Chris Kemp

Senior Bridget Prokop found herself standing over an outdoor display of authentic native Southwestern jewelry and art in Santa Fe, New Mexico over spring break.

In the morning, the American Indians would set up their booth in the portal of the Palace of the Governors, near the plaza in downtown Santa Fe, Prokop said. It was an opportunity to literally touch pieces of native Southwestern culture while listening to the stories behind them from the perspectives of the native people.

“It was interesting learning the meaning behind the symbols in their art,” she said. “New Mexico has such a rich history and culture. It’s a very vibrant place.”

Prokop, an English education major, was one of several Eau Claire students and faculty who traveled to New Mexico over spring break. The trip was part of FED 385: Social Foundations of Human Relations, an education course.

An additional eight students joined the 20 education students and three Eau Claire faculty members to fulfill part of their service learning requirements.

Senior Amy Buehner, a music education major, also participated in the trip. A fundamental question in FED 385 is what it would be like to be someone who looks at the world from a different cultural perspective, she said.

“We (students) are taught from a very white point of view,” Buehner said.

While in New Mexico, the students worked on the Community Farm, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide people in need with access to fresh produce.

They also worked at the Food Depot, which supplies food for the homeless and needy.

“(The Food Depot) works hard to address issues of those in need because New Mexico is so poor,” Prokop said.

One of the highlights for Buehner was interacting with the native people at the jewelry booth under the Palace of the Governors portal.

“That was huge for me, talking with people who have different experiences and are from such different backgrounds,” she said.

Buehner said the students also spent an afternoon with a native Santa Fe woman, cooking traditional cuisine, listening to music and talking about the local culture in general.

Sitting down and having conversations with the local people about their life experiences enabled the students to interact in a way that isn’t often used anymore, Buehner said.

“Just really trying to understand people and what they believe in, and why they think they’re here and what their purpose is,” she said. “We kind of shy away from that, because it’s so personal.”

Prokop said while the only downside to the trip was the lack of interaction with local students for the education majors, the experience provided them with an eye-opening contrast between conditions in New Mexico and places like Eau Claire.

“There are things that need to be addressed in our own country,” Prokop said. “There’s a lot more here (in the United States) that (students) need to experience before going to Europe and places like that.”