On June 13, 2014, 17 students from Santa Clara University
set out to walk across California as part of an experiential learning course to
“honor, understand and witness California” said teacher David Popalisky.
This is the second such journey for David Popalisky,
referred to as their fearless leader.
The idea was hatched in November 2010 and took a full year
to develop and another year to implement with his first journey in the Spring
of 2012. His intention with each walk is to “allow the kids to slow down and
reflect on their own lives” as they witness the socio-economic diversity within
the state.
The students began their 15 day trek at Ocean Beach in San
Francisco where, as a group, they performed the ‘blessing dance’ to start their
journey. The dance had been taught to Popalisky by a Native American friend and
instructor Juan Valenzuela to “create a sacred space wherever you are” and in turn
was taught to his students. It consists of the students standing in a circle
and speaking as one blessing the 6 cardinal directions plus the addition of a
special one Popalisky added. “Bless the space before
me..behind..right..left..above..below…and within me.”
Though the students had learned the dance in their classroom
for many it had a more spiritual feeling on the first day of their journey
together on the beach. “It felt like the beginning of a journey, a connection
with the earth and everything around us” said 20 year old religious studies major
Ana Fuentes.
The trek so far has included visits to: a West Oakland
community garden where once it was “a desert for quality produce” now shows
locals how to grow and eat nutritiously: a Brentwood Organic farm to learn
sustainability, California agriculture both big ag and organic and the
consequences of the chemicals in the earth as well as the work that is required
to plant, grow and harvest: a Stockton re-entry organization helping recently
released fathers reconnect with their families: a farm workers home where they
were told their stories of immigration, fed a home cooked meal and attended a
mass outside: Mount Diablo above the fog layer to see how vast the area is and
more.
By June 18th, the students found themselves in
Copperopolis Town Square for an overnight stay in tents and serenaded by an
acoustic guitar while they ate.
The final leg of
their trip will take them to a Miwuk reservation, an earth eco summit in
Groveland to learn of water conservation and grey water recycling as well as a
visit to the RIM fire area to meet with Rangers who will tell of their
experience.
The most difficult part of the journey so far for 22 year
old Political Science major Luke Koslosky has been “seeing the communities in
strife and not being able to do anything about it.” This sentiment was
reiterated by many of the students; talk of the poor, the hungry, the destitute
and the current helplessness the students felt about the situation. “But we
will try to change that” said Koslosky.
by
Charity Maness