nutaġaq | fresh powder snow

It started early in the morning whilst the Barrowites were snug in their beds.

Within an hour, visibility was reduced.

Quya found the snow to be tasty.

Snow so thick you can barely even see the lagoon outside my classroom window!

Can't wait for these muddy roads to freeze. 

The street I live on.

And this house -- I've always loved it.

Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!

I'm so happy it's here! :)

Yes, Virginia, there really are igloos in Alaska.

Every year there is a family that builds a giant snowman and igloo. You can't tell from the picture, but there are neon lights flashing on them. Also, since the time of this picture, they've built a seat into the front of the snowman so that you can sit and have your picture taken. 

In the snow

puuvruktuq | to plow through deep, soft snow

The snow is finally here...

This is the van that belongs to the Church of God in town.

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.

Spring is here!

We had approximately ten days of beautiful sunshine, but for the past few days we've had lots of snow and clouds. The other morning, the steps from my house to the school were covered in two feet of snow which meant that I just had to...roll my way down to school. Thankfully, the janitors at the school shovel the snow off our steps everyday so that a pathway is open for the afternoon trek back up to the house.

Today is sunny and beautiful, but freezing. It's actually zero degrees right now. Just a few days ago it was in the upper 20s. You never know what kind of wind will come and how it'll affect the temperature. I am so thankful for the sunshine though. Even though it streams through my window when I'm trying to go to bed, I love it and thank God for it. It's hard to believe that spring is here when it's zero degrees outside, but when the sun is shining? Yeah, I believe it.

As of today...

Sunrise: 8:47 a.m.
Sunset: 9:37 p.m.

Every day gets longer and brighter. 

polar bears, snowmachining, quinoa

 Finally! A polar bear. He was beautiful, and he was exploring the village garbage dump. Not quite as picturesque as a polar bear nuzzling cubs or standing on hind legs, but still amazing nonetheless.

We think this is the trash bag from the school kitchen. Leftover salmon. The bear's got good taste.

I watched him at a safe distance, as you can tell.

 Two of our lovely eighth-graders.

 Icicles on our house.

 This is the snow drift next to our house.

 Snowmachining on the strait!!! Heck Yeahhh!!!!

 

A couple of the students snowmachining. I love watching the dogs chase snowmachines. I want a dog so badly!

Roommate & I, right before snowmachining. I kind of felt like Randy from A Christmas Story. It was "I can't move my arms now!" kind of weather. Never was I more glad to have my polar bear and beaver fur ruff. Keeps my head nice & toasty.

Adrienne and I are attempting to do the Eastern Orthodox fast for this semester, which means we are Vegan and oil-less on Wednesdays and Fridays and then for the months of March and April. It's going to be hard, especially in Alaska. On Wednesday we had quinoa (keen-wah) for dinner, and it was yummy.