We went to the Southwest. We visited many beautiful and great places. There were traditional buildings, food, religions and dresses. It was the first time for me to touch the native American culture with own eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands and feet. I was very excited about everything!
My most favorite place was "Sky City". Before I visited there, I was very interested in it, but I couldn't imagine "Sky City". I couldn't believe that there was a city on a high rock. The only way to go there was by bus. When I got off the bus, I saw the huge sky! The sky was clear blue and close to me. The view from town was so beautiful. There was the city 150m high. Traditional buildings were made of adobe and sun rocks. They were 3 or 4 stories high. On the first floor, there was no window on the wall to protect a family from enemies. The houses were handed over from mother to daughter. It meant women ruled. If Acoma Pueblo men married foreign women, they would not join religious ceremonies. However, if Acoma Pueblo women married foreign men, they would join religious ceremonies. It was also women ruled, which is called matriarchy. I was very interested in it because men are stronger than women in Japan.
Acoma Pueblo had many interesting ideas. White ladders were by the houses. The tips of the ladders pointed to the sky. Acoma Pueblo people believed that the tips of the ladders jabbed clouds and it would rain. The other idea was that they said "replant", which means to die. Pueblo people believed their ancestors came there from the earth through a hole and they returned to mother earth when they died. I saw how they lived with nature.
After we visited Sky City, we went to Sky City Community School. I met Acoma Pueblo children. They were very cute and active. I was very happy because they talked to me and were interested in Japan. I was surprised that they have English names and Indian names. I asked them what they did after school. They often go hunting. In Japan, almost all children often play TV games or sports. These differences were interesting for me. Acoma Pueblo children were really interested in my camera and enjoyed taking pictures. They were so cute and pure. I liked them.
Acoma Pueblo had many interesting ideas. White ladders were by the houses. The tips of the ladders pointed to the sky. Acoma Pueblo people believed that the tips of the ladders jabbed clouds and it would rain. The other idea was that they said "replant", which means to die. Pueblo people believed their ancestors came there from the earth through a hole and they returned to mother earth when they died. I saw how they lived with nature.
After we visited Sky City, we went to Sky City Community School. I met Acoma Pueblo children. They were very cute and active. I was very happy because they talked to me and were interested in Japan. I was surprised that they have English names and Indian names. I asked them what they did after school. They often go hunting. In Japan, almost all children often play TV games or sports. These differences were interesting for me. Acoma Pueblo children were really interested in my camera and enjoyed taking pictures. They were so cute and pure. I liked them.
I got to like Acoma Pueblo more than before I visited there. Their culture was different from ours. They love nature and their culture. I felt nature in Sky City. I want Acoma Pueblo Indians to continue their culture.
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