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| My hours allowed me to run errands downtown while businesses were open |
As I went through my week there was one recurrent theme: shopping. I’ve had my truck for a couple weeks, and I realized that it was finally time to break down and fill up my tank. I’d been putting this off, because my stomach drops every time I drive past the $5.43/gallon sign at the gas station. But I was running on fumes, so the time had come. Before I was done filling, the pump automatically shut off. Apparently once you reach the $75 mark, you must re-swipe your card. I’ve been spoiled with my little Honda Civic, filling the tank for $40 and getting 35 miles per gallon! I suppose that one benefit of not being connected by roads is when you can’t drive too far, your fuel lasts longer.
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| All I can say is, ouch. |
Having gotten used to working during regular school day hours, this week was my first time working the 3-11pm shift. I am definitely more of an early bird, so I strapped on my night owl training-wings, and hoped for the best. In preparation for this shift, it was my responsibility to plan the menu and do the grocery shopping for the week. Now as a Home and Careers teacher, I’m well versed in the joys of bulk shopping. I am not however, used to shopping for 30 people (most of which are growing adolescents), to provide two meals and three snacks daily for a whole week. Especially when a 2-pack of peanut butter costs upwards of $20. The whole thing was just plain surreal; I felt as if I was on a shopping spree game show!
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| Enough bananas to supply a zoo! NACTEC can have its similarities sometimes :) |
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| Groceries are packed in boxes instead of bags for easier transporting |
My shopping trip took two hours, as I had to weigh all of the produce, and repeatedly add up my total so that I did not go over budget by more than 10%. I filled three shopping carts and spent over $1,000. My purchases included 10 loaves of bread, 12 pounds of pasta, and 60 bananas. The most exciting part of my trip was that the power went out when I was almost done, and all shoppers were asked to wait in the front until it came back on. I’m not sure whether myself or the 8 unrefrigerated gallons of milk were sweating it out more, but luckily it was only 10 minutes before the registers were back up and running. Imagine having to put $1,000 worth of groceries back on the shelves!
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| Things cost more in Alaska! |
This week NACTEC welcomed 21 junior high students from Teller, Wales, and White Mountain. We had planned for 23, but one student had fallen ill at the last minute, and another student required serious dental work and it was the only week of the year that the itinerant dentist was in town. The group that we had was fantastic! My piece of the scheduling puzzle was completely different than what I’m used to, but truly enjoyable. I liked working in a social-centric rather than purely academic setting. My shift started with an hour-long job skills class, and the facilitation of 30 minutes of homework time. Next students prepared for dinner and tidied up their rooms. When the food was ready, we all gathered in the dining room and ate as a NACTEC family. A second chore time followed, and most students were so eager to clean that they were fighting over who got to mop and vacuum. I’m thinking about bringing them over to my apartment!
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| The new bunch! |
The best part of the night was our evening activity. The weather was nice, so one night we hiked up Anvil Mountain, located right behind the house. We were treated to a sunset over Nome, and students returned with mouths stained purple after eating blackberries to their hearts content. The other nights were spent (you guessed it), shopping! Villages have only one local store, which usually sells convenience items like bubble gum and $10 Doritos. Being able to shop in any capacity is always a big hit. The first night we went to the thrift store, which is only open a couple hours, a couple nights per week. Students were packed like sardines in the tiny, cluttered aisles, but managed to fill up an entire garbage bag with romance novels, hot wheels, and clothing for $5. Talk about a bargain!
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| Shoppin' thrifty! |
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| Made it to the top! |
On the last night we went to AC Market. Shopping at our grocery store was a far bigger pull; many students brought money and shopping lists from their folks back home to get items that are difficult to obtain in the bush. I expected students to buy copious amounts of pop and candy (which they did!), but I was surprised at how many bought more practical items such as shoes, shampoo, toothbrushes, winter gear, and even disposable diapers for their siblings. One student only had some pocket change, and she decided that the biggest treat of all would be a delicious, fresh orange. It was fun to watch the students navigate the store; a few boys were completely mesmerized by the automatic sliding doors, and watched them in awestruck wonder for a good ten minutes.
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| Shopping at AC Market |
After our evening activity we all shared a bedtime snack, and had a half hour to shower and get ready for bed. All students had to be in their rooms with the lights out by 10pm, which is much earlier than they’re used to and far less exciting than the fun to be had in this foreign environment. The first night I played night guard as the rapscallions tried to escape and run between rooms, diving under covers and hiding in closets. To my advantage, it only took one early morning and a jam-packed day of activity to nip that nightly craziness in the bud; we wore these kiddos out, in a good way!
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| Students in their "pods" |
But in all honesty, it was fun to see their excitement and rabblerousing. They got the chance to meet people from other isolated villages, making connections that might not have occurred without having come to NACTEC. We had a few bouts of homesickness, but as the last night rolled around and students were signing t-shirts and packing for home, I was swarmed by warm-fuzzies at all of the new friendships. Maybe their roommate at NACTEC will turn into their roommate in college, motivating each other to leave their village because they’re in it together and not going it alone. As the NACTEC saying goes, “Your horizons are limitless”!
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| Snow has arrived in Nome! First storm on Bear Mountain |
