Fellows spent four days immersed in rural Navajo daily life. They visited the homes of elderly community members and learned first-hand a bit about Navajo cultural traditions, such as how to enter a Navajo home and greet in the Navajo way. They helped the elderly with basic daily chores, such as chopping wood, shoveling horse manure and cleaning homes. Traveling to each home every day, they experienced some of the challenges of rural living on the Navajo Reservation and the barriers to health care and health promotion.

Through meetings with various community leaders, fellows gained insight into health concerns in the area, including substance abuse and related accidents, diabetes and environmental issues, and they were introduced to aspects of the culture, including traditional foods, weaving and gardening using sustainable techniques of permaculture.

Immersion in the life of Project EXPORT's partner community, Hardrock, was designed to foster a sense of commitment and understanding of the culture and issues surrounding the community. For more information, call Brenda Manuelito, program director of Health Disparities, 626-7946, ext. 230, or e-mail bkay@u.arizona.edu.