Monday, March 28, 2011

3/28


Well today I am in Kiana. I was testing. It feel very strange to be here and not working with my student. After work I walked around the village for a bit. I took the other ladies here testing with me to the store. It was a beautiful day for walking. I took a few pictures.


Well the rest of the night will be talking to Luke on the computer and reading.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

3/27

Today is Sunday. I like Sundays, because we get to go to church. We have a small branch, four families. Today we had quiet the group. The stake presidency was visiting, we also had a inactive family come, and the branch president's parents were visiting. It was nice to have so many people. The rest of the day was relaxing. We had a friend over for dinner and to watch the race. I made my honey ginger pork. I got the recipe when I was in Ireland a few summers ago. It is one of our favorites.

Tomorrow I fly out Kiana. Sadly not to work with my student out there but to do some more of the testing. But this time I will only be out over night. I have a meeting I have to part of on Wednesday.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Pictures of Kivalina


Here are the pictures that I have promised!

This are some whales bones. I love it!


This is the sea ice that looks like a snow cave.

This house has some wolf skins drying. It just so village life.


This is how I got to and from the school. It is really comfy.

Friday, March 25, 2011

3/25

Woot Woot I am home!!!! I love being home with my family! Today we finished the testing on the students in Kivalina at about 12, but flights only come twice a day, 10:00ish and 4:00ish. So we had to wait till the 4:00 flight. I got home and spent some much needed time with my family. Luke and I watched WALL-E. Now it is off to bed. I never sleep well when I am out traveling. So it is off to bed! I will post some pics tomorrow!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

3/24

Still in Kivialina today. I spent to most of today give speaking, listening and reading tests. Tomorrow will be a fun day of writing tests, and doing make up tests for those who are not here. After school Jean and I walked around town a bit, too a few more pictures, nothing major. This evening has been a relaxing evening of reading (off of my new kindle that my hubby got me for my birthday!) and doing a few things online. I will be flying home tomorrow, and I am very much looking forward to it!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

3/23

Well today I flew out to Kivalina to do some testing for the district. It is a lovely village. It was snowing on the flight here, so no pictures from the plane. :( As soon as Jean (the lady that does the testing with me) and myself go to the school, we went to work testing kids. After school was over we took a walk through town. The village sits on a little piece of land between two bodies of water. Right behind the school was the best view of sea ice that has pushed up. I found one set of sea ice that looks like a snow cave. We were walking on a good 5 feet of snow as we were walking around town. There are no cars or trucks here, just snow-gos (snow machines) and hondas (4 wheelers). We came to the school on a snow-go with a dog sled attached to the back. I rode on the back of the snow-go and Jean was sitting on the sled with our bags. I will get picture up as soon as I get home. I forgot my card reader at home....sorry all. The rest of the night will just be relaxing, reading, and talking to Luke via messenger. I will be out here until Friday after school. So I'll report more about the village in the next two days.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

3/22

Not a bad day over all today. Work was work. I got some more work done on the Anchorage trip I am takes some students on. I called to talk to the lady who is planning it. She is deaf, and I had to call via relay company. It has been college since I have used a relay company. I forgot how strange it was to have a third party in your phone conversation. Let me explain....The deaf can't use the phone like we use it...they can't hear...so as a hearing person I call a relay company and a 'translator' will type what I am saying into a TTY and the person who is deaf will read it then type their side of the conversation, and the 'translator' will read it to me. I've never like the third party. Oh well, I work with the deaf and I am sure I will use a relay company many more times in my life.

I had a dental appointment today. I had one of my teeth on the bottom left side pulled. There was about 1/4 of the tooth left. Lets just say that was not the high point of the day.

It was a nice warm day up here in the arctic. I think it got into the high 20s to low 30s. Yes for us that is warm.

Tomorrow morning I head out to Kivalina. It is one of the village around here. It is the farthest north village in our district. I am helping with some testing. I will be out there until Friday after school. I will post picture of the flight, and some of the village. I love taking pictures of the villages here in Alaska.

Monday, March 21, 2011

3/21


Today was different Monday for me. I didn't travel out to Kiana. Kiana is a village about 40 miles or so up river from Kotzebue. I fly up the once a week to work with a deaf student. The village has bout 300 people in it. It is up in the mountains, has trees, and it is where two rivers meet. It is beautiful there.
So today I got to work with my student here in Kotzebue. I love the days I get to work with him. I also worked today on planning a second trip to Anchorage with my 4 deaf students.

Today after school the was a celebration for John Baker. John Baker won the Iditarod this year. He is the first Native Alaskan to win the Iditarod in 35 years. So for up here that is a BIG deal. His daughter is in the class that I work with this year...so how cool is that? :)


Sunday, March 20, 2011

3/20-My first day blogging

Today is my 30th birthday, and I want to blog everyday for a year. It will be like a journal for myself and who ever feels up to reading it.

Today was a good day. I had several friends over for games and food. We had a good time complaining about work, and what is going on for everyone futures. I am a teacher and we are coming to the time of year when people are deciding to stay or go. It looks like there will be a lot of people leaving the school this year. We played Apples to Apples. Luke and I love playing that game. Then we had cake. I made a Boston Cream Pie for my birthday cake. It was really yummy! The Luke and Bethany (one of our friends) watched the NASCAR race that he recorded. In the next blog I will tell more about me and where I live. We are tired and Luke wants to go to bed...till tomorrow.