spring break continued

Well we are back at it---school is going strong and all of us arrived safely back into the village last night. I def need to take the next few days to catch up on some sleep and unpack my things still.

Last blog mentioned our trip to Fairbanks, that ended on Tuesday and we flew back into Anchorage. In Anchorage we went shopping at two different malls as well as went out to eat a few times and just explored. It was nice to be out of the village with friends just doing things at our own pace. Before leaving Anchorage, I finally got to eat at the Moose's Tooth which everyone talks about when mentioning Anchorage, so I was pretty excited. It's a pizza place in Anchorage that is pretty nice---quite enjoyable.

After Anchorage, it was to Bethel for some quality time and relaxation. The senior high basketball team was in Bethel for the district tournament. There were 8 boys teams and 8 girls team there and a 3 day tournament. It was very exciting to watch the team-On Friday I watched Quin v. Kong. This was a very exciting game and good for the boys because they had played them earlier in the season and only lost by one point, so winning this time, was big. On Saturday we headed back to the gym to watch Quin v. Tununak. This game also was very exciting and went into overtime!--basketball is big around here and there were people from all different villages there to support the different teams.

It's hard to believe that it is already March---soon our contracts will be due for next year, the state testing, prom, graduation----and it will be time to end this chapter of my first year of teaching.

That's all for now---

downtown Anchorage I think

another new animal for me to see on the trip

Fairbanks

So I thought I'd blog a little this morning, since I woke up kind of early, and am just sitting here relaxing. Yesterday the girls and I traveled to Chena hot springs in Fairbanks. I have not heard much about hot springs, so I really did not know what to except. We hoped in the car around 8:00 am and were on our way!

When we arrived we soaked in the springs for a bit---there was one outside with rocks that was probably the hottest, and then there was one that was kinda like a hot tub and also a swimming pool. After soaking we headed to lunch and then for an ice tour. The ice tour was beautiful---I don't have too many pictures, because my camera was dying--but I will upload some more once we all share our pictures.

After the tour our bodies were freezing because it was only like 20 in there. I forgot my mittens, so by the end I was struggling. We decided to go straight into the outside hot springs--it was a little hotter than we remembered and we were loud yelling it's burning, it's burning--it got so quiet as everyone was just looking at us, but def a funny time.

Finished the night off just relaxing and hanging out---Here are the pictures:

Alright on to Anchorage now, where the real shopping will begin!

There's a moose in the parking lot!

So spring break has began---we got into Bethel after much delay---thats part of the thing out here--when trying to get out of the village you just have to go with the flow--I used to stress out about it, but now I know it is nothing that I can control. Around 6 all four of us were in Bethel ready to fly into Anchorage.

After Bethel it was time to fly to Anchorage, once we got into Anchorage we waited for our shuttle and arrived at our hotel. Then we only had one thing on our mind---real food. The girls and I were hungry, so we went to the OUTBACK---it as delightful--we were able to indulge in some fatty greasy food. I had a burger with bacon and some french fries. How delightful!

Today we were all getting ready when Alison yelled that she saw a moose in the parking lot. A moose in the parking lot????? NO WAY! We all ran to the window, camera in hand--A REAL MOOSE THIS WAS SO EXCITING--This was my first moose sighting ever! Thanks to Jim and his teachings, I am learning what animals look like and can successful identify some of them, so it was exciting to see one of those animals. At first we were just taking pictures from the window, but we went for a walk and got even closer, it was so cool.

So those are the exciting things we have experienced thus far, stay tuned for more. We are awaiting our shuttle to take us to the airport then off to Fairbanks!

birthday...quinhagak style!

Well yesterday was a birthday celebration--You see I just love birthdays so it was the one thing I was looking forward to all week. I awoke to phone calls and texts wishing me a Happy Birthday, def. made me feel very happy! Here are some pictures to document my 25th birthday in Quinhagak, Alaska.

At school Steph's class made me birthday cards---they were so stinking cute--by far some of the best birthday cards I have ever received. Steph told her class things that I liked so each card was personalized with something that I like: giraffe, dancing, music, snow machines---they were great!

After school, Al cooked up a fiesta. We had a chicken dish that she makes, homemade

guacamole, cheese and crackers, burritos, corn, and CAKE--It was fun. The gang came over

and we played just hung out and laughed and had a good time. THEN after dinner something

great happened--we got Jim to play a game with us. You see Jim always refuses to play games

with us, but yesterday was different---yesterday we got a game in---he would only play one

round with us, but one round is better than none.

It was def. different not being at home and being able to go out to eat and be with family, but you know what I had fun with my new friends/ Quinhagak family.

Well that's all for now. Spring break starts today after school, so I should have tons to tell when I return from the trip. The weather here is super windy and rainy today (not a good combination). We are hoping we are able to make it to Bethel so we can fly to Anchorage. It is so funny when you think about it how much we have come to rely on the weather here. The weather tells me if I am able to visit with friends, if I get mail or not, if the store will have new food or not and other things like that---

That's all for now from Quinhagak!

the greatest day ever

So after school Steph said that she was going to go snow machining. I started to freak out with excitement. You see I had never been on a snow machine before and I was beyond excited to give that baby a try. We informed Al of our plans and the three of us were very excited. Steph said she hadn't really driven it before, so I was slightly nervous, but overall super super excited.

So after school we set off for a snow machining extravaganza! I started this experience in the sled. It was a little scary and kinda bumpy. We took a pillow and a blanket so that it would be a bit more comfortable for the behind. We spent about thirty minutes driving all over the tundra and I literally was having so much fun. I kept laughing and screaming and yelling and it was a great great time. For at least the first 10 minutes my stomach was hurting from laughing so hard and trying to hang onto the sled. After about 30 minutes, Steph got off and asked who wanted to drive--we both excitedly said me and Al jumped on first. Before the drive we decided to have ourselves a little photo shoot.

Al in the sled!

view of the tundra from the sled

Al and Steph ready to ride

from in the sled, I didn't want it this close,

but here ya go.

Al decided to drive first. She was a like a pro. THen it was my turn I was very nervous and asking Steph what to do. She was helpful and I was able to cruise around the snowy tundra. I took it nice and slow and it was exciting. This was one of my favorite experiences here so far!! After we both got to drive I got to ride on the actual snow machine. It was a great time---a little scary at first but I had a great time experiencing what I see people riding on everyday around here.

When we got back I was a little sore but super happy for this wonderful adventure. On our way back to the house I reminded Al of how much fun I had yesterday making a snow angel. She was like I've made tons of snow angels I'm not making another one, but look at these:

I'm guessing she's pretty excited she made a snow angel after all.

That's all for now, 2 more days until spring break and 1 more day until someone specials birthday!! =)

Just having a Sunday

Saturday night it snowed a ton---there was wind and there was snow and it was pretty crazy for me. Sunday the girls and I decided to go for a walk: here is a photo walk of our trip.

this is how much snow flew into our

arctic entry Saturday night

a cool snow drift by the boat

my beautiful snow angel

for those of you curious, this is a picture

of the hopper where we take the honeybucket

fall #2

Things have been pretty busy here lately and I am anxiously awaiting spring break next week. Thursday is our last day of school, and the girls and I head to Anchorage on Friday. We will be flying to Fairbanks on Saturday for a few days and then back to Anchorage. After Anchorage I'll spend some time in Bethel and then end my spring break. I am going to make it my goal to take pictures, since I have been lacking in that department. I think I may even make my first ever skiing debut, stay tuned for this one---I am sure that it will be great!

OH THE FALL---so last weekend Al and I decided to take our trash to the dump. In Quinhagak we have to walk our trash to the dump which is a few minute walk away. We had been putting this task off for days because due to the cold temperatures and ice, we just didn't want to do it. We decided to gear up, and we set out for the dump. NoW Al must be like a professional ice walker because she was speed racing and I was slowly trekking behind. After my prior fall, I was nervous to go too quickly because I didn't want to get hurt again. Trip one whew, we made it back and we decided to take one more because it was that cold outside. I made it on the way there with no mishaps I literally was walking very slow. I was the tortoise and Al was the hare except in this case Al still made it back to the house long before me.

So anyways I was in the home stretch about to be home and I think I started to get too comfortable. There was a car driving in front of me and I was just smiling and looking around when BAM---I completely wiped out. I mean my feet flew out right underneath me and I fell hard. I was more embarrassed because a car load of people had just watched this happen. I quickly got back up and was limping back into my house---OH THE PAIN. I did not get seriously hurt, just bruised my hand and my back...OUCH..I think after this incident, I will continue to still walk slow on the ice.

Last week was a perfect week. In the classroom I have been teaching multiplication and division, which is going well. Steph and I also administered a speaking test this past week. It was interesting to get to sit down the students from the entire school and give this test. It allowed me to appreciate what we do in our school and learn more about the students that we work with.

It has been pretty cold here lately, our pipes at the house were freezing. We found this out one day when I did the dishes. Al heard a weird sound coming from the bathroom. When I drained our sink all the food and water drained into our bathtub. Talk about gross! Only in Alaska do we drain our sink and then run into the bathroom to see if the water has clogged it up. We had many laughs with this experience. It's getting a little warmer now, so we haven't had any more experiences with this.

I can not really think of too much more going on here in Quinhagak. It is starting to stay lighter longer now, which is until about 7:00 pm. The whole darkness thing is a lot better then I first thought it was going to be. Al and I are having a lazy Saturday which has consisted of some cribbage, bread making, walking to the post office, and just hanging out. Tonight we are all going to get together for our weekend movie gathering, which should be a good time.

Contracts are coming out for the next year soon, so I have really been thinking about that lately and considering different things. I can not believe it is already February. I can still remember August and arriving in Bethel and just thinking where the heck am I as tears rolled down my face. I look back on the growth I've made as a person and the happiness that I have experienced this year and I truly can not believe it. I am satisfied with my decision to move to Alaska, since in the beginning I was taking a huge leap and just deciding to go. It's amazing how things happen both good and bad and how they impact our lives. I am so happy for this experience and all the wonderful people that have touched my life this year. I honestly can't wait to see what happens in the next three months and look back on the skills I have gained as a teacher. Okay thats enough of my deep thinking for today---

Shout out to our boys basketball team who made it to Districts. They will compete in Bethel in a few week at districts. Great job Seahawks!

Oh and just a reminder to people back at home....someone specials birthday is in 4 days....but whose counting???