Week 5 & 6: Snow and Santa Fe

Our bus finally made it to the sprawling land of New Mexico where pretty much every parking space was a photo opportunity!

Photo Credit: United Photo Industries/Quinn Berkman

After a three day trek through the Mid-West we were very excited to head towards warmer weather in Santa Fe. We woke up on Monday morning ready for our first school visit when we were surprised with a snow day! As New Yorkers we were very shocked at what Santa Fe calls a “snow day”, not to mention the colder weather (and altitude adjustment!)

Snow Day view from our little Adobe Home

Despite the weather surprises we encountered in Santa Fe, we visited some fantastic and hospitable schools the rest of the week. Given the arid climate of New Mexico, many conversations were ignited around water access. At The Academy for Tech and Classics, students built connections with the farmers in Koraro, Ethiopia identifying the historical importance of building irrigation canals in New Mexico as well. Earlier in the semester students had spent time building a model adobe village and even designed an irrigation system to understand the challenges of water access. While New Mexico may lack in water as a natural resource, students spoke about how the sun could be used as a sustainable resource for their homes. While the type of climate they live in might hinder their access to water it can also be taken advantage of in a positive way with a lot of potential for a more sustainable future.