10. Halloween | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 Things I'd Rather Be Doing At Home On The Navajo Rez In The Fall

I always miss home the most during the fall season.

522
10 Things I'd Rather Be Doing At Home On The Navajo Rez In The Fall

In This Article:

I always miss home the most during the fall season. In the midst of midterms, cramming, and homesickness - I'd rather be there more than anything.

1. Fair season

Honestly, I'll be the first to admit it - the fair can be fun. I miss the chaos of parking and saving spaces for the parade. I miss packing the truck with strollers, umbrellas, blankets, and making sure everyone had cash, not card. I miss the songs and dances, powwows, rodeos, and different events happening all at once. I miss the carnival lights and still being able to look up from the rides to see a sky full of stars and everywhere occupied by Navajos.

2. Pumpkin picking

Pumpkin picking is an all-time favorite! It can be done with friends and family. There's just something about spending outside in the crisp fresh air and surrounded by the huge variety of pumpkins: short, small, textured, differently colored, huge stems, heavy, gigantic, the list goes on - simply beautiful.

3. Yei bi chei

This is a Navajo thing. When the yeiis come out and you see their cedar branches, masks, and body paint, there's two reactions - fear (all the kiddos cling to bima) or you go to them for blessings. It's so heartwarming to see them out in public and humbling to see a sacred part of our culture physically embodied.

4. Steamed corn

Yo, this stuff is addicting. I LOVE FRESH STEAMED CORN. Mmm! There's just something about getting it right off the grill and peeling the singed ears off into that first bite of sweet yumminess. Brings back so many happy childhood memories of fall.

5. Pinon picking

If you don't take your old pickup truck into the mountains to get on your knees in the forest to find these babies, you got a dealer, right? With the pint, quart, and gallon sized zip lock bags full of roasted pinons. You have to hide your share from EVERYONE. If steamed corn is addicting, this stuff will have you hiding pinons in class and work. NO sharing.

6. Harvesting the corn

Picking corn and getting yelled at by grandma when you almost pick one that isn't ripe enough yet. Yet, you don't mind. It's a blessing to be able to pick corn with your grandparents and close family.

7. Sunsets & sunrises

This is an all-time favorite a lot of people. The unique landscape and ability to see for miles will take anyone's breath away. The way the sky lights up with all colors and decorated by the clouds... it's almost as if it's the sky's favorite times as well. It almost feels alive. Ugh, imma tear up.

8. Stew & Chilly Weather

Most people love to warm up with a cup of tea or coffee with an over-sized sweater as the season turns chilly. On the Navajo Nation, there's nothing like being outside chopping wood, the kids playing nearby, or feeding the animals then entering the house to feel the heat of the wood stove. Mom or grandma made either mutton stew, posole, or beans with frybread to warm up and feed the whole family. *Cries in Navajo*

9. Cross country meets

My personal favorite was going to state cross country meets. The adrenaline you feel before the gun goes off and the butterflies going nuts inside your stomach. Spectators yelling and cheering while your feet hit the earth - the best feeling ever.

10. Halloween

Of course, Halloween on the Navajo reservation was everyone getting dressed up and piling in the truck bed of an old pickup truck. You go to the NHA housing units, teacher housing, and the hospital housing for good candy. You go far because your nearest neighbor was probably miles away in the boonies and a dirt road.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1202
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

17 Times "Friends" Accurately Described Life

You can't say that no one told you life was gonna be this way.

338
friends

In the 12 years since it went off the air, "Friends" continues to be adored by millions. The show that gave generations unrealistic expectations about love (or should I say lobsters?) and New York City apartments had a charming cast of characters that everyone could relate to at some point or another. Here are 17 times Ross, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel accurately described life.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Times Aubrey Plaza Described Sophomore Year

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

680
Aubrey Plaza
Flickr Creative Commons

Aubrey Plaza is one of my favorite humans in Hollywood. She's honest, blunt, unapologetic, and hilarious. I just started my sophomore year of college, and found that some of her best moments can accurately describe the start of the school year.

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

College vs. High School

Freedom vs. Curfew

328
graduation

Things you may not realize are different between high school and college:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments