Today was our first day in Ajo. Shortly after eating breakfast, we went to a nearby plaza and read an article in groups. The article was an excerpt from a reading that depicted the perspective of a desert and the tribe that lived in it. In groups, we discussed the relationship the tribe held with the desert and the ways in which the tribe took care of the earth and in return, how the earth kept the tribe safe. After, we wrote in our journals about what home meant to us, reflecting on how nature affects our lives and the importance of disconnecting from our personal bubbles. Later, we explored the Three Nations market down the street, which had small vendors that were selling clothes and other goods. When we came back, we did a tour of the place we are living in and learned how it has progressed from a school to a hotel and historic building. Then, we took a short break and convened again to make chumuth tortillas from scratch, discovering the ways in which the people from Ajo repurposed their resources to create the barbeque grill that cooked the tortillas. Finally, we all ate dinner together, played, and went to bed.
