Starting out my year right... by blogging!

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to advertise my posts a bit more. If more people read them regularly, I would at least have more accountability to keep writing. What to write about tonight? Tomorrow is my first day back on contract, and the end of my life as a private person for the year. Being a teacher really is a public job, especially in a small town. It is a job in which the majority of the town might know who you are, but very few of them really know you. Of course, my situation is worse because of the tiny number of blonds in Eagle Butte. What can I do but laugh about that? Yesterday I was in Pierre, and this guy I may have very vaguely recognized came up to me in the Lakota bookstore and said, “Hey, you’re from Eagle Butte.” Turns out I worked with his daughter last year, but he just recognized me from seeing me in town. I’m hard to miss.

What have I learned about the reservation in the two years I have lived here? It’s not nearly as different from the rest of the Midwest as some people tried to lead me to believe. Every reservation is different, which should be a surprise to no one, so I really just know about this one. I’ve mentioned a few differences in a few of my posts, but I haven’t gone too in depth. I don’t guess I will this time, either, but I’ll see where I get.

There are a few things that have had the potential to shock me or infuriate me. Let me just say I hate showing shock above everything, because it’s rude, naive, judgmental, and more, but if anything were going to shock me around here, these things would. 1) There is semi-serious talk of physically driving someone disliked off the reservation, usually in tribal council meetings. This actually happens somewhat regularly. Who does that?! 2) During a parent forum last year several grandparents in the community, some of whom who were very well known and respected, accused the school board and the teachers of bullying their students and not caring whether they succeed. One of these ladies compared the education we were offering to the abusive experiences she had in a boarding school over sixty years ago. All that I learned was that the fundamental value that modern Lakotas have is getting their own way, no matter what the issue. 3) If there is any place where it is acceptable that a baby’s first word is a cuss word, it might be here. So I have been very sheltered when it comes to swearing, but I’d say it’s pretty ridiculous here. If you’ve ever read Sherman Alexie and wondered if he exaggerated about the language used on the reservation, he’s pretty accurate by Eagle Butte standards, anyway. 4) This one breaks my heart. I do not know a single Christian family who has raised their kids here near town whose children reached adulthood without getting pregnant, going to JDC, running away from home, or getting addicted to drugs. How is that possible? It’s not a guarantee that I won’t raise my kids here, but good grief it’s a good thing to realize. With God all things are possible, and all things work according to His plan, but wow.

Well, in spite of these things and others (see previous post), I unaccountably love this place! I’m getting pretty antsy to have my kids back on Thursday, and I’m super excited for the fair Labor Day weekend. God has given me a love for this place that lifts me up just about any day and makes me thank Him for how amazing my life is! Pray, pray, pray, but know I am safe in God’s arms and at the center of His will! Praise Him!