Monday Morning, Catching Up...

Time for an update. First, an answer to a couple of burning questions:

1) No, they didn't...
2) No, I didn't...

Hope that that clarifies a few things.

Now, on to the steam bath on saturday night. First, I appear to have survived with my skin pretty much intact, although I did have some interesting marks that faded by Sunday morning. Here's how it works: The steam house has two rooms. The outer room is for hanging up your clothes, getting naked, and cooling off when you can't take any more heat on the inside. The inside room is where the real torture business takes place. There is a fire going, with rocks suspended on a metal grate over the flame. The rocks get hot, and it's only the kind thing to do to pour some water on them to cool them off. Guess what happens next??

So far, you're thinking this sounds like a sauna, right?? The answer would be: sort of. These guys (and the guys apparently like to show off) like it hot. REAL HOT. The first go-around is not too bad, really. The fun stuff comes on the return trips, as the room becomes hotter and hotter. I was convinced at one point that my hands were about to burst into flame. I left shortly thereafter.

On the outside, you cool off and B.S. with the other guys. Then each maniac regains courage and plunges back into the pits of Hell. (Not a literal representation.) Eventually, I would convince myself that it wasn't REALLY that bad and wander back in for more masochism. When I was inside, I would sit in a Lotus position (picture that, kids...) with a hand towel over my head to keep my ears from igniting spontaneously, and concentrate on breathing through the heat. This would generally work through a pour or two, but sooner or later, the heat would get to be too much, and it would be time to bail out again.

The funniest parts of this exercise come when someone bails out, or when someone goes back in. Both events are usually accompanied by muffled grunts, exclamations, or curses. It is, of course, funnier when the noises in question are being made by someone else. When another pour is made over the rocks, the discomfort becomes more intense. It will pass if you can take it, but some jokester will eventually decide to make that one last pour that sends you (and maybe him) heading for the door as fast as you can.

When we have all had enough, we go back into the hot room with soap, scrubs, and razors to shave and clean up. The amount of funky sweat that comes out of the body is incredible. I did not want to be around the towel that I had on my head, because it smelled so bad.

This operation took about four hours. My understanding is that the women do it differently, and I will leave that up to any guest commentators who wish to post a description. I felt great. This is apparently going to be a weekly event for the men of the faculty who wish to participate. I plan on being there.

A Quick Update...

For any of you who might have wondered, here is the new, post-rebuild bike. Snazzy, huh? Also, I have a hot date (literally) for a steam in about 1/2 hour. More on this if I survive...P.S...the salmon was fantastic...

Home at Last

I'm starting my second day here. Yesterday was the cultural part of our program, and I enjoyed it, down to our sad attempts at Yup'ik dancing. As we progressed into the early afternoon, the interruptions began to come fast and furious, because many of the people in the new teacher group had to catch flights for some of the outlying areas. In order to get some idea of what I mean, you might wish to go to lksd.org, and look at the map on the home page. We have new teachers all the way from Mekoryuk to Bethel, and points in between.
For myself, I made a mad dash to the grocery store, caught a cab back to the cultural center where we had been working, grabbed my stuff, and headed to the waterfront. I got picked up by Joe Bavila, our site secretary, and rode down the river to Napaskiak.
I'm kind of settled in today, although there is still unpacking to do. Two of the teachers, Eric and Adam, went out fishing with Joe today, and caught 40 silver salmon. The afternoon found a group of five of us cutting, wrapping, and bagging fresh fish. There are some steaks sitting in the fridge now. Some local kids gathered around to watch and kibitz, mostly telling the kass'aqs (white guys) how they were doing it wrong. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

I like this place. It has a way of stealing your heart.

And the Rains Came...

It's definitely more on the muddy side today. The August rains have come in earnest, and perhaps to stay, if I understand the weather around these parts. I walked over to the AC (Alaska Commercial) store at lunch with a couple of other new teachers, to browse the selection of aspirin, fishing tackle, milk and produce, and 4-wheelers. Ya gotta like variety.
We had a good day, focusing on reading strategies and resources. I got to play around with my new Macbook Pro for the first time in earnest. Holy Moly. If a computer can be beautiful, this is it. The touch pad is really cool. If you use two fingers, it automatically scrolls up and down the screen. You can even turn the images on their sides and upside down. You can zoom in and out like with the iPod touch. Impressive. So, I am, of course, typing this on my old faithful Gateway. I have to get the new machine set up. Probably this weekend.

I will apparently be back here Monday night for more meetings starting Tuesday. Cabinet officials are coming here on Wednesday, I believe. We shall see if photo ops present themselves.

We also had some interesting food choices today, including agutuk, and salmon jerky. I like both. I have not made my mind up about seal oil, however. I will keep an open mind. The locals say that it'll cure what ails ya...

And on The Sixth Day, He Created In-Services...

Just kidding...don't want to sound sacreligious...about in-services...Today is the first of three this week, with two to follow next week. Very busy. However, they are feeding us well, and that's a good thing. We have reliable transportation, but I am learning my way around town on foot as well. Not many paved roads here, and it's flirting with rain, so the surface fluctuates between dusty and muddy. Tomorrow is another day.

Hi Mom, I'm in Bethel!

Well, here it is! The big move is on! After much fun and festivity, I find myself at the LKSD District office this morning writing this entry. In truly imoprtant news, I found where the coffee is kept. I have been told that I need to go to the library and get a teacher number and get books. I am also currently dog sitting, in a lazy and semi indifferent fashion, and it looks like lunch may be making an appearance. Cool. Spent last night in the biggest dive that I may have ever seen. Slept in my clothes. Good news-I am done with flying and sitting in movie theaters for a while, so the swelling in my legs is getting better. The infection in my leg doesn't look as red and nasty as it did last week. Time for more coffee and maybe some picture taking.

More to follow.

Well, This Is It...

Today is the big day. The film fest fun ended last night. Today, it's clean up, pack, load, and off to Chicago for the flight to Anchorage. After a short overnight, I'm off to Bethel on the 7:00 A.M. flight Monday morning. I'll post more as I get the chance on the way. I've got some pix from the last couple of days at the Film Festival that I'll post after I find the camera cables from one of the legion of flat rate boxes later this week.

Suffice it to say that I am now moving from the abstract to the concrete. It's a little bit unsettling.