Sunday, August 26, 2007

MOON!

Well I know it is very basic but tonight I saw the moon. Big deal for you, but for this kid in Nome this is the first time in two months and I was surprised- I have seen it on television and everything but I forgot how great our God and his phenomenal creation really is.
I ventured out to Safety Roadhouse tonight with the other volunteers and other people in the Nome community to attend a going away party. The skies where beautiful. This place is gorgeous and I am sorry for not taking a camera but my roommates both have websites that they periodically update... so be patient. They are the photographers so I will supply you with the written aspect of life while they will appeal to the visual senses.
Sound good?

www.laura-davis.com

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/david-dodman/page21/

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Berry Picking/Darkness

Last Sunday I went berry picking with a woman from church. If you haven't gone to a place in complete silence to take food directly from the earth you should try it. Talk about elementary. Besides the fact that the berries where everywhere covering the hills of the tundra, the sky was gorgeous. We could hear someone coming from miles away.
I really hadn't picked berries like that before. We where out there for hours I picked a gallon of blueberries and cranberries. They are great in pound cake by the way.
Recently we have been teased with more amazing weather.
It has been clear, sunny and warm.
Apparently a sign that summer is over is when the Fireweed flower reaches the top of the plant. You can see that most no longer have flowers- which is a sign that fall is right around the corner.
I cannot wait... the tundra is supposed to be covered with all sorts of fall colors like when leaves change. I do miss trees.
I saw stars for the first time in almost 2 months! It is so odd. Just when I was really getting used to the sunlight, going fishing at 10 pm and berry picking til late the darkness has started to creep upon us.
However, seeing the darkness on one side of the sky with stars, and light on the other I am starting to feel the need for night. I know that sounds weird but I forgot how awesome nighttime can be for you. How relaxing and rejuvenating it is.
Isn't that odd how we can forget how great something is when it is gone. something so simple, like darkness.
The good thing is that the mosquitoes are not too bad with the warm breeze.

Friday, August 17, 2007

KNOM's many activites

There are many amazing aspects of KNOM. That is why it is hard for me to display to you everything at once. If you are in the lower 48 it might be hard to decipher how life would be without phones, running water, or electricity. We reach so many areas like that and it is important for us to stay awake on issues and current events around Alaska. I however, have all of those things so it is sometimes hard to really imagine that still...
On a lighter note, one of the programming ideas we all take part in are the KNOM Crew Picks. This is where I might take a song and talk about it a little. Perhaps a little history or just a personal reflection. I have done Simon and Garfunkel's 'Sounds of Silence' and 'Free' by Shawn McDonald. The great thing is that we are not required to stay in any particular genre, so I can pluck music from anywhere I desire- as long as it is appropriate of course.
To my Lower 48 supporters, remember, feel free to email me and ask any questions. I have already received some interesting ones, so I do not think many will bother me.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Elim, Alaska-First Village Trip!



I had the opportunity to go on my first village trip to Elim, Alaska with the News Director Paul Korchin.
We left Nome in the morning August 7th and flew on one of those small planes that holds about ten people.

We went to Elim to attend a village meeting on Uranium mining. There is a Canadian based mining company doing exploratory research on the area, and a Navajo Indian was present to talk about the effects of mining close to his village in New Mexico. His people have seen the negative repercussions from mining that has not been taken care of. People have tumors and other various cancer illnesses. Unfortunately since it has also gotten into the water system and the ground plants their animals also have the toxic substances in their body- infecting all aspects of the food chain.
It was extremely interesting to see how the villagers are responding to this sensitive topic.
I was only there for the day so Paul and I went to the beach area and it was a gorgeous day. The area looked like Washington state coastline.


I really enjoyed going on this village trip. It is neat to walk to different offices in Elim and hear KNOM playing. It helps to realize why we do what we do.
Also, an island called Little Diomede is completely out of phone service right now and the only way for people to communicate is through KNOM's hotlines- which is also pretty neat...

Thursday, August 2, 2007

KNOM-Award Winning Station

KNOM won the Gabriel award from Catholic Broadcasting for Station of the Year!
I feel so privileged to be apart of an award winning station!
This makes 15 total and 12 consecutive years winning this prestigious award.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Health Insurance

In Western Alaska there are remote villages and areas that do not have local health aides. In turn people have to travel to distance villages or towns for treatment and care. When it comes to health care why is this such an issue.
From my experience in Nome, Alaska so far it seems that people are punished for living in remote villages away from stress and the hustle and bustle of city life. Let me tell you, it is a whole different life up here. I have stress yes, but it does not have such a push of urgency as it does in the Lower 48. It really is magnificent.
There are people that live off the land and work hard to have food for winter months. In order to do this people live far from any place that has adequate hospitals and other various health services. Sure people come through town for visits but that is the extent of it all.
So, why are these people being punished?
Health Care is a major concern and a huge reason we as Americans have a nation that cannot afford decent health coverage is because we grow deeper and deeper in debt.
Due to the lack of funds to pay hospital bills because Johnny broke his leg and a few ribs hunting and had to be helicoptered into Anchorage the family is now out $16,000. Something is wrong with this picture. Johnny's parent's cannot afford this. So, the hospital is never paid and then cannot afford more doctors, and the doctors and nurses that are 'cut' are the traveling ones that could help Johnny in his home village.
This vicious cycle continues. Health Care Reform is a must. There is no doubt.

What can we do about this?

I know there is Denali Kid Care for people who qualify... but what about those that don't?
Also, there is a chance the funding will be pulled. What then?

Nome is Home

I really feel that I have now settled into Nome, Alaska. I am starting to see familiar faces on the street and on the way to the post office.
We are getting ready to say goodbye to a key part of the Nome community, Jesse Zink. He will be venturing to South Africa in missions and our prayers follow him to the clinic that he will be serving.
Nome has some wonderful opportunities for involvement. If church is not your forte then there are things like the Arts Council, helping out at the schools, Choir in the holiday months, hiking in the midnight sun, community activities coming out of every corner. I already can see how it would be difficult not to become involved in some way, shape, or form at some point. I think that people would have to avoid situations completely in order to avoid getting involved or even asked.