TravelStream™ news feed for member mommyt136 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mommyt136 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 30 May 2009 13:36:40 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1208224680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1208224680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1208224680/tpod.html Sat, 30 May 2009 13:36:40 -0400 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Spring is in the air here in Arctic Village. The sun is now out 17 hours a day or so and it is bright and beautiful! Temps are climbing to 0 and even above at the warmest part of the day. People are out moving around and kids are running wild playing... including my own. Now that the sun is back and we know the kids and families our own kids have more freedom to snow mobile, ski, and sled with their friends. Carnival is taking place this week and it has been a lot of fun so far. It started Saturday and goes until Wednesday. They do wood chopping contests, races of all kinds, games and music. Its like a bunch of bears coming out of hibernation. Bradie, Mary, and Chance are getting very good on the skis. They go down hills that make my heart jump but land upright every time. They are getting fast. Ive yet to be on a pair of skis (no boots my size) but they make it look like so much fun. I'm starting to take my class hiking, skiing, and ice fishing in the afternoons to get us out and about. It is really an awesome experience to see the village kids find the ice holes and drop a line for greyling.

Recently one of the village hunters shot two adult wolves. He found me and Becky out hiking and gave us permission to come and take a look. It sounds crazy but I was really interested in seeing the beasts I'd heard about all winter up close. They were really big. The males paw was as big as my kids head and the coats were so thick. I know many may have a problem with the killing of wolves but here it is about survival and economy so I do not share those feelings. Many people come from the lower 48 and shoot many wolves from helicopters and this does not get the media attention that the natives get for shooting a wolf or a polar bear found away from his natural habitat. OK, enough preaching. I was awed to be able to see these animals that had just been up on the hill above the village moments before and I have an even healthier respect for the warnings we newbies get.

During all of this excitement we are preparing ourselves for our move May 20. We have purchased a vehicle that is waiting for us in Fairbanks and we have rented a wonderful home . I will be teaching but will not find out my school assignment until May 1. We are gradually packing and preparing for the next leg of the adventure. I am excited to be going to a region that still has mountains. I have really come to love them and would hate to give them up. I will keep you all updated as we have more news on the horizon :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1224439920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1224439920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1224439920/tpod.html Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:00:49 -0400 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Sutton, Alaska, United States

The seasons are changing again and I am trying to reteach myself how to drive in snow, ice, wind, and dark. While this may sound like a complaint it is not. It's only part of the entire experience. I realized very recently when someone asked about my missing blogs that I have not given an update in five months. While it has not seemed like that much time has passed I realize it has taken me a bit to get my feet under me and learn enough about my new home and experiences to continue blogging. When we arrived in the Village last year we were sort of just dumped and immersed the minute our feet touched the ground. Here it is different. It is a different Alaska. Looking at the surface it is like any small town near a bigger city. Schools, churches, people going to work are everyday sights but after you are here you start to see and feel the differences. You start to realize it is still wild Alaska....just with soccer moms.

People are slower to let you in and get to know you here because so many come and leave in just a short time and many high tale it out after the first snow. The job interviews actually include questions like, "how long you planning to be around?" "What kind of vehicle do you drive?" "Are you for real?'.. yep that last one is a direct quote :) We live in the Matanuska-Susitna Vally and our home is about an hour from Anchorage but many commute. Mike is lucky enough to have found work in the Valley and my school is in Palmer. That is only about 30 minutes from my home. It is not far in miles but I have to navigate windy mountain roads to get there. It is gorgeous here and the mountains and tall trees remind you of how remote you still are. We have acutally seen more wild life here than in the village. I almost hit a moose on the way to town one morning and Mike and the kids actually saw a bear and cubs off the side of the road down an incline. We have been very close to fox and moose several times. My friend who lives in Eagle River has three bears who were visiting her back yard often because she also lives on a mountain. That is a little to close for comfort in my mind.

I am thrilled to have tall trees again. the village has very low spruce. They are pigmy due to the climate and so forth. The land was massive and harshly beautiful in Arctic Village, while here you can almost get lulled into a false feeling of security because of the trees and the greenery. This is wild country just more setted. I still like to make the point that it is not tame like much of Washington State, Colorado, Oregon and other places that are known for the wilderness. Somehow they seem to be in the beutiful country but keep the wildlife at bay. Here we dont :) I was driving to Anchorage one morning for a training and the radio announcer during the traffic update reminded everyone to drive cautiously. It was not because of heavy traffic or bad weather. It was due to three full grown moose hanging out in the center median of Northern Lights. That is a major road in Anchorage. My good friends turned the corner after leaving a restaurant in Anchorage and there stood a wolf. What a surprise. We have opened our front door and heard the Moose calls from across the street. It amazes me that we live so close to Starbucks and still so close to the elements.

Ok, that all being said it is fantastic to be near modern convenience again. That is always the first thing people ask us. Although, a small part of me misses seeing Mike haul water from the mighty river like some kind of primitive pioneer. I also miss the intense family time we had in the village, although at the end I was very near feeding my young to the nearest wolf. A family of six in a small two bedroom house is very dangerous. Another thing I am often asked is if it stays dark and light here for half the year. It is not nearly as extreme here. It is getting light about 7 or 8 am and dark about normal. Not nearly the drastic move toward total darkness like in the village. I am incredibly happy with the schools my kids are attending. The district is very good and all the schools meet the standards. Bradie the oldest started sixth grade and has made the transition to Middle school flawlessly. She plays volley ball and is on the year book staff and is managing to maintain all A's and B's.... (even in math) That amazes me.

The native influence is not as strong here. It is predominately white and populated by "sour doughs" . That is folks who have been here or come from families that settled here or were here before it was a state. They have a hard time with new people coming in but it is happening more and more. Especially with the Palin Fever going on. Where we live we are lucky enough to see some history about the native people here (Chikcaloons) They were majorly influenced by the Russians (still many Russians here) You can see the influence in their burial rituals. They burried their dead and then built small houses over the grave called Sprit Houses. Because of our location we are actually very near several original spirit houses. The area is rich with history because this area was settled during the depression as a one of the projects to rejuvenate the economy and get people working. It was a farm community and some of the orginal homesteads are still here as well as the original town buildings. That is why I really like the area. It is very quaint and home towny.

We will do our best to keep everyone updated. I am very excited about the holiday season and the change of seasons. While it is a new part of Alaska the adventure continues :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1212215220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1212215220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1212215220/tpod.html Sat, 31 May 2008 02:50:12 -0400 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Palmer, Alaska, United States

Well, after 8 months in Arctic Village the school year closed and we set out on the next leg of our adventure. We left the village May 17 and flew into Fairbanks. We stayed there for 2 days enjoying our time at the Pikes Lodge. We also spent time with our friend Becky who, like us, was relocating out of the village. After 2 days reacquainting ourselves with civilization we headed by SUV to our new home. What we thought was going to be a 4 hour drive ended up taking 7 hours due to frequent stops for the kids who were no longer used to road trips. The trip took us through Denali National Park and some truly gorgeous, wild, remote areas. I got to see my first moose as she wandered out of the wild and on to the side of road to munch some flora. We ended up arriving at our new home about 8:00 pm.

The house is perfect and we have enjoyed spending the last week furnishing and outfitting our new home. We have gotten it all done and settled in record time. We are actually living in a small community right outside Palmer called Sutton and it is the launch site for a lot of outdoor tourism. The drive in and out is stunning. The area is full of bears and moose. They actually have photo contests to see who can get the beest moose photo. We have gotten into town to see the new school where I will be working and we have gotten into Anchorage twice (saw 2 more moose) Palmer has all the amenities and is very rustic chic. It has a nice small town feel but is very trendy in terms of shops, salons, restaurants, and sites. I have found a cool coffee shop called Vagabond Blues and a cozy bookstore called Fireside books as well as a clothing boutique to meet all my needs :) The best thing I found so far is Blue Mountain Wellness Studio home to Sacred Dance Company. They are a dance troupe that holds classes and I have found a new place to dance and hang out. I will be teaching one or two weekly dance classes and dancing in a performance troupe formed by the founders of the Company. I am very excited. Mike has a golf course here as well as a cigar shop and lots of fishing and boating. He is in hog heaven. Although I am sure he will miss hauling water (lost 30 pounds by the way) he is thrilled with the public utilities. He mentioned that he will truly miss eating caribou so often. He has gotten really good and preparing caribou fry meet. We left our bread maker behind but will be purchasing another so he can continue providing us with fresh baked bread.

So far we have been able to see and do a lot. We have:

Visited the Musk Ox Farm
seen 2 movies
seen Denali
seen 3 moose up close
visited Anchorage twice
toured the Palmer Museum of Art and History

It has been a busy time but we are optimistic and really excited to be here. The village was an experience to remember and now we are allowing ourselves to see another region of a very diverse and beautiful state.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1206117660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1206117660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1206117660/tpod.html Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:21:25 -0400 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Please forgive the break in writing but life has been busy and new experiences have taken up much of our time. Unfortunately, some of those new experiences have been lessons in roughing it. Lets start back in February to catch everyone up. Mike was able to attend the Technology Conference in Anchorage. This meant he got a weeks stay in a nice hotel with other grown ups eating veggies and drinking real milk. While he professionally developed himself :) I stayed behind and took care of the home front. All was well until he returned. The day he got back we were informed there was a frozen sewage blockage and we would be without plumbing until farther notice! This meant I was going to experience the one thing I have avoided since my arrival...The dreaded honey bucket. The people in the village do not have plumbing. Only the school has plumbing so we get flush potties. Until the plumbing could be fixed we would be using out houses or honey buckets. Since the school does not have an outhouse ... yep, you guessed it... honey buckets. This means your toilette becomes a tall bucket with a plastic liner that is emptied in the sewage lagoon once or twice a day. This was pretty challenging for my delicate southern daughters. I had to rig up the toilette with a plastic trash bag so they could sit comfortably to do their business. This lasted for an entire week which also meant the school was closed. Yet another disruption in the daily routine.

Eventually, the problem was fixed (nothing happens fast here) and we could move on to the next adventure which was Marshall, then me, then Mike getting influenza. Yep, you guessed it, we are the three who did not get the flu shot. This stuff was bad. I was sick for two weeks with fever, chills, respiratory distress, and severe headache. Ive managed to fight off pneumonia, strep, stomach virus, and now flu since I arrived. I thought my immune system was tough from years of teaching... not so much.

Well, that has been the trials now lets look at the rewards. The sun is back!!!! It is bright, cheerful, a bit warmer, and so pretty. It makes everything easier and happier. I have huge windows in my classroom that just let the light pour in. I really do feel like I'm walking on sunshine during the day as I teach.

Our music teachers returned with the sun and we have had a week of fiddle music and guitar picking that has really lifted the mood around here. It is now officially the end of the third quarter and we are down to 55 days! The school is planning some great activities to wrap up the year. They include building a dog sled, a culture week focused on hunting and tradition, skiing, and the yearly Spring Carnival. We should end the year with a bang!

We will be leaving the village May 21 and heading to Fairbanks for a two day stay while we purchase a vehicle then we will head out on a five hour drive to the Mat-Su Valley where we will be living in a real house with real luxuries. I will have a bookstore, coffee houses, shopping, churches, and so much more at my disposal :) Ive been hired to teach school in Palmer Alaska, which is 45 minutes from Anchorage. We have decided that needs to be the next leg of our adventure. It is hard to continue moving away from the known into the unknown but there is a need here that we can fill and we have really come to love many things about Alaska. It is important to give the other side of the Alaska experience a try and live in a more urban setting. The kids need resources and activities as well as health care, and school activities. I will continue sharing our travel blog and all of our experiences. Stay Tuned :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1202256600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1202256600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1202256600/tpod.html Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:49:53 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

It is always amazing to me how kids can adapt to things so easily. Ive always considered myself pretty adaptable but my kids put me to shame. They absorb culture like little sponges and do things that are unique and interesting like they have been doing them forever. I, on the other hand, insist on getting all kinds of excited when I learn something new and demand that everyone in the room notice and comment :) This is not because of pride it is usually shock and pleasure that I actually picked up a new skill. I am going to give two examples that illustrate what I am talking about.

The first instance happened the other night. Mike purchased a hind quarter of a caribou so he could butcher it and make fry meat. This is tender, juicy, and succulent and actually beats steak most of the time. I'm not even going to take the time to address the fact that Mike is butchering meat since in his last post he already established he is turning into Grizzly Adams. My focus is on my 10 year old daughter Bradie in this example. Mike pulls out the caribou leg and prepares to butcher. At this point I'm paying little or no attention because, well, I don't butcher things... but I will eat things once they are butchered. That is when my attention is engaged. Anyway, soon Mike comes in and asks me to come look at Bradie. Apparently, during our stay here Bradie has learned how to skin caribou legs. One of the Native art centers that we have had each week during our school wide enrichment day is instruction on how to make skin boots from caribous legs. Bradie took the skill to heart and without saying a word sat down and skinned the entire caribou leg. I was amazed and asked her if she needed help but she just shrugged and said "I can do it". It was a really good job. The skin was not cut or torn in one place. She took the entire leg in one cut. It was interesting to watch how patient and delicate she was while she worked. This really is a good example of how adaptable kids are. This was not a big deal for her. She just did it,

I, on the other hand, had an experience illustrating how easily impressed we grown ups can be with ourselves.
One of my co-teachers who is a Native of Arctic Village was doing a center and teaching how to make dream catchers. I was assisting and really excited about learning this traditional craft. We were using willow branches she had gathered and a spool of sinew. Our teacher said it would be very simple and once I learned I could assist the kids... Sure! She said "now watch'. I watched. I tried. I watched some more. Soon I noticed all the children were zipping away weaving sinew into intricate dream catchers while I was tangling my hand up into the branch. I'm not crafty. I know this but I am tenacious so I kept trying. An hour and a half later I had a completed dream catcher. I was so excited I promptly shouted out "look Mary! I did it!" I was so happy with my work and pleased to have a new skill! Mary, the teacher and Joanne, another native working with us started talking in Gwich'in. One of my students looked up at me and said " Amy they are talking about you" and started to giggle. I'm sure they were commenting on my over abundance of pleasure over something they see as simple :)

I ended up with four pretty dream catchers and plan on going out to Collect willow so I can make more. I'm still pretty pleased with me but I can't help but be impressed with how common place learning and doing is for kids.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201788720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201788720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201788720/tpod.html Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:36:12 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Having a hard time motivating yourself to exercise?
Want to loose a few extra pounds and experience the great outdoors at the same time?

...then the Arctic Village Water Hauling Workout is for you.

All you need is:
a. A 2 quart drink pitcher.
b. A 5 gallon cooler
c. A make shift sled
d. A sharp, heavy, metal object such as an ax, or in my case a Wonder Bar.
e. Really warm clothes.
f. 30 gallon BRUTE plastic trash can
g. A will to survive.

When the village water supply dries up, water hauling is the way to go. So get up off that couch, get dressed for -55˚ weather and get out there and haul some water.

When you and your family of 5 need water, its time to put your workout plan into action.
There is no need listening to the ROCKY soundtrack to motivate you. If you don't get the water, you die! What more motivation do you need?

Now that your dressed and motivated lets get started.

Gather up your supplies and head out the door. Walk about 200 yards until you get to the 30 ft. hill with the 35˚ slope and gently make your way down to the river.

Head up river for another 500 yards until you see the tree limb sticking out of the snow marking the water hole that one of the villagers has cut into the ice. While walking, notice the stars in the sky and how brightly they shine. This is your only light other than the use of your small flashlight.

At this point, the -55˚ weather is telling you, "you don't belong out here unless your a Caribou" and you would tend to agree and head back to your warm house if it wasn't for that motivational thing (see above).

By this time your heart is pumping and your breathing in the cold air and your lungs feel like their being stabbed by a million tiny ice cycles. DON"T GIVE UP. Remember, your family is counting on you.

This is where your heavy, sharp, metal object comes in handy. Even though someone has cut the hole for you, it has probably frozen over and you have about 3 inches of ice to cut through. Remember, you are standing on about 3 feet of ice so 3 inches should be no problem, even for the novice.

Take the pitcher in one hand, and dip into the hole until it is filled with near freezing water.
Pour the water from the pitcher into your 5 gallon cooler.
Repeat this process until your cooler is full.
REMEMBER to wear your waterproof lined gloves to prevent frostbite. Frostbite can abruptly end your workout! (the water does not always stay in the pitcher and can spill onto your hands)

Once your 5 gallon cooler is full, remember to place the top back on (see above).
Make your way back downriver to the afore mentioned hill.
Remember your cooler is much, much heavier and this is where you can really feel the burn.
Make your way up the hill with your cooler making sure that you have a firm footing while remembering your motivational tool.

After reaching the top of the hill and resting for a few minutes, you can see the light from your house and you realize, you are almost there!

You smile as you pass the trash barrels and then the old abandoned truck and navigate your water ladened sled on the wooden walkway, covered with ice and snow, to your house.

You reach the back door and carry the 5 gallon cooler inside.

You take your sharp metal object and hack at the ice sealing the top of your cooler because the cold weather has frozen it shut by the time you get back from the ice hole.

You then take the water and pour it in the 30 gallon trash can.

Repeat the above steps 5 more times, and your family will be flushed with water for two whole days and you will burn off all that unwanted fat while saving your loved ones from sure death!

Just send $19.95 (cash only) for The Arctic Village Water Hauling Workout video to:
Mike Tucker
Arctic Village, Alaska
P.O. Box 291213

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back From Someone Else




]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201472220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201472220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1201472220/tpod.html Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:53:00 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Thursday morning I flew out of Arctic Village on yet another bush plane. This time it was a first-class flight because "Boots", the pilot, gave us all a strip of smoked salmon to snack on. The trip was good. Clear skies, no wind, and quick stops met me during the flight. Once in Fairbanks I thought things were a go until I was pulled aside by security and taken to the in trouble table. Apparently, I tried to smuggle to much face cream on the plane and my husband gave me his butane lighter to put in my pocket in case the bush plane went down and I needed a fire. What I did not know is that butane lighters are considered hazmat! Anyhow I got my first experience with homeland security and hubby lost one butane lighter.

My flight to Anchorage was great. When I arrived I took a cab to a fantastic, swanky hotel called the Captain Cook. It is a 3 towered 20 story hotel in downtown Anchorage. There was a doorman, a spa, four high end eating establishments, and several designer shops. It is such a nice place that the business and celebrity set stay there when in town. During one of our sessions in the workshop we ran into the cast of Myth Busters. I actually got to meet the two busters. I'm not a fan of the show so I was not very carried away but several of the teachers were pretty excited.





My second day I walked around downtown. It is gorgeous! There are mountains in the background as well as the ocean. The coast is beautiful! The tall buildings nestle perfectly and it is a combination of urban and natural beauty. I walked to the mall where I got my second hair cut in five months, bought an outfit or two and met a lovely lady who sells belly dancing outfits...At the MALL!!! I was very excited. The mall was really nice and I once again felt back in my element. People on the street gave me quite the stare due to my fur hat and leg boots (mukluks) I looked way more "arctic" or "village" than the other folks :)

It has been great to be with other village teachers here in the city. We have gotten our fill of veggies, fruit, and real milk. I enjoyed room service last night while wearing one of the big comfy robes the hotel provides.

I have been at a math (yes, for those of you who know me, I said math) conference here in Anchorage. It is called Teaching Math in a Cultural Context. We are taking math concepts and using relevant native tradition to impart them to the students. I am getting to experience some really good native crafting, traditions, songs, and day to day customs.

I have really enjoyed seeing a different portion of Alaska. I really like this region, although I learned that this is earthquake central. I hope to return for a more in depth view of Anchorage and the surrounding areas.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1200285840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1200285840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1200285840/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:27:57 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Hi

I am Amy's husband Mike. She has mentioned me in some of her blogs and I wanted to enter one to give a different point of view of living in Arctic Village, Alaska.

It's been about 4 months since Amy and I packed up and moved our family above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. The Chandalar river (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandalar_River) runs right past where we live in Arctic Village. On the other side of the river is ANWR (http://arctic.fws.gov/). The first time I looked out across the river toward the mountain range, I thought it was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. Being from the South all my life, I have never seen mountains in this setting before and it blew me away. Another thing I have never seen is a REAL winter. When we first arrived in Arctic Village, it was about 40˚ and everything was still brown and green. Having lived in Florida for about 20 years, I got use to it raining about every week and in the summer about every afternoon. Since we've been here it hasn't rained once, instead, it has snowed. Everything is white now dotted with green from the trees. As I write this, it is -33˚ and forcasted to get as low as -50˚ with a high of -40˚ (http://www.wunderground.com/US/AK/Arctic_Village.html). It's not as bad as it sounds. With the right clothes it is comfortable. Every night Jago, our dog, and I go for a walk while I smoke a ciagar. Lately, we have been walking across the river on the ice to ANWR. Just a 15 minute walk and you are in total wilderness. Yesterday morning Jago and I were walking and I spotted some Cairbou. They were by a lake and took off when they spotted us. I took some pictures of where they bedded down. Including the ravens and some rabbits, it is the only wildlife I have seen.

I have enjoyed living here. The people here in the village have been very nice to us and the kids have adjusted to their new surrondings. I enjoy my new job. I have been creating a new website and have been involved iniating some educational programs for the school district. I was lucky enough to be involed in skinning some Caribou for a family in the village. Jimmy, the person who is recongized as the HUNTER of the village, is the person who saw the first Caribou of the season and because of his alertness, the village took 40 Caribou that day. Jimmy took 7 by himself. I asked him how many there were and he said thousands. He said they were everywhere. The meat is shared throughout the village and the elders of the village are the first to be given meat and the rest is divided for the others. The wolves followed the Caribou into the village and were a nusince for a while killing dogs, but have since left.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191965520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191965520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191965520/tpod.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:57:46 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

Sunday night we had company for dinner. Mike made fried chicken for our guests. After the big meal we all needed to walk off the full feeling so we decided to hike to Becky's house in the village. She has a cabin they are building outside of the village but that is not a safe walk at night. As we stepped out the door and got on the road it was not long before our little party heard chitter chatter all around us. As usual, when we tried to sneak out for a peaceful walk we were surrounded by 3 to 5 village kids. Several of my students seem to wait for us to stick our head out the door so they can walk along with us. We are still hot news around here and the kids are very interested in our coming and going. Often they like to tease and play with our kids for fun. We were walking at night so it was very dark and we had to be careful with all the kids so that a four wheeler did not hit them due to lack of reflective clothing and streetlights. We finally arrived at Becky's warm cabin. We walked into warmth created by a wood burning stove and comfortable furniture. The cabins have such a distinct smell and feel. They are more cozy than you can imagine and you always feel welcomed when you walk in. After a short visit we started the walk back because it was starting to snow. We were walking with flashlights and we could see the snow reflected in the lights as we walked. We had picked up a few more village kids as we walked back and I had to chuckle at how impervious they were to the dark and the cold. My family and I make a much bigger impact than 0 degree weather.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191693420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191693420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mommyt136/nanook/1191693420/tpod.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:56:41 -0500 North To Alaska, the adventures of one family in a small native village above the Arctic Circle.

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Arctic Village, Alaska, United States

I am finally creating my travel blog. We have been in Alaska 3 weeks and I am now finding time to catch everyone up :) We are settled into our little home in the village and working in the village school. Most of our stuff has arrived from Florida and we have been able to make it all very cozy for the kids. The temps have now dropped to 0 and snow is here. We can expect a lot more of that! We have started making friends and getting to know the culture. It takes time to be accepted here but everyone seems happy with us. We met an Elder and the Chief who told us that we were good because we get out into the community and participate. Many past teachers just stayed in their cabins. This made the villagers very uncomfortable. Yesterday I took a walk with the Principal of the school, a teacher I teach with named Mary who is native, and her daughter. We walked a long way into the wilderness up to a place called Look Out Ridge. Gosh it was gorgeous! Snow topped mountains and snowy lakes all around. Becky has a sled dog team and 4 of them went with us for exercise so I felt pretty safe but on the walk back part of it was alone and I couldn't help remembering the wolf tracks we saw or the sightings of wolves at Mitch's (a student of mine) house. Becky is thinking about giving us one of her sled dogs because the kids miss their pets and it is good protection. If Jago does not pull then Becky will let us have her. We are excited :)

Some things we have experienced so far:

Moose meat
snow
northern lights
bear tracks
wolf tracks
church in a log cabin
salmon over an open fire
glacier water (yum)
sled dogs
fishing
wolf kill sites
mountains
native language


WOW that is only in 3 weeks. I cant wait to see what is next.
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