Kobuk Alaska

I know this blog has been a long time coming, but what can I say now is better than never. Alaska… Where to start? I guess the beginning.

The summer flew by as my first year of teaching approached with growing anticipation.

       A week after returning from my second placement student teaching in Cambodia I graduated from Lee University with my bachelors in elementary education. Shortly after I was on a trip from Illinois to Arkansas when I was offed a job by the NWABSD, or the Northwest Arctic Borough School District located in Alaska after a Skype interview I had at a McDonalds of all place. After a few weeks of processing and debating pros and cons I accepted the job while I was in Memphis visiting a friend.

      So much preparation and plans needed to be made now, and the summer continued to fly by. From Memphis I ventured down to New Orleans to audition for “The Voice.” That experience was a blast! From there I was back home in Athens for all of about 2 weeks before I took a vacation to Florida and then the Bahamas. (Attempting to get all the sun I would need for the long winter in Alaska).  Back home again I had about a week and a half before heading to bush Alaska. Days of research and multiple trips to Wal-Mart I was packed and ready not a moment to soon.  Time to start my next adventure.

     Why I decided to accept this job, I really can’t say: A change, a chance, and an adventure. I left behind a lot, but the call for something more was to strong. I’ve been here over a month now and each day I learn something new. I’m trying to slowly take it all in and adjust to all this newness. Life on a river, life as a new teacher, life living above the arctic circle, life in the middle of nowhere, life as a professional.

     Everyone here is so friendly; there are no complaints there. My first day stepping off the small plane into Kobuk, my new home, a small group of children who would be my students where waiting to help move all the totes I had brought with me or sent ahead. What I thought would be a long first day of moving turned into a matter of minutes.

     In my class I have nine, yes only nine, students. I teach 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade and love every moment of the teaching day. I teach EVERY subject. The basics are a given for elementary teachers, but I also teach things such as Art, Music, and PE. 

My biggest disappointment is how rigid the curriculum is here. During my interview, what I understood, is that the curriculum was basically the same as what Common Core has in Tennessee, where the teacher is responsible for creating much of what is taught, while following the standards, but here is pretty much all scripted. This is NOT my choice of teaching, but “fidelity to the curriculum” is a rule here.  There are books for the books, and to many workbooks and worksheets. For a first year teacher it saves me a lot of time, but for my students I feel like I could offer so much more if I could pull my own resources. The Alaska State Standards do align with Common Core, but the way of teaching could not be more opposite. As I said earlier, big time saver for me, but big disappointment in actual practice. It will take time to adjust and see what all I can add in, while still abiding to the curriculum they want. I’m a big advocate of Common Core and the methods it presents so this is not idea, but manageable. It reminds me of the parts of schools I didn’t like, I just have to get creative to make things more hands on.

 

   

  After school much of my time is spent planning for school or on some occasions fishing, exploring the village, and catching up on sleep. The fish here are HUGE compared to what I’m use to. I never thought I would enjoy fishing so much, but there is great satisfaction in whacking a fish over the head.

      

A few photos of my apartment:

 

I hope to start posting every other week at least. Especially as winter approaches there will be much to share. I’ve never experienced -40 F, but am excited/nervous as that time draws closer. It’s fall currently here with temperatures from 40 to 65 degrees depending on the day. Some night have got into the lower thirty’s already! People here prefer winter to summer; due to the fact snow makes it easier for transportation between villages. ATV’s and Snow machines or (Hondas and Snow-gos) are the main form of transportation here.

Side-Notes

During my first week here I took a medicinal plant class and some people expressed interested in obtaining more information about that so here it is.

I made:

Antiseptic Oil:

Angelica-root

Dwarf Birch- bark

Dandelion- yellow flowers

Willow- bark and young shoots

Stinkweed- leaves and flowers

Olive oil

Soothing Massage Oil:

Chickweed-entire plant

Chamomile-flower and leaves

Coltsfoot-entire plant

Valerian- entire plant

Fireweed- entire plant and roots

Olive oil

Place chopped plants in Mason jar and pour enough olive oil to barley submerge the herbs, place jar in war water bath over night. In the morning strain the mixture, put in a bottle and label.

Cold and Flu Stinkweed Tincture:

½ jar of apple vinegar with the chopped leaves of stinkweed. Shake and leave on shelf for 1-2 months, after use ½ tsp. in warm water when needed.

For those moving to bush Alaska:

1)   Shipping

a.     Make sure to ship things ahead of you, basic things that will make your first few weeks more comfortable. Ship AT LEAST one month ahead of you. Use Rubbermaid Roughneck 18 gallon totes. In addition drill trough the lid and add about 6 zip ties along the edges for best support. Add your name and P.O. box in permanent marker to the lid AND side of the tote. 

2)   Phones

a.     The ONLY phones that work in bush Alaska are AT&T in Kotzebue. If you go to a more remote village such as myself with Kobuk. ONLY GCI works. So if you want phone coverage you will have to change plans. If you bring a phone you already have that is unlocked you save $20/ month. I currently pay $30/ month which includes unlimited minutes, text, and 1gb data… which the data doesn’t work.

3)   Time

a.     Everything here times time to get. Not only do the people have a different since of time, but shipping can be a problem if you don’t plan ahead.  Sometimes you get luckly, but depending on what you are getting and from where don’t be surprised if it takes twice as long as you thought it would.

4)   Food

a.     For food I got bulk orders form Wal-Mart bush order in Fairbanks, AK and SpanAlaska. I found that Wal-Mart  bush order in Faribanks is the best. SpanALaska does not pack well I ended up with several dented/ busted cans. Wal-Mart was faster, nothing was ruined and the customer service was amazing, just call them ask for the bush department, tell them you are a new teaher and need help and they will tell you the rest.

b.     For fresh produce I get a order every other week from Full Circle Produce. Don’t think of the price, just order. It’s pretty much your only option for fresh fruits/ veggies and they are reliable and always send great stuff.

5)   Teacher Dress code

a.     Unlike the south dress code here is casual. We are supposed to be “a step above our students dress.” Jeans and a T-shirt are completely appropriate. If you wear slacks and a blouse you will probably feel a bit out of place.