back in Barrow

One of the frustrating things about getting to Barrow is the fact that what should take two hours to get there usually ends up taking five. The primary reason for this is that a flight from Anchorage to Barrow makes two stops: one in Fairbanks and one in Prudhoe Bay (a.k.a. Deadhorse). People get on and off, just like it was a bus. Unfortunately, this makes traveling long and exhausting, especially with a dog in tow.

But at least when I arrived in Barrow yesterday, it was sunny! Something to be thankful for.

back when I lived in the village

[Photo Credit: Alaska Dispatch]

You know, my life used to be interesting...back when I lived in the village.

In Golden Light

Perhaps my favorite thing about Alaska is flying. There are different kinds of flying though -- there is bumpy flying, smooth flying, flying above mountains, flying between mountains, flying over tundra, flying over open water, flying over ice, flying next to islands. Each flying experience is uniquely exhilarating in its own way, but above all, flying in golden light -- this is the most beautiful.

week in Nome

We've had beautiful weather for almost two weeks. This is a picture of the plane we took to Nome. It seats about nine or ten people.

On the way to Nome...

Funny girl.

The ice can be blinding.

I sat behind the pilots.

On Sunday night we went to St. Joseph Catholic Church to watch eskimo dancing, and there were several Diomeders there participating. It was really fun! I only danced during one song and very badly.

Diomeders.

These two were very impressive!

The girls were addicted to the smoothies at Airport Pizza. Ain't no smoothies out on Diomede...

This is the beautiful NACTEC house where the students from the district's villages stay during their sessions.

The middle schoolers from Diomede, Shaktoolik, and Gambell.

Homework time!

I should work so hard. :)

The simulators in the NACTEC house. Pretty cool!

I love the art in the NACTEC house!

At NACTEC, the students have to make their own meals.

This is me and one of my students getting the lettuce ready for tacos!

YUM!

Signing each other's T-Shirts. It was cute...like it was camp!

 I love this picture. This was somewhere in between Nome and Diomede.

 And finally, Little and Big Diomede.

 The north side of Little Diomede.

Little and Big Diomede.

ice is a fickle monster

It's after 1 a.m. I am packing, and my mind is abuzz. Tomorrow we are leaving the island for our break. We thought we were leaving Friday, but we have a perfect weather/ice window tomorrow that would enable us to make our escape. You know, ice is a fickle monster. It toys with my emotions...or at least it has been for the past few days. On Thursday and Friday, the ice and slush came. On Saturday we had a beautiful day with lily pad ice. Then, on Sunday all of the ice melted, and September waves returned. This was bad news for the teachers who wanted to go home for Christmas. The chopper will only take us if there is ice -- enough ice to land on in case of an engine failure. So, back and forth, for the past few weeks -- Yes, we'll get out for Christmas, wait, no, it looks like we might be stranded. Back and forth, back and forth. I think my mom had the entire church praying for ice to build up in the Bering Strait. What a weird prayer. Well, on Monday, big slushy waves were crashing on the shore, but today (by today I mean Tuesday, and not the actual day it really is) was all quiet. No waves, just slush that does what slush does best -- it slushes. Some thin layers of ice float in between the two islands. From what I understand, after the chopper delivers mail tomorrow, we'll hitch a ride to Wales, which is about 20 miles away on the mainland. Then we'll take a flight to Nome. After Nome is Anchorage, then Seattle, then Atlanta. Long trip, but worth it for a few weeks home.

 Sunset 3:45ish p.m.

 Ice around sunset today.

 Ice to the north of us.

flying over canada

rivers and mountains and clouds