sundry

Sunrise: 8:17 a.m.
Sunset: 10:02 p.m.
Temperature: -4 degrees

I am currently reading A Dream in Polar Fog by Yuri Rytkheu, a Chukchi writer. It is the story of a Canadian sailor who is stranded in Chukotka and is taken in by a Chukchi community. So far I am really enjoying it. There are so many things that make sense to me as I am reading. I can envision the landscape so well, and there are moments that I read and know exactly what Rytkheu is trying to express. For example, some days are blue this far north in the world. Literally, blue.

Rytkheu writes, "The air became more and more blue, as though someone enormous and invisible were thickening the color. The snow that stretched ahead was blueing, the bumps, the hillocks and snowdrifts were blueing, and the sky too, lighting up the stars; the blue seeped into the sleds' tracks, into the dogs, the harnesses, and Toko's face, framed by wolverine fur. Night was descending over the tundra."

 Everything blue.

 Among other things, this has been the week of care packages. The dentist has descended upon the island, making his yearly two-week visit, and he brought a box of fresh vegetables and fruit from the Nazarene Church in Nome. They have been so kind to Adrienne and me.

 Grapefruit & tea. I think yes.

 Not only did I get fresh food, but I also received a package from Russia...specifically from Anyisk, a small village of 500 people in Chukotka. My teacher-friend Evgeny in Anyisk teaches English at the school there, and he sent our school a box of beautiful artwork made by his students.

 This one I found to be particularly beautiful.

 I also received a package from Tacy, my sister-in-law. :)
(P.S. Check out her blog at Vox Luminis!)

 So, in my care package, I got Hello Kitty pants (yes), tea, coffee, Phase 10, pens, candy, and hot chocolate. Thanks, Tacy! :)

Yummy!

 The other package came from the lovely Amber. She sent me a handmade purse made out of plastic bags (so cool), postcard from Rome, Mardi Gras beads, and a handmade necklace. You're awesome, Amber!

 The crocheted plastic bag bag. :)

Other musings:

Life is hard, but good.

God is merciful, gracious, and redeeming.
I have seven more weeks on the island.

My time here is going so fast.

Life is a breath of air.
Death is a comma, not a period.

Thank you, Amy!

I have good friends. Really good friends.

good earth of Tennessee

 Thank you to my 2nd- and 3rd-cousins -- Sandy, Joseph, Samuel, Benji, and Gracie!!! Their surprise box of leaves, acorns, mimosa, pine needles arrived yesterday on the chopper. I happy-cried. Oh, how I miss the fall time...

 Early Christmas present.

I showed my students the leaves. One of my 7th-graders said, "They feel funny!"
One of my seniors said, "Can I have one?"
"Sure," I said.
"Really?" he said incredulously.
"Yeah, go ahead."
"Thank you!" He was so happy that he could keep a leaf.
Then all of my other students wanted to keep a leaf for themselves.

Thank you, Sandy, Joseph, Samuel, Benji, and Gracie for this amazing gift! Since I can't go home to Tennessee, you brought Tennessee to me.

kindness makes the world go 'round

 Kindness makes the world go 'round. Really, it's true. I received a care package from fellow-southerner Susan, professor of social work in Mississippi. She lived on St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea for five weeks, and she has a superb blog chronicling her experiences there. Before my interest in Little Diomede Island, I was interested in St. Paul Island, and so Susan answered a lot of my questions about the island. So, she knew what kind of survival foods I would need on a remote island -- chocolate, cashews, yogurt-covered almonds, EasyMac, rosemary crackers (which are already almost gone), shortbread triangles, peanut butter, tea, and chocolate wafers. I am overwhelmed by her kindness and generosity! Thank you, Susan!

 

My second care package came wrapped as a birthday present. You can see the stars on the wrappers. Who would send 36 packets of Fun Dip, a weird sing-a-long stuffed animal, and Galaxy Quest on DVD? None other than my sister. Some sisters are bound by blood, but my sister and I are bound by Fun Dip. It is our favorite candy. We have fond memories of Fun Dip because that is what our dad would bring home from the store for us every now and then when we were little. Fun Dip. Who doesn't love Fun Dip?