Negative....

... tide :) I had never heard of a negative tide before; but I sure found out how much fun it can be to walk...walk... walk... and then walk even more out into the bay a mile until you reach the end of the extreme low tide. I also learned it is not easy walking to say the least... the floor of the bay is like a concrete mix of clay, mud, slush, and rock - I got stuck and my boots were very stuck! I tried for a few minutes to lift my feet to keep walking, but it wasn't going to happen - barefoot time the rest of the way (I did keep my socks on though). Here are some photos of this FUN time spent with some of the teachers and some village families.

School is going GREAT and I enjoy every one of my students. My students are very sweet natured and happy little kiddos! I had planned on posting photos of my classroom and some of my kids this week on my blog, but last night's event was so awesome that I just had to get that shared! So - stay tuned for classroom/student update next week.

See ya!

I am a day later than I had wanted as far as updating my blog; I will try hard to do this on Sundays - BUT, yesterday was so busy getting a million last minute things together before the big day TODAY - the kids started school today and I met my students!

I'm ready for day one - bring it on!!

The first day of school was uneventful in a good way! I have 14 students instead of 13, but everyone was so good today and I am really excited to work with these kids this year - more on that next week though.

Last week, I went berry picking with a few fellow teachers and met an interesting local native Eskimo lady. She came down to pick with us for a short time and then asked us if we wanted to see the hats she made. WOW is all I can say - beautiful is an understatement. She spent about 45 minutes or so talking with us and sharing some of her stories. I felt like I was in another time of history. I asked her if I could take her picture, she put her head down and said she didn't have her teeth in - then just as quickly, raised her head up and gave the best smile ever!

The hat is made with spotted seal and the little feet are a local grouse called a ptarmigan. (from Wikipedia: The willow ptarmigan is the largest of three “Arctic grouse” found in Alaska, which also include the rock and the white-tailed ptarmigan. Ptarmigan are sociable in winter and usually feed and roost close together in the snow.)

The other day, I took Ginger around the back of the apartments and found this huge bone on the size of our apartment; I looked it up and it a walrus jaw. I can honestly say I've never seen a walrus jaw just lying around my yard before!

I am going to close for now and go to bed to read. Tomorrow comes early and I want to get to school a little earlier so I can do a few last minute things I didn't think of today but sure wish I had! Here are a few more photos of my home - enjoy! (The one with the bright sun was my walk to school one morning last week...)

Oh - before I really do close down for real! I want to share what I was given today by one of my first graders...

I am back from teacher in-service! Last week, I flew, via bush plane, to Dillingham, AK for new teacher training. I cannot even begin to share what I learned about the Yupik culture. My brain is still quite foggy with so much new and awesome information that organizing it may never happen. So, just understand when I am throw out random thoughts every now and then for the next 10+ years! :)

Some highlights of the trip:

Another bush plane trip! (Ginger does not like flying at ALL... she becomes very nervous)

Attending meetings in the district's board meeting - which is a mobile home!

Watching native Yupik women dance

Being taught my native Yupik women how to properly filet salmon and to use an ulu (An ulu is a rounded type of knife and only women can use them; men do not use an ulu)

Hearing and speaking various Yupik words and phrases (I will in time get some together on my blog along with my version of the pronunciation guide)

Attending the 1st annual Dillingham Salmon festival! This was held at the baseball field and it was a small-town carnival feel; the food was delicious and the atmosphere was vibrant!

Eating salmon eggs - right out of a freshly cut salmon! To me, the eggs have a grassy taste and they POP in your mouth!

Learning a Yupik dance and then performing for the whole district! (A total of 82 teachers in the whole district)

Learning the utmost importance of being a role model for my students and to keep their deep rich culture in mind at all times while teaching, speaking and living among them.

This coming week, I will be attending out site in-service here in Togiak. We will have 2 1/2 days of building meetings and then 2 1/2 days of being able to work in our classrooms to get ready for the big day!! August 22nd is the big day - the reason I am here - kids.

Speaking of getting the classroom ready.... well - let's not even talk about that right now.

Enjoy some photos!

See Chloe sitting in a friend's lap? And you can also tell we are sitting among cargo!

Ginger... sitting up on my shoulder in the plane.

This is where I stayed - the district bunkhouse

This is where we had 2 days of our meetings - the district boardroom

Akutaq - it is also called Eskimo ice cream - a mixture of an animal lard, sugar and berries