I decided that now would be a good time to update everyone on our lives. Nothing really important has happened (except we're moving) but we've been having fun, and since I took pictures to document it, I figured I might as well share it. 

Two weeks ago we went to southern Utah. I am a little bit obsessed with that general area. It's absolutely incredible and gorgeous. However, this time it was cold, which was a little unexpected because we've only ever been in the summer. We hiked Little Wildhorse Canyon, but we did the whole loop. It's so amazing, the rocks are beautiful. It was pretty windy, so anytime we weren't in the canyon was pretty chilly. And then at the very end, the slots were water filled, and it was frigid. There was nowhere else to go, unless we turned around and hiked 6 miles the other way, and obviously you can't walk around the water in a slot canyon. Some people tried to climb on the walls across, and the real climbers could do it but most people couldn't. So we took off our shoes and went straight through and by the time we were done my legs had turned blue. 

Last weekend we went to a wedding in Boise. One of Tyler's old roommates got married. It was actually a really cool experience, the first time I'd been to a wedding since my own. We did have to get up at 3:30 in the morning to get there, but that was worse for Tyler than me because we had to borrow his dad's car because ours was having issues, and the borrowed car was a stick. Which I still cannot drive. So I got to sleep while Tyler drove the whole time. The Boise Temple was remodeled, and much prettier because of it. 

This is Tyler with his old roommates, minus the one who was actually getting married. He was too busy taking millions of other pictures. 

Here is me with the capitol. Captiol of Idaho, exciting, I know. 

On our way back from Idaho, we stopped at the Minidoka historical site. I hadn't realized that there was anything left here, and really there wasn't much. But it was enough. I could feel the history in the air, I really could.

I think this is a part of American history that is too often ignored. I hear about racism everyday. Racism and discrimination are all over the news. In school, I hear probably five times a day- no exaggeration- students say "that's racist," or, "it's because I'm brown, isn't it?" or, "it's because I'm white." It drives me absolutely insane but it's ingrained in their minds. Sometimes they really are just joking (a very obnoxious joking), but all too often they actually feel like they're being slighted because of their race (and this is all of the students I'm talking about).

 The point is, Americans are obsessed with equality and tolerance. Which, is a good thing to be obsessed with if you must be obsessed with anything. But. I think they're doing it wrong. Instead of treating everyone like equals, they just sob about being discriminated against, despite the lack of any real discrimination.

Example: One day we have a sub. The students think she is being mean to them because she is making them sit in assigned seats. They instantly become rude and disrespectful. When I talk to them about their choices, this is their immediate response.
Student: The sub is racist! She hates white people!
Me: No, she doesn't, she didn't do anything to you based on your race.
Another student: But she is racist!
Me: Guys, she can't be racist against all of you, that doesn't make sense.
Student: But she really is racist.
Me: She is the same race as you, how does that make sense?
Student: She's racist against short people! *he's being totally serious*
Me: . . .
All the while, they actually truly believe they are being treated unjustly due to race!

There are just so many flawed notions of race and racism (and really, these stories include so many other issues, but that's for another day). And this glaring example during WWII goes unnoticed. In fact, people are working to save it from being turned into cattle land. (Although why  5 miles of historical land needs to be given to cows is anyone's guess. Apparently the rest of Idaho's empty land is not good enough for the cows.) I guess my point is, real racism is being ignored (it's a painful and shameful memory), and yet this sense of false racism is being perpetuated throughout the rising generation. If only we could teach about these real stories, and learn to understand them and learn from them, maybe it could make a difference. But who knows. Just had to get that little rant out. Anyways, here are some pictures documenting our journey.

Here is what remains of the guard tower.

This is just the root cellar, but it looks fairly foreboding I think. 

There used to be a canal running by this guard fence that used to be electrified. Apparently people used to sit by the canal as it made them feel less homesick. It would be a shock to move from Seattle or Alaska or Oregon to the middle of deserty nowhere Idaho.

These are some of the barracks that were left. They are so poorly made that the insides are being held up with thick beams about every five feet.