Back to My Roots....

So I guess I didn't make a very strong first impression when I first moved out here:

"We liked you right away, but we didn't think you'd make it past Christmas."
"Yeah, 'She's a city girl.' They told me that about you."

At first, I was a little bit offended. What about me screams city girl? My Prius??? Wait......okay, so then I realized that yeah.....I'm more used to a city environment. Well, this weekend I went to a city.

Anchorage.....and this time, I went just for fun. I didn't have to work and try to cram in my personal stuff. I could spend the whole weekend doing just what I wanted.

And the first thing I wanted to do was shop! My roommate is leaving to another village and is taking with her a couple of things I have to replace. And, I am going to be here during the summer so I needed to stock up on some items. Then I went to the mall for fun. I hate it when you have the money to shop but see nothing that you really want.

But it was still fun to walk around and shop. And go out to eat. I missed the restaurants.

I had rented a car. A light blue Volkswagon Beetle. I bought a map of Anchorage and I was ready.

After the mall, I wanted to drive a bit. I knew there was a road alongside the water where I could take some pretty pictures. I found the road....but sadly, the inbetween stage of winter to spring isn't so pretty. But I ended up driving 30 miles to Girwood, where there's a big fancy ski resort. I guess there's a tram you can take up a mountain to a fancy restaurant AND an animal rescue reserve of native Alaskan animals....it would have been nice if I had known that at the time...but it was still nice to see just a bit more of Alaska.

Saturday, I went to the Anchorage Zoo. It also hosts animals native to Alaska. At least that's what the website said. But I know for a fact that tigers are NOT native to these parts. BUT I was finally able to see some animals: wolves, grizzlies, polar bears, black bears, moose, foxes, eagles, caribou, musk ox, wolverine, otters, seals, mountain goats, snow leopard, and a squirrel. And the set up actually brings you close to the animals....at one point I was 10 feet away from a black bear...sure, there was a lot of fencing in between but it was pretty wild.

Feeling a connection to wolves, I was hoping to have a special moment with one of them. But it was lunchtime and they had no interest in interacting with me. However, there was a moment with a little musk ox. I had met up with a friend of mine at the zoo. So we walked up to the pen where there was this sad looking baby musk ox. It was shedding and not very pretty. Which is what my zoo friend said. Then we walk a few steps and the musk ox takes a few steps with us. My zoo friend tries to reach over and touch the musk ox. The musk ox moved away but it started following us down the trail which ran the length of it's pen. When we walked, it walked....when we stopped...it stopped. It would just look at us with a sad forlorn look. I felt kinda bad leaving it behind. I bet it would have followed me home.

I had a nice time at the zoo. And it was nice hanging out with my friend. We parted ways and I decided I wanted Red Robin for lunch. And I had seen one by the mall. No problem! I knew the way...no need to consult the map at all. So I pull out of the zoo in my little rented Bug and I hit the road....and I'm driving.....and I"m driving....totally away from Downtown and actually heading out of Anchorage. I went the wrong way. No problem, I'll just turn on the next major road that intersects me...so I drive...and I drive....still driving when I am now going up the mountain on the outskirts of Anchorage....well, it's too late to turn around....might as well keep driving...I'm bound to hit a major road at some point.....so I drive...and drive....and now I'm going down the hill but heading back to Anchorage. Perfect! I am high on a hill and I can see downtown. I'm headed in the right direction now! It's got to be going on 20 minutes of driving at this point, if not a half hour. But I finally come to a major road. And I make a left. This road sounds familiar. I drive....and I drive a bit more....and yep.....there's the zoo again....I'm right back to where I started...

I wish I could tell you that by making the right turn I found exactly the right street. I could tell you that, but I'd be lying. See, it's not my fault...there's a lot of turnabouts and I got lost. I finally had to break out the map. By that time at least I was close to the street I wanted. So after 45 minutes of driving, I found Red Robin.....and it was good!!!

Then I went to the movies. I saw Water for Elephants. I had read the book about a year ago and had been waiting for the movie. It was very good and I thought Robert Patterson was very good. And it wasn't weird for him not to be Edward. It was very well done.

I had a very nice time in Anchorage. It was fun to get out and see more of the city than just the stores I can send a bush order from. And it was nice to drive a car and not rely on taxis.

When I got home, I was in for a shock! A ton of snow had melted! What was once snow as far as the eye could see was now...snow, mud, and giant puddles that actually resemble ponds rather than puddles. I am surrounded by water....I walked to work this morning and had to walk through the middle of the frozen pond. Thank goodness my mud boots are waterproof and come up to just below my knees...that came in handy this morning walking through the calf-high water. I fell once, but that was going over the snow and I just picked myself up and kept going.

The funny thing is that I was finally getting the hang of all the snow. It no longer phased me getting ready and walking around outside....then mother nature throws me a curve ball. Because do you know what's on the bottom of most of these ponds? A layer of ice....and you know how much I love walking on ice. The kids were telling me they canoed around one of the houses...and they say it will flood. I really hope not....fingers crossed on that one!

If there is a flood, I will take my cats and go to the school. I think I may want to start packing up some things I don't need right away...that way if it floods, my things won't be damaged....

Oh! I forgot.....I also discovered what happens when I come across an aggressive dog. The first dog I rescued has been growling at me. Well, I wasn't worried at first but when I was walking up to my friend's house, he really growled at me. My instinct? I held up my finger, looked him in the eye and said "You do NOT growl at me!!" He immediately backed down and seemed surprised....yeah, that's right... who knew I was so daring? Alpha female at your service!

Sigh....Alaska, you are just one adventure after another, aren't you? (You wouldn't want my blog to be boring, though would you?)

Here's the baby musk ox.

Week 37 Reflections...

Wow.....It's been 37 weeks since I landed in Anchorage to start my journey teaching here.

I feel totally different. I feel like I'm more in control of my life. True, there's many things I can't control....the weather, the power, the water, and my students home lives...AND I really have only decided my life in terms of one year at a time....so I can't tell you where I'll be in five years....Alaska? Maybe.....Akiak? Maybe.....

But that's where I feel the most control. In California.....I had everything planned out. I was going to teach for this many years....have a family, buy a house....and none of that happened. I spent more time preparing for my life rather than living it. Now, I just fly by the seat of my pants, and I am having a ball.

I don't think I am any braver than the average person for coming out here. Just a little wilder (fine - crazier) than the rest for trying it. I was in Bethel yesterday and was told about a family who never even got off the plane they were on when they told the pilot to turn around and fly them back. That's crazy! But people like that are not what we need out here.

Yes, I have experienced some negativity. And one of my friendships has suffered due to someone's pettiness....but, it showed me people's true characters....and for that, I am actually grateful. I am not a perfect person, and I have my flaws (shocking, I know, but it's true) but if you are going to judge me for something I haven't done...then you don't need to be in my life. If you want to think the worst about me, kindly step aside cause I don't need you blocking my path. I'm going to move on and be glad you are no longer trying to pull me down. And if you don't like me for something I've done.....I hope you have never made a mistake in your life before you judge mine is all I can say.

Okay, so being out here has made me feel tougher than before. I've spent days without power or water....one time no power AND water.....I've bathed with river water....felt a wind chill of 25 below....I've flown in bush planes so often, it's not a big deal. I've gone over the ice road twice (the last time I didn't get sick!!!) in a truck.....once on a boat....

I've added to my list of animals seen:
moose
eagle
caribou
wolf tracks (by the airstrip in Akiak)
ravens

I can say some phrases in Yup'ik...and understand a few more.....

Personally, I've made a ton of friends...the coffeehouse guy & I are just friends...but that was sweet and special, and unexpected...maybe the next man I visit the coffeehouse with will be more of a keeper.

Which starts me looking toward my immediate future: I'm moving into a house by myself next year...actually, I'll most likely start the moving process at the end of next month...I don't expect it to take long....I'm just moving across the boardwalk.

I'm debating on team teaching with 3rd grade next year...I'll be the reading teacher and he'll be the math. It was my idea that I mentioned as a joke on a bad math day. But the idea has taken off and everyone seems to love it. I haven't made up my mind...I can see some good points and some bad....

I am also teaching summer school this year. I will be visiting California for a bit and then again after summer school gets out. I will get to meet the new teachers before they start. And I want to reorganize my classroom. I left it how I got it and I don't like it. Now I know what to expect and I want to make it mine.

Last night I went to before 10:30 and the sun was still out....and when I woke up the sun had already risen....
sunrise: 7:34 (it's very light before the sunrise - in my defense!!!)
sunset: 9:55 (again....seemed pretty light out to me!!!)

I still have 5 weeks of school left....but I'm starting to feel I've come a bit full circle. This weekend marks a year ago when I first landed in Alaska for the first time to go to the job fair in Anchorage and was interviewed for my job here. What an amazing year it has been! And there are more amazing moments ahead....

Sometimes, I have to tell myself: I moved to Alaska! I live out in the middle of nowhere.....and it rocks!!

Never a Dull Moment....

I had an interesting weekend. I love how you can plan your weekend and life just totally messes with your plans.

I'm taking an Alaskan History class for my Alaskan teaching certificate. I took a multi-cultural class this summer but haven't finished it. All new teachers have to take these classes. So I was talking to my airport buddy during the retreat and he had mentioned that he had a lot of work to do on the class. Then my roommate mentioned the same thing to me. So I set up a study group meeting.....in my village. The plan was for my airport buddy to fly over on Saturday and spend the day working on the class with us. I invited another teacher and it looked as though it would be a busy Saturday but a productive one.

Now, coming in from another village is no easy task. Airfare is about $120 round trip between villages. Or you can take the ice road...which is starting to melt a bit...so that's out. BUT if there is a plane for your school going to where you need to go and there is space, you can jump on a school plane for free. And it just so happened, there was such a flight from his village to my village....except it was for Friday night. But it would cut $60 off the day.

NEW PLAN: Airport buddy flies in Friday night and sleeps at the school. Then he'll come to our house in the morning and we'll make him breakfast (the one meal I can cook for btw) and then it's off to the school!

Everything goes according to plan in the beginning. He arrived safe & sound and stayed in my classroom for the night. He arrived at our house and he ended up making breakfast for us ladies. And I had no problem with that whatsoever. And then we walked to the school and began to settle in and work on our classes.

Again, everything is going very well. But you know, I was kind of chilly. I notice Lindi has her jacket on and I go to get mine. Soon even my airport buddy is chilly (what is it with men & the heat anyways???) and soon he has his jacket on. Well, the heat's turned off. Okay.....so we just work with our jackets on but we keep working.

I finished my final project for my multi-cultural class and decided to peruse Facebook. I noticed my neighbor posted that it was snowing. I look outside the window and sure enough, it was snowing. Hard. Uh-oh. I checked the weather report. Yeah, my village was on a blizzard watch. I mention this to my study group and we all start wondering....are the planes flying? And the answer was no....they were on a weather hold. So my airport buddy can't leave until Sunday.

NEW NEW PLAN: work on our classes, he comes over for dinner, he spends the night at the school, and he goes home the next day.

And he's being a really good sport about all this. But remember how I said the heat in the classrooms was turned off? Yeah, it became clear.....he can't stay at the school. It's too cold.

NEW NEW NEW PLAN: work on our classes, he comes over for dinner, he crashes on our couch, and then he goes home the next day.

Time is going by...and we are all working. I've got my book and my highlighter out and am getting stuff done. Then my airport buddy says "Hey! Do you think you could cut my hair? It's so long, I hate it!"

I tell him I've never cut hair before and would most likely do a horrible job. He says anything is better that what he has now. And he tells me it should be easy. Lindi tells me that they have how-to videos on the internet. I ask her if she wants to do it, but she just shakes her head no.

So, I decide....why not?

NEW NEW NEW NEW PLAN: work on classes, i cut his hair, we all eat dinner, he crashes on our couch, and then he goes home the next day.

I watch a how-to video...then I read an article on a how-to site. And that's about as much training and prep as I got.

I decided I was going to use scissors to cut his hair. We pack up to leave and walk back to our house.

And Miss Ruark's hair salon is now open!

I was ready: spray bottle, comb, & scissors! Except I had forgotten to adjust the spray bottle nozzle and so I just shot him in the back of the head with water right off the bat and had to spend some minutes collecting myself before I could go on. It was not a very satisfying start.

I started at the back of his head....I comb, measure with my fingers, and cut just a bit first. I comb and think....I can't tell where I cut. So I keep going....and the more I cut the more it looks like I haven't done any cutting yet. My airport buddy had a magic head of hair that refuses to stay cut!

Finally, I gave up. Nothing was happening yet. So I broke out my clippers. And why do I have clippers, you ask? Because I have to shave my cat's butt with them. Luckily, they were brand new clippers that had never been used so I felt using them on my friend would be fine. I used the highest guard and off I went! Finally, I was cutting some hair and this time you could tell!

I trimmed around the ears and the bangs. I shaved the little hairs off the neck like I've seen them do in movies....and the overall effect.....not too shabby! I don't think I did that bad of a job at all. My friend looked different with short hair but the weird part was looking at it thinking: I totally cut his hair!!

I told him if he wanted me to do it again, I would. But he would have to provide his own clippers. I really need to use them on my cat soon.

The rest of the weekend followed the latest plan. Dinner was fun and we watched a movie. It was a little odd having a man sleep on the couch and seeing man products on the bathroom sink (okay, it was just toothpaste & a toothbrush, but it belonged to a man) but that was fine. The next day went off without a hitch, thank goodness.

But you never know where life will take you. A study session turns into a lesson in haircuts. A day trip becomes a weekend excursion. Forrest Gump was right....life is like a box of chocolates.... and you know the rest....