Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Apparently I just lived through a snowicane

The night before:



Not sure what to make of the major network news stations.  I mean, the Washington Post says that, "A storm of historic intensity continues to pound the west coast of Alaska today. Twice the size of Texas, the storm is as deep as a category 3 hurricane."  A hurricane?!  Really?  Did I just live through a hurricane?

I'm going to say nope.  But it was kind of crazy.  The weather itself was nothing out of the ordinary.  The winds were high.  The precipitation didn't fall (literally - it just traveled horizontally across the world).  But these things are typical of Alaska storms.  What was freaky was the potential storm surge.  The flooding.  Normally these storms happen in the dead of winter when the coast is protected by a mile or more of sea ice.  High waves stay safely out to sea.  The wind can't push the tide exceptionally high.  Last night, however, without our safety ice, people were worried.

News of the storm was buzzing throughout the village the days preceding it.  Reports and rumors mixed and anxiety slowly began to build.  The storm was supposed to hit around 1:00 in the afternoon.  School was going to go as late as possible.  It turned out that 2:45 was that time.  We dismissed early, sending students home with their parents.  Almost immediately following dismissal, the school was reopened for families who wished to evacuate their homes.  A storm surge of 10-15 feet would threaten to breach the sea wall, essentially flooding all of Downtown, including teacher housing where all of the teachers live.

Part of Downtown lost power around dinner time.  At about 10:30 we received a phone call from our principal urging us to spend the night at the school as the water was continuing to rise.  After sending three teachers to get a look at the ocean we made the decision to move up to school for the night.  So all of us teachers from the BIA moved into a classroom for the night.  Waking up a few short hours later a tired group of teachers began teaching a tired bunch of students.  The weather is supposed to pick up again tonight.  I'm hoping it doesn't.  I need some sleep.


Great Pictures of TUNUNAK!
Washington Post article
Diane Sawyer and the NEWS!

Monday, October 10, 2011

We done got chickens (Part 1)

Few weeks back my roommate, Adam, and myself ordered some chicks online. Careful now.  I'm talking baby chickens. And they are the cutest little buggers.


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First website wanted to charge us something like $40 for shipping cuz we had too few creatures.  They huddle for warmth apparently and five is too few for adequate warmth generating.  Without the extra brothers and sisters the company inserts some fandangled heating contraption.  So we went shopping elsewhere.  Found a site that would ship for less but warned that they may pack in some extra chicks (most likely baby roosters) to supply that needed warmth.  Sounds good we thought.  Clearly we didn't think that one through.

A few days later the mailman rang the doorbell.  "Your chickens are here.  You need to pick them up at the post office."  Then he went into inquiry mode asking for details.  He was interested.  As everyone should be.

Well off to the post office we went.  At the counter we waited for an eternity.  Not sure where the little things were being kept but it sure was a long ways back.  We heard them before we saw them.  Chirp!  Chirp!  Awwww...  In the box they shuffled and chirped.  We carried them out and strapped them - oh yeah, we were on bikes - to the rack on the back of Adam's bike.  A few bungee cords later and we were off.



Fifteen minutes later we were home.  We open the box to check on our purchase.  I was sure it would be bedlam.  Poor chickens, two days in the mail, in the heat.  I was worried.  Those fears, thankfully, were for naught.  A new problem was quickly realized.  Remember those extra chickens for warmth?  Yeah, we got, um, an extra eleven.  Eleven extra chickens!  So there were sixteen cute, fuzzy, multicolored chirpers in the box.  So cute, but now a bigger problem.  See, thing is, Bloomington ordinance allows for four hens (i.e. females).  We'd ordered five hens and now we have, what we are assuming (as sexing chicks - careful typing - is much harder than it would seem), are an extra eleven roosters.  Oh dear.

Oh yeah.  And their food has not arrived yet.

Thankfully the book on raising chickens arrived.

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It's never too late to learn.

I AM AN ARTIST! I am?

Spent two weeks in Juneau, right before returning to Bethel for district-wide inservices, in what I look back on as Artist Boot Camp.  I had applied last spring for the Juneau Basic Arts Institute, as it's officially called.  I mean - it would be covered by a grant, I will get college credit out of it, and I get to learn some things that may be useful in my classroom.  Oh, and there would be four other teachers from my school attending.  Sounded pretty alright to me.

Then the syllabus came.  

And I started to get some doubts.  Dancing.  Ummm...  One out of the four classes would be devoted entirely to dancing.  Yeah.  That's a lot to ask.  Turns out, however, dancing can be fun.  Prancing around the room - yep - pretty entertaining.  Maybe on the simple fact that I'm only moving one-fourth of the time - the other three-fourths I'm watching my classmates.

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Just doing a little igloo building.  Seriously.


In addition to dancing we did visual art, digital art, and cultural art.  Teachers were all wonderful.  Juneau was wonderful.  I made some things that turned out pretty well.  I learned some things that are proving to be quite useful.  And I got to see Juneau.

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That's all my art.  Pretty.  Great.


Juneau is a beautiful city.  Located in Southeast Alaska, it is a major stopping point for the Alaska cruise ships.  As a result there are a number of things to do - restaurants, bars, shops, but the major attraction is the geography itself.  Mountains, rivers, the ocean, spruce trees, and the Mendenhall Glacier.  Fantastic.  So we hiked, climbed some mountains, saw about a hundred million bald eagles, about two hundred million spawning (ie dying) salmon.  Yeah.  Juneau is great.

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Angie and Marcella after they ran a half marathon.


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Hands down the best picture ever taken of me.  Angie looks good, too.  Email me - I'll send you a copy to post as your background.  It's that good.
 

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Seal Hunting! (Videos)

Okay...so seal hunting happened months ago.  But now that I'm back in Alaska the urge to blog has returned.  The following two videos are phenomenal in their ability to show absolutely nothing about seal hunting. 

Pretty though.


Sunday, July 17, 2011

Summery things for summery times

After a two month hiatus from blogging (AKA summer) I'm back.  Summer is full of things to do.

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Bike 1.0
School got out at the end of May.  Spent a horribly boring week in Bethel afterwards mapping out high school math curriculum.  Then flew home to Minnesota.  Been living with a buddy and his girlfriend in south Bloomington.  He doesn't have a car.  I don't have a car.  We are very likely have the lowest car to person ratio in the south metro.  Our bike ratio, however is probably one of the higher (it's 2.67:1).  Yeah, there are eight bikes in our garage.


Rode the MS 150 in early June.  Third year for that.  Team Night Bike raised $2695 this year for the MS Society.  Not bad.  The weather was unbelievable.  Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Then Ohio for a few days then Kentucky for one (that state is terrible) where I visited the Creation Museum (easily the dumbest place I've ever been).
and hopefully you never will.




It's also been aggravatingly hot this summer.  Today the dew point was 82.  Heat index of 110.  Stupid.

So biking, a little cooking (new obsession - Indian food), happy hours, dinner parties, lakes, grocery stores, biking, oh, I got contacts but can't put them in very well yet, subbing at the Y, swimming, reading, hammocking, and constructing...a chicken coop.  Lots more on the chickens to come.
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seriously, what is cuter than this?

Monday, April 11, 2011

Things are a little different here

Things just aren't what I expected.  After living here for almost two years (I know - it's really not that long) there are weekly, if not daily, things that occur where I am caught off guard.

Here's a recap of the last week and a half:
  • Thursday, March 31 - The other high school teacher gives me a quick overview of her sub notes - just in case (just in case the sub doesn't show up...seriously, this happens more than it should and all of a sudden I am teaching two classes).  Then she shows me Monday's plans in case she gets weathered in Bethel (she has a meeting at the district office - 125 miles west by air).  Whatever, I think, it's almost April...that weather is over.
  •  Friday, April 1 - The sub shows, everything goes fine
  • Saturday, April 2 - The snow starts.  Winds pick up.  Visibility goes down.
  • Sunday, April 3 - Same as Saturday.  In like a lion, out like a lamb?  I thought that was March.
  • Monday, April 4 - No planes since early Friday.  Looks like those sub notes will be important.  The sub works up through lunch when my fellow teacher finally gets in.  Actually, she landed in Toksook, the village seven miles from us and was picked up on a snowmobile by her brother because our runway was still closed.
  • Tuesday, April 5 - State testing begins.  Blizzard warnings begin (see previous post).  Fantastic.  Still haven't gotten any planes.
  • Wednesday, April 6 - Day 2 of testing.  Blizzard begins in earnest.  By noon visibility is about 100 yards.  The truest whiteout I have ever seen.  We end up dismissing early to waiting parents.  All students are signed out to ensure their safe journey home with a responsible adult.  Overkill?  Nope - we ended up summoning search and rescue about four times to find lost people.  All were found, however two were at the bottom of a cliff.  Snowmobiles + blizzards + alcohol is a TERRIBLE idea.  They both lived, miraculously, but the snowmobile is a wreck.  More on this later...
  • Thursday, April 7 - Day 3 of testing.  Weather okay in the morning, but predictions of 70mph winds prompts the second early release of the week.  Students again are signed out as the winds begin to gust.  Not sure we hit 70, but... 50mph is still pretty intense.
  • Friday, April 8 - "Eric, there's a plane on the river!"  Unbelievably beautiful day.  It's about 40 degrees and sunny, but our runway is still covered in snow and ice.  The troopers sent out a plane with skis to med-evac the cliff faller.  Not sure on the extent of the injuries, but to get a plane to fly out and land on a frozen river, they must be fairly severe.
  • Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10 - Weather blows.  Literally.  Constant wind.  Snow falls at times.  The drifts are impressive.
  • Monday, April 11 - It's cold outside (about 8 degrees with 25mph winds).  It's also cold in the school.  Apparently the fuel pumps for the school boilers were turned off over the weekend.  Thermometer read 42 degrees in the high school when I arrived this morning.  I taught four periods wearing my boots, my parka, a hat, and mittens.  I tried to warm the room by playing that fireplace video from YouTube, but had little luck.  We released after lunch.
  • Tuesday, April 12 - I can't wait to find out what tomorrow will bring.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

So this is terrifying...

You'd think that state testing happening all this week would be bad enough, but nope, how about a "Special Weather Statement" from the National Weather Service.  I keep getting reminded that I live in Alaska.  This is one of those times.  Here is the warning:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
230 PM AKDT TUE APR 5 2011

...DANGEROUS ICE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THE ALASKA WEST COAST...

...POTENTIAL FOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE SOUTHWEST COAST...

A VERY STRONG LOW MOVING ACROSS THE BERING SEA THIS WEEK WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS SEA ICE CONDITIONS ALONG THE WESTERN ALASKA COAST.

IN BRISTOL BAY STRONG ONSHORE WINDS STARTING WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO FRIDAY MORNING WILL CAUSE ICE TO PUSH ONTO BEACHES FROM DILLINGHAM TO TOGIAK. BEACH EROSION CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED FROM NAKNEK TO TOGIAK BAY.

FROM CAPE NEWENHAM TO TOKSOOK BAY ICE SHOVES ARE LIKELY THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

MORE INFORMATION ON EXPECTED ICE CONDITIONS FOR AREAS NORTH OF THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA ALONG WITH DETAILED GRAPHICS ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTP://PAFC.ARH.NOAA.GOV/ICEGRAPHICS.PHP.

IN ADDITION TO DANGEROUS ICE CONDITIONS THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE SOUTHWEST ALASKA COAST THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. A LONG FETCH OF WESTERLY STORM TO HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL BUILD SEAS UP TO AROUND 35 FEET OVER THE SOUTHERN BERING SEA BY THURSDAY MORNING. STRONG WINDS WILL THEN MOVE THESE VERY HIGH WAVES TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST ALASKA COAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY. THE PRESENCE OF SEA ICE DOES HELP TO DAMPEN THESE WAVES. HOWEVER...THERE IS STILL A THREAT FOR STORM SURGE DURING HIGH TIDES TO PRODUCE MINOR COASTAL FLOODING.

THIS SITUATION CONTINUES TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY.

THE NEXT STATEMENT IS SCHEDULED AT 1 PM WEDNESDAY.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Seal! (My adventure hunting for seals)

What? Where?

Of course at this point in time I was taking photographs of myself.  I would like to reiterate that I am one of the worst hunters in the world.  And in this situation it wasn't a terrible thing.  I mean, I not legally allowed to hunt seals.  Of course nothing is illegal about being out on the ice in close proximity to seal hunters.  And so that's what Robby and I were doing.
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Out along the point past the break up
Seal hunting is actually a lot more boring than it sounds.  Unless you already know that hunting is boring.  Then it's probably a little more exciting than other hunting.  It begins with a snowmachine ride to the end of the ice.  This is terrifying.  The Bering Sea in March is very cold.  And the ice shows signs of cracking off from the rest of the ice, and at times I was certain that I would be the sole inhabitant of the world's newest iceberg.  Fortunately that did not happen.
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That jagged white edge is about a mile out from shore - it was along this we traveled.
Once you make it to the edge you look into the water.  I was supposed to be looking for the shiny head of a seal that has come up for air.  Cruel - sure.  Wait for the poor puppy-faced creature to come up for a breath of fresh, clean, Alaska air then BANG!  Dead seal.  So I wasn't the most observant watch for more than one reason.  It's okay though, George has more sea spotting eyes than both Robby and myself combined and he spotted the first seal.  This was the time that I was a few hundred feet up the hill taking photographs of myself.  Meh.
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Nope...no seals.
We watched for a while longer but see nothing.  George leaves Robby and me and heads down along the break.  Minutes later we see him crouched, rifle leveled.  Does he see something?  BANG!  Then I see it - the back of a seal surface then dive.  "TOO HIGH" I hear George yell.  Oh.  Too bad I guess.  I can't really figure out if I want to see George get a seal or if I want the seal to get away.  Doesn't really matter though, escape the seal did.  Good for him (or her - I have no idea).

After getting bored of hunting I decided that a photoshoot was in order.  I still have a hard time taking hunting serious.  Oh well - my talents lie elsewhere.
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Friday in Tununak.
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What else do you think I would be doing?

Sunday, March 6, 2011

A collection of things I think.

A collection of things I think.
A collection of things, I think.

This year has been pretty awesome.  Lots of the things are Tununak specific.  I guess you had to be here.  But many other things you may like.

Here are the somethings for everyone.

I have just realized that two of my favorite things differ by a single vowel.  Biking and baking.  here is a picture of me doing both (okay...I'm not actually baking in the photograph.  That is the steak for the Philly cheese steaks I made - the buns were baked).


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 FYI -A fast bike does not speed up cooking

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Seriously - one of the best things I have baked.

Okay, next thing.
This American Life is fantastic.  Produced by Chicago Public Media and aired on NPR stations around the country, it tells some of the most excellent stories about people.

 My favorite opening line from a recent episode (#419 Petty Tyrant) - "Of course there are tyrannical, manipulative bullies everywhere, but Steve Raucci was special, a virtuoso." 

So good.  So insane.

What else?

Oh, I climbed a mountain yesterday.  Terrifying.  Icy.  Windy.  Sunny.  Beautiful.  Steep.  Tiring.  Wonderful use of a Saturday afternoon.

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Bering Sea.  March 5, 2011.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Whoa! February is over

Months fly by - it's very impressive.  Next week is the end of third quarter.  The sun began it's rise at 9:07 this morning in the middle of second hour.  It always catches me off guard.  I need to stop and watch it.  I just like the sun so much.

It's been a strange year.  Weather - bizarre.  It rained snow last week.  Then it dropped thirty degrees during the day.  We've had two snow days - of those one was needed, the other changed it's mind and was kind of a free day.  Of course those days will need to be made up so good bye vacation days in March.  Mehh.  It's not like I had plans.

I actually don't have plans of leaving the village until May.  This could mark the longest stretch of time I have been in one place ever in my entire life.  I mean I rarely travel more than a mile from my house.  Maybe to the post office.  Maybe on a jog.  But definitely not much more than that.  Just try and imagine that for a second - not leaving a circle one mile in diameter for four months.  It's weird.

But come May I will be leaving.  Will I be returning?  That is a question I am toying with.  I like it here.  I like my students and the school and my coworkers are so great.  But I am so far away from everything else.  What to do?  Any input would be appreciated.

Oh yeah.  And my hair is getting long.


 

Friday, February 11, 2011

News

Here is an article about Newtok that appeared in the November/December Orion Magazine.  It's a pretty interesting article discussing the impact that climate change is having on the arctic region with a focus on indigenous villages.

Newtok is out neighbor to the north and many of our students have direct relations there.  The article talks about the power of family in Yupik culture and this is so true - my students spent twenty minutes looking at the pictures in the article discussing the connections they have to the people (from parents to cousins to friends).  I recommend reading the article.

Click the pic.

Monday, January 24, 2011

January in Alaska

With a week left (and a snow day tomorrow) it seems like the perfect time for a recap.  Might as well start with the present.
Temperature: -11 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind:  70mph
Windchill: -50
Fun factor:  7

So we won't be having school tomorrow.  But we did get some nice footage of the fun.  I don't know if you can relate to 70mph wind, but it's something that everyone should experience.  Standing still is impossible.  We rode the ice for about one hundred yards and only stopped because the road turned and our boots don't glide over snow as well.  The video really says a lot more than I possibly can.



I also was given the wonderful opportunity to bring our junior high robotics team to Anchorage.  See, the thing is, right before break we won our district competition granting us free passage to the state competition.  A mixed blessing.  The other coach, Derek, and I spent four days on the road.  This was quite an experience.

Approximately half of our team had never been to Anchorage.  They'd never been on a jet.  Never been to a city.  Never been in hotel.  Never been in a real high school (my definition of a real high school).  Needless to say it was awesome.  I can't even begin to tell you the wonders of chaperoning junior high students in the big city.  Another thing you should experience.  Escalators, Walmart, swimming pools, buffets, helium balloons, full size gyms giving my team vertigo, traffic (not my definition - it was actually a stoplight), massage chairs, free refills, seatbelts, a Zamboni, 3-D movies...the list could go on, but all of these things brings back such memories.

And the competition.  It took a backseat to everything else, but our students did very respectably.  In the four judging categories (programming, teamwork, project presentation, and course score) our team took back a second place trophy in programming.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

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A little last minute programming

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Competition

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Winning district competition

Anchorage - State Competition