That's all folks

Alaskan flamingos!

It’s all over.  This year I’ve taught 333 students from 20 different villages across Northwestern Alaska.  I’ve helped these students earn 91 American Red Cross certifications, 74 food worker cards, 17 driver’s permits, 5 driver’s licenses, and over 130 college credits.  I’ve written 17 newsletters, taken over 2,000 pictures, and taught three courses as a college professor.  I’ve experienced my highest highs and my lowest lows.  All in all, I know that I’ve made a difference in the lives of these kids, however small and seemingly insignificant.

Printing off the finalized yearbook!

Pushing the shed to its final location

This week marked my final week at NACTEC.  It was surreal as I counted down my final days.  It went from being my last Saturday shift (a true celebration) to my very last day, which was quite bittersweet.  During my last lunch with students, I shared a tofu dish with them (faux tacos!) at their request.  They often see me eating tofu soup, and one students exclaimed, “If you tried muktuk, I want to try tofu!”.  I made two dishes; one with beef and one with TVP, and had the students guess which was which.  Believe it or not, it was a toss up and many students went back for seconds and thirds of my dish.  It was fun to share something like this with them.

TVP delight!

During the last day of Money Management, as students were frantically printing off the yearbook, I got the chance to supervise the students in that class.  To help keep up morale, I played the songs I had created last year for my 7^th graders with them, as one of them was about money management.  It was too funny; they kept asking if it was my real voice, and wanting me to replay it again.  This experience made me miss teaching in the traditional sense, and reinforced the fact that I’ve still got it as a teacher.

Final projects, thank yous, and some tunes

This whole week was plagued by crazy fog; I watched it roll in to engulf us each day.  Most days it was blue skies out at the Nome-Beltz campus, while downtown was totally enveloped in gray, misty fog.  All of us were biting our nails, anxious if the decreased visibility would impact our travel plans for Friday.  Fortunately, Friday was free and clear, and all of the students were able to fly away home after spending a full month here.  This year was filled with challenges, growth, and the accomplishment of things I never thought I could do.  I will never regret my time spent at this job, but it is a relief to be finished.

Fast moving fog engulfing us

Standing on the road - my view to the north

Standing on the same road, turned 180 degrees - my view to the south

That being said, this is the first time in all of my 26 years that I have no idea what I will be doing in the coming year.  I have worked tirelessly over the past 8 years, with all of my efforts pushing towards the goal of becoming a teacher and obtaining permanent certification.  Now that I've earned a bachelor's, master's and now have three years of full-time teaching experience, the world is now my oyster.  All of my job applications and interviews (most schools would not agree to a phone or skype interview) have fallen unanswered, and I find myself with nothing to do next year.  It’s both incredibly scary and an opportunity to stop and smell the flowers.  I’m looking to make the most of this time of my life, as it may not come again.

But enough with the dramatics!  I will spend another two weeks here in Nome, and I aim to enjoy every last minute.  This year has been a trip, in every sense of the word.  For now, it’s relax-o time!

The only day of summer

Another surprise treat from a friend, to get me through the last two weeks!

The first week of June brought a natural dust buster - rain!  The light sprinkles we’ve been getting have not only cut out the dust storms, but have been miraculous in another way.  Overnight, our first rain shower in days brought back the green grasses of the tundra.  I distinctly remember driving in with the same old dead brown color morning after morning, then BAM!  One night of rain and the landscape had the fuzzy stubble of green.  Quite amazing.  Although most of the week has been cloudy and gloomy (and June 3^rd, it actually snowed a bit), I was treated to what everyone in town is calling our only day of summer.  Temperatures hit 71 degrees, with the sun shining high in the sky.  Everyone took the opportunity to get out and enjoy it; the nice weather brought out Iditarod-like crowds, combing the beach, taking a walk, jog, or bike ride, or just sitting on their porch with a good book.

Rain in the distance

The snow is still hanging on

GREEN tundra!

My backyard "lawn"

One of the only real lawns in Nome, sprinkler full blast

Yep, they're a pesky problem here too

My honey and I took advantage of the unspeakably beautiful day by heading to the beach.  We took a long stroll down the coastline, finding handfuls of beach glass and interesting stones.  We took a long rest on the rocks to soak up every teaspoon of sunshine on our shoulders.  I got a little stir crazy and overheated (imagine that!) so I dipped up to my knees in the Bering Sea.  My toes got the intense sensation of a brain freeze, but it was refreshing nonetheless.  The gorgeous weather was fleeting, and it may have been the only summer day I’ll ever feel in Nome, but I appreciated it, and made the most of it.  It was a day that made me feel like everything is right in the world, and that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

This is much colder than it looks

Soaking up the sun!

For some reason there were lots of dead birds around...

My first time being barefoot outside 10 months

If you ignore the trash, it really is pretty nice

Tis’ the season to go egging – and no it’s not what you think.  Teenagers in this region have a different definition of the word egging.  Rather than hurling a carton of eggs at a house or vehicle (way too precious to waste!), students meticulously comb the beach, braving cawing and pecking birds to snatch eggs out of nests to keep as a treat.  This week students went out egging nearly every day.  Their booty included seagull, loon, duck, and sandpiper eggs – quite the haul!  They use these eggs in the same way they use chicken eggs; scrambled, fried, hardboiled or mixed into baked goods.

The kids with their finds

Seagull eggs up close

When hardboiled, it’s interesting to see what each type of egg looks like once peeled; some have almost translucent whites with neon orange yokes, while other are more bluish whites with pale yellow yokes.  I helped out by hard-boiling a batch of seagull eggs only to find out they were fertilized and growing babies.  Students cracked the eggs to find all yoke, except for a small baby bird.  But that was no deterrent!  This surprise only offered a different kind of treat, which was eaten with the same delight.  I couldn’t quite stomach a try, but sometimes the students can’t stomach the food I make for lunch either.  It’s all about what you’re used to!

All yoke inside, no whites

One of the smaller babies; a tasty treat

Too spicy!  A lunch that didn't go over so well...

The students are hanging in there for the longest session of the year.  I definitely give them credit for giving up their first month of summer to continue learning, and we’re all feeling it a bit.  I’m savoring every moment with this group, as it may be my last contact with this population of students, which I’ve become quite fond of.  Many are asking me whether I will be returning next year, and it’s hard to explain to them why I’ve decided to seek work elsewhere.  I really feel for them; there is an 80% turnover in some schools in the district, so students are used to teachers coming and going on a yearly basis.  This doesn’t make it any easier for them, and I understand when they become a bit colder to me, knowing I’m leaving soon.  All I can do is continue to show my enthusiasm for their futures, teach them what I know, and appreciate them as my students.  It’s hard to believe that in one week my time working at this program will come to an end.  I think I can, I think I can, I know I can.

The yearbook is coming along great

Taking a quick break

I see you!

Why did the musk ox cross the road?

The muskies wanted in on our basketball game

To get to the other side (where there are more yummy willows, of course)!  On my way into work on Wednesday, I almost hit a group of musk oxen.  The side windows on my truck were dusted over and it was an overcast morning, so I didn’t see them grazing in the middle of the parking lot entrance; five adults and two babies!  One was so close I could almost touch it, and with my window rolled down I could hear it snuffling and snorting.  What an exciting way to start my day!

Hey there fella...

This isn't zoomed in!

One of my responsibilities this session was to cater lunch.  Usually our students eat lunch at the Nome-Beltz High School cafeteria, however school ended last week putting an end to this convenience.  Being the Culinary Arts instructor, it fell on me to provide lunches for the month.  I am still teaching survival swimming and the American Red Cross course in the mornings, so I’ve been getting creative with my menu planning.  Quick and easy is the key!  This session I’ve made BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches with coleslaw, spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, and pepperoni pizza casserole.  I always feel like I’m cooking enough to feed an army, but our crew of eighteen wipes out the entire feast in less than a half hour.

A typical lunch spread

Testing out floatation suits

Floating is fun!

Immersion suit time

Loungin' around

Students are making great progress in each of their courses.  The CNA students are getting ready to fly to Fairbanks to finish their training with clinical work in a nursing home facility.  The Money Management students have been working hard to compile a NACTEC yearbook, and are gearing up for their job shadowing experiences.  The NCCER (residential carpentry) students have been breezing through the construction of a small storage shed; it’s hard to believe how fast it’s all coming together!  This group remains enthusiastic and hardworking, and it’s been a treat to pop in on each of these different courses and see these kids in their element.

The whole summer session crew

Floor is done!

Not your average construction workers

Saturday was Nome’s annual Spring Cleanup, and I lead the taskforce on cleaning up campus.  Students were armed with yellow bags and latex gloves, and after a few comparisons to being in jail, set right to it.  After a couple hours of cleaning, we filled fifty-two bags, and found a variety of treasures including a $10 and $1 bill, a kickball, a baseball bat, and two birds’ nests filled with little blue eggs.  For their efforts students earned a feast of hot dogs, pop, an ice cream coupon, and the chance to win a bicycle.  At first I compared the trash picking to an Easter egg hunt, however I quickly realized that they had no idea what I was talking about.  I still forget where I am sometimes!

Before shot

Finding bird nests

You can barely make out the top of a blue egg

After shot

Loading up our truck to bring to the dump

Although it’s still dipping below freezing each night, and it was snowing on my drive into work June 2^nd, there are increasing signs of (dare I say it?) summer.  The sea ice is FINALLY gone for good, and the waves are back.  Only a few ever-dwindling piles of snow remain, and the roads are no longer muddy.  They are however, incredibly dusty.  So dusty in fact, that water trucks must come and wet down the roads to help limit the sandstorms.  Each day I am accosted by dust in my eyes, nose, and mouth.  Even with the windows closed, dust coats the inside of the house with muddy footprints are everywhere.  I’m feeling some Grapes of Wrath references on a daily basis; welcome to the dust bowl!

Looks inviting!  Looks can be deceiving!

Watering the dusty roads

A friend from Nome is leaving next week, common in such a transient place, but bittersweet nonetheless.  He is finishing up his second year at KNOM, and will be flying away next Friday.  His going away party was a huge shebang, and it was amazing to see all of the connections he had made in Nome during his short time here.  He said something both funny and poignant that stuck with me.  I mentioned that he was off to conquer bigger and better things, and he replied that never again would he be the big deal that he has been in this small community in rural Alaska.  Things are certainly winding down for me as well – only two more weeks of teaching remain, let’s do this!

Farewell party at Alaska Airlines

Lone tundra hare in the road - these things are massive!

 

School's NOT out for summer

Dusty roads lead to lots of dirt graffiti

Bailing out your...house?!

It’s cram time.  Our last session of the year is underway, and of the 26 remaining days of my school year, I will be working 23 of them, having only three Sundays off for the whole month.  Yikes!  Eighteen students flew in on Monday, fifteen of which have been here earlier in the year for a different session.  It’s been great having such a big group of repeaters, as I get to enjoy my very favorite part of teaching, which only happens when you’re with students for more than two weeks; building a positive rapport over time, watching them make progress and succeed, and getting to know them on deeper levels.  Three students graduated this year, and are attending for their last high school hurrah.  It’s been fun talking with them about their future plans, and while I haven’t made the type of connection that the teachers at their sites have made with them, I’m very proud of them nonetheless.

Working on the yearbook

Bet you smile!

The Certified Nursing Assistant students

CPR competition finalists

The student dynamic of this session has been a breath of fresh air.  The positive mood is palpable, and much of it has to do with the end of a cold, cruel winter.  The sun is shining, the sea ice is (almost!) gone, the birds are back, and it’s beginning to look a lot like spring.  I feel so privileged to be able to work with this group.  Every day I witness an example of pure generosity – one student scrimped and saved $200, thinking he would have to pay for meals, laundry, and evening outings during his time here.  Once he discovered all of these things were covered, he began giving away money to his new friends who weren’t able to bring spending money, dropping $20 on more than one occasion without the blink of an eye.  These students also have an amazing sense of humor, and I never get tired of their quick-witted comments, and the level of maturity and life experience they bring to their jokes.  I am in awe of these students, and in some ways I look up to them and their steadfast resilience and ability to not only cope but to thrive with what they have.

A drive in the country!

Look at those clouds

Salmon Lake is still fully frozen

Stretching break

...or a sleeping break

Can't beat that scenery for a little football

Milano's night!

Our morning workout at "white trash court"

Dribble faster!

I’ve been treated to even more local delicacies this week.  One student made to-die-for blueberry juice from frozen subsistence berries.  The berries in this region may be small, but they boast much higher vitamin content than those from the lower-48.  One of our house-parents brought in her stash of tundra mushrooms that she sautéed and added to a variety of dishes.  They look very similar to those that are quite poisonous, and her picking spot is super top-secret, so I imagine this is the only time I will get to eat such a special treat.  Another house-parent from Savoonga brought his supply of dry fish, which I also got to enjoy.  Forget a slim-jim, these sticks of silver salmon jerky goodness are quite addicting.

Better than Ocean Spray

Tundra mushrooms and dry fish - delish!

Our days now last nearly 20 full hours, however it isn’t always sunshine and light.  Early in the week I experienced the foggiest day I’ve seen, and let me say, it was quite wild.  Driving into work I could barely see far enough ahead of me to stay on the road, and my windshield was immediately covered in a thick mist with each pass of the windshield wipers.  The picturesque landscape that I’m used to seeing was completely hidden.  No mountains, no island, no ocean, nothing but gray!  Within a few hours the liquid-air fog lifted, and it was quite a dramatic difference.  Nome weather is always extreme, and this was yet another instance of Alaska taking it to a whole new level.

Before, at 7:30am

After, at 10:30am

Before

After

Before

After

Each of the village schools in the Bering Strait region, as well as Nome Public schools have finished for the year.  I’ve cringed each time “School's Out for Summer” blares on the radio, or is pumped from the speakers of a teenager’s hand-me-down truck, which has been more than once per day.  Even though I have weeks of work ahead of me, it does feel like things are winding down.  I’ve been feeling everything from overwhelming sadness and anxiety, to being buoyed up by pure excitement and hope.  Things are coming to an end, and for now I’m doing my best to soak in what’s left for me here, making the most of what I have left.

The coastline is finally back!

The remaining icebergs, bobbing with the waves