Sweating It Out

On the list of all of the things that I never thought I would be able to participate in, an Apache sweat lodge ranks pretty high up there. Yet, through this program and our professor, Sunday, we were able to be a part of this experience.
To start from the beginning, every weekend we have optional trips(usually on Saturday), and a few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go and watch an amazing micaceous clay potter, Felipe Ortega, work. He creates beautiful clay ware out of mica clay. In case you have never seen micaceous clay it is a gorgeous bronze hue with sparkling flecks within it. The clay, in addition to being beautiful, is incredibly durable. Felipe scared me when he took a piece of green ware (a clay form that has dried but has not been fired) and started to bang it against the table. Usually with a solid tap green ware will shatter or crack, and with the way he was hitting it i expected to have to duck from flying sherds. The fact that not a single speck broke off amazed me, and made us all appreciate the clay.
We were all very excited to sit there and watch him work. Watching Felipe work is an experience, to say the least. He is completely outrageous and so funny tears literally came out of a couple students' eyes. So when he set down some clay and told us to get to work we were all very excited, but a little nervous that we might make fools our of ourselves in front of him. We were all able to make some micaceous bowls, and I am so excited to take mine home. Though I am a little nervous about getting it home. So I am prepared to strap it on like it's my baby and have it be my carry-on.
While Felipe is incredibly well-known for his pottery, he and those he has taught have mentioned in numerous publications, he also runs a sweat lodge at his house. The sweat lodge takes place on every full and new moon, which works out to be about every 2 weeks. Though about 12 people came up to Felipe's for the pottery demonstration, only 4 of us stayed, plus our professor Sunday. I was really excited, because who ever thought they would be able to take part in a real sweat lodge, and not some cheesy tourist re-enactment. The sweat lodge lasts 4 rounds, and each round has a different theme: beginnings, youth, middle age, and old age. The theme dictates what you talk about and share with the others. The 4 of us were a bit nervous, we didn't know if we would be strong enough to stay in the entire time. Only one of us lasted all 4 rounds, and sadly it wasn't me. I did last for 3 of the 4 rounds, which I was alright with as some of the veterans had to leave the lodge as well. Some even said that this lodge was unusually hot. It was such an amazing and eye opening experience, and completely unique to this area and to these people. It is an experience that I will remember always. In fact when I go home I will probably brag about it to everyone, right after I show them all my new piece of pottery.