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.