Tears, laughter, sweat, inspiration, everything

The tears, the laughter, the sweat, the inspiration, everything. All pieces of a puzzle that create an image of the new individuals we will be after this trip. Each experience is a concrete block, adding on to our personalities and mindsets in the event that after all these blocks are on one another, we will not just be any typical buildings, but rather strongholds and have the power to stand against many things. With all of these experiences, our concrete blocks will stack high to the sky, allowing us to see things in a different eye, creating a view of understanding.

Today we experienced tears. I personally had witnessed Bobby hold a baby for the first time. With the Aboriginal Australian toddler known as “Yan,” Bobby held him in his arms. It seemed as if the child was a burning fire, warming and softening Bobby’s heart with intense heat as Bobby continued to hold him in his arms until little Yan fell asleep.

Today we experienced laughter. Sitting around together, goofing around, and singing silly songs. Showering in the bathrooms while the tiny toads continue to scare us by jumping on our feet. Splashing around in the refreshing pools with the young children as they pull our hair and flip the animal floats we squeezed our happy bodies on. With each laugh, helium was added to my invisible party balloons and at the end of the day, I found myself floating above the clouds, high on happiness.

Furthermore, we also witnessed sweat. Working in the garden, sheds, and pulling weeds, the extreme heat got to us. We reapplied sunscreen and drank water more times than I can count. I remember feeling the sweat drop from my forehead to my nose while I grinded holes between poles. But the sweat is not a negative thing. In fact, quite the opposite. With each drop of sweat, I did not only feel the water leave my body, but also any worries and anxiety that I may have had before this trip.

Last but not least, the inspiration. Almost as intense as the burning sun itself, driving into our skin and burning any lack of understanding. Watching, listening, and connecting with the female Aboriginal elders, we all learned something unexplainable. They painted stories that we could not possibly know, however, something we could absolutely feel. They painted with confidence and wisdom, teaching us about their country and their spiritual beliefs. With each dab of paint added to the canvas, the story became clearer. I saw the way they painted not with their hands, but rather their hearts and minds. With that, we all did not watch thiswith our eyes either. We saw this with our hearts, and the information found its way and traveled to our minds, creating a resting place where it can feed on the inspiration that has been received through these beautiful, powerful, and incredible female Aboriginal Elders.

By Leilani

The smell of dirt, the cool nights, and the ever-hot sun in the morning. It depicts the typical Western Australia day. Like their ancestors the Martu people endured these extremes and until today perhaps not the elemental extremes but the political mainstream as they fight for what is rightfully theirs.

By Reyn