Alternative Spring Break: Navajo Nation

Alternative Spring Break: Navajo Nation

On Sunday, March 9, 2014 we woke up in Red Valley, AZ at WCL Professor Rosser’s parent’s home. The night before we had arrived really late as our flights got delayed. I had left at 5am on Saturday morning from my home in Washington DC for Chicago, IL, then got re-routed to Dallas, TX and then finally to Albuquerque, NM from where we drove to their farm house on the Navajo Nation. We saw beautiful scenic views and the clear night sky was amazing with thousands of stars. The next morning we had traditional breakfast with everyone and headed out to see Navajo nation. We drove around the mountains and took several pictures.

We arrived at Monument Valley, UT in the afternoon and I saw one of the most breathtakingly inspirational places on earth. These natural mud monuments stood thousands of feet tall without any man-made interventions. I thought to myself, we have one Washington Monument in Washington DC and it is constantly in repair mode sometimes open to public and sometimes closed. Here in Monument Valley, there were hundreds of monuments standing tall. One Navajo lady called it their Mars Red valley. We went on a drive through the monuments; some hiked and just walked around.

The day ended with traditional Navajo dinner at the View Restaurant on top of the Monument Valley. The fry bread meals reminded me of traditional Pakistani Poori bread which is also fried in oil. Navajo people are just like South Asian Brown people. If it weren’t for my headscarf, I would easily be mistaken for a Navajo woman. They all look just like me and are the most humble and nice women. After dinner, we headed to Window Rock to prepare for the busy work week ahead. Our group comprised of sixteen law students from American University Washington College of Law. We will all be working at various placements across Navajo Capital. I get to work at the Navajo Tax Commission and help the Tax Attorney. I am really grateful to be here. It is an honor and a privilege. Hope to make the best use of my time! 