Teaching In Alaska

Hello family!

So much has been happening, it’s hard to know quite where to begin. The transition from home to Anchorage to Saint Michael was a mess: another reminder of how greatly I dislike packing. Somehow items and articles fell into their places within boxes and bags and found their way into the car and to the post office just in time for our late morning departure around the mountains to Anchorage, where we met up with Chris and Robin.

Lacey and Me motering to Stebbins

The picture above is of my new roommate, Lacey, and myself high jacking Dan’s four wheeler for the 11 mile ride to Stebbins.  This is a pretty good representation of the beautiful weather we have been having here on the island; it actually feels like summer!  Stebbins has been a pretty hot spot to visit for us the past couple weeks.  Aside from the sweet staff, there is a net tied off shore that we help pull in for our split of salmon.  We untangle the fish, wash them off in the salty sea water, and then haul them in a bin up by the school to slime up our hands even more and fillet the fish to freeze for winter.  It is a fun time together, working steadily, blood and guts up to your elbows, teasing and telling jokes to the kids who sit on the railings nearby or play games to catch your attention.

Like a Pro

Brian has this down.

Shawn, the first picture after me cutting up the fish, is also a new teacher to the district.  He is pretty tight, so I am excited he is so close over in Stebbins.  The next photo is of Brian.  Brian is one of the cool new teachers that came to Saint Michael with me.  Venturing north from Baltimore, Brian has been chomping at the bit for his bike pump to come in so that he can take his wheels out on the prairie.  I have never seen bike tires as large as the tires he has on this bike.  They are pretty monstrous.  Brian is really funny, laid back… reminds me a lot of Brad Page, actually.

So that is a little bit about Brian.  Let me tell you about the other awesome guys that came in new to Saint Michael with me.  Jeff and Paul are from Wisconsin.  Paul is Jeff’s dad.  They are both so funny.  Paul has the most subtle and comical sense of humor.  He is easy to talk to and fun to hang out with.  Jeff is also extremely funny, and he is really good at card tricks.  They are probably some of the best card tricks I have seen.  The kids love him already.  Paul will be our elementary counselor and Jeff is teaching 1st grade right next door to me.  His classroom already looks perfect (he has a magnificent para).  This is a picture of Jeff, Paul and me walking down by the beach in search of beach glass.

The next staff member picture requires a little bit of explanation.  Two Sundays ago now, we were about to head down the road over to Stebbins to pull in the net when Robin, a woman who lives here in town and works somehow with the schools, showed up at our door welcoming us to come check out two balugas that had been pulled up to shore.  By the time we pulled up one whale was already in the process of being cut up, while the other laid nearby.  There was a small gathering of children and men and women.  Our flock of new teachers were all very excited, taking photos.  We were offered some muctuc, the thick white layer of baluga skin to chew on and test out.  It was crunchy and rubbery at the same time.  Here is a photo of Trevor grinding away at his piece of muctuc, and me doing the same in the photo after.

Trevor chewing on Muctuc.

Not exactly flattering, but a wonderful adventure.

I don’t have a good picture of Scotty yet, but he is just as awesome as the rest of the group.  I cannot say enough how much I enjoy these five guys who I have the opportunity to work with.  They are all so funny and willing to try new things and laid back.  I could go on and on about each of them.

I need to run, but here are a couple of other cool pictures of this majestic place I get to call home.

Down by the North Glass Beach

I know this was long in coming, but I have truly been jumping from one great activity to the next, as you can see from the pictures and the stories.  I do intend to write more!  Lots of love to each of you!