Walk in Beauty

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Living and working in Navajo Nation has been one of the greatest teaching and learning experiences of my career. It has also been one of the most difficult. Choosing to move here a year ago was a surprise to many of my friends and family; yet, I felt pulled in this direction for some unknown reason. When I arrived, I knew my life was going to change, but I was unclear how. I knew that transitioning to the mostly-condemned compound of government housing with asbestos and contaminated/non-potable water in a dustbowl dessert was not my new paradise. For the first few weeks here, I slept in the driveway inside my teardrop trailer, as the triple-digit temperatures during the day made the unairconditioned house unbearable at night. The 70-year-old aluminum windows didn’t lock, stay open, nor keep out the myriad of dust particles that have continued to blanket every window sill in spite of my concerted efforts to keep them clean. No grass and few trees intensified the summer winds, dust, and heat. But, somehow, I quickly adapted and started to fall in love with the desert beauty and the Navajo culture.

Surrounded by mesas, my home is perfectly positioned to see the sunrises, sunsets, and brilliant stars. The nearest community of size to restock for groceries and supplies is a four-hour round trip excursion, but it doesn’t matter if I choose the closest town to the north or to the southeast or to the west, each trip is stunning as I drive through and around the sacred Navajo mountains in all directions.

Dinetah – the traditional homeland of the Navajo tribe – has become my home for the past year. Covid has disabled the opportunities to participate in many of the cultural ceremonies or traditional experiences I was hoping to encounter while here. Nonetheless, the Dine’ people have embraced this outsider in other surprising ways. When I started school, a coworker gave me a hand-beaded “Tree of Life” lanyard to hold my government-issued identification card. I’ve learned several Navajo words and phrases, although my pronunciations leave much to be desired and provide comic relief for my students. At staff potluck dinners, I get my fill of fry bread and other traditional foods.

This week, I was so honored to be presented with a portion of alkaan – the traditional corn cake made during Kindaalda, a coming-of-age ceremony for women. The cake is placed in a pit and buried. A fire is lit above it, and the cake is baked for a day or two. When the four-day ceremony is ending, the cake is cut into pieces and served to family and close friends.

Now, for the hard part.

In January, Semester at Sea set sail for the first time in three semesters. Although there have been a couple disruptions along the voyage (a minor Covid outbreak onboard and war in Ukraine), it has been a success. As a result, my fall 2020 voyage is now my fall 2022 voyage. A month ago, I requested a semester sabbatical from our regional administrator of the Bureau of Indian Education. This week, my request was denied, since I have only worked for the Bureau for one year. Although the faculty and staff would like to appeal the decision, I’ve decided to move back to Colorado in May until I fly overseas in August to board the MV World Odyssey with Semester at Sea. The fall voyage route has already changed a couple of times in the past few weeks, so who knows where we will actually end up going. When we disembark in late December, I’m sure I will follow another road less traveled and continue to find beauty along the way.

Leaving Dinetah will be difficult, but I will take what I can with me in my heart. I cannot remember a time when I’ve learned as much as I’ve learned this year – including motherhood and graduate school combined. Being immersed in this culture – even for a short time – has changed me. This road has made all the difference.

Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony
In beauty, I walk.
With beauty before me, I walk.
With beauty behind me, I walk.
With beauty above me, I walk.
With beauty around me, I walk.
It has become beauty again.
Hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa doo
Shideigi hózhóogo naasháa doo
T’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa doo
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me.
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.
In beauty all day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons, may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen, may I walk.
With dew about my feet, may I walk.
With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty below me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
My words will be beautiful…