Shopping in Anchorage

Well, today (Thursday August 9) we went shopping.  And when I say shopping, I don't mean we went to a mall.  We went to the grocery stores for my groceries for the next year of my life.  My principal drove me all over town.  Thank you Tom!  I ended up shopping at Fred Meyer.  There is only one specific Fred Meyer that does Bush Shopping, so we had to go to one 20 minutes away.  They're owned by Kroger company.  I went there because someone told me that if you buy over $50 worth of groceries, then you only have to pay $20 for shipping.  WRONG.  After I spent over $900 in groceries, I then had to pay 10% handling.  AND I get to pay shipping when they send it.  All in all, it's not that bad.  I just would have liked to get the correct information.  But like my principal says, it's all a learning experience and we'll know next time.

My 3 shopping carts:)

Then we went to Mr. Prime Beef's.  Oh my gosh!  There was so much meat in one little store.  And they do bush shipping.  So, we bought meat.  By this time, I've been shopping for at least 9 hours, and I'm done.  So, they offered a crate deal that they made the decisions and it was basically 5 lbs each of their most popular sellers.  In the end, I bought 83 lbs of meat for $325.  I probably didn't need that much and over spent, but I was soooo over making decisions.  I then get to pay for shipping.

So, at the end of the day, I went to my hotel room $1400 poorer.  I passed out on my bed without dinner at 8pm.  Didn't change, didn't give the cats food, didn't take out my contacts.  Good job me.  What a trip:).

UPDATE...Here are my receipts...

Professional Development

Today (Wednesday August 8th) started at 7:15am.  Too early!  We had breakfast and learned a lot!  It wasn't learning about teaching and what to do in our classrooms so much as what to do in our villages and with the people.  I didn't think about all the suggestions they had for us.  We had an exercise where we were new teachers coming into the village and we had to make conversation.  I was booted out of the room.  Turns out, you don't walk up to two male elders and introduce yourself while they're talking.  The suggestion was to get to know the women first.  It was also to make sure that I didn't interject myself into their conversation.  Hey-I like to talk  a lot!  This could be a problem...

We were also able to experience a traditional Yup'ik dance and drum music.  It was great!  They explained the parts of the dance and drumming while they were doing it, so we could understand things in the village later on, also.  That was great!  We then were able to partake in the dance and do what Elizabeth did...I don't know if I did exactly what she did, but I was close...:)

We were also able to try a kind of Salmon Jerky.  It was...interesting.  I don't think I will try it again.  I was expecting more of a jerky consistency.  Instead it was smooth and very oily.  When I wasn't expecting it, it didn't go well.

I got a new cell phone carrier and number today, too.  3 hours at the cell phone place, and we all got them!  I wasn't able to keep my number, but it's kind of close... Since they only have a company in Alaska, they can only give out an Alaska area code.  And my number wasn't available with that area code.  Bummer... My new number is 907-949-6569.  I'm only going to keep the number up for about a week, so take it down quick!  If you have someone calling you from a 907 number, it's Alaska, and it's me.

Piece of Advice...

I'll give you a piece of advice... When traveling for 15 hours on 2 planes through 2 countries to Alaska, eat and drink water a lot.  otherwise, if the only things you've eaten in 31 hours is a McDonald's breakfast sandwich, a Quizno's sub, a plane meal, and 5 or 6 screwdrivers, you're gonna be shaky when you're in Alaska.  Take time to take care of yourself, drink fluids that hydrate, not dehydrate and make yourself feel weak!

Waking Up Ontime

The view from my hotel room.  I know it doesn't look like much...but it really is pretty.

Wow. Just woke up in Anchorage, Alaska. Wow. I think. I'm still tired but I can't seem to sleep. I'm too excited. I read my texts to Matt last night...didn't remember sending most of those. I was TIRED. I just called my sister and talked to her. It was nice to be able to talk to her when I'm so far away. She then put my nephew on the phone. We had a great conversation! He doesn't understand how it works over here. He asked if I had a snow vehicle. I told him I didn't really need one because the town is so small that I can walk everywhere. I said it was about the size of his neighborhood. He replied with, "WHAT?!" I asked him what he had for lunch. He said a muffin and then asked what I had. I told him I just woke up because it's only 9am here right now. If I tout he was confused before... "You haven't had breakfast?!" I tried to explain that it's only 9 and I just woke up so I would soon. He goes, "It's past 1pm here!" I think this will definitely be a learning experience for him too.:)

UPDATE: I also got a call from my principal. He said that he'd take me shopping or sight seeing today. Wow! Everyone's so nice here. I love it.

UPDATE 2: They got busy.  He's not able to take me anywhere, but he said we could meet for dinner.

From the Hotel

Sitting in my lovely hotel room in Anchorage, Alaska. Everyone has been very welcoming so far. I easily got a taxi from the airport to my hotel. It was $19 and well worth it. I thought I had free wireless in my hotel room but I guess I was wrong. I've already looked at the room service menu.

I walked into the hotel and it smelled like fish. I'm worried. It's a Hilton. If it smells like fish her, does that mean the whole state will smell like fish? I felt very welcome as I came into the lobby and there was a "Welcome Lower Yukon School District" sign. However, I then looked to the left and there were two stuffed bears...I'm scared...

Maverick and Goose are very happy to be out of their cage. They woke up on the landing into Anchorage and Goose whined for about five minutes. Not bad all in all. The flight was great. The first 2 1/2 hours we spent watching a movie. Then I spent an hour watching the mountains out of the window while another movie was on. Then the last hour I watched the clouds out the window and felt like I was flying to the end of the earth.

My first view of mountains.  You can see them waaay off.  I was hoping I'd see some closer up eventually...

This would be when I turned to the pilot sitting next to me and said, "You didn't tell me about the mountains!" He replied, "Just wait.  They get better."

They got a little better here...but he said they would keep getting prettier.

And ohhhh did they ever!

Beautiful snow-capped mountains...

I felt like I was flying to the end of the Earth.

Coming into Anchorage, Alaska

Yeah, this is why I took the job...

The city. Coming into the runway.

Is this considered the country here?

See?  It can be green.  It's not just all snow!  There isn't any right now!

The Olympics are on. Track again-eh. I feel like I've seen the race before. I can't decide what to do with myself. It should feel like 2am with 4 hours sleep, but I'm eager and ready to go. I just looked at my phone and it's 10pm here. I should still be tired! I guess I'm just too excited to start this next part of my life.

In the Air

I am in the air right now. Today has been a very interesting day. I couldn't fall asleep last night, worried about what was to come and leaving my friends and family. So I finally fell asleep around 4:30am (thanks Matt). Then mom couldn't even wake me up until three times of yelling at me. Kind of tired. We spent the first hour going and dropping off my seven totes at the post office. (cross your fingers they make it to Emmonak sometime soon!) Spent $350 sending all of my things while at the post office.

We got to the airport about 30 minutes after I wanted to, but we were still plenty ahead of schedule. We then had to deal with the lovely Delta employees talking behind their counter about whether or not I was allowed to bring two cats on the plane at once with me. A bit frustrating since the woman I called and talked to for a half hour told me specifically that it was okay and what to do. I just wish they would have told me what the problem was and what way it was looking like the results were going to end up. $125 later, Maverick, Goose, and I are flying high in the sky.

Then we get to go through security check. I asked if the cats needed to go through the X-ray. The man said no and that I would carry them through the metal detector. Perfectly fine, until the woman explained that I was going to carry them in the bag through the metal detector, I was going to take both of the cats out at the same time, out the bag through the conveyor metal detector, and carry the cats-at the same time-through the metal detector. Needless to say a lot of Delta flyers and employees got a laugh today. And also made my day by telling me that my cats were "huge" and "the biggest cats they've ever seen." Now that's just exaggerating.

I then get to my gate and they ask for people to jump onto another flight and they would give us free flight vouchers. I thought about it for a minute, and decided I didn't need to be in anchorage until Tuesday night, so I went up and offered. They could get me on basically the same flit just 2 hours later. Sold! Two. Hours and one plane ticket voucher later, I'm on a flit to Minnesota.

I have flown first class this trip, taking into account the free baggage, getting onto the plane with not a lot of people around so I could get the cats situated, and having more room under the seat for the cats, I think flying first class was the best idea.  Not to mention, check out the food!

I've been watching the Avengers and will soon watch The Hunger Games (haha Alicia! I'll have a Hunger Games party of my own!). I was able to have a drink at the airport and 3 since I've been on the flights (more probably to come). All free.   How is this all not worth it?!

The cats have been doing great. They got a little "cocktail" for the journey. The vet said I should give it to them again after 8 hours but I think they're doing better with a lit buzz. They weren't happy at first when they kicked in. Now they've been pretty much sleeping the whole trip (at least I think. I'm watching a movie and have my earphones in:). I check on them every half hour or so and they just look up at me like, "Mom. We're sleeping. And we want to be home." They're doing great and I'm glad I'll have my friends there (thanks Sean).

I'm excited to be in Alaska. The nice gentleman sitting next to me is a pilot and often travels to anchorage to do flight simulation. He has been giving me a lot of good information. When it's cold, how the flights are, what to look for on Anchorage. He thinks  I'm crazy for going to the bush, but who doesn't?

I will update again from the hotel room...hopefully soon. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, hopes, and love.

UPDATE: Here is the view once you get into Anchorage...

Yeah...it's rough here.  GORGEOUS.

Leaving Soon

I am...4 days before leaving for Alaska.  Whew!  I'm trying to see all the friends and family I possibly can in the time I have.  2 days ago I lost my overnight bag when I went to see my parents.  iPad, glasses, medications, clothes, makeup... I guess God decided I needed one more thing to stress about for the next few days!  I'm taking the cats to the vet soon and getting them set for our trip.  I'm not sure how having 2 cats in first class, on a plane, for 8 hours is going to go, but I'll let you know!

My last meal made for me by my awesome mother!  It's my favorite meal so she surprised me with it!  Thanks mom!

And I even got dessert!  Yum!!!!!