My purpose for writing this blog is to document my experiences as I live and teach in Togiak, Alaska. My greatest challenge in taking this job is that I have no experience with the native language (Yup'ik) and so my goal is going to be to learn the language right alongside my first and second graders. That being said, this is also my first teaching job and therefore I'm sure I have an abundance of other challenges ahead of me.

So far, the thing I most enjoy about being out here is the people. For being in bush Alaska, everyone is incredibly laid back and friendly. For example, last night, we were supposed to fly out to our villages but it was  too cloudy for the pilots to see and the flights got cancelled. The district willingly put us all up in hotels for one more night and the superintendent made Mickey Mouse pancakes with maple syrup in the morning. I was shocked by the lack of turmoil but everyone just seemed to go with the flow and in the end everything turned out all right.

Here are some pictures from the In Service in Dillingham, Alaska:

The Pacific Ocean! Well, very far north- it is beautiful up here.

This gas station has amazing hot chocolate and coffee- flavored drinks. Who would have thought?

 The houses are much different here- due to all the wind, rain and snow they are a lot smaller and more sturdier.

Everything-in-one store. Get your food, clothes, fishing equipment, major appliances, toys, DVD's etc, etc, etc.. here!

One of three restaurants- The Muddy Rudder. You can order your average dinner salad for $15. Dressing extra.

Learning about how to cook salmon during In Service. We got to wash, cut and eat it. If nothing else, come to Alaska for the salmon!

Yes, yes I am here. These pictures did NOT come from Google.

More about Togiak to come soon!