Eskimo Tough

I am NOT Eskimo Tough.

Today on my walk to school, about a fifteen minute walk, I saw another Eskimo Tough individual.
I have begun to notice the true difference between me and the natives:
No, it is not our skin color, our hair color, our eye color, or our difference in language-though all of these things do set me apart- it is their sheer ability to withstand the cold, and my inability to do so.

As I walk to school, or the store, or anywhere, I proudly flaunt my whimpy Colorado self. And when I say proudly, what I mean is I almost always lower my head in shame and hope no one notices who I am under all that winter attire. When I go outside this is what I wear (usually): snow pants, two jackets (one A GIANT down), boots, thin hat, fur hat, face mask, mittens and boots. What I see many extremely tough natives wearing: a thin coat, boots. MAYBE a parka and boots (parka being a beautiful jacket lined with fur). Are they hiding from the cold? no. Can you see their face? yes. Are they freezing? God, I hope so; otherwise I am such a sorry excuse for an arctic dweller.

This is me, bundled up, after a walk home from church. I almost always collect a good hatful of frost. :)

Perhaps it is because they have lived here so long, that when the temperature hit -40 it simply seems like a chilly day; perhaps they just like to show off to all us white people how much better adapted they are; perhaps they have so much frostbite all over their face that they can't feel a damn thing. Whatever the case, well done: I have been put to shame.

By the way. It was -54 yesterday with windchill (-38 before wind factor). Today, a -50, -29 before wind.   We did an experiment yesterday...we threw boiling water into the freezing air to see what might happen. It FROZE instantly, and then, evaporated so quick it never so much as begins falling to the ground. It was fascinatingly fun. I have a video. Now, when you watch this video, be certain to look just below the top of the railing of our porch. There, under all the steam, you will notice some rather "rainlike" pieces for only a second, then they will be gone. Those are the sheets of ice that form so quick, and disappear immediately.

100 days of 1st Grade

Yesterday, January 21, was the 100th day of 1st grade here at the Northwest Arctic Borough. The 100th Day does not mark anything too significant, other than a party and excuse to celebrate and play at school. It also marks my first 100 days as a teacher of my very own class.

How have the last 100 days been?
hard.
tiring.
enlightening.
silly.
heart-breaking.
hilarious.
interesting.
fun.
ridiculous.
discouraging.
joyful.
confusing.
successful.
unsuccessful.
ever-changing.
playful.
creative.

There are a million words to describe teaching, and especially one's first year. Every day, every lesson, is a chance to better improve teaching, and to reflect on what goes on in the classroom. Reflection often just brings up all the hundreds of ways to reach a student, to treat a student, to understand a student, to be be patient, to enjoy the moment, to survive the moment, and to teach. There is almost always a different way to have gone about things- and I am certain there is no right answer. BUT, I have learned there are some wrong answers.

I have learned that in reality, the way to handle particular teaching moments don't depend on the teacher, nearly as much as they depend on the student. Obviously, the outcome is dependent on both parties, teacher and student, but what needs to be done depends on the student. Often it seems like my day can be broken down into consequences: punishments and rewards. Every student requires their own set of reinforcements. Certainly, there is a class-wide system of management, but there is a certain level of individual attention for every student, either spoken or unspoken. For some students they need stern and unbroken discipline and structure, for others they need a bit more love, for the next one, perhaps they need extra explanation, while others might need to be left to work it out in their way and time. For some you must ignore them, for others you must be always attentive.

Each student has their own list of needs, all the while, the facts, the curriculum, the stories, the worksheets, the answers to questions must all get done. Each student needs to improve, needs to learn to read, needs to know basic addition and subtraction, and must be able to tell me what all living things need to survive; above all else, in first grade we are learning how to live in a world with guidelines, with structure, with a list of things-to-do, with a million personalities, with different needs, with different rewards, with different punishments, with a "one-size fits all" that doesn't fit quite right, and how to do it well- while getting along and smiling the whole time. In first grade we learn how to say what we like, and don't like, what we need and don't need, and we learn how to play with the person who does it completely differently than you, but realize that might just be ok. That book called "All I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten" is dead on.

NOW, the only question left remaining is: HOW IN THE WORLD DO I DO THIS!?!?!

I have 72 days left to attempt the impossible- AND teach them to read and write.
Dear Lord, HELP! ....please. :)

Home for the Holidays= Realization of missing facts

It's been many weeks since I wrote. That is simply because I was home for the Holidays Which, by the way, was lovely. I was free to eat at any number of restaurants, with any kind of food I could possibly desire, and drive in cars, and wear no jacket, and sleep in late, and see the sun! All wonderful treats. It was an interesting transition both back to Colorado, and back to Kotzebue.

When I first got back to Colorado, I was not thrilled to be home. The sun was too bright, the city was too much, there were too many cars blocking my view of the horizon. I couldn't watch the sun rise and I was exhausted from too much activity. BUT, that lasted about 2 days, then I was excited and pleased to see everyone, and enjoy all the thrills of life in the "lower forty eight."

Just about the time I was certain I never wanted to leave Colorado ever again, it was time to leave Colorado. DOOM. So, back in Kotzebue I find myself randomly feeling at a loss because this weekend when I wake up I won't have a single plan, a single person to see, or a thing I must do. But, I am beginning to adjust, and the first graders have already tired me out enough I might just be perfectly content sleeping for the entirety of the weekend.

While I was home I was asked a number of questions. All questions I somehow didn't see coming. For some reason I was under the impression I was thorough in my blogging- and never left the facts out. WRONG. Here lies the answer to the FAQ's. :)

1) No, there aren't polar bears. They live a little farther north for the most part. But, even if they did live right here, they would have zero reason to come to town. There are miles upon miles of open tundra and ice...no reason to go to town where they would be instantly shot.

2) Yes, my house, and most houses, are on stilts. The perma-frost in these parts is simply too much for houses to withstand. Many buildings are raised up from the ground a few feet (maybe 4?).

3)Ya know, I am not certain what everyone does for work here. There is the hospital, and the school, most of which are mostly worked by lots of people from the lower forty eight who came up for work, aside from secretaries and such. There are two stores, a post office, a art gallery, a museum, a hotel, and a few other odds and ends that need running. Other than that, there is a mine like 90(ish?) miles from here called Red Dog Mine, some people work there. There is construction currently on a new hotel (Marriot! My oh my!), and otherwise I have no idea. There is very cheap/free health care for natives, and large sums of money for different things given a few times a year- so they get a lot of help that way. But, I don't know exactly what all is done for work here in Kotzebue. I will find this out, and the answer will come!

4)The entirety of wildlife I have seen since I was here includes:
Ravens
a moose (in anchorage)
Seals
Musk Ox (in Nome)
are here, but i have not seen:
caribou
fox
walrus
Beluga Whale
Grizzly Bear
(probably more as well...)

5)YES! I do see the Northern Lights. They appear every now and then on my walk to school. But on a clear night, if I go out in the middle of the night they can be spotted often. Clear night being the key word...its not always clear here. BUT, they are usually green here. They have been pink before, but for the most part, they are green.

6) YES! I do enjoy it here. YES, I probably would do another here or so here, if it weren't for the whole getting married and have a wonderful life in Colorado awaiting me.

7) It's not the coldest place on earth. haha. It is certainly cold, but more than anything it is because of wind chill. It si often a good -10 or so but the wind chill can bring that temperature WAY down to -20's and -30's. The coldest I have felt thus far is -35 with wind chill. It will get much colder than that I hear...but currently its warmer in Kotzebue than Colorado....The interior of the state, such as Fairbanks, is much colder. I live on the coast, and the ocean helps to regulate the temperatures...so people tell me. :)

8) Most people get around town here via 4-wheeler (known as "Honda"), and Snow Machine or Snow Mobile (known as "Sno-Go") here. There are lots of cars, but it is RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE to fuel up here, so other modes are far more common. I have no form of transport myself besides my own two feet. I walk everywhere, for the most part. I do enjoy this very much though.

That is pretty much all I can recall, but I am happy and willing to answer any other questions that arise. :)

For now I am happily teaching my wonderful class of 6-7 year olds and enjoying every moment. I am readjusting to being away from my Colorado life, but still certain moving here was a wonderful choice!