my drink). After lunch we headed down to the financial district to do a few things down there.

            Our first stop was the Trinity Church, the church from the movie National Treasure. It was a little bit smaller than I was expecting, but still very beautiful inside. We stayed there for awhile and looked around. Once we left there, we went to the Wall St Bull, and it was packed with people around it. Nick, Shelby, and I each jumped up and sat on the bull’s head/neck for a picture. We wandered toward Ground Zero and even though I’ve seen it before, it seems a lot bigger when you’re standing on the ground (as opposed to driving by in a bus). Shelby had been to the 9/11 Memorial Preview when her mom and sister were here, so we decided to check it out. The plans they have are amazing, and I fully intend on visiting when they’re done (projected 2012).

For dinner, we checked out Vapiano’s, a restaurant that we always walk by on our way to Kimmel or Weinstein. The décor was different than we were expecting, but the food was pretty good. We stuck with the Italian theme for dessert and went to a little place down the street for Gelato. Once we got back to NYU, we went down the the TV Lounge in the basement and, to Chander’s delight, had all agreed to watch Justin Bieber’s movie Never Say Never. As much as I don’t want to admit it, it wasn’t bad. While I still don’t have Bieber Fever, I do respect him much more as an artist (I still refuse to embrace the extreme hype around him though).

Today we tackled the Bronx Zoo. We attempted to get there for right when it opened, however failure to notice that the 5 train wasn’t running during the month of July (and finally realizing we should take the 4) and having to take a bus instead of transferring to the 2 train resulted in us arriving about an hour and a half to two hours behind schedule. Once we got there we had a lot of fun though. It was Tyler’s first real zoo experience, so that made it even better. We were able to go to the majority of the exhibits, but as the day went on the heat (and all the walking) really wore us out. 

The Dreamer Talk Box was tonight (fellow dreamer Robbie’s event) and it exceeded my expectations. There was humor, music, and guest speakers all tied into one. The highlight though was when Shelby went on the stage to participate in an activity and accidently guessed that 10 billion people lived in NYC instead of 10 million (it was also pretty funny during one of the video reels when Robbie was asking a question about Abraham Lincoln and Tyler was like “I don’t know, I’m Canadian”).

On a side note, in honor of the final Harry Potter movie coming out on Frida, I have decided to watch one Harry Potter movie each night leading up to it (obviously in sequential order) and then Friday morning watch HP7 part 1 right before going to see part 2 (I can’t go to the midnight premier because I might have to work).