Back to the Bush

Much like my first trip to Alaska, returning has been a whirlwind spent in an endless stage of movement. However, as I sit in my new apartment looking out on the beautiful lake I live on, I realize I wouldn’t trade the craziness for anything. Considering how much has happened since I left the east coast, it seems impossible that it’s only been a week and a half since I’ve been back. From marathon shopping and shipping to setting up a new apartment and getting settled into my classroom, I have spent many of my days feeling like a chicken with my head cut off. 

After a Costco trip for 5 girls

While it has been chaotic, I look back on how I reacted to the same situations last year and can see the amount of experience I have gained since my Alaskan journey began. During my first few days, I was able to stay with the district’s new hires and do my shopping with them. Many of the girls came out as tutors in January, so it was great to see them again and catch up. We spent two very long and tiring days in Anchorage running between countless stores to get all of the essentials we will need until we can re-stock over winter break. Whereas last year I wandered the stores unsure of how much or what to buy, this year I found that I was helping the other teachers decide what was important to bring. Luckily the two days we had were enough for all of us to get all items crossed off our lists, ship totes, pack and then re-pack to make sure we could get everything to the villages. Not only were all of the teachers able to get food and personal items on board, we also got three ferrets, three fish, two dogs, two cats, and two hermit crabs home safely (which on bush planes is an accomplishment in itself). My new beta fish Percy is swimming happily in his temporary home as his fish bowl didn’t make the trip unscathed; one thing in the bush that you learn quickly is how to make use of your resources.

To be honest, I am really happy that Percy survived his first two bush plane rides, because in true bush fashion, our travel day was a bit dicey. The day I flew into Nondalton was a gloomy day which is something that does not bode well for flying bush planes. The flight from Anchorage was smooth and we (myself and three others heading to Nondalton) were supposed to go straight to Nondalton, however the visibility was too low so we had to take a detour to the next village over, Iliamna. Knowing that we would be able to stay in teacher housing if necessary, but wanting to get home, we hoped for the skies to clear enough to fly. I did not want to get weathered out on my first day back in the bush. For almost two hours we waited and waited.. 

Finally we were told that the decision would be made by 6:00 because that’s when the church service in the village started. I can’t help but laugh at how different things are in Alaska than the lower 48. Thankfully at 5:45 our pilot told us we would give it a try but that we might have to turn around if things weren’t clear enough. He also warned us that he would have to open the window during the flight to clear the windows of fog.. Knowing that our pilot is a seasoned bush pilot who has flown me before and that one of Nondalton’s elders got on board, I hopped on the plane and said a prayer. When we were up in the air, the ten minute (yes, that’s really how long it takes) flight was relatively smooth. The anticipation and circumstances made for an uneasy trip though, and I have never been happier to set foot in my village. 

Once I got home, I spent the next two days unpacking and getting moved into my new apartment. The views from my place are incredible and I’m happy to be able to see the colors of Nondalton in the summer. I also have a spare bedroom which currently has no use, so visitors are welcome; trust me when I say the scenery is well worth the trip! During my unpacking, Sam was able to come visit and he convinced me to pause long enough to go out for a boat ride on the lake. After spending so much time in planes, stores, and post offices, it felt great to get outside for some fresh air and the lake is the most beautiful blue I’ve ever seen. 

After getting my apartment set up, I next had to tackle my classroom. While last year I only had a few days to do this before students came, I’ve had about a week to work in the school, and with float planes waking me at 6:30 in the morning I’ve been going in early. Luckily I was able to clean out my classroom in the spring and when I got back I just had to worry about moving desks around and bringing some color to the space. For a special education teacher with few students, I have a huge classroom! I have been trying to make it feel bright and welcoming for my students and I can’t wait to be able to add their work to the walls. 

In an effort to not spend all of my time in school this year, I have been forcing myself to call it quits at a certain point. I am trying to convince myself that the work will be there the next day and that I shouldn’t spend all day in school, something I was guilty of a lot last year. Hopefully I can keep up this mindset once the students come back. This past week, I have left school early(ish), visited with co-workers, driven my new honda, and have gone on runs and walks around the village. On my outings, I’ve been able to see many of my students and other locals in the village. I have been so excited to see them, and in their quiet way they have made me feel that they are happy to see me return. 

Coming back to Nondalton has been both tiring and refreshing. Today has been my first day to relax and I have been taking advantage of a rainy Sunday to catch up on sleep and be incredibly lazy. With school starting in two days, I know that I need to take advantage of the quiet days while I can. I even started a new book today and after I finish writing I plan to continue reading as I sip on some tea while curled up in my comfy chair that overlooks Six Mile Lake. Tonight, and every other night, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to continue my Alaskan adventure.