Let this be a lesson to you - never believe someone whose family nickname is "Li". As it turns out I will NOT be teaching in Kotzebue next year. I was frustrated by the administration's inability to tell me if I would be teaching 7th grade again as I hoped, so I poked my head into the HR department and found that there was a 7th - 12th grade language arts position available in Buckland, Alaska. So guess what? I'm moving to Buckland. It has 450 people and is located 75 miles south of Kotzebue. The school has about 150 students K-12.
I will no longer live above the Arctic Circle, but about 40 miles below. Time to get out the swimsuit I guess.
I will no longer live above the Arctic Circle, but about 40 miles below. Time to get out the swimsuit I guess.
As you can see, Buckland is on the Buckland River. This photo was stolen from Google; I haven't really been there yet. It looks greener that Kotzebue, don't you think? I will miss Kotzebue Sound and my darling little house, but I am looking forward to getting out of town. I didn't realize how cosmopolitan Kotz would be! I've heard that there is more wildlife in Buckland and that the principal and teaching staff are very welcoming. I'm looking forward to it.
I am, however, also looking back at my year. I'm going to miss this beautiful school and these almost eighth graders with whom I've spent my year. I wore them out, as you can see from this photo. She's even using my down sweater as a pillow!
As I think back over my year I realize I have left a couple of interesting moments out of this blog. Here follows some photos to give you an idea of how things have been around here.
As I think back over my year I realize I have left a couple of interesting moments out of this blog. Here follows some photos to give you an idea of how things have been around here.
One day I was walking to the post office and I heard a marvelous quiet jingling sound. I looked out on the ice and there was a musher! He wasn't racing; the dogs were just loping along. All the dogs were grinning and the musher even turned and waved when he realized I was snapping photos. It made me long for a time before sno-gos when transportation was quiet, casual, and didn't smell like diesel. The only other mushers I've seen were racers. The Arctic Circle sprint races as well as the Kobuk 440 start and finish on the ice in front of the Kotzebue post office. For some reason I have no photos of these events, despite the fact that I took a bunch. Maybe my battery was dead.
Below you can see how they shovel the playground here. We had zero snow days.
I scoff at those Dayton snow days!
I am tough Alaska teacher now!
Below you can see how they shovel the playground here. We had zero snow days.
I scoff at those Dayton snow days!
I am tough Alaska teacher now!
The father of one of my students continues to help children experience traditional Inupiat heritage. He coaches the Native Youth Olympics team, holds a summer camp, and when he took a couple seal, brought them to school to butcher so the students could watch.
Here he is using an ulu to separate the meat from the skin.
And here he is showing how thin one can slice the meat with an ulu.
As well as dogsled racing, Kotzebue also hosts sno-go races. In this photo the sno-gos are all lined up and taking off, with a plane buzzing overhead. I'm not sure why the plane is there, but I never saw a snow go race without one!
Next is a photo of how I get my mail and groceries home. Right now there has been a lot of melting so I'm contemplating a red wagon to replace the red sled.
Next is a photo of how I get my mail and groceries home. Right now there has been a lot of melting so I'm contemplating a red wagon to replace the red sled.
A great and wonderful event this spring was Arctic Care. Every few years, when the U.S. decides it's affordable, 200 army, navy, air force, and marine reserves head to the Arctic to take care of the people in a major way. They are doctors, dentists, and veterinarians and spend two weeks tending and treating everyone and their dogs too! The vet even took a look at our 7th grade gecko. Several men visited my classes, both middle school and high school, to talk about everything from employment opportunities and dolphin veterinary science to roping out of helicopters with Navy SEALs. Captain Brian Joseph was especially available to the students in Kotzebue. This was an amazing group of people doing some good with our defense budget. The photo at right was the farewell parade. Kotzebue does love a parade!
Lastly, I'd like to introduce you to my new rig. Now there's really no stopping me! Current temperature is 26 and it has been snowing for three days.
HAPPY SPRING TO YOU ALL!
HAPPY SPRING TO YOU ALL!