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