Midnight Hike

I just returned from hiking, and when we left the mountain it was 11... at night. The land here is gorgeous and to have this opportunity to see this land is amazing.
I went with the other KNOM volunteers and some people in the community, I could not believe my eyes half the time. The scenery was something off a digital image of a postcard. Alaska is a land of so much beauty in not only the native cultures but also the background.
The long days are great for outside activity, but that does hurt for work in the morning!
The downside is that since I only have 2 pairs of pants right now, I wore my jeans hiking and they definitely ripped in an inappropriate place... so it is khakis until I can make it to the thrift shop in the area that is open for only one hour a week, Thursday cannot come soon enough!
On my day off yesterday I also ventured to east beach where I looked for sea glass.

Yes, I am in a wonderful place meeting amazing people, and gaining Christian fellowship with each passing day. I am feeling more blessed then ever. I still appreciate the prayers with all of my en devours, and know that everyone back in the lower 48 and currently some in Europe are always in mine.

Salsa Weekend

This past weekend the Nome Arts Council brought in a 9 member salsa band that played and taught salsa all weekend. I danced Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to some amazing music, and I got to use some of my south Texas dance skills! This weekend was amazing!
Saturday was the Polar Bear Plunge where people gather on Nome's East beach and jump into the Bering Sea! You had to be soaked from head to toe to receive an Achievement Certificate, yes I received one... of course! It was 40 degrees outside and I am staying ignorant to how cold the water was. In that case ignorance is bliss.

So far in Nome, Alaska I have experinced:

Mucktuck - a delicacy of whale fat... it was not too bad
The Bering Sea- awww freezing my body in another body of water! My legacy continues...
The Midnight Sun- It is light when I wake up, light when I go to work, light when I eat dinner, light when I go to bed, light when I sleep... you get the picture.
Salsa Dancing in Nome... crazy.
SQUARE DANCING lessons in Nome, I cannot escape.

my first few days...

I have begun observing and looking over all of my manuals and requirements of me while I am a staff member of KNOM. Everything is looking to be quite a challenge, but a welcoming one. I am excited to learn and begin in the production duties, creating spots, conducting interviews and ect.
I found out that the news reporter is not the only one that will fly to outlying villages to do interviews. I will have opportunities to venture out into western Alaska to cover festivals or various cultural events. With these adventures I am told that you normally take a change of clothes, the equipment, food and a sleeping bag. This is all due to the fact that you will spend the night there or even get stuck. You typically will be sleeping on a school classroom floor and possibly without a shower available. This is going to be quite an adventure.
With the various awards the station has received in the past I have rather large shoes to fill. I am most definitely not treated just as a volunteer, I am to be a professional, which is intimidating but this is why I chose this program. The opportunities for adventure and growth are endless. I only have to be willing to seek them all out.

Just another day.

Today so far is amazing. All my room mates have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and show me around Nome. Today I attended a methodist Church here in Nome with a volunteer Jesse, who is going to Africa in August. Everyone was genuinely friendly. There were 30 missionaries there beginning their two weeks stay working at the church.

I did the doxology in an Inuit dialect and they also sang a song too. Talk about being immersed in a new culture. This is exciting, I thrive ofF these new experiences.

I also got a tour of the station, so I got to see all the production rooms and the on-air facilities. KNOM's equipment is rather impressive for a non-profit station. They have up to date software as well. There are many stations that I have been to that have had programs and equipment so outdated that it does hinder their delivery. I am anxious to learn the new programs.

I am so excited to see what the LORD has in store for me. This is AMAZING!

The voyage to Nome

My flight from Seattle to Anchorage started off on the wrong foot. At first they told me that I was unable to check in because the flight was coming up as canceled (good thing I was there at 5:30 a.m. so I had other options). In turn, I was placed on a flight an hour later. When I arrived at my new flight’s gate -there it was flight 93 to Anchorage- the one that was canceled. Go figure, story of my life. On top of that my bags were not able to be checked in and I left them in the mercy of the airline staff.
I sat next to this guy names Jose. He is a worker on a crab boat in the Alaskan waters. Interesting man that is for sure. I believe that it takes a certain person to have the abilities to work on a job that dangerous and that physically demanding. Courageous. He says that he is next getting his chef license to cook in New York City. Talk about a random life, he hates the boats but is doing one more year because the pay is good and it is only for two or three months. My prayers go out to him since he says his last boat had nothing but Japanese people and they told him that they did not like Latinos. So, they broke his locker and stole his things. Well, he is giving it another go, persistence I suppose.
I would like to say thank you again to all of the people that have made this mission possible. From jackets, scarves, gloves, boots or hand warmers. The things that you all have given me have been a tremendous help. Thank you for your generosity; it most certainly does not go unnoticed. I now feel very prepared for what I am about to experience, well as prepared as a south Texan can be 100 miles away from the Arctic Circle.  This girl is in for a whole new world of cold.
Can anyone say culture shock? I am ready for that to set in any time now…

I am here!

I have arrived! In one piece with ALL of my luggage. That is phenomenal! I hope that everyone is well and I appreciate all of the prayers and support the past few months before I arrived.

I flew over the Arctic Circle.

awesome.

I will get back when I have not been up for 20 hours.

tuesday: Seattle... friday: Nome

Here I am Monday night. I am packing last minute items and scrambling trying to make sure I have certain items, and of course they are no where to be found... thus my life.
I am however ecstatic that the LORD has given me this opportunity.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped and supported me through this process. Everyone in my life has been supportive and gracious as I venture to Nome. For that, I am eternally thankful. Without this fellowship support adventures like mine would be much more trying and difficult. Knowing I have people praying for me lifts me up to do my best in Nome.

Anyone interested in emailing me during my time can do so by means of Kristinaeproctor@yahoo.com

I do have internet access up there 100 miles from the arctic circle so no worries, my social networking addictions, as well as your own, will be met.

I am praying for everyone back in the lower 48 and beyond. Praying that God will shine through all of you for the good of the world.

God speed to all.

Well, here goes nothing!