Chess Club

Chess Club officially kicked off today and it was a big hit. The kids were enthusiastic and it was nice to have a chance to get to know some of the older students. We'll be meeting every other Saturday, and at the end of the year we'll hold a school wide tournament. I'll be scouting amazon for a nice chess set for the champion.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a Happy New Year

On Thanksgiving, all staff and immediate family were treated to a wonderful evening dinner. We had a huge turnout. Each teacher was given a turkey to cook and we had more than enough food for everyone. The kitchen staff and teachers put in a lot of effort to make the holiday extra special.

Christmas with the kids was a lot of fun. I got Christmas lights for the room and had the kids make decorations. Each year the students hold a gift exchange. I've never seen my kiddos so excited! Before our Christmas party we discussed the importance of family, and how our class is a special kind of family. The kids really seemed to respond to this idea, and I feel like it brought us closer together.

After Christmas, the teachers started making their way back home to visit family and friends. Most of us didn't make our original flights out of the village, such is life in rural Alaska. I was scheduled to leave on the 20th, but ended up in Bethel on the 22nd, and finally made it home to Washington on Christmas morning. I learned that a lot of people schedule their travel on Christmas Eve or Christmas day to save money. If you're willing to travel at this time you can save anywhere from $600 - $800. All told my round trip tickets cost  around $2,000. It was wonderful to reconnect with my family in Washington, and then I visited some long time friends in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

I returned to Kipnuk two days before the first day of class. Next year, I'm planning on returning a week early to have time to prepare for the new semester. I was excited to see my kids after the long break, and they had all kinds of fun stories to tell me about their Christmas vacation. To my surprise, a lot of them told me they were bored and wanted to come back to school. That made me happy. I showed the kids pictures of my vacation and let them ask all kinds of questions. It was so cute to see how curious they are about life in the lower 48.

All told, the holiday season this year was a unique experience, and a positive one. I'm looking forward the rest of the year with my students, and Kipnuk is beginning to feel like a real home.

My Aunt Linda sent a care package with all kinds of goodies for the class.

Leaving for Bethel.

Mom and Dad reading letters from my kids.

Best friends since second grade.

James, Laney, Me.

Hams and I.

8 hour layover in Anchorage. 9 hour weather hold in Bethel. Finally back to Kipnuk.

Winter is Coming

Things have been going great. I finally feel like I know what I'm doing (most of the time) and I've been having a great time with my students. These last few weeks (or has it been months?) have gone by in a blur. A quick recap of what I can remember: Multiple trips to Bethel, rain, wind, approaching darkness, my first couple steam baths, vegetables courtesy of 'Full Circle Farms', kids everywhere, village feast, even smaller planes, halloween carnival, more kids, and a seal skin hat. This is my life.

Strange abandoned radio sombrero thing.

Irony.

...and NEW lightweight champion, Anthony 'Showtime' Pettis!

District-wide inservice, Bethel. I remember that bench all too well.

Just 'cause, FRIENDS!!!

Dinner?

Free parking.

Hilarious, adorable, inescapable.

Commemorating the completion of the new church.

Full Circle Farms

Classroom view, 8:30 am.

One of two village stores, one of many happy kids.

Cessna 207 

Seal and otter skin hat made by Mrs. Fanny Samson (1st Grade)

Carnival. Basketball is popular. Ran out of prizes.

Brenda racing pigs!

Student store is fully operational. Slurppies are flowing.

The true spirit of the holiday, adult bingo.

Check-in - Week 3

The new school being built.

Mud.

Stray dogs and puppies everywhere.

Really cute, kinda sad.

Kids' favorite activities and Yupik names.

Adjusting class routines. 

Saturday food giveaway.

First time berry picking!

It's been a while, but as you can imagine, with the start of school things have been pretty busy. The first week was a huge learning experience. I had to make lots of little adjustments to class routines and rules. We're done with week 3 and I feel like my students and I have fallen into a nice groove. They're a great bunch of kids, full of energy, and enthusiastic about school. We've had up days and down, but for the most part we've developed a good relationship and I'm enjoying my time with them.

I've spent a lot of time with the other teachers and have had a few opportunities to meet some locals. Last Saturday, the school organized a food giveaway to the village. All the teachers helped out, and the locals came by on 4-wheelers to pick up food. The school cook, Randy, Alan, and I delivered food to village elders. The weather was perfect, everyone was in good spirits, and the families were very appreciative. Later that evening, a local couple, Steven and his wife Marry-Jane, invited us to go berry picking about a half-mile up river. It was my first Yupik experience and lots of fun. Steven even let me drive the boat back to the village! Great times.

Today was a great honor. The fifth-grade teacher, Maxine, decided to give me a Yupik name. She told me, "You're my brother." I asked, "How?" She replied, "We'll your people walked over here a long time ago!" How great is that?! My Yupik name in 'Ulapaq' (pronounced Ulapak) or 'Ulap' for short. Yupik names are given in memory of a villager who has passed away. My name comes from another Robert, who's Yupik name was Ulapaq. It is such a great honor to be given a Yupik name, especially considering how new to the village I am.

I'm really happy here. I'll keep you all posted!