These 3 weeks have been filled with so many new experiences that I don't even know where to begin. So I think I'll make several picture posts to share where I've been and what I've been doing!
But to summarize...
Orientation in Portland was wonderful in every way! It was at Camp Adams in Molalla, Oregon. It was an absolutely amazing place... like walking through a magical forest (you'll see what I mean when you see the pictures, although even my best couldn't capture all the magic!)
There were 141 JV's there, plus the JVC Northwest staff; I have never been around so many awesome people at once. I had so much fun meeting my fellow volunteers that will be serving all around the northwest this year. Throughout the week, there was a day dedicated to each of the four values of JVC Northwest: Social Justice, Simplicity, Spirituality, and Community. (You can visit www.jvcnorthwest.org to see more in-depth what it's all about... I couldn't love this organization more!) We started every day with music sing-alongs... had meditations in the meadow... and had a lot of great presentations to get us ready for the year. We had Contra Dancing (like square/line dancing!) and ice cream one night, which was so much fun! I was so hot from the dancing that I went straight to the swimming hole with a bunch of others... I jumped in and it was the COLDEST I've ever been!! They weren't kidding when they said their water in the Northwest was cold... but it was exhilarating anyway!
It was a packed week but full of so many fun times like that. Whenever we had free time I spent most of it walking around and soaking in my surroundings... there was so much to explore! I absolutely loved it there. Recounting orientation makes me miss Camp Adams! I would love to go back to Portland some day. I was sad to leave, but it was probably just the right amount of time. I am so thankful to have had such a nourishing week of orientation. In every way, it embodied what I love about JVC Northwest and what drew me to their program.
So we left Camp Adams at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and finally arrived in Billings (the largest city in Montana at 100,000 people... I know, huge, right?) at 6 a.m. on Sunday... yep, we had 19 hours on Greyhound buses! It wasn't a bad ride though because I got to see so much of the Northwest. The ride from Portland north towards Washington was absolutely GORGEOUS! The second most beautiful scenery I've seen, next to the coastal drive from Ballyvaughan to the Cliffs of Moher ♥ (I still miss Ireland every day!!)
We went to the JV house in Billings for a couple of hours (there are 5 JV's in Billings, 7 in Ashland, 4 of us in St. Xavier, and 4 way up north in Hays [where Erica is!]--we're the "Big Sky Region"; everyone in our region is really great, I'm excited to have retreats and holidays with them all.) Anyways, three of the staff from St. Labre picked us up from there, and we went to lunch at the Golden Corral (reminded me of visiting the Brooks in NC!)
They took us all to Ashland, where us St. Xavier JV's had to live for a week because... we didn't have a house! We were told all along that they were building a house for us but we found out during orientation that they had ordered a trailer and were still waiting for it to arrive. It became the running joke- "No people around... no internet... no phone... no house." (And now no electricity; but we're using a generator!) ...or... "Well we win because we don't have a house!" or "All I want for my birthday is a house to live in" or "We will host Christmas! ...if we have a house by then." ha ha. It was all good though; I was actually really glad we had a week in Ashland because we got to spend time with the Ashland JV's, who are a lot of fun, and got to know some of the St. Labre staff who we will be seeing sporadically throughout the year.
[St. Labre is the main mission site that serves the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations. It is a huge campus (basically makes up the whole town of Ashland.) They have an elementary, middle, and high school, along with dormitories and a group home for children without families. St. Labre also operates St. Charles Mission School in Pryor, Montana (where two of the Billings JV's are serving) and Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy in St. Xavier.]
So anyways, we had a great time in Ashland for the week, and finally moved in to St. Xavier two days before school started (about a week and a half ago now.) We didn't have much furniture, but we had beds and hey, we had a house! Since then teachers have bestowed various bits of old furniture to us and it is starting to come together. We still are missing some things like dressers or towel racks in the bathrooms, but we are just rolling with what we have.
SCHOOL started last Thursday, so we've been there for about a week. I am working in kindergarten and first grade. It turns out I am teaching math for first grade for the year, as well as a reading group. It feels like I am back student teaching! But I don't mind it, it's kind of cool.
I really like the kids at the school. 95% of the students come from the Crow Reservation. We've been able to learn a lot about the culture already from the teachers, and the kids as well. The first graders are wild, but the kindergartners are a bit calmer and so cute! (I think kindergarten will always be my favorite!)
The school community has been very welcoming to us and they are excited to have us there for the year. We've been invited to various places and are getting to know the area and the community. The school has very much a family atmosphere to it (partially because it's so small and partially it's the culture; and partially because every other person is related, it seems...) so it is nice to be welcomed into this kind of warm community.
Like today, we went to Pryor, MT because the kindergarten aid, Vandy, invited us to her granddaughter's birthday party. (They make big to-do's out of birthday parties and family gatherings here... mostly because everyone has so much family.) I was really glad we went- it was fun and it's a really scenic area. We talked to some of the elders of the family, and heard some great stories from different family members. It was just so nice for her to welcome us in to her family gathering even though no one knows us. We heard at orientation and from past JV's that the communities usually treat their volunteers very well and invite them places and stuff, so we are especially grateful for such a warm welcome seeing as we are a new community (most JV communities are well-established by now, but this is the first year they've had JV's here since 1983.)
Anyways, between school and settling into the house and running around to various places, I've been pretty busy [which (along with only intermittent internet access) is why it's taken me so long to start this blog.] (Sheesh, I thought I was coming here to enjoy a slower pace!) I hope in a few weeks when we're settled in more and there's less going on that I'll have time to do the things I really want to do while here, like making art and reading and learning traditional beading techniques from one of the Crow teachers and write lots of letters to people!
Wow, I wasn't planning on making such a long post! I guess it's just been a big adventure to fill everyone in on! I hope to get several picture posts up within the next few days. If you read this whole thing, then 1) sorry it was so long and 2) thank you for being interested in my adventures out here in Montana! I hope to have interesting stories to share with you all!
Peace & really big skies,
:) Janine
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