Moving!

A little over a week ago I was asked if I wanted to take a trip to another village to finish out my internship. The village is Gambell, on St. Lawrence Island. It is approximately 35 miles east of Russia, and 100 miles west of the United States. It is closer to Russia than it is to the US. It is right on the international date line. I will be able to see tomorrow from there. 

The distance between Gambell and Teller as the bird flies is 190 miles.

The principal in Gambell was looking for a female elementary teacher for next year. There are several positions that will be open in her school based on teachers asking to transfer or leaving the district for other opportunities. There are no open positions available next year here in Teller. I love the kids here and I've established working relationships with them, but part of the reason I took this internship was to possibly find out if I could live here. I can live in Teller, I know, but I won't be here. I figured that I should take this opportunity to go to one of the most interesting places in Alaska. 

I have heard that there is a lot more Native Culture there than here. The school is bigger, and there's more of a population in Gambell than here approximately 712 versus 260. They whale as well as hunt walrus and live a subsistence lifestyle. 

I am excited to be going, but at the same time a bit sad to leave Teller. I have made friends here and I think the kids are great.

I leave Teller at 1025 am and arrive in Nome at 1115am. I leave Nome at 400 pm, so I'm hoping that I can meet my friend and he can show me around his town before I leave. I am also hoping that I can ship out all my stuff with me on the plane. I have food that I need to get out there as well as my personal items!

There is another intern in Gambell, and I'll be rooming with him.

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Today was a really good day. I've been working in the classroom with one student and he got his test score back. This was the first book he's read all year (the whole thing) and he got a 98% on his test! He was so happy! I am proud of him. Some of the other students said that I gave him the answers, but I didn't. I just took him out of the room to help him stay on task to complete his test. That made me feel like I made a difference. At least a little one.

Today was also very cold. It is incredibly windy out and there is a high wind/frostbite warning. I bundled up for the short walk to school.

I didn't wear the goggles, but I might have to break them out eventually. Especially if I have to go to the post office or the store.

I was going to video the wind but I didn't have my phone with me this morning, and the wind has died down a lot since then.