Coming to an end at Gila River

It felt like yesterday when we all arrived here at Gila River. Now we are wrapping everything up and will be leaving in a week! I am looking forward to being home, but not the 3 day car ride back to Cleveland.

This past week was spent doing more flu clinics. By now, we have mastered the routine and the set up that works best for us. When all four of us are present, Olivia and Briana are doing the shots, while Lisa and I are their helpers: drawing up vaccine and filling out the paper for them to sign. When it is just Lisa and I, we set up a table inbetween us for the vaccine cooler. When Rita (director of school health) calls out an IM, Lisa and I take turns drawing up while the other one is administering the vaccine until both of us can get back to it.

On Thursday, Lisa and I were at the flu clinic for the Ira Hayes High School students. This school building is only 10 years old, but it looks as if it was built a couple years ago. The school has around 60 students total, so that might have helped with keeping the building "so young." I was amazed by the art work all around the school, which is done by the students. The students have the opportunity to be taught from an art teacher who is able to sell his artwork because he is that good. The pieces by the students show so much talent that both Lisa and I wanted to go to the school so that we could take the art class.

On Friday, we presented to another third grade class. Our dental health hygiene presentation went well again, but this class was not as enthusiastic as the other class. Nonetheless, the students did just as well on the pre/post tests. The scores definitely show that they learned something from our presentation. After our presentation, we spent the afternoon at The Heard Museum, which shows the history of Native Americans. I was taken aback by the exhibit on the Indian Boarding Schools. Children were taken from their homes and spent years at a school that had a goal to "Americanize" the children. This schools were run like military camps and were supported by the government as a cheaper option than killing the Native Americans. I did smile at the section about how the children made the school their own by introducing their culture into clubs, sports, and pageants such as "Indian Princesses."

Our last week will be spent doing flu clinics and wrapping up our capstone paper and poster. I am sure that all of us will soak up as much sun and heat before heading back to Cleveland, where I hear it is snowing.