http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjdnM8GfLFY (You will have to copy and paste into your browser.)

This does a pretty accurate job of describing the growing gap between the Yup'ik culture and modern times. It is interesting being here from an outsider's perspective because their is a constant push to integrate more and more Yupik into the schools, yet kids are all consumed by their video games and the internet. They need instant gratification which is what is driving the current generation away from the culture. Just from the beginning of the year to now we have gone from having a Yup'ik instructor once a week for 20 minutes to having classroom aides teach it for a half hour everyday.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we have been studying Early Exploration and the pilgrim's voyage to the United States. I planned multiple lessons in a row but I think they gained the most when the lesson became more of a conversation. We spent 15 minutes looking up what the pilgrims and Indians ate at the First Thanksgiving on the smart board and talking about how much different the food was back then (totally unplanned.) It is not what you expect.. go take a peak for yourself. Did you know they had lobster at the First Thanksgiving? Great minds always learning!
Here is the quote of the week from one of my students in response to early exploration: "I didn't know so much happened before we were born!" Although this is a simple thought, it is something that is easy to forget because sometimes it seems like we are overly consumed by the present. It re-newed my excitement about teaching social studies and history.. or rather exploring the past with them.

It's funny.. even through I always feel mentally drained at the end of the day, their is always this ounce of sadness that I won't see my kids until the next day. Then again, my mind is oddly twisted.
Thanks for following! I will continue to keep you all posted on life in the tundra!

Time still flies in the middle of nowhere

Sometimes I forget where I am... but then I look outside my kitchen window and see miles of tundra followed by ocean. It's an adjustment to my living style.. for one thing I am constantly thinking about how I can reuse EVERYTHING. Coffee creamer containers are great for storing beans and egg cartons  provide the kids a great way to practice their addition facts. Personally, I am learning how to be more proactive... forgetting to order toilet paper is a mistake I am never going to make again. And it's quite hard to find a replacement for soap. Although if anyone has any suggestions... 

Here is the good, the bad and the ugly over the past few weeks: 

1.) Their is something to be said for flying shotgun. It was unbelievable to be able to look out the front window while taking off. Although, at first I had a hard time putting my faith in the pilot's ability to eat his apple and get us off the ground. But ya know, I'm not sure why I was so worried. He had talent..and could probably get us back and fourth to Togiak with his eyes closed.

2.) I am adjusting to the slower pace of life. Either that or I am realizing that I was always slow, but I just fit in better here. 

3.) Halloween still goes on without the leaves changing color, apple picking or carving a jack-o-lantern.  Kids pile on the back of an ATV in order to cover the most ground possible. It is also not uncommon to see middle age men trick-o-treating.. a tradition that I am not fond of in the slightest. Let's keep this holiday about the kids! 

4.) I have a new found respect for basket weaving, I spent a good 24 hours on my 'basket.' Let's just say it would make a good home for a really tiny bird... That being said, I learned a lot about the culture just from working on it. 

5.) Seeing gravel roads in Dillingham this past weekend was a bit unreal. And actually walking into a bank and talking to a bank teller? Man, life does not get much better than that! 

6.) My heart ached a little bit during all staff pickup. Wherever I go, I shall carry a disc. 

7.) Their is nothing better then the way my kids smile when we dance in the morning. They love being silly and aren't afraid to take risks. 

Walking a mob of dogs. We only started with three.. but around here they all follow... Our intention was to 'lose' a few in town. That didn't happen.. but a few days later a few of them got picked up by a truck and got taken to the dump. As annoying as some of them were, it was a little disheartening to see things end the way they did.

 Retirement struck early...