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| 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 3rd, 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.
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| Rain in the distance |
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| The snow is still hanging on |
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| GREEN tundra! |
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| My backyard "lawn" |
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| One of the only real lawns in Nome, sprinkler full blast |
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| 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.
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| This is much colder than it looks |
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| Soaking up the sun! |
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| For some reason there were lots of dead birds around... |
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| My first time being barefoot outside 10 months |
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| 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.
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| The kids with their finds |
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| 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!
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| All yoke inside, no whites |
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| One of the smaller babies; a tasty treat |
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| 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.
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| The yearbook is coming along great |
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| Taking a quick break |
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| I see you! |
