Lessons from the elders

“When we are born, we are sacred human beings. The creator chose two people to be channels to bring us in to this world. We have lived thousands of years before, and we die many times in our lives. We cannot own our children, husband, or brother, and they cannot own us. We walk on this earth to find and live our purpose. We are one and part of nature, and everything on Earth is meant to be here.”
- Cowichan tribe elder Sarah Modeste

Image credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/

I learned more today than I have learned in the past eighteen months at Pearson College.

When I came to Pearson, I thought aboriginal issues were far, distant conflicts originating in South Pacific or Asian cultures. I thought the conflict of Americans and Canadians of European descent with First Nations and Native Americans were issues of the past, settled by treaties several generations ago. In fact, I didn’t know if there were any truly aboriginal people left in North America, other than the ones I heard about in reserves in the American southwest.

I am so grateful that today, I not only know about aboriginal issues, but I have had the opportunity to connect with local aboriginal people and learn my life purpose through their wisdom.

Today, we had a special topics day dedicated to sharing in aboriginal culture. We began the day by welcoming His Honor Steven Point, the first First Nations Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. He holds the most authority of any government official as the Queen of England’s representative in Canada – and he comes to the office with years of wisdom from “a wonderful university called the forest.” While he also attended and now teaches at Western universities, he obtained the greatest education from his grandmother, and he shared many of her stories with us today.

Spending the day in the presence of aboriginal elders, I felt awed and inspired by their true knowledge. They understand that our relationship to the natural world is our greatest reality, and when we deny that connection, we create a dysfunctional society. They understand that the greatest education comes from lessons from our elders, and we learn so that we may become teachers one day. They do not value wealth or materialism, but they value enjoying each moment of life. They value preserving their culture – their songs, their art, their language that lacks words for modern technology, but holds so much oral wisdom.

“We are about sharing,” one elder said, and it was clear to me that native values are truly about respect, listening, and relationships. I love that in aboriginal society, everyone is called a relation – a sister, an aunt, a brother – and each relation helps them to find their life’s path.

At the end of the day, we gathered in the cafeteria for a circle dance, and it suddenly hit me that in that tiny moment the universe converged so we were all united in our life journeys – we have two precious years together in this place, free to dance together in the circle of community. Soon, we will depart and walk individual paths.

When I leave Pearson, I know I will be entering a society founded upon injustice and exploitation. I have realized that American history began with the land and community being stripped away from native brothers and sisters, fellow humans with a sustainable and peaceful way of life. While I know my ancestors have committed great injustice, now is the time to to build a bridge between these cultures so that we all may learn and become sustainable communities.

My calling is to bring aboriginal wisdom to the Western world, especially to urban youth, who have suffered from disconnection to nature. I feel so strongly that suburban America needs an awakening from the consumer culture that is exploiting our fellow humans and our planet. I want to learn environmental psychology and native culture to heal our relationships with our families, our communities, our environment. I hope to bring spiritual healing, reconnecting us to the land that gives us our identities, our true knowledge and energy for life. I am on a journey, and I am so thankful that today was a transformational step along my path.

Love is in the air…

Image source: thepartyfaq.com

Call me sentimental and sappy, but I love Valentine’s Day. I love the messenger hearts with corny messages like “Be Mine 4ever” that taste like the sugary sweetness of my childhood. (Special thanks to my mom and Grandma Betty for supplying me with candy this year!) I love the handmade cards, the feeling of almost spring liveliness, and of course, the Valentine’s Day dance.

While winter formals never seemed to be popular at home, last night at Pearson we danced for hours to a local high school jazz band. The scene appeared similar to a typical North American dance: teenagers gathered in a cafeteria wearing their finest attire on a Friday evening. At Pearson, however, there’s always a different flavor of culture; we brought dance moves from all around the world to classic party music. It felt like the “good, clean fun” my parents and grandparents often remember of their youth. I am so grateful for the inclusive and fun atmosphere brought to every social scene at Pearson, where my friends and I can be ourselves without reservation. We can dance like fools – and have fun doing it!

It’s not all rosy on campus, however, as this is one of the most academically stressful periods of our year. By the end of Monday and Tuesday, two very demanding academic days with an oral exam and math project due, I know I will feel good taking a break to celebrate. I am organizing a Secret Valentine exchange with my housemates, and I am also looking forward to leading Christian Fellowship in the evening with some wholehearted worship.

In truth, I am so in love with my friends and family, at home and at Pearson, that I have so much to be grateful for this year – and as I am reaching my last months at Pearson, I know how precious each day truly is.

So, happy Valentine’s Day to you all, and I wish you a love-filled week!

PS – Our first One World Rehearsal is tomorrow – when we all cram into the Max Bell for hours of organizing, learning choir songs, and practicing our acts. I am excited because I found out this week that my spoken word piece with my friend Hulwa was accepted into the show. Let the fun begin!

Sunshine and Serendipity

Image source: justanimal.org

Every morning when I walk outside East House, I sit beneath a tall fir tree for a few minutes just to breathe and be thankful for the upcoming day. Rain or shine, I do my best to sit at least for a few minutes, to enjoy a few precious moments of solitude before the day begins.

Today was the most beautiful February day I can remember. As I sat in my familiar spot this morning, I could feel rays of sunshine beaming through the branches, singing the dawn of Spring. I closed my eyes. Spring has such a familiar, sweet smell of mixed dew with blooming green – I felt my lungs fill with the fresh scent and I couldn’t help but smile as I opened my eyes.

Just then, I saw it.
It was a fully grown adult Bald Eagle, gliding with its beautiful wings spread so close to me I felt like I could reach out and hold it in my palms.

From that moment on, I knew it would be a good day!

And indeed, my expectations did not fail me, for I had the pleasure of sitting on the sunny lawns of campus to read my philosophy and Hamlet – liberated from my usual library desk. What I will truly remember today for, however, was the feeling of One World Auditions. I auditioned to be an MC with my friend Mauricio, and a spoken word poem written with my friend Hulwa. Seeing my peers on stage, I was so inspired by their creativity and I can’t wait for the production to begin.

Spring is coming; I can feel it swooping in like the serendipitous arrival of a Bald Eagle. This Spring will bring so much excitement, from One World to project week to final weeks of classes, and with hope, lots of sunshine!

The Tibet Question: A New Perspective

Picture source: http://www.chinancient.com/tibetan-prayer-flags/

Since my eleventh grade world history course, I’ve always been fascinated by Tibet. I love listening to the native language, learning about Tibetan farming, and reading the Dalai Lama’s wisdom. As a political territory, the Tibet Autonomous Region also presents a fascinating history. With its longstanding relations to China and its traditional Buddhist culture, its status as a province of China has become an issue of international attention.

Yesterday, I stood in front of the entire Pearson College community with my co-year, Larissa from Hong Kong, to present multiple perspectives on the issue. The presentation took place as part of international affairs, a program for students that tries to eliminate the “Pearson bubble” phenomenon and make us aware of current societal issues. The presentation was timely, as in the past week, several deadly protests have broken out in the Sichuan province of China.

To avoid the potential censorship of Chinese students, Larissa represented the Chinese government’s perspective, explaining the historic dominance of China over Tibet and the success of economic and educational development in the province. I took the perspective of exiled Tibetans, most notably the Dalai Lama, and explained the Middle Way approach to unite Tibetans in an autonomous, peaceful society. Unlike world leaders and media, however, we did not engage in debate; rather, we approached the issue as a constructive dialogue.

After presenting the views, we asked the community to share their opinions on the conflict based upon their personal experiences. We asked them when it was justified for the international community to intervene in human rights violations, and how the conflict relates to movements for aboriginal rights across the world.

I was blown away by my classmates’ insightful responses. Hearing from my co-year from China about his personal experience living under the Communist Party authority, for example, the issue suddenly became personal and relevant. As a community, we uncovered some of the bias inherent in Western media, and the limited knowledge we can possess of the conflict. While I may sound post-modernist, I realized that every perspective has its limitations; our worldview is colored by our values, our political system, and our education.

Yesterday’s presentation uncovered new questions on an old issue, raised by brilliant thinkers from across the world. It was a truly special moment to stand before each of them and share the knowledge I have gained. I came away with my mind opened to new insight and perspectives – and that, I believe, is true education.

Occupy Max Bell

(Picture credit to my classmate Xinan Ran)

“We are the ninety nine percent!”

My classmates shouted in unison, dressed as members of the occupy movement from the stage of the Max Bell theater. Last Friday night, I sat in the second row of our auditorium and witnessed brilliance in action. I felt as if I had been transported to the streets of New York City – with twenty of my co-years suddenly becoming Americans.

It would be an understatement to say that I was amazed by the second year theater production. Set in contemporary society, my classmates wove a portrait of human nature through a play of seven Greek myths.

Metamorphoses, a play adapted from Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid, recounts tales of greed, love, revenge, lust, and honor; essentially, the myths portray every basic human emotion as the humans explore their relationships to the divine realm.

As director, my co-year from Chicago, Derek, worked with classmates to innovate a new perspective to the timeless stories through the sociocultural context of the occupy movement. From authentic costumes to humorous Bronx accents, the actors captured my full attention for the two hour production. Their emotions were tangible; the force of tears swept me into despair when Orpheus lost Eurydice. I felt indignant watching Erysichthon consume endlessly, the way our consumer culture pervades today. In each character, I recognized the plight of the human experience.

I am so grateful for my classmates’ talents and abilities, the gifts they so humbly shared with the community. They sacrificed every one of their nights for weeks leading up to the performance, living in the theater for five to six hour rehearsals. Witnessing their performance, I was proud to see their creativity and hard work made visible. It was one of the most memorable performances of my Pearson experience. For both the audience and the actors, it was a night of metamorphosis – and I came away transformed.

Women, Men, and One Community

On my wrist, I wear solidarity.

I wear the support, love, and trust of the woman community at Pearson College.

I wear a simple white piece of cloth, tied on my wrist by my sister in womanhood, Hulwa. “We are nature,” it says, in beautiful handwriting. My bracelet is a piece of the quilt made by the woman community this morning, covered with words, drawings and phrases in all languages, describing what it means to be a woman in our cultures.

Like many special topics days, I knew today, Gender Awareness Day, would be different; special topics days give us refuge from the stress of our IB-dominated days, and provide an opportunity to learn from our classmates in a new forum.

What I did not expect, however, was the power and emotional impact of our discussions. As women, we took the morning to share our experiences and struggles, revealing many deep vulnerabilities and stories of suffering. When we stepped forward to share, we stood beside one another and supported each other no matter what. The most amazing realization many voiced was that no matter who spoke, she is not alone in her struggle, and she is a loving, caring friend, a human being above all else. As we tied our bracelets, I felt a stronger bond to the women in our community than ever before.

In the afternoon, we reunited with the men (it was such a sweet moment) to engage in a dialogue about the pressures surrounding both genders in our community. I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to witness intercultural communication about such a sensitive, personal topic. For example, I was moved to hear my friends share their culture’s perspective on sexual identity, when the topic is so taboo for them at home. It took so much courage from us all to speak and listen from the heart.

The entire day brought an atmosphere of true openness; more than any day before, I felt like I truly understood and embraced my peers. As difficult as it was to hear my peers’ struggles, I am grateful for their trust. Today brings forth plentiful evidence: we have a beautiful community. And as a reminder, I tie this white cloth to my wrist, bonding me to women from across the world.

A Passion for Peace

This weekend was a dream come true.
While that may sound like a cliche, trite expression, I really did witness one of my dreams become reality this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, I led a meditation retreat with fifteen friends at a nearby retreat center, a peaceful setting nestled in beautiful coastal wilderness.
At the beginning of the year, my service leadership activity challenged each team member to take on an individual service project, and I chose to sponsor a retreat to connect students to nature through meditation. After weeks of coordinating overnight facilities, transportation, food, and registration, the day finally arrived and I could not have been more excited when we finally departed campus in the school van! Soon, I was leading students through guided breath meditations, and enjoying the relaxation of our shared experience. The retreat was composed of a basic introduction to meditation, followed by an inspirational session called Awakening the Dreamer that envisions a spiritually fulfilling, environmentally sustainable, and socially just future. This workshop created by the Pachamama Alliance inspired me to attend Pearson, so I was grateful to be able to share it two years later with my Pearson classmates. We closed the retreat with two hours of solo time, an opportunity to enjoy writing or reflecting to the sounds of the Pacific along the coastal trails.
Only at Pearson is such an opportunity possible, and whether we came from South Sudan, Denmark, China, or Maryland, we shared a life-changing experience this weekend. I felt more connected to my self and my peers than ever before, and I am so grateful to have had their support. It is a memory I will always cherish and learn from for future retreats. As I continue pursuing my passion, I feel this retreat was the beginning to a new path along my journey.

SNOW DAY!

ENJOY campus snow photos here.

Nothing can bring universal excitement quite as powerfully as a snow day. The flakes are like powdery magic to spark snowball fights, fort-building competitions, and hiking adventures shared among people of all cultures. Today was my first snow day at Pearson College, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my journey.

When I awoke to unusual clamor in the hallway this morning at 7:15 AM, I searched my bed for the light of my alarm clock, only to find its lifelessness without electricity. It took a few moments until it occured to me: the power was out! I was fortunate enough that my house parent was my first block teacher, so when she informed me (still dresed in pajamas) that we would re-schedule our Deep Sea Creature Costume Party, I happily reunited with my blankets and pillow – until I was awakened by the pounding of snowballs against my window.

In a phrase, today was simply joyful and joy-filled. I was reminded of the simple pleasures of my childhood seeing friends use cafeteria trays to sled down the hill and piling snow in massive mounds for snow men. I loved having a day to simply relax, enjoy the luxury of hot chocolate, and take walks in the pristine campus wilderness. I even saw the beach in the snow for the first time!

It is days like today that remind me how much I love living here; as isolated and secluded as we are, sometimes forgoing electricity for hours at a time, we have the opportunity to return to simpler ways of enjoying nature and community. Only at Pearson do I feel truly “snowed in,” and it is a magical feeling.

Friday Night Magic

On Friday nights at Pearson College, it feels like our campus community reawakens from a school-tranced zombie state and our village transforms to a mecca of social life. From six thirty onwards, our responsibilities of classwork fall away in exchange for visiting friends, dancing salsa, and taking night walks in the woods. Last night, though admittedly a night like any other on campus, was a night I will always remember.

In a period of four hours, I had the opportunity to visit three rooms I hadn’t visited before, and talk about everything from the third world war to our campus’ pets. Only at Pearson, I realized, can I walk into any room and be offered every bed to sit on and engage in enlightening conversation.

Then came my walk in the woods. A few friends and I set off around eight with our flashlight…safely tucked in my friend’s pocket. We were on our way to pick up my second year and dear friend Emmy, who has arrived for a visit this weekend. The forest appeared transformed at night, even more mystical and magical than in the daylight. It was such a joyful reunion when we found her and brought her back to campus – for dozens of more joyful reunions!

The night was not over yet, however. My friends Pascale (Quebec) and Miguel (Venezuela) decided to share their love for salsa with everyone in a salsa cafe – and by nine thirty, fifty enthusiastic dancers were counting the seven-beat steps and swaying with the popular music. Once we learned the basics, we paired up, and laughed and danced for hours. Enjoying the music, a spirit of joy was shared universally by people from six continents and dozens of countries.

It was a wonderful beginning to a weekend of unanticipated blessings, including a stunning snow storm and memorable conversations with friends. Watching the snow melt in the sunshine reminds me of the cycles of nature, the promise that I will evolve with new growth in the coming and passing of time. What a beautiful beginning to this last term – a promise of the many magical moments to come.

Flying in the New Year!

Here I write, suspended thirty thousand feet in the air overlooking snow-dusted lakes in the Midwest, on my twelve-hour journey back to British Columbia. A buzz of anticipation prevents me from closing my already jet lagged eyes, so I turn to write to you, my dear readers. As my first blog post of the year, I wish you a very happy and healthy 2012!

For most of my adolescence, I anticipated 2011 as my graduation year – and then I came to Pearson. Suddenly, I replaced my class loyalties with this beautifully even year of 2012, and to my surprise and nervous excitement, it has finally arrived. I love the sound of the thought as it drifts through my mind: I am graduating this year – finally.

Each time I contemplate the comings of this new year, I feel like a spark of excitement awakens within me, quelled only by the ambiguity of the details. I hope to graduate, travel, find a fulfilling summer job, and go to college, though each destination is unknown. I have spent the last three weeks dwelling on these questions, squinting through the tinted windows that conceal my future. This post-grad anxiety finally hit me once I came home and faced the reality of life without Pearson.

I loved spending the past three weeks with my family, with all the comforts and familiarity of being at home, celebrating the holidays with everyone I had missed during my time away. Coming home after a stressful week of exams and facing a multitude of college essays, however, I sometimes felt overburdened and disconnected from my true self, my creativity, my enthusiasm. I also felt abruptly detached from the constant social interactions, the natural environment, the intellectual vitality that nourish me at Pearson.

Struggling to adapt to the different norms of living at home, startled by the reality of constant highway noise and the stress of the holiday season, I came to realize just how much I have changed in the past year. I feel I have invested in a new identity, embracing the challenges and joys of living away from home more than ever before.

So, hundreds of miles and words later, I feel like I am even more relieved and grateful to return to the beloved community of Pearson, the other home where I am fortunate enough to live, learn, and love for one more term. As my role model, dearest friend, and fellow blogger Emmy once quoted from Christian Morgenstern, “Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.” While no one at Pearson may truly understand my childhood, my family or regional culture, I feel I am coming home to a community where I feel truly understood on a human level, grounded in empathy and support.

In my final term, I hold the simple yet powerful hope to continue building relationships with the amazing people I am lucky enough to share this experience with. While maintaining a balance of a personal well being, social life, academic growth, and community engagement, I also hope to finish my IB diploma in stride, cultivating my enthusiasm for learning.

Most of all, I want to jump in the icy waters of Pedder Bay in May feeling happy, healthy, and fulfilled from every last opportunity I have enjoyed. I hope to say I have connected with each of my classmates, hiked every last trail in the forest, taken all my last trips on Vancouver Island, asked deeper and more meaningful questions than I ever thought possible. I envision my last term like the view from a hike to a new peak, succeeded only by countless more open summits. With renewed vitality and hopes for this up-coming year, I envision four precious months of life at its fullest. I am ready to land.