I'm Back!

Returning this year is definitely different from the last.

For one, I am one of the few teachers that actually returned.  Sure, I’m happy about it…but I feel like I am totally left out of the whole new teacher cohort.  I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining…it just feels lonely?  I guess I just miss my friends from last year.

On a brighter note, we have almost been in school for a whole month now.  I have 20 three and four year olds and boy do they keep me busy.  I am hoping the chaos will settle soon-but I guess time will only tell.

This past summer I spent a lot of time traveling around and just spending way too much money :p

I also met a wonderful man whom of which is now up here in Gambell with me.  He is currently a substitute teacher for Gambell Schools as well as for the Kawerak Head Start.  He has worked a nice amount so far, and we hope it continues. He recently applied to become a Health Aid at the clinic here in the village-I’m not sure if they are hiring, but we figured it was worth a shot for him to apply.

Aside from the regular class schedule I have been staying busy.  I started Karate up again this year (although for some reason my heart isn’t as into it this year as it was last year).  I also signed up to be the Spelling Bee coach at the school, we only have practice once a week so far-so it’s really not too bad.

This past summer I began my journey towards a graduate degree.  I applied last spring to begin a Masters in Education with an Emphasis in Reading at University of Alaska Southeast.  I was accepted and started my classes in June.  I am in yet another class-and it’s going great so far-although it is A LOT of reading-I guess I’ll make do.  And of course-because in my mind this is not enough-I applied to become the Local Data Coordinator in my village for a research company who is investigating the accessibility of Legal but Harmful Products in the village (ex: arsenals, prescription meds, and anything of the like).  I begin this next week.

I know I don’t’ blog too much anymore-as much as I promised last year to do it more-I promise…yet again…that I will try to do it more this year.  Until then…Cody and I will try and stay warm….it’s his first experience out in Alaska this year…we’ll see if he can last!  

I'm still alive :)

So I know it’s been a while since I have updated anything on my blog…I apologize!

Things have been very busy as of late.  We just had spring break a few weeks ago where I spent most of my time in my classroom getting things ready for the end of the school year. Finally I was feeling pretty much caught up and ready to finish up the year. 

The week following spring break we had something called Yupik days where the people of Gambell celebrate the Yupik culture with food, dance and games.  It was great participating in a few of the native games as well as finally dancing for the first time to Yupik dance. 

This past week has been a busy and exciting one as well…as I have decided to continue my professional development and enroll in a graduate program at University of Alaska Southeast.  As of right now I am in the mists of applying for the program, hoping to start this summer.  I will be getting my Masters in Education with an emphasis in Reading.  I am so excited to go back to school! 

I also knew I wanted to go back for my Masters, and decided that now is the time to do it.  Being up here in Gambell I don’t have nearly as many distractions as if I was down in the lower 48, plus I don’t spend as much money being up here.  

In the pictures section (link is at the top) I have included pictures form Yupik days.  I will try my hardest to get updates on this blog, but I cant promise anything.  In fact, I should be writing my Admissions Essay right now…shame on me! ☺  Wish me luck in my endeavors! I will try to update again soon!

Busy busy busy

I still exist!

The past few weeks have been so busy!  I thought that after I was finished with cheer, I would have a ton of time to just relax, but I guess life had other plans.  I started working out a ton more since cheer ended (now about 2 ½ hours a day).  I also realized that summer is sneaking up, so I am attempting to get my resume updated and starting to apply for summer jobs. 

Hopefully this fall I will start on my master’s degree (although what I’ll get my masters in is still undecided).  I cannot believe we are already at mid march!

It has been so beautiful here as of lately, the sun stays out much longer now (9am-8:30pm-ish). The weather has been pretty clear too, which makes for beautiful days.  I have had the nice opportunity to see the northern lights a few times on my way to school—although it has been nothing more than a surging haze.  I hope that as time passes the lights will be brighter and more noticeable.

I still have yet to take more pictures (besides of my kiddos inside my pre-k building) Every time I am outside I just think about how much I wish I was already in a warm building.  I will try this week to get those pictures I promised!  Again, I do still exist ☺ Hopefully I will be posting on a more consistent bases from now on…but we’ll see eh?

Re-signed

So i resigned my contract to teach at least another year up here in Gambell, AK.  I endured this long, i figured...what the heck, might as well do another year.


Buyers remorse started to set in again however this afternoon.  I started think about all that i'm still missing living up here. I really do miss going out and doing things, making new friends and just having a life other than work.  I ultimately know that it was the best decision to re-sign for another year, as it really isn’t that bad, i love my job, love the kids and the pay is good.


Time goes by so quick here too, i cannot believe we have already reached the middle of February.  Only 3 months left until school is out and i get to see my family down in Washington once more.


I know this post is short and there seems to be an absence of photos.  I will post more photos soon of the snow and the frozen ocean.  I'm too tired to deal with it tonight.  Tomorrow is my last day of coaching cheer! Hooray!

Nothing too exciting..

So as I look at my blog right now, I realize that I haven’t posted anything in over 3 weeks. Since coming back home to Gambell I have been very busy.  A week or so after my last blog I had another great weekend where I actually ended up taking my test to get my Yellow Belt in Karate.  I was nervous, but it was very exciting. I hope in March /April to get my Orange belt when we test again.
Also that week I started coaching basketball cheer-elementary girls.  That has been going OK.  I wouldn’t necessarily say I am enthusiastic to the idea of trying to get 20 something 1st-6th graders to even remotely listen to any directions I am giving…but the fact that time seems to be slipping closer and closer to the finish date…has left me with hope.

Really other than that nothing to exciting has been happening here, a few days ago we had a ton of stow-the picture included was from like a week ago.  However two days ago the snow actually covered up the entire door way…now that was a bummer, seeing as I had spend about 45 min the other day digging myself out of that crap.
I can hardly believe that February is already here, and that I am a mere 4 months away from finishing up the school year. Where has all the time gone?  As of right now my kiddos are doing great, 2 of them are actually reading…definitely a proud moment in my life.  Attendance is still a major issue, cause several other students to be way far behind (some cant even recognize a single letter ☹ ) but I still hold hope for the next 4 months.
Wednesday will a celebration day for my co-worker and good friend Vala, as she will be moving over to the big school to work.   I will truly miss her as a co-worker; we have had so many fun and entertaining conversations, both between us two, as well as with the kids.  She is a wonderful educator and I know she will miss our crazy little pre-k kids ☺ Luckily enough we did hire someone to take her place, I hold high hopes that it will work out, but no one can take her place in our classroom!  We’ll miss you Vala!

What? What? WALRUS

Ahhhh, another step into the world of native living. 

Walrus meat, skin, blubber, sea peach, and cabbage

Today was the first day I got to try Walrus.  One of my native co-workers invited me over for dinner this evening where I tried Walrus meat, skin and blubber…and guess what?!  It’s GOOD!  I was very surprised at how good it actually tasted.  I prefer the meat over the skin and blubber, but it was all good.  I also tried a sea peach…not good :/

Language moment!  The Yup’ik name for Walrus skin is: Mung una and Yup’ik for walrus meat is: Kemikrak

Walrus blubber fermenting

Also I learned that people like to have Walrus blubber sit for awhile and ferments.  After a bit oils start to separate from the blubber.  When the blubber starts to get dry and smell, it is time to put into zip lock bags and put into the freezer. 

First ride on snowmachine!

Another fun thing about today?  I rode on my first snow machine!  Hurray!  I am excited, during spring break my co-worker and I are going to ride around on the snow machine and she is going to show me around the island…so excited for that :)

Last week we had a lot of snow again and the stupid drifts formed against my door, and so my lovely neighbor dug part of my pathway out so I could get into my apartment (since I was coming back late ☺ ) and I finished the rest of the way…sadly though…my hole I made last week got completely covered up…oh well…

Update on sunlight!  We have been having beautiful clear days as of late…and the sun and daylight is coming back!  The sun now starts to rise at about 10:30am…and sets at 5:30…hooray!!

This week has been a pretty good week, I started Tutoring and cheerleading…and this Saturday I test for my yellow belt in Karate…that’s right…Amber is becoming a Badass :D  After testing I will also get the chance to try other native foods :)  More pictures to come after that!  Hehe, am I lucky of what?!

I sure dug myself into a hole this time...

I know this blog may appear brief, but really it has so much depth! :D

To tell you the truth, the only reason why I wanted to post today was to tell you all a story about last night.

 After work today I walked home to a ton of snow on my steps and about 1/3 covering my door (as usual). I wasn’t too pleased about having to shovel it yet again, but of course I reluctantly did.  When I was finished I just stood outside in front of my apartment and listened for a good 5 minutes to the silence that snow seems to evoke out of its surroundings.  I gazed around at all the snowdrifts and finally my eyes rested upon the large drift that had formed against one of my apartment windows. 

This is when I got an idea.
Now read up boys and girls, ideas don’t come often for me. 

As I looked up on this massive snow drift I though: “‘How fun would it be to make a hole.?!?’ “ 
I know, odd right? Well, knowing me…perhaps this seems ‘normal’. 

So I set out to dig a hole. I only dug for about a half hour before I decided I would go inside (since it was 7:45pm and I hadn’t eaten dinner yet).  I went quickly inside to grab my camera to take a picture, buuuut surprise! You cant tell how deep a hole is when its surroundings consist of only snow.  Sooo, I threw my glove in the hole,. Still it was difficult to tell its depth. So after a few failed attempts…I knocked on my neighbor’s door to elicit their help.  Thank goodness someone answered!  When my friend Kathy answered the door I sped through hello and blurted out ‘I know this sounds odd, but I dug a hole outside…would you be able to take a picture with me in it??’  Now imagine my excitement when she said yes! What a trooper she was!  She was all cozy in her P Js yet she got her shoes and jacket on to do me this favor, what a lifesaver I tell ya.  

So anyway my friends, here is my fabulous hole I dug. I hope to expand on it in the days followed…we’ll see…. but for now, I am excited about its possibility :D