Over the River and Through the Woods

To grandmother’s Samuel's house I go.. I would say that this weekend truly solidified the fact that I live in Alaska. One of the convenient parts of my move to Nondalton is that I am closer to Newhalen, the village where Sam lives. This weekend was the first that I got to travel to visit him and it is not something I will soon forget. 

Not only was I excited about my trip, but by the time this week rolled around, the entire school seemed to be eager for my journey. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to get to and from Newhalen without the help of the teachers and a few kind community members. Throughout the week I had the task of finding someone who could take me across the river in a boat where I would meet Sam and continue on to the village. Being the organized planner that I am, the uncertainty behind this trip had my anxiety levels through the roof. I was lucky enough to find a dad who crosses the river often and who was willing to take me. 

Once my ride across was secured, I felt much more comfortable and excited for the adventure to begin. Then, however, winter in Alaska decided to hit in full force. We went from forty degree weather to twenty below in just a few days time, something that makes outdoor travel a bit troublesome. When school let out on Friday and I was getting ready to go, the man who was taking me across stopped by school to tell me that he was going to check the ice to see if it was ready to take hondas across. The moment he left I looked to my co-workers, many of whom have lived here for a few years or more, for reassurance at this turn of events. Crossing the frozen lake slightly (okay truly and completely) terrifies me, and the looks on their faces didn’t help. The ice hadn’t frozen over to be travel-ready since a brief time last semester, so we were all surprised when he said that. I was quickly promised that he was a great ice-checker and wouldn’t take me unless he felt secure. Much to my relief, he came back and said we’d go by boat because the ice wasn’t quite thick enough. 

After we knew that I was going by boat I put on the rest of my winter gear. I felt as if I was getting ready for prom as my farewell crew got me ready. I’m the newbie and the youngest member of the staff so I’ve been taken in by many of the teachers and staff members. I wasn’t allowed to leave until I put on one more jacket (which made me feel like Randy from “A Christmas Story”), had almost my whole face covered, and got in a quick photo shoot. The man taking me over knows I like to run and told me that I could’ve just shed some layers and run across the lake which would’ve been quicker and kept me nice and warm. Once I’d gotten the okay from my substitute family members, I was on my way! 

We took a quick honda ride down the beach to where the river wasn’t frozen and we grabbed the boat. None to my surprise, we had some trouble getting the motor started once we were in the water. A few minutes later, however, I had officially made it across the river to where Sam was waiting with a warm truck. I shed a few coats and then we were off again. A bumpy, yet beautifully scenic thirty minutes later and I was officially in Newhalen! 

Saturday was another incredibly cold day, but it was such a nice day so we took a honda ride so Sam could show me around the village. As bundled as I was, I still lost feeling in my fingers and toes within ten minutes(the rest of me was perfectly warm though). By the time we got back two hours later, I was questioning whether I’d ever regain feeling in my toes. Once we’d been inside and had the chance to thaw out for a few hours, we were both ready to get back out and take advantage of the daylight. We went down to where the Newhalen River leads into Lake Iliamna and were like little kids as we walked around on the ice. It was incredible to see the stages of freezing, from thin layers of ice to large floating ice chunks and finally the eight inch thick ice we were walking around on. Sam channeled his inner Buddy the Elf and was hopping around on the floating chunks (after making sure the water wasn’t too deep just in case) as I wandered around on the solid ice. 

In that moment, as I watched the sun begin to set, surrounded by snowy mountains at almost twenty degrees below zero, it hit me again that I really live in Alaska. This time last year, I never would have thought that I’d spend weekends traveling between villages in rural Alaska in bitter-cold temperatures, yet here I am. With each passing day, I am having experiences that I never in a million years would have seen myself having. As my dad always says, I truly am living a dream and I love every second of it.

After a fun-filled and relaxing weekend that passed in the blink of an eye, it was time to head back to Nondalton. This time, however, we were crossing over on a honda; the lake had frozen enough over the weekend to be travel-ready. Many people had already made the trip back and forth, yet I was not convinced. When we got down to the lake, I was anxious about going across, but when my ride came, I hopped on the honda and we took off. What felt like ten seconds later, and I was safely back on my side of the water. It’s only about a quarter of a mile across the lake so it really didn’t take long at all. Now that the ice has frozen over, the trip between the two villages is much easier and I can’t wait for my next trip to Newhalen:) I would prefer that the temperatures be above zero next time, but at least I know what to expect! 

A Bush-Style Graduation

Just when I’m starting to think that I’ve seen it all, I quickly get proven wrong and experience something that just blows me away. The event that got me this time was graduation night in Nondalton. Last Friday was a big day for the village, and the students were all very excited about the celebration. During and after school, students were helping transform the gym into a festive setting for a graduation to take place. I was proud of how hard the students were working to prepare for the special night and I know it meant a lot to the graduate to have their help. 

Oh did I forget to mention the fact that there was only one student graduating? Keep in mind that our school has 24 students (double what I worked with in Pilot Point) so it’s not unusual for one student to be graduating nor is it uncommon for students graduate mid-year. The unique thing about the standards based system is that students can complete their classwork at any time, whether it be a Tuesday in October or a Thursday in April. The system that we work with is catered to helping students complete work at a pace that meets their needs. I believe this senior had finished up all of her work before Christmas break, but the ceremony was planned for the beginning of this semester.

Much to my enjoyment, I got the privilege to be a witness to this graduation ceremony. As strange as it might seem, I think it’s great that this was made into such a special night. Some might think it’s silly to put all the work into a graduation for one student, but I completely disagree. Graduating high school, especially for some students out in the bush, is a big deal and should be treated accordingly. This young woman worked hard to finish up her school work to be able to graduate and I think she deserved the decorations, senior slideshow, and to walk down the aisle in a cap and gown. 

The start of the ceremony itself was in true village fashion which did not surprise me in the least. Time in the village usually tends to run about 15 minutes early or late, you never know what you’ll get. For the night of graduation however, the seats were full of students, staff, and relatives before the 6 o’clock start. The only snag in this though was that one important person was running behind; our graduate was about 15 minutes late to the event. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at this little detail. The student came rushing in all dressed up (most likely the cause of her tardiness) and ready to go, and before I knew it the ceremony was on it’s way. A short 15 minutes later and Nondalton officially had one more alum. Again, I smiled as I looked down at my phone to see the length of the ceremony. It was short and sweet and I could tell how proud the staff and community were to see this student give her speech and accept her diploma. Special occasions like this bring the village members closer together and I feel thankful anytime that I get to be apart of such events.

After taking a ton of pictures, enjoying some yummy cake, and visiting with the attendees, the night was over. The celebration for family and friends continued elsewhere that night, but our part in the night was over before 6:45. By now I know that I shouldn’t be, but I am always finding myself surprised by the things that I witness. This was definitely one of those times, but in a good way. I am sure this is not the last time I’ll be surprised by occurrences out here in the bush! 

Miss Paige's Perch

While I could talk about the beauty of my new village for days on end, I thought I should probably write about why I’m out in Nondalton. Anyone who reads my blog or who has talked to me recently knows that I decided that a bigger village would be a better fit for me, both professionally and personally. I was lucky to be offered a tutoring position in Nondalton where there are more people, students, and on-site staff. So far the move has proven to be the best decision I could have made and I am really enjoying my new position.

One thing I know for certain is that my new job is going to keep me busy! Some might think that tutoring is not hard-work but it really is. Throughout the week I work with 16 of the school’s 24 students.  My days are split up into 30 minute sessions in which I work on skills that will help students prepare for the state test. Luckily my daily sessions only include working with reading, writing, and math (science and social studies really aren’t my forte). The teachers that work with these students highlight the skills or standards that the kids need some help with and then I plan my lessons/sessions around that. 

 Similarly to when I taught in Pilot Point, I’m working with 3rd-12th grade, and I really enjoy the students that I get to see. While I had been warned that I might receive some negative attitudes from a few of the older students, they have shown me nothing but positive responses. I think they enjoy having another younger teacher around and I’m just happy that they have taken to me so quickly. Most of the students see me each day, but some I only work with one day a week. My one day-a-week kids are fun to work with because I am teaching them test taking strategies. Preparing for the state test is something different but I like it so far. This year we are moving to computer based tests so I teach the kids how to use the tools available to them to help them on the assessment. Also, starting in two weeks, my schedule will shift a bit so that I can work with the school’s special education teacher; this is something I am really looking forward to and I will be sure to write about that experience as well. 

Until then however, I spend my days up in the top-most part of the building which has been given the name of “Miss Paige’s Perch”. I work in the balcony area above the school’s library, something that my students complain about each day because of the set of stairs they must climb to get to me. Some of my older kids have to bring binders with them which they always forget, but I let them get to the top of the steps before reminding them. They huff and puff all the way down and back up, but it gives me a laugh (it’s the little things). 

As I write this from up in my perch, I have officially made it through my first week as a tutor in Nondalton. I am feeling really positive about this experience and where it could lead for me in a professional aspect. I feel that working here is a much less stressful environment and I have already felt the positive effects of having a bigger on-site staff. Making the decision to leave Pilot Point was hard, but I think that it was the best choice for me and so far I am happy with where I have ended up!

From the Land of No Trees

After another whirlwind week of traveling, training, and shopping, I finally found myself on a plane headed to my new home away from home, Nondalton. I have been looking forward to this move for quite some time and was relieved that it was finally here. Not only was I eager to work with a bigger teaching staff and student population, but I was also excited for the beauty that the northern part of our district holds. From the moment the plane began its descent, I knew that I would not be disappointed.

While I appreciated the beauty that the tundra held in Pilot Point, I was excited to see the mountains, lakes, and trees! Sure I had obviously noted the absence of trees in my life over the past four months, but it had become normal for me not to see them. I couldn’t help but laugh though from the responses I received upon meeting two of the school custodians. I met them at separate times but both of their immediate responses to hearing I was from Pilot Point were “you come from the land of no trees” and “there’s no trees there”. Hi my name is Paige and I hale from the land of no trees.. 

Anywho, I was able to get settled into my new apartment and visit with my roommate and other co-workers. It is definitely going to be such a different experience than in Pilot Point. Not only has the on site staff quadrupled, but there’s double the amount of students; it’s quite the change! As I finished unpacking, I was invited out on a honda ride by one of my co-workers. He and his wife have lived in Nondalton for almost 10 years and he offered to show me some trails that I could go running on. They have two hondas so I was able to take my own out and riding through the muddy and icy trails was a nice way to let loose for a bit. Truth be told, the trails were a little too far from the safety of the village for my comfort, but it was still great to see where I could go exploring when I have someone to go with me. 

I’ve been here for almost one week and I have already grown to love this village. Everything is much different than what I’ve been used to. However, the people are kind yet reserved which is a similarity to what I had in PIP. I already miss my tiny little village that served as my first home on my own. Once again, I couldn’t help but get choked up when my phone rang this week and it was the school cook from PIP. He had called just to check in and see how I was doing and I thought it was the sweetest thing ever. I’m also feeling lucky to have been placed in an apartment with someone else. Life in the bush can get very lonely, so I am feeling blessed to get the chance to live with a great woman who has quickly become a substitute mom to me (She even helped me cook dinner for Sam the other night when he was out in Nondalton). 

Once again I am just overwhelmed by how blessed I am to be on this journey. From the land of no trees to the land of many trees, my Alaskan journey just keeps on getting better. I am looking forward to the experiences I will have during this chapter and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Supermarket Sweep

Once we were done with our training, the other tutors and I didn’t have much time to waste. We spent our two days in Anchorage taking part in non-stop “marathon” shopping, packing, and shipping. The nice part about it was that we had four cars and this allowed us to take girls to and from stores to the house we were staying at. It’s one of those things that I cannot fully explain because you need to experience it to understand. 

However, to try to put it into perspective, imagine nine girls set loose in Costco to shop for all they’ll need for three months of living. Sure it may seem simple to you now, but if you really try to think of all that you’d need for that time, you’d be surprised at how quickly you can either panic or just draw a blank. Once the shopping begins, so does the packing. So again, try to picture these same girls packing up totes to send out to the villages. This is all done in a two floor rental house which luckily was pretty spacious. Looking at the amount of broken down boxes we left behind, you’d have thought we were preparing to spend a long time in a fallout shelter; it’s surreal to think of all that was purchased and packed during those two days.

While we were all feeling the jet-lag from our travel days, we carried on with adrenaline and caffeine as our fuel. So back to the imagining what we were going through.. Once all of the food has been purchased, you have to take into account the amount of luggage that was packed (overpacked I should say). For your first time out to the village, you need to account for the time it takes totes to ship in the mail. This means that suitcases had to be unpacked and re-packed to fit two weeks worth of food in them. Everything else would be shipped and arrive whenever the bush planes are able to bring it. For the second time, I mailed out my carry-on bag because I had to leave room for my freeze and chill. This time however, I was prepared to do that and not panicked by the idea of mailing luggage. 

After all the shopping and packing had been done, we had to partake in the fun task of getting all of the totes that were being shipped to the post office. Luckily there is a post office by the airport that is open until 11:00, because if not we’d have been in trouble. After what seemed like an eternity, everyone had mailed all that needed to be mailed and we could finally relax a little bit. We headed back to our rental house to pack up our remaining suitcases and totes and make sure that everything was prepped for our day of travel that awaited us the next day. It was a long and tiring two days, but it is also one of the most fun things I’ve taken part in. It’s just such an exciting experience and you really get to bond with the people that you are with. I was ready for a very long nap afterwards but I am so happy that I got to take part in another marathon shopping excursion:) 

Tutor Training 101

Seemingly in the blink of an eye, my whirlwind two week vacation was over and I found myself packing up my stuff for my return to Alaska. As I got my stuff together, I couldn’t help but reflect on the similarities and differences from my first trip out. While I was much more confident and sure of handling airports and getting my shopping done for the village, I found that I was just as nervous to leave home. I equate this to the fact that I was moving to a whole new place again where I would know only a handful of people, and at that we’d only interacted a limited amount of times. It was as if I was starting my Alaskan adventure all over again; the knowledge of this both scared and excited me. 

Before I knew it, my dad and sister were picking me up once again to drive me out to the airport. None of my “see you laters” were any easier than the first time, but once I got in line to check in for my flight, all of my anxieties were gone. I will miss my family and friends very much, but in a way it truly felt that I was coming home. I belong in Alaska at this current point in my life, and this knowledge eased all of my worries. I met up with two other tutors from my college and we made the journey to Alaska together.

While I’ve only made this trek once, I realized that I was now the veteran and they were the rookies. I was so excited as I watched their emotions throughout our trip. Unfortunately this trip was not as smooth as my first time out; we had a mechanical delay on our first flight and were delayed for three hours in Newark. This caused us to miss our connecting flight in Seattle, but luckily we were able to get on the next flight out. We made it to Anchorage and the excitement (and exhaustion from spending 14 hours traveling) hit us all; not only was I excited for myself, but I was excited that they were both experiencing this incredible journey for the first time. 

After we met up with our LPSD welcome wagon and the other tutors, we headed to the place where we would spend the next two days training. Sure I’d already been trained in all of this, but it was nice to be part of the group and to be able to help out. Also, once I knew where we were staying for training, I would not have missed it for the world! We were all lucky enough to stay at an incredibly beautiful ski resort called Alyeska. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it, and this was in the dark of the night. Let me just say that it felt like a very tiny vacation and I didn’t want to leave when the time came. 

While the training was for the tutors, there were plenty of other LPSD folks at Alyeska for another district sponsored event. It was great to catch up with some of my friends and co-workers that I hadn’t seen since October inservice. In our free time, we made sure to take advantage of the ski resort. The other tutors and I took the tram up to the top of the slopes and we were like little kids the entire time (luckily we had the tram up to ourselves because people would have both judged and hated our girly excitement). It was incredibly breathtaking from the top and we got some great photos and talked about how lucky we all were to have this experience.

All too quickly, our training days were over and we had to head back into Anchorage to do our “marathon” shopping. The drive from Alyeska wasn’t the most fun because it was incredibly icy and I, having an Alaskan license, had to drive one of the vehicles. Our little caravan made it through safely though and we even did some sight seeing along the way. As we were driving we couldn’t help but stop for pictures when we passed some dall sheep along the side of a cliff. Then, as we got into Anchorage, we saw two moose along the side of the highway! While it was sad that they were clearly out of place, we were excited to get a glimpse of them. Alyeska and the trip into Anchorage was definitely a great experience for all of us. However, I was just as excited for the next two days in which I would get to help the rest of the girls buy what they would need to live in the bush for the next three months!