August 15, 2006

Yesterday was the most beautiful day since my arrival on the Tundra. The view from my classroom is always beyond explanation. It just seems to go on forever. On a rainy day it seems like there are mountains in the distance. I forget that the space goes beyond my vision.

Yesterday the contrast between the cornflower blue of the sky and the deep blue of the river broken only by the expanse of the leafy green tundra, was a vision to behold. I went for a short walk to the edge of the tundra along the lake. I wanted to go farther but have been told that the brown bear has been around. I don’t know if that is true except that one was seen here a week ago. Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to be living in a place I had only heard about a few months ago. The reality is sometimes overwhelming. I am so thrilled for this opportunity to see these wonderful visions in nature and to meet the people of the community.

The children in my classroom are very sweet. They have their own unique personalities that I am trying to learn. There are some interesting things about their communication that I am beginning to understand. Yes is indicated by a slight upward motion of their eyebrows. They do not look right into your eyes and that is a sign of respect in the Inupiat culture.