Happy Halloween!

This is a picture of 1 of the 3 walruses that were caught by the villagers. I didn't personally see the excitement but learned a lot about walruses in general because of it. I had no idea that they weighed OVER 2000 lbs! This is a big celebration because of all the meat provided. My understanding is the meat is shared and distributed throughout everyone.

Traffic jam in Togiak! I don't think I've ever seen this many 4-wheelers at once in a single location on the road.

I walked to the village with another teacher on Saturday. It was brisk and cold, but a great walk! The village is 3 miles from the apartment. What is nice though is you usually will always be offered a ride. On the way to the village, we were offered a ride and on the way back we got another ride. Of course the rids are sitting on the back of someone's 4 wheeler. 

This is a HUGE dog - I walk by him every day about 4 times. What he is sitting on is a boat - that gives you a bit of a perspective as he is just about as big as the height of the captain windshield. One morning, I took Ginger out and this dog was there - OMG to say the least. I seriously panicked and jerked her back in by the leash. This dog had gotten off his leash and was running around the teacher housing on the Hill. Come to find out, he's as sweet as can be and I never needed to be afraid. But, I still wouldn't ever let Ginger be around any dog that could eat her in one gulp if it desired. (Ginger is a 6 lb Chihuahua)

5th grade reading buddies. I try to do things with the 5th grade class - usually art - but we decided to meet in the library one morning and let the kids partner up with books. When these 2 classes get together, it is always enjoyed by both grade levels. 

This is my principal, Sam. Sam grew up in the village (his father was a Shaman) and then left to get his degree in administration so he could come back and serve as the village principal. He is a great man and a great principal!

I bet you were expecting Halloween pictures - huh? Well.. you will have to wait until next week to see my adorable students! We did have a great time at the village-wide carnival and then again in class on Halloween. 

The weather is really getting chilly now. There was snow on the mountain tops! I was going to go out the following day after I noticed, but it rained over night - so, no more snow. I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities to see some snow in Alaska :)

Life here is good - but, if I am honest with myself I would have to say that the isolation is getting a little harder as time goes on. I also have to be honest and say that I do think about maybe not coming back next year for that reason. I have been struggling with this thought for a few weeks, if not for the last month, now. Every single thing about living and working here is great - just that it is so lonely and isolated from the rest of the world....

Dedicated to my dear friend who has passed.... Steve Tredway

I received a text from my pastor back home that our music worship leader passed away suddenly; I was shocked and stunned beyond words... he will be missed by so many who loved him.

Awhile ago (August), I went for a walk and took some pictures of the village on the Hill (where I live and where the school is located)  Down the Hill is the actual village - where the bay,  Post Office and the AC store are located. More people live down the Hill  in the village than live on the Hill.

All of these were taken on the Hill in August of 2016.

 These are the 2 teacher housing apartments (plus another that is next to the school and not pictured here) - each building has 4 apartments - 2 upstairs and 2 downstair

s.

 This is my building - I live in the upper-left apartment  (my bedroom is the far-left window) - the view from my living room/kitchen are awesome!

 The dump in the distance - it is a nice walk out there - lions, tigers and bears oh my!

The dumpsters on the Hill...

I have photos I've taken of the actual village (and their dumpsters!) and hope to get those up here in the near future.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

3 days late... ooops

So, I try really hard to update this on Sundays... well, this past weekend I had a terrible sinus headache and completely forgot to touch base! So - here is the quick low down for the week.

I went down to the beach the other day - it was a beautiful day, as you can see! I took some photos of interesting finds during low tide. I hadn't planned on picking clams but did bring 4 home; I cut them up and threw them in a can of potato soup - not bad! These beautiful days are going to become less and less. Yesterday, the temperature was 19 and there are many areas surrounding us with snow already. Winter will be here soon!

I bought a native-made ulu! An ulu is a knife tool used by women (men do not use them). They are  used for cutting salmon, meat, vegetables, and were even used to cut hair! Mine was made by a local and has a moose antler handle.

I learn so much from my students - one taught me how much fun scrap paper can be!

Until next week!! (PS - headache is gone - YAY)