August 12, 2006

The tundra is very beautiful. The vastness of the area is beyond my imagination. I have to picture a map in front of me to tell where I am in relation to my world. There is much growing on the tundra. It is just miniature, actually it is very green looking out the window. Again my classroom view is spectacular.

I guess there was a brown bear incident here last Saturday. Unfortunately for me, I went into my house and missed it all except for the retells from my neighbor. A bear came within view of some of the houses and seemed to be headed towards the village when someone saw it. They chased it on four wheelers using guns and arrows hoping to kill the animal. Some say the bear is wounded and out on the tundra. Our principal who saw it all said that it was not hurt. Locals are still saying to be careful. Darrell, my neighbor, and I walked way out one the tundra a few days ago. We were told later that people still think the injured bruin is out there. ??

We are starting the school year short two teachers. They have found people to substitute in those positions. Also one of our teachers is in the hospital, so another teacher's husband is going to fill in there. Life is very different here. Learning to meld the two cultures in a self-sustaining life-style will also be my challenge as I learn to live here.

There are so many changes for me. This is the first time ever that I have lived alone. Things that we take for granted in my old life become precious. Example was my telephone, a cup for drinking my coffee (hard to do in a plastic glass).

Atqasuk is the sight of an old coal mine. It was running in the 70’s. This is when the area was first considered a village. In ancient times it was used as a fishing and hunting camp, but was never a permanent location. There are remains of old sod huts located near here. The people here have a subsistence life style. They hunt for caribou that migrate through here by the thousands. There are white fish and grayling in the river. Occasionally there might be salmon, burbot and other fish. The locals use nets for fishing in the summer and they ice fish in the winter. I was told the frozen white fish is good raw. I doubt that I will ever be able to confirm that.

I guess the consumption of sodas is a problem here due to the high sugar content and the increase in diabetes among Eskimo people. It seems they are becoming addicted to the sugar. I tower above everyone in the village - including most of the teachers. I think that my height will work against me this winter during harsh living conditions, as the wind blows ferociously here, which I've already experienced it a few time.