So,
Tonight we get to camp out at the district office because we have new teacher training tomorrow. I'm not going to lie, it's like being back at the dorms or being at a huge sleep over when you were little except with boys. We even girl pranked one of the girls husbands. It was hilarious. Not gonna lie, one of the new teachers is cute and totally have an inside joke with Heather about him.
Oh and Felicia and I went to ID variety today to look at the pets. Found a really cute rabbit, but they want too much for it and the cage and food is way too much as well :(. The guinea pigs were cute, but not my cup of tea. And the birds just kinda scared me. I would probably kill the fish, not to mention Felicia wants to feel like she's taking care of something and the fish just wont cut it :) :). Oh, and Totally not gonna lie again, I kinda want that rabbit.
So, we went out to eat at VIP tonight because it was Jackie's birthday. Most people had sushi, I had a cheeseburger and fries :).
Ok well I'm going to go now.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wild Alaskan Salmon
Ok, so you heard it right folks...I went fishing on the river in Alaska :)..It was fun and everything! My roommate and I caught 7 fish (that's total not seperate). We got a recipe from Eric on how to cook the first one and it was good. We just mixed ketchup, brown surgar and finely chopped onion together and smeared it on top the salmon. Allison and John told me they have a salmon rub, we might have to try that one next time.
Oh on another positive note, we now have running water!!!!!!!! We did a ceremonial flush and everything :)!
Things are starting to feel normal and not as crazy (which I thought they did before, but until everything is starting to fall into place you are tricked into thinking it's the norm, just trust me on this). We are still waiting on our second order of full circle farms produce. But as soon as that comes in we will be set grocery wise for awhile. I have to start ordering my winter gear now, it's started to get cooler and cooler I believe.
Below are some pictures from around quin and from my first fishing experience :) enjoy!!
Oh on another positive note, we now have running water!!!!!!!! We did a ceremonial flush and everything :)!
Things are starting to feel normal and not as crazy (which I thought they did before, but until everything is starting to fall into place you are tricked into thinking it's the norm, just trust me on this). We are still waiting on our second order of full circle farms produce. But as soon as that comes in we will be set grocery wise for awhile. I have to start ordering my winter gear now, it's started to get cooler and cooler I believe.
Below are some pictures from around quin and from my first fishing experience :) enjoy!!
Going to find our fishing spot!
The School
The School and the School Bus (magical morning ride)
Our first Alaskan Salmon!
The place the boxes appear at! (post office)
Store!
Our first days catch!
The Church
Friday, August 12, 2011
Week one down!
It's been a week and I'm not running home scared!!! I'm been doin perty good, though I do have to say that I hate this having to watch my money thing. And the no running water thing. But, I get to do my laundry tomorrow afternoon and maybe take a shower tomorrow as well, we will see (though if I stink I can't smell myself :) :) :) ). and on that note, I am finding all my materials, books, people to go to when I have a question and what not.
OH did I mention that I cracked the screen of my Alaska phone and I have to pay full retail price if I want it replaced. NO? Oh well maybe that's because I'm just going to live with it. You can see the crack but you can't feel it. Honestly it looks like a gigantic scratch and not a crack, but it's definitely a crack.
Yes people I had moose. I know you are all shocked and I still get texts from mom saying that people don't believe I tried it but I did and it was good. It was not stringy, it was a little tough though, but still good.
Ok well I have to go because I am leaving in like 10 minutes for 'home' aka house on stilts, and I have to get some online stuff for my classes done.
OH did I mention that I cracked the screen of my Alaska phone and I have to pay full retail price if I want it replaced. NO? Oh well maybe that's because I'm just going to live with it. You can see the crack but you can't feel it. Honestly it looks like a gigantic scratch and not a crack, but it's definitely a crack.
Yes people I had moose. I know you are all shocked and I still get texts from mom saying that people don't believe I tried it but I did and it was good. It was not stringy, it was a little tough though, but still good.
Ok well I have to go because I am leaving in like 10 minutes for 'home' aka house on stilts, and I have to get some online stuff for my classes done.
Monday, August 8, 2011
First Work Day
Boy am I exhausted!!!
This morning I woke up around 6 am to a cold room because I had left my bedroom door shut when I fell asleep. Unfortunately that means I kept the heat out because the heater is in the front room. So I went to the couch and sat on it to warm up before I could really function enough to get breakfast.
After we got ready to come to our first work day!! My roommate was the first to try dumping the honey bucket.....hehe...That just means it's my turn next time :(
I did dump the water under our sink though! :) That's not too hard of a job though.
Anyway, I got my classroom all set up...well except cleaning a few more places. So I can focus on lessons now and learning myself before I teach the kids. From the look of things I will be doing A LOT of learning. that's ok though. That's what I signed up for.
Everyone I've been meeting and talking to has been nice and friendly. This place definitely has a small town vibe (of course since it's a village or should I say small village vibe?) and that's good. I think that will help me.
Now I just have to write out my expectations and my rules for the class so I can brainstorm what will be good and what doesn't really need mentioning.
Tootles for now
This morning I woke up around 6 am to a cold room because I had left my bedroom door shut when I fell asleep. Unfortunately that means I kept the heat out because the heater is in the front room. So I went to the couch and sat on it to warm up before I could really function enough to get breakfast.
After we got ready to come to our first work day!! My roommate was the first to try dumping the honey bucket.....hehe...That just means it's my turn next time :(
I did dump the water under our sink though! :) That's not too hard of a job though.
Anyway, I got my classroom all set up...well except cleaning a few more places. So I can focus on lessons now and learning myself before I teach the kids. From the look of things I will be doing A LOT of learning. that's ok though. That's what I signed up for.
Everyone I've been meeting and talking to has been nice and friendly. This place definitely has a small town vibe (of course since it's a village or should I say small village vibe?) and that's good. I think that will help me.
Now I just have to write out my expectations and my rules for the class so I can brainstorm what will be good and what doesn't really need mentioning.
Tootles for now
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Training week
So, I arrived in Bethel Alaska after a very LONG day of flying on Sunday July 31st!!! I met two teacher friends in the airport trying to find our transportation to the mysterious land of the long house where we were staying. I say mysterious land of the long house because we didn't know who was picking us up or where we were going to stay. Sounds crazy now that I type it that I didn't ask those questions but I guess when you are already asking all kinds of questions the obvious ones can slip right through the cracks. Anyways, The two teachers I met were Jaclyn Whynott and Kristin Henke (I hope their names are spelled correctly!!) They were and are a blast! We decided to walk around bethel that night even though it was already like 8pm by the time we got settled in and what not. Mainly because we were hungry and looking for something to eat. This one place and I don't remember (to be honest I don't remember asking) the name of had AMAZING chinese food made by the owner himself.
Monday, we were transferred to the Yute training center where our training would be held and we would be staying all dorm style like until Thursday. We dropped off our luggage and hiked to the district office to get our paperwork, laptops, phones (GCI was there giving great deals to the new teachers) food (lunch and supper) and a couple other things I know I'm forgetting. I also met my roommate. I saw her walk into the room where we were signing up for phones and I'm like "Felicia??" and she was all "Kristen??" it was wierd because she totally looked like her pictures.
Anyways, turns out i'm staying on the bottom bunk, Jaclyn has the bunk above mine and Felicia has the loft bunk which is way up there. OH and did I mention these bunk beds are not meant for adults? yea, they are rickety and everything!
Yesterday (tuesday) we went on a 2 1/2 hour walk after training because Kristin wanted to go look around swanson's grocery store which wouldn't normally take that long, but we took the scenic route and went over some boardwalks and what not. It was cool, but by the end I was most definetly ready to take a shower (the dust here is glacial silt and is so fine that it gets in everything!) and just go to bed.
Today we tried the native food. The dried salmon was good, the salmon paste was great and the eskimo ice cream was great too :). I'm happy I tried that stuff. I didn't have the guts to try the whale blubber, maybe next time.
That leaves us to tonight, we were suppose to go on the fishing trip, but not only did I just not feel like being out in the strong breeze, but it felt like I had so much to do that I wasn't going to be able to get done if I went. I did get a LOT done by staying behind so now I feel like I can breathe. Besides, I'll have tons of opportunities to go fishing and boating another time.
And that brings me to the pictures...below are pictures that Jaclyn took on our walk! Thanks Jaclyn!
Monday, we were transferred to the Yute training center where our training would be held and we would be staying all dorm style like until Thursday. We dropped off our luggage and hiked to the district office to get our paperwork, laptops, phones (GCI was there giving great deals to the new teachers) food (lunch and supper) and a couple other things I know I'm forgetting. I also met my roommate. I saw her walk into the room where we were signing up for phones and I'm like "Felicia??" and she was all "Kristen??" it was wierd because she totally looked like her pictures.
Anyways, turns out i'm staying on the bottom bunk, Jaclyn has the bunk above mine and Felicia has the loft bunk which is way up there. OH and did I mention these bunk beds are not meant for adults? yea, they are rickety and everything!
Yesterday (tuesday) we went on a 2 1/2 hour walk after training because Kristin wanted to go look around swanson's grocery store which wouldn't normally take that long, but we took the scenic route and went over some boardwalks and what not. It was cool, but by the end I was most definetly ready to take a shower (the dust here is glacial silt and is so fine that it gets in everything!) and just go to bed.
Today we tried the native food. The dried salmon was good, the salmon paste was great and the eskimo ice cream was great too :). I'm happy I tried that stuff. I didn't have the guts to try the whale blubber, maybe next time.
That leaves us to tonight, we were suppose to go on the fishing trip, but not only did I just not feel like being out in the strong breeze, but it felt like I had so much to do that I wasn't going to be able to get done if I went. I did get a LOT done by staying behind so now I feel like I can breathe. Besides, I'll have tons of opportunities to go fishing and boating another time.
And that brings me to the pictures...below are pictures that Jaclyn took on our walk! Thanks Jaclyn!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Almost!!
I really can't wait till Sunday!!!!!! That's right folks sunday is when I fly to Alaska :)! I am definetly feeling the crunch of time. It's like I have no time at all to do anything I want and need to do. But, I look at it this way, what I don't get done now (since I'm still at my parents at the moment), I can do when I get home for christmas break :). Ok so maybe that's not the case. I feel like I'm trying to pack more in my suitcase than I need, want and should have. I feel lost and excited and totally at east at the same time. I feel anxious and calm and sad and happy. I'm grateful for the help everyone has been giving me and the surprises my family has given me.
South Carolina was fun. I got to see alot of family on my Grandma Jacksons side of the family. Most importantly I got to spend a whole week with my grandma before I moved. Barbra, Kim, Scott, Pat, James, Margrett (I think thats your name) were all awesome hosts and it was excellent to get to see you again! I hope I'll be back next year, but if I'm not it was great to see you all again. Kim give sammy kisses for me :).
I know clay's going to miss me because as soon as I got home from the south carolina trip he informed me that he had plans for me the next day. Turns out those plans were to shoot our guns which we hadn't done for a while. I have a highpoint 9mm ....I shot the target with every bullet and shot 50 bullets :). It was a great stress reliever. I still have 2 boxes of bullets so I might be doing some more shooting before I leave.
When your chooosing wat to pack and what to leave behind, how do you choose?!?!?!?! I know that if it's somehting I really want my mother to send me she will. So it's really just a matter of what do I want to wear or use in the next couple weeks. The amazing part to me though, is that I have not had 1 doubt about taking the job in Alaska. not one single doubt. the only thing I have a problem or shall I say nervous feeling about, is O'Hare airport. this time last year I was stuck in the Atlanta airport overnight on the way back from Jamaica after seeing my brother get married. That was not a fun experience, I just don't want to have another bad airport expierience.
I guess that's all for now..Oh I have skype now so send me a message and I will send you my skype info :).
South Carolina was fun. I got to see alot of family on my Grandma Jacksons side of the family. Most importantly I got to spend a whole week with my grandma before I moved. Barbra, Kim, Scott, Pat, James, Margrett (I think thats your name) were all awesome hosts and it was excellent to get to see you again! I hope I'll be back next year, but if I'm not it was great to see you all again. Kim give sammy kisses for me :).
I know clay's going to miss me because as soon as I got home from the south carolina trip he informed me that he had plans for me the next day. Turns out those plans were to shoot our guns which we hadn't done for a while. I have a highpoint 9mm ....I shot the target with every bullet and shot 50 bullets :). It was a great stress reliever. I still have 2 boxes of bullets so I might be doing some more shooting before I leave.
When your chooosing wat to pack and what to leave behind, how do you choose?!?!?!?! I know that if it's somehting I really want my mother to send me she will. So it's really just a matter of what do I want to wear or use in the next couple weeks. The amazing part to me though, is that I have not had 1 doubt about taking the job in Alaska. not one single doubt. the only thing I have a problem or shall I say nervous feeling about, is O'Hare airport. this time last year I was stuck in the Atlanta airport overnight on the way back from Jamaica after seeing my brother get married. That was not a fun experience, I just don't want to have another bad airport expierience.
I guess that's all for now..Oh I have skype now so send me a message and I will send you my skype info :).
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Moving Update
I thought I'd put an update since it's been about a week or so. I have now offically mailed off two boxes of stuff. My queen sheet set from Grandma Jackson, My towel and washcloth set and some clothes along with deodorant and a thermometer (wierd combination for first shipment I know I know). At any rate, for both boxes and insurance and delivery comfirmation it cost me around 37 bucks total. The tubs that will have the majority of my items in them will cost me more, I have no doubt. However, I actually feel relieved instead of anxiuos that I got those first two boxes sent off. My next step is to talk with my roommate about what to bring. I have some things but for some reason not what I initially thought. Apparently some of my things either got lost in transition or my roommates from college brought the major stuff. I know that my pots and pans are being used by my mom because I thought they'd be better off used than in a box, but that just means I'll have to buy new or hope my roomie has some. I do have backing stuff so I wont need that. I found some bowls that if I pack carefully since they are glass I can send and about 6 plastic cups along with some kitchen utencils. If nothing else, it will get us by till we can afford to buy more than just the complete basics if needed.
I am finding it hard to make myself pack up my belongings. I'm not sure why since I am extremely happy to be doing this. I guess I just hate moving. Maybe this will be my last major move? well, a girl can hope :).
I am finding it hard to make myself pack up my belongings. I'm not sure why since I am extremely happy to be doing this. I guess I just hate moving. Maybe this will be my last major move? well, a girl can hope :).
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