The Last Week

Honestly, it doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was starting this blog and getting ready to begin my Alaskan Adventure. Of course, as far as depth of experience goes, I feel like a lifetime has passed since I was the girl who first posted here.

In one week and 2 days, I will leave Alaska, perhaps for the last time.

I have spent plenty of time this spring reflecting on things I will and will not miss about the village, as well as the things I have missed the most from "outside".

I will miss:
-The absolute silence that engulfs you once you are outside of the village proper. It is almost eerie; the sense of nothingness and insignificance, and the realization that the village is an almost comically tiny outpost just barely clinging to the skirts of the vast Alaskan wild.
-The ever changing view of the Bering Sea right outside my living room window. From sparkling blue to slate grey, slushy brown with floating ice chunks, to a frozen, flat desert. It is one of the most interesting cycles I have ever witnessed.
-Hearing the bush planes fly overhead, then watching them make the turn out over the water to come in for a landing. No matter how many times I see this, it never gets old. There is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that the planes are still flying - it means we are still connected to the outside world. There is also a profound sense of wonder in the miracle of flight, more pronounced in the small, improbable bush planes than in commercial jets.
-The desolate, treeless, romantically bleak tundra landscape. It is a place which requires a closer look to be truly appreciated. In the summertime, the tundra is covered in hummocks of green-brown, which upon closer inspection reveal an entire miniature ecosystem in a surprising array of colors and textures. Tiny, delicate mosses and lichens, grasses, and berry plants intermingle to create a springy, marshy carpet. A vivid color palette exists in every shade of green, from electric lime to subtle sage. Red and purple berries, rusty-leaved ground cover, and waxy, succulent-like plants add accent to the barrage of green. Of course, when the weather turns, all of this life goes into hibernation mode, and the arrival of snow blankets everything in sameness.
-Village English. Hearing it, using it, all the different nuances and patterns...it's almost been like learning a new language.
-The moments of absurd, laugh-out-loud humor I have shared and experienced with my students. Also, the moments of connection - those lightbulb-switching-on-overhead moments of "I get it!"
-Fall salmon fishing - setting the net, hauling in the catch, filleting the fresh fish right there on our porch...the first time I cut fish here was the first time I really felt "Alaskan."
-Watching the sun set behind Stewart Island.
-Beach combing for heart rocks and sea glass.
-Eskimo Dance. The beat of the drums, the wail of the singers, the rhythmic movement of the dancers as they bob and gesture - it's a window into the past, one of the last vestiges of an ancient culture that has been largely Westernized.

Things I have missed the most from "outside" during my time here are:

-My family. It is such a fiasco getting in and out of the village, there are no such thing as spur-of-the-moment visits home. Not to mention the expense, and the fact that you couldn't pay my mom to get on a bush plane to come visit.
-Driving.
-Going to the store with a shopping list, and getting everything on the list. Not only that, but having a variety to choose from (i.e. instead of one brand and kind of cheese, 50 different brands and kinds).
-Alcohol. I am by no means a heavy drinker, but there are times when I would definitely appreciate a beer after a long day. Not to mention having wine on hand for cooking. Living in a dry village is kind of a joke anyways...almost everyone here drinks except for the teachers. We have the most to lose though (job/teaching license), whereas others may just receive a slap on the wrist if caught importing/brewing/consuming.
-A social life. With a few exceptions, teachers hang with other teachers, and that's it. Living, working, and socializing with the same people day in and day out is the definition of monotony. Not that I don't enjoy hanging with my co-workers, it's just that there's little choice in the matter, and almost zero opportunity for social expansion.
-Volleyball and track. My attempt to coach volleyball last year was an abysmal failure (no turnout), and there is no track team whatsoever (weather). While I have at least had a few opportunities to play volleyball with coworkers, I haven't thrown a discus in two years. I have missed the stress relief of being able to go out and throw something heavy every once in awhile. I am very much looking forward to having both of these sports back in my life in greater capacity.
-Espresso coffee shops, frozen yogurt shops, and other restaurants in general. Just the idea of having food at your fingertips; to be able to drive up, order, pick-up, and go is fantastic. There is an overall convenience of living/accessibility factor that I have missed these past two years.
-Shopping...in a STORE. Online is great in a pinch, but it is nowhere near as satisfying as the instant gratification you get in an actual store. Not to mention the thrill of the hunt at places like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Tuesday Morning (the discount shopping holy trifecta!).
-Going out and about with my dog, and taking him on walks without having to keep my head on a swivel at all times. The local attitudes towards canines here are something I will NOT miss.

I am glad that I came here and did all that I have done, but it is time to move on to the next phase of my life. My Alaska Adventure may be over (for now, or forever), but it will always be here with me. These past two years have built the foundation for the rest of my career as an educator; I am forever changed.

In Which I Make My Glorious Return To The Blogosphere...

OK. I have been harangued several times both virtually and in person regarding the sad state of affairs on my blog. You are not wrong - it has been a loooooong time since I have had the wherewithal to sit down and pen (type) a few lines of meaningful prose about my adventure-filled Alaskan life. Here's my excuse (oh yes, of course there is an excuse): If you will recall, my last post was in late September, the very beginning of the year. Well, since that time, the pace of life has picked up considerably. As you may recall, our school was bestowed with a School Improvement Grant from the state at the beginning of the year. Let me tell you, that thing doesn't mess around. It has been a real a** kicker for sucking up free time, and leaving us (the hardworking teachers of Stebbins School) in a perpetual state of exhaustion. Long days and short weekends have been the way of it; burning the candle at both ends. And I don't think I speak only for myself when I say, this candle is just about burnt out.

That brings us up to today, where we are on the eve of statewide standardized testing, the end-all-be-all of our school year. Everything we have done for our SIG leads up to this one week. We teachers are spent. The kids are growly. The mood throughout the school is tense. How can you base everything that has happened in your classroom throughout the course of the year on what happens during this one week? It's daunting and discouraging, to be sure. I can only take solace in the fact that I have done everything in my power to help prepare my students for this week. What they do with that preparation is up to them. The whole "leading a horse to water" bit, you know?

I don't want to come off as an opponent of standardized testing, because that is patently untrue. I don't necessarily see the point in doing what I do every day if it isn't going to amount to anything. Students should be tested on what they (should) have learned - seems like a simple concept, right? The way in which we go about testing could maybe use some tweaks, especially out here in rural Alaska where life is SO very different from the norm. But, I am just a simple teacher...what do I know? I leave those big decisions to the higher-ups, and just take care of the things within my small sphere of influence. I DO know that once this week is through, we are all going to be breathing a collective sigh of relief, teachers and students alike.

Testing week marks the beginning of the end of the year. Once those tests are under our belts, it is full steam ahead towards May 18. It's hard to believe that the end of my second year of teaching is in sight. This year has certainly had its ups and downs...both at school and in life. It has been a hardship being without my canine companion this year. While I have been able to see Roman via Skype whenever I call home to talk to Mom and Dad, it just isn't the same. Not by a long shot. Last year, even at my worst, I could always count on that goofy poodle to make me smile, or at least take me out of myself for a while. This year I haven't had that, and the absence has been difficult to bear. On the other hand, though, I am so relieved to know that Roman is safe and sound with Mom and Dad and his sister, Sonja (a.k.a Poodle), in Vancouver. He did not have the happiest life here in Stebbins last year - no one to play with other than Ben and me, and long walks were a rarity because of weather, and because my overprotective self just couldn't get used to the necessity of having to constantly look over my shoulder for canine assailants when we were out. Having students (more than once) threaten his life then laugh about it was also a deterrent to me bringing Roman back with me for year two.

And that brings me up to the good news which triggered this post in the first place: This past Friday, I accepted a teaching position in Grace, Idaho, where I will be teaching junior and senior English, senior American government, and coaching volleyball. I have known most of this year that this would be my last in Stebbins, maybe even my last in Alaska. Shortly after we returned from Christmas break, I began the process of job searching in Alaska, Washington, and Idaho (the three states in which I hold teaching certificates). To stay in Alaska, I would have only accepted a position on "the road" (anything connected by road - no bush planes, no ferries). For Washington and Idaho, I just began applying for anything that popped up within my certification (English and history, grades 6-12). It just so happened that Idaho had several jobs open with my certification a few weeks ago, so I put in for them all. And one called back.

My principal came blustering into the 5th grade portable during my writing class this past Monday afternoon, completely catching me off guard by telling me that he had just talked to someone from Idaho about me, and that I would more than likely be getting a job offer from them soon. I did some sleuthing between my writing classes and found that the call had come from the district where I had put in for a 6th grade position. I was disappointed at first, because of all the jobs for which I had sent in apps, the 6th grade position was the one I was least keen on. Being a 6th grade self-contained teacher means teaching MATH, which I hate with a passion. Ever since our schedule shake-up at the end of the first semester, I have been teaching exclusively reading and writing and loving it. Going back to teaching math would not be ideal. However, I had put in the application in the first place because I have taught self-contained middle school, and as I said, I was applying with abandon for anything remotely within my qualifications. So. I got home from school that day to find several messages on my machine from the district where I applied for the 6th grade job, trying to get ahold of me to schedule an interview. I was feeling really flustered so I didn't call them back right away. Instead, I called my mom. We talked it out, discussed the fact that it was really early yet to be making any decisions, but interviewing would certainly be good practice and I ought to at least consider the job if they offered. I went to bed feeling excited, with all intention of calling back and scheduling that interview in the morning.

At 6:17 AM the next morning, our phone rang. I was weighing my options of getting up an answering, but it was Ben who ultimately had the wherewithal to get up and take the call. When I heard him say "yeah, hold on a moment, I'll get her," I knew my morning routine of hitting 'snooze' until the last possible moment was cancelled for the day. I quickly shuffled to the bathroom to yank out my mouthguard and swish some of the morning breath from my mouth while Ben dutifully held the phone. I answered in my best "of course I'm wide awake at 6 AM!" voice, and found myself talking to a gentleman who identified himself as the superintendent of both the North Gem School District (where I had applied for the 6th grade job) and the neighboring Grace School District. As we talked, he revealed that in addition to the 6th grade position in North Gem, he also had an open high school English position and head volleyball coaching position in Grace. That certainly got my attention!

Long story short: I did some research on my own in addition to the information I got from the superintendent and the high school principal (who I talked to later that morning). I interviewed with North Gem for the 6th grade position on Wednesday morning, but it must have been just for formality's sake, because Wednesday afternoon the superintendent called me back to offer the high school position in Grace. He gave me a week to think about it, but I didn't need that long. I spent a sleepless night on Wednesday "what-if"ing myself into a tizzy, on Thursday I did more research and counseled with my mom and Ben, and by Friday afternoon I couldn't have been happier to call and accept the job.

So, there you have it. Seven more weeks, and my great Alaska adventure comes to a close. I am excited and anxious to move on to the next phase of my life. These past two years have been an important transition period for me into adulthood, but that period has run its course. I am ready for a more settled, balanced, "normal" existence. I am looking into buying a house and putting down some roots. So much to contemplate! I suppose that also means an end to this blog as you, my readers, have known it. I know reading about my life in eastern Idaho will probably pale in comparison, but perhaps I will have a few adventures there that are blog-worthy :)

I'll leave you today with a collection of photos from throughout the late fall and winter:

October.

Icy coating.

Flying Wild Alaska!

Snowy walk.

First ice!

Big November storm. Where is the beach?

December sunrise.

I haven't had the time to get out and do much photographing this spring, but I will try to get some more pics up before the year ends. Ta ta for now, though!

-Jane

Stebbins: Take Two

Holy cow, the end of September is already here, which means we have been in school for a month now! The time seems to have gone by quickly, but so much has happened during that time, it already feels like school has been going forever. During the month of September, I only had one full week of school, and that was the first week. The second week of school was only 4 days because of Labor Day, the third week of school I spent in Wasilla, being trained to become a trainer of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Learning Strategies. The fourth week of school was another 4 day week because we had teacher inservice on Friday and Saturday, and this week, school was cancelled on Monday because we had a power outage in the village and were without water in the school. To say it has been a crazy five weeks for me is an incredible understatement!

Crazy as it has been since returning to AK, I would say that the year is off to a good start. We spent the week before school started in the village of Savoonga, which is located on St. Lawrence Island, and is only about 70 miles from the Russia mainland. Seriously. It was an intense week of inservice, gearing us up for our SIG (School Improvement Grant) which we, along with 3 other schools in the district, received this year. While there, I scored some pretty fantastic ivory treasures (Savoonga is renowned for their carvers). My walrus ivory whale is about 5 inches from nose to tail, and 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches thick in places. It's not super-ornately carved, compared to other pieces I saw while there, but I got an AMAZING deal on it. I also procured an ivory and baleen jewelry box while in Savoonga.

As you can see on the map of western Alaska, St. Lawrence Island, and the villages of Savoonga and Gambell, are almost too close for comfort to Mother Russia. Directly east of the island you will find St. Michael, which is the village 7 miles east of Stebbins. Apparently we weren't cool enough to make it on this map. The island you see offshore from us is Stewart Island, which I can see from my living room window. You'll see it too, in some of the pictures I'll post below.

To be quite frank, I have been loving the heck out of my job this year. Sure, there have been a few speed bumps here and there, but overall, things in Ms. Demme's room are running pretty smoothly. I have seven 7th graders all day, all subjects. I LOVE having a self-contained class. Am I an awesome math teacher? I will be the first to admit that I am not. Most days, though, my kids are excited to learn, and that makes up for my content area shortcomings. I am teaching the same reading program as last year, only this year, I actually know how to do it. I actually know how to TEACH this year, which is huge. Last year was a hot mess. I wish I could erase it from my record. I'm glad of it, only in that I learned SO much from my screw-ups. Otherwise, I would rather just forget that my first year of teaching ever happened ;)

7th grade is an incredibly fun age group to teach. They are always on the verge of a meltdown because they are wired on hormones and their emotions have no grey area. One minute they love you, the next they are shooting you the stink eye from under their hoodies. They are loud and volatile and excitable and passionate and IF you can get their attention, and get them on your side, they are valuable allies to have in the classroom. They definitely keep me on my toes, but they make me laugh every day, and more than once, we have struck that magic balance in class where learning is fun for me AND them. That's what it's all about, right?

School aside, life in the vill goes on as usual. We are losing more light every day, and it's only a matter of time before snow will start flying. Until then, I am basking in the beauty that is the late summer/early fall in the tundra land.

 Blue skies and green tundra on a honda trip to St. Michael.

A painfully beautiful September sunset right outside our living room window. There's Stewart Island in the background!

 Climbing to the top of Steven's Hill with a co-worker and her doggie. Once again, Stewart Island is in the background. Ironically, the dog is also named Stewart :)

 A stunning view from the top of Steven's Hill...

 Ben and I took an evening stroll to the south side of Punik, which is the mound of land that marks the south end of town. It's pronounced like 'bunnock', but last year a student told me the correct spelling was that which I used above.

 The tundra grass has turned brown, but there are still spots of color nestled in here and there.

 These weird little pools are back a ways from the water...maybe a high tide that got stuck in the rocks? Love the droopy tundra grass around this one.

 It's seal hunting season!

There is plenty of viscera and severed body parts to be found on the beach this time of year.

In other news, I was given a Yup'ik name this year by my students. They call me Ms. Caiglluk, meaning 'medicine', because I "make them better." Unbelievably, it is pronounced like 'jice-luck'. The Yup'ik language continues to astonish my English speaking sensibilities in it's fearless bucking of usual (i.e. English) pronunciation rules. Either way, I was truly touched by the name my students bestowed upon me, mostly because of it's meaning, but also because being given a Yup'ik name somewhat signifies having reached a certain level of acceptance in the community (even if it is just my classroom community for now).

Ben is starting to hassle me because I have been at this for so long, and my battery life is running short, so I suppose I ought to say farewell for now. I know last spring I promised a post detailing what shopping for groceries, etc. is like out here in the bush, and I have not forgotten that promise! I will deliver on that post when I can, as it is an interesting subject about which I am asked frequently.

Until then, all the best to all of you in my readership! Quyana (thank you!) for stopping by :)

XOXOXO

jane

Summer makes everything better!

I have been a terribly neglectful correspondent these past few months, not due to lack of material, but lack of motivation and time. I have had a whirlwind summer full of adventures, and as I write this entry, I am, in fact, crammed into coach, winging my way south to Los Angeles for a long awaited reunion with my sister. Usually I am too paralyzed by flying to do anything but rigidly stare out the window and clutch my teddy bear, but so far so good ( knock on wood). I head back to the village in just a matter of weeks (August 10 is the official departure date), but I am doing my best to make the most of my remaining days of freedom.

"Make the most of it" seems like an ample tagline for how I have approached this summer. I have traveled more in the past 2 months than I usually travel in an entire year (not counting the necessary flights for work). For someone who really doesn't enjoy flying, I have found myself in my current situation (on a plane) more often than I would particularly prefer. It's 2011 -- where is the teleport device, scientists?! So you can equip an airplane with Internet -- big whoop. That doesn't get me to my destination any faster or lessen the hassle and emotional distress of traveling by air. We can do better, people. And until I obtain my own personal Montgomery Scott to beam me hither and yon, I will continue to feel chagrined every time I board an airplane.

But, I digress. I have too many summer adventures to recap to waste any more time expounding on my disdain for air travel. Here, in short, is how I have made the most of my summer:

Trip # 1: Stebbins to Vancouver, WA (via Portland, OR)

Ben and Roman and I, along with the Johnsons (Matt n' Ashley) left Stebbins on the morning of May 21. We VERY NEARLY missed our flight, which would have been a disaster of epic proportions. We were finally able to convince the pilot (who was at the end of the runway getting ready to take off when we got to the airport) that we were supposed to be on his plane, so, crisis averted. However, there wasn't enough room in the 10-ish seater King Air (two props! wow!!) for all of us, all our bags, AND Roman in his kennel, so when the pilot asked if my dog was well behaved, we all answered with a resounding "YES". Thus, Roman was afforded his very own aisle seat (that is, he slept in the aisle itself for the duration of the 10 minute flight from Stebbins to Unalakleet).

V.I.P (Very Important Poodle) Roman enjoys the comforts of his aisle seat.

Once we got out of the village, the rest of the trip was a breeze. We said goodbye to the Johnsons and other colleagues in Anchorage, and after a night spent at the Long House Inn, Ben, Roman, and I rose bright and early on the 22nd for our FIRST CLASS flight into Portland. It was my first time flying first class and I loved it. A lot. Mom and Dad greeted us right outside security at PDX, and soon we were home enjoying much appreciated beers and steak dinner. Ben and I spent about 2 and a half days in Vancouver, hanging with Mom & Dad, getting our bearings, and preparing for 

Trip # 2: Vancouver to Phoenix, AZ (once again, via PDX)

Ben and I had been planning this trip down to AZ to visit his friend Rob (of Scottsdale, formerly of Milwaukee, WI) since roughly September. We once again traveled like ballers in 1st class, and the feeling of warmth hitting my skin as soon as we exited the airport after all of those months in the cold was priceless. I loved meeting some of Ben's friends, but I really appreciated the lounging and relaxation afforded us by Rob's generous hospitality and exquisite backyard pool.

Coming home from a night on the town in Scottsdale...happy to be vacationers :)

 Swimming, drinks, and getting some much needed sleep were what this vacation was about, and it really hit the spot. 5 days in the Arizona sun with boyfriend & friends was the perfect prequel to 

Trip # 3: Vancouver to Stites, ID (more specifically, the Southfork River Ranch)

The day after coming home from AZ and directly after dropping Ben off at the airport, Dad and Roman and I began the long but beautiful drive to the ranch.

Halfway viewpoint on the Grangeville grade. Exquisite.

Enjoying a cold one with Anderson at the Kamiah Hotel.

The view from the fishing hole. And to the left, we have the Demme Homestead!

 I was so excited to be back at my home away from home, it didn't even matter that the sky was grey for most of our stay. Roman was ecstatic to see his ranch family again (poodle and human), and I loved being able to spend some quality father/daughter time with Dad. 

Dad was anxious to get in on the salmon run, so he and Chuck and Anderson spent most of their time down by the river. I joined them for a bit, but was unable to snag my first salmon. We did find some treasures unearthed by the river bank erosion (arrowhead shards, other possible native worked rock items), and Dad managed to catch one (small) salmon to Chuck's two (large). I cherished my time back at the ranch by enjoying lots of naps and good food. As with all of my stays there, it wasn't nearly long enough, but I was happy to return to Vancouver after, where I spent two weeks with mom before 

Trip # 4: Vancouver to Milwaukee, WI (via PDX and Denver)

My first trip to the midwest was a great success! I loved seeing Ben in his familiar surroundings, meeting his friends and family, and experiencing all the wonders of rural Wisconsin (Amish! Dollar beers at the ballpark! Deep fried cheese curds!). We started out in the outskirts of Milwaukee for Ben's friends David & Lisa's wedding. Ben was a groomsman and I was official girlfriend of groomsman/ad-hoc decorating assistant. It was a very fun weekend, the wedding was beautiful, the reception was a hoot, and we had a generally great time.

Posing pre-wedding.

After our wedding weekend, we drove west to Ben's hometown of Dalton. There, I met his mom & dad, grandparents, sister, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and on, and on, and on. It was a great time. I learned about pontoon boats, Friday night fish fry, cherry Doctor, chocolate chip sandwich cookies, deep fried cheese, sand hill cranes, Culver's, shortie beers, and why it's great to be a Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers fan. I loved the scenery and simplicity of Wisconsin, and I loved seeing how Ben fit in there. I am looking forward to my next visit!

Striking a pose outside of Lambeau Field (home of the Packers...DUH)

About to blitz Ben in the Packers Hall of Fame.

Miller Park, home of the Brewers!

Enjoying another win for the Brew Crew.

Deep fried cheese curds, AKA the ambrosia of Wisconsin.

After my return from the midwest, I had a bit of downtime at home. Mom and I started to plot a trip down to see Anne, but in the end she decided I should be the one to go. That led to 

Trip # 5: Vancouver to Los Angeles (via PDX)

As you know, I was en route to Los Angeles when I began writing this post. It turned out to be an excellent trip! Anne and I couldn't have been happier to reunite with one another, and we managed to work in several exciting adventures during my stay in the city of angels. Best leave it to the pictures to describe!

On the corner of Hollywood & Highland, being tourist-y.

Inside the Kodak Theater.

On Blue Jay Way, just like the Beatles song of the same name / Standing outside of the Beatles' home on Blue Jay Wy.

As you can see, the Doors used to work here. Now it's just a defunct restaurant.

Venice Beach, followed by my first trip to In n' Out Burger.

Horsing around in our empty theater (part of the Grauman's Chinese Theater complex), moment's before viewing Harry Potter 7 pt. 2.

Bonding with the cast of Harry Potter before the film.

So, that pretty much sums up my summer to this point. I have one final trip planned before returning to Stebbins in 13 days - - Ben is coming out on Saturday, and on Monday he, Roman, and I are headed down to the Oregon Coast (Rockaway) for a 2 night getaway. I really feel like I have made the most of my vacation time, my only regret being that I wasn't able to spend more time in Idaho at the ranch. 

I am beginning to get excited for the start of a new school year, and all that comes with it. I have had lots of time to reflect on year one, and I am ready and anxious to go back and tackle year # 2. Waiting for me in Stebbins will be a class of 6 seventh graders, who (hopefully) will be as excited to see me as I am to see them! I have lots of big ideas that I can't wait to try, and I am feeling the confidence that comes with having crossed that "first year" hurdle.

I will continue to milk my vacation time for all it's worth, but next time you hear from me, it will be from my Alaskan outpost!

XOXO

jane

For those of you considering Alaska...

...here are some things you need to know. Now that I am a seasoned veteran (haha...kind of?) of bush living, I am ready to share my knowledge with the world. This blog goes out to any prospective bush teachers who are in the midst of the job hunt and are overwhelmed with questions. These pieces of advice might be specific to my experience only and not necessarily the same everywhere in the bush, so do with them what you will. If you have any further or specific questions, feel free to post in the comment section and I will answer you as best I can!


Alaska Essentials Part 1: Clothing and Outerwear.

This is the section where I save you from buying three different coats and/or getting frostbite while you're out adventuring on the tundra. You don't need to repeat my mistakes! As far as coats go, the one coat you need to have is a long (mid-thigh length) coat or parka with a hood. Make sure it is rated for at least as cold as it gets where you expect to live. Third time was the charm for me - I found this delightful Eddie Bauer parka that is rated for -20, is windproof (very important), waterproof, and down-filled (even the hood!). The mid-thigh length is a must because it keeps the wind from blowing up your back when you are out riding hondas, snowmachining, or just walking around.

The next thing you need in your outerwear arsenal is snow pants or bibs. I bought snow pants, though if I were to do it over again I would definitely go for bibs. They also help to eliminate the whole wind up your back scenario.

As far as boots go, I reccommend both snow boots and your basic rubber boots, so your feet will stay dry during both of the Alaskan seasons (winter and not winter). If you are going to be wandering around in extreme cold for long periods of time, I suppose bunny boots would be a good option, but if you plan to be out and about in the snow only occasionally then you should be just fine with any decent, well-insulated, waterproof snow boot. As far as rubber boots go, they are great if you live in a coastal village like Stebbins because late summer and early fall are filled with events happening around the beach. I love my Hunter wellingtons because not only are they stunningly gorgeous and highly fashionable, but they are also tall enough that wading into the Bering Sea to pull out a salmon net becomes less of a hazard.

 

The next most important piece of outerwear you need, especially if you plan on spending any time outdoors in the winter, is a good base layer.  My dumb butt almost froze last December when I went traipsing across the tundra in naught but my skinny jeans. A base layer is a must!!! My Under Armor base 3 is light yet incredibly warm (kind of spendy, but SO worth it).

Finally, for your outerwear crowning glory, you need a good hat. You should, of course, have other cold weather accessories like gloves or mittens, scarves, wool socks, etc., and those things are pretty easy to find, but nothing beats a good hat. And if you make the move to Alaska, you might as well treat yourself to the best. And trust me people, it doesn't get any better than one of these:

A handmade, spotted seal and beaver hat beats the hell out of anything even the most high-tech outerwear companies can produce. Obviously, this is something you can't exactly buy in advance, and the materials may vary from region to region in the state, but a Native-made fur hat is definitely a must-have, in my humble opinion. These are usually made by craftspeople in the village, and you will just have to ask around if you are interested in one. I am madly in love with mine and still maintain that it is the best piece of outerwear I have ever purchased.

Odds and ends and other clothing dos and don'ts:

- You can't go wrong with Uggs

- Flannel shirts are delightful

- High heels and arctic grates don't mix

- LAYERS

- It's ok to wear leggings under everything

- Keep your sunglasses handy

- If you walk to school, have a pair of slip-on boots you can walk in, and carry your dress shoes in your bag or just leave them in your classroom.

- You CAN still dress like a professional, even in the bush! (as long as you are a little creative)

Stay tuned for my next installment on bush living where I will be discussing the exciting topic of GROCERIES/SHOPPING in the bush! Much love to you all, especially those of you on the job hunt. It all works out in the end, I promise!

XOXOjane