Yesterday there was a Komen Breast Cancer walk in Nome. I really am getting a dose of this life style.
It was snowing, under 30 degrees, the wind was blowing and most of the road was ice. BUT, off we went on our mile walk around town to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness.
The weather is highly unpredictable. Nomites tell me that it snowed earlier this year and they were not sure what to think about. That worries me. Locals do not even know how to take the weather, what is this Texan supposed to think? The amazing thing though is that I am more than warm enough, I have everything I seem to need thus far. I might need to invest in some boots but we will see once a donated pair reaches me from a generous individual in Texas.
The sun does not rise until well past 10 a.m. now. It makes the mornings hard to judge. I cannot distinguish between 3 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. I have to be at work by 8 and that makes it difficult since I am blind without my glasses and cannot see the clock, can we say ignorance is bliss?
I live with four other individuals and we all have a set food budget. We have a joint account so we share just about EVERYTHING when it comes to food. That is not the problem. The problem is we are slaves to the sales. I just wanted to enlighten you on our food shopping process, and is it ever an excursion.
We have two grocery stores in Nome. Yes, two. One is A/C and the other is Hanson's. There are sales every week and the adds come out on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We sift through the adds circling things that we need to buy, or want since it is on sale. Here are some 'sale' prices:
Milk: 2 gallons for $11
Avocados: 2 for $4
Canned Black Beans: $1.89
Dish Washer detergent: $25 for a bucket
12 pack of Pepsi: $6.99
Face wash: $6-$8
Bread: 2 loaves for $7
Just a little look into our 'sale' price world.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Yaktrax, The Office, Ice Rink
Well, as I previously stated in blog below I have found an incredible piece of equipment! They are called Yaktrax, and they are amazing for walking on freezing ice and snow. Google it, you will not be disappointed.
We are losing about 6-7 minutes of sunlight a day, so the sun does not rise until 10:15 a.m or so and it sets around 8 p.m. Also, the temperatures are dropping.
As I see the mercury drop I do ask myself how prepared I am. I just pray, that is about all I can do. I am taking the advice of people around me and it seems that my gear looks ok for now and layers is the real secret. Let nothing be exposed when we start to get to 0 and below.
That is odd to hear eh? When it gets below 0. Wow. What did I sign up for?
On a positive note, I am loving my job. It is a challenge every day. I am always busy and feelings that there is something new to work on. Perfect.
This past Sunday we watched the TV show 'The Office'. Amazing, I am not sure how I did not get more into that show before now! Well, it works out since we watch a season in one sitting. I know, I lead a hard life up here! I hang out with friends, enjoy television shows without commercials, and eat whale skin and blubber. You should visit.
We have a ice rink less then one block from the house. Really, I can see it from my window about 30 yards away. They have city league teams for ice hockey, I just want to learn to ice skate again. My roommate Jacob said he had never really been. How does that work? We have an ice rink in San Antonio, Texas. He is from Washington state, well I suppose snow is more of his forte.
We are losing about 6-7 minutes of sunlight a day, so the sun does not rise until 10:15 a.m or so and it sets around 8 p.m. Also, the temperatures are dropping.
As I see the mercury drop I do ask myself how prepared I am. I just pray, that is about all I can do. I am taking the advice of people around me and it seems that my gear looks ok for now and layers is the real secret. Let nothing be exposed when we start to get to 0 and below.
That is odd to hear eh? When it gets below 0. Wow. What did I sign up for?
On a positive note, I am loving my job. It is a challenge every day. I am always busy and feelings that there is something new to work on. Perfect.
This past Sunday we watched the TV show 'The Office'. Amazing, I am not sure how I did not get more into that show before now! Well, it works out since we watch a season in one sitting. I know, I lead a hard life up here! I hang out with friends, enjoy television shows without commercials, and eat whale skin and blubber. You should visit.
We have a ice rink less then one block from the house. Really, I can see it from my window about 30 yards away. They have city league teams for ice hockey, I just want to learn to ice skate again. My roommate Jacob said he had never really been. How does that work? We have an ice rink in San Antonio, Texas. He is from Washington state, well I suppose snow is more of his forte.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Weather, Passing Time
Well the current debate is 'Will the snow stick?' Well local Nomites say yes... we shall see. I know you are excited, and I will keep you posted.
There are days when the temperatures rise above freezing and the snow begins to melt. However, the mercury drops in the evening when the sun starts to set, and now that is during the seven o'clock evening hour, so the melting snow turns to ice. Awesome for walking let alone running.
I am succeeding in this department, despite very little prior ice experience. This is due to a simple piece of equipment, called Trax. I simply place it on the bottom of my boots and it wraps around sides and the bottom has metal coils that help me walk in the ice and snow. Pretty handy and worth every penny.
KNOM has a Christmas play that airs every year and a former KNOM volunteer who is a creative writing professor writes it every year. This half hour program is edited by the production director. Yes, that would be me. So I will be working long hours on this begining in late November in order to have it done on time. The past plays have won awards and it is used in the submission for the Radio Station of the Year Award,which KNOM has won 13 of the past 15 years. No pressure.
Despite these things I am still enjoying everything in Nome. I have picked knitting back up again and I am trying to learn Hebrew. If I think that I am going to dig deep into scripture, I need to learn at least a little of the language it was written in.
My roommates and I do not watch too much television, however, netflix envelopes litter the coffee table as well as our time. So, if you have a movie recommendation please feel free to pass it on, we would be delighted.
Driving outside of Nome at the point is not an option, so I am probably here til the break up of the ice occurs in the spring and the roads are maintained once again. Cabin fever anyone?
There are days when the temperatures rise above freezing and the snow begins to melt. However, the mercury drops in the evening when the sun starts to set, and now that is during the seven o'clock evening hour, so the melting snow turns to ice. Awesome for walking let alone running.
I am succeeding in this department, despite very little prior ice experience. This is due to a simple piece of equipment, called Trax. I simply place it on the bottom of my boots and it wraps around sides and the bottom has metal coils that help me walk in the ice and snow. Pretty handy and worth every penny.
KNOM has a Christmas play that airs every year and a former KNOM volunteer who is a creative writing professor writes it every year. This half hour program is edited by the production director. Yes, that would be me. So I will be working long hours on this begining in late November in order to have it done on time. The past plays have won awards and it is used in the submission for the Radio Station of the Year Award,which KNOM has won 13 of the past 15 years. No pressure.
Despite these things I am still enjoying everything in Nome. I have picked knitting back up again and I am trying to learn Hebrew. If I think that I am going to dig deep into scripture, I need to learn at least a little of the language it was written in.
My roommates and I do not watch too much television, however, netflix envelopes litter the coffee table as well as our time. So, if you have a movie recommendation please feel free to pass it on, we would be delighted.
Driving outside of Nome at the point is not an option, so I am probably here til the break up of the ice occurs in the spring and the roads are maintained once again. Cabin fever anyone?
Friday, October 12, 2007
Snow! Snow! Snow!
Well, as you might have guessed, we now have snow! This south Texan is obviously not as used to this as the local Nomites. So, I have been working and looking out the window in reassurance that the white stuff is still covering the dusty roads of Nome.
I work on the second floor of KNOM and I have a nothing short of a fantastic view of the snowy peaks. The original 'snow' last week is called 'termination dust' which indicates that summer is now behind us, the long days and temperate weather is gone and winter is on the verge.
Right now it is about 24 degrees. What am I wearing? how am I keeping warm? Well, that is the funny thing. If you would have asked me what the temperature was, I probably would have guessed around 32 or so. Nope. I walk outside in a cotton button up, jeans, slip on shoes and a thermal vest. I really can see how people say that you adjust. Also, it helps to have the people around you not freaking out that it is below freezing.
The snow might melt in the next few days but rest assure that I have not seen the last of this white powder.
I am in the process of editing an hour long show called Music Detour, and if you want to know more about that you can look on the entry titled 'New Assignments'. This week I am doing a salute to royalty. I have B.B. King, Elvis (the king of Rock 'n Roll) as well as Sammy Kershaw... He has a song titles 'Queen of my Double Wide Trailer' and I could not resist.
My roommates and I take turns cooking throughout the week, however, our skills seem to be limited to enchiladas, homemade burritos, chili, and corn tortillas. Needless to say we are seeing that finding new recipes can be a daunting task since there are some things that we cannot get in Nome. Or, the ingredients are available, but we are on a nice tight food budget.
In case you are reading this and have some simple recipes that 4 twenty somethings can follow please FELL FREE to email them to me! I promise we would appreciate that. I guess I am not doing too bad if my only complaint is that we are getting sick of the food we are making. I know, I lead a hard life.
As always thanks for the prayers and support, I not only appreciate it, but I could not be here without it!
Do not forget PICTURES can be seen by going to www.laura-davis.com or www.flickr.com/photos/david-dodman
My roomies are far better photographers than I!
I work on the second floor of KNOM and I have a nothing short of a fantastic view of the snowy peaks. The original 'snow' last week is called 'termination dust' which indicates that summer is now behind us, the long days and temperate weather is gone and winter is on the verge.
Right now it is about 24 degrees. What am I wearing? how am I keeping warm? Well, that is the funny thing. If you would have asked me what the temperature was, I probably would have guessed around 32 or so. Nope. I walk outside in a cotton button up, jeans, slip on shoes and a thermal vest. I really can see how people say that you adjust. Also, it helps to have the people around you not freaking out that it is below freezing.
The snow might melt in the next few days but rest assure that I have not seen the last of this white powder.
I am in the process of editing an hour long show called Music Detour, and if you want to know more about that you can look on the entry titled 'New Assignments'. This week I am doing a salute to royalty. I have B.B. King, Elvis (the king of Rock 'n Roll) as well as Sammy Kershaw... He has a song titles 'Queen of my Double Wide Trailer' and I could not resist.
My roommates and I take turns cooking throughout the week, however, our skills seem to be limited to enchiladas, homemade burritos, chili, and corn tortillas. Needless to say we are seeing that finding new recipes can be a daunting task since there are some things that we cannot get in Nome. Or, the ingredients are available, but we are on a nice tight food budget.
In case you are reading this and have some simple recipes that 4 twenty somethings can follow please FELL FREE to email them to me! I promise we would appreciate that. I guess I am not doing too bad if my only complaint is that we are getting sick of the food we are making. I know, I lead a hard life.
As always thanks for the prayers and support, I not only appreciate it, but I could not be here without it!
Do not forget PICTURES can be seen by going to www.laura-davis.com or www.flickr.com/photos/david-dodman
My roomies are far better photographers than I!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Village Trip- Teller, Alaska
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my first cultural and dance festival in Teller, Alaska. Only a day trip, a fellow volunteer Jacob and I took off around 9:30 am and headed north in the 'highway' 71 miles, on a road not completely paved or even maintained past October 1st. I realize this might be a foreign concept to some readers in the Lower 48, but most roads outside of town are not maintained past specific dates since the weather tears them apart and the area is so desolate. It would be a constant struggle. So, The villages we are able to reach by car in the spring, summer, and fall are not accessible in the winter months.
The festival began on Friday with dancers from Savoonga, Brevig Mission, Anchorage, Teller, Shismereff and a few others. However we did not arrive until Saturday in the early afternoon.
As Jacob and I drove the 71 miles away from the 'big city' of Nome we were greeted with blue skies, fall colors draped over the tundra and two herds of Caribou. Now, 71 miles is not far, but on a dirt road full of pot holes and with eyes on the lookout for wildlife traveling can add a significant amount of extra time. That, and I am not really used to these Alaskan 'highways'.
Upon our arrival we found the school, which was not too difficult since the village consists of beach, and two streets. Pictures will never do justice to the beauty and majesty that Alaska provides. I have never seen anything that compares.
The elementary school was buzzing with women running food back in forth in preparation to feed their out of town guests. Jacob and I walked around trying to take everything in and trying to absorb the atmosphere.
Walking down the single hall of the school I could see the murals an artist I know who worked so intently on some time before. James Adcox, you should check his stuff out, really, he is amazing.
Going all the way down the hall we reached the back door, a cool breeze with water hit my face and I stool in amazement at the surrounding mountains and water that stood before me. Remembering that I was there working- I wondered how I got this job in the first place.
We were invited to lunch in the cafeteria with the dancers and drummers, festival coordinators and volunteers. Food is always a welcoming surprise when you are in a new place. So, I dipped the ladle into the white mixture with meat floating around, snatched some fried bread and sat down. As the introductions and conversation subsided the woman next to me looked at me and said 'Oh, you are eating reindeer tongue.' My thoughts? Well, I cannot stop now. I was wondering why it was a little chewy.
I told Jacob, and he wanted to try it- so we retreated back to the kitchen and scooped up a clean bowl and spoon for him to experience. I have been eating so many new things- always keeps me on my toes, looking out for one more experience while I am here.
We ventured to find the beading workshop and after a few minutes watching me stick myself with a sewing needle and drop colored beads all over the floor Jacob went to watch the Eskimo games in the gym down the hall. Funny thing was that the Nome newspaper the 'Nome Nugget' showed up, and I am in this weeks issue, beading with the ladies in Teller, and I look lost like I always do in situations when arts and crafts are involved.
After I finished my project triumphantly I found Jacob and we ventured back outside to walk around the village.
We had some downtime until the dancing and drumming was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.
Eskimo drumming and dancing are something to relaly see. I suggest if you do not have the option to venture up here to the Great Land you should venture online and find some videos. There was a dance done by the Savoonga performers called 'Rock n Roll' and the woman danced like 'white women' do for rock and roll songs. I have to admit, the accuracy was impeccable. Entertaining to say the least.
Between interviewing the coordinators and recording some of the drummers and dancers for air on KNOM Jacob and I could sit and take in the dancing. To watch these various groups gather together and entertain one another through drumming and dancing is powerful. I do not know what they are singing but you can still feel the passion and heritage that is being passed. The children mock the adults and seem to naturally feel the movements.
Since each group seems to play about one hour Jacob and I only really saw Savoonga and Brevig Mission. After all, we had a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive ahead of us.
We had a full and powerful day. A great way to really understand who I am here to serve in Western Alaska. I am thankful that KNOM enthusiastically sends out the volunteers to see and understand who we are here to serve and support. I look forward to future village trips- although I am still working on writing my news stories, not exactly something that comes easy for me. I am working on it, always challenging. KNOM, I feel as if that is their motto. They expect nothing less than your 100% best efforts. Not a bad way to be introduced into the working world.
I would like to say thank you to everyone for their support and prayers. Sometimes it is hard being here- away from Borders, coffee shops and friends, but it gets easier day by day. The community at the house is amazing, and we are all getting along so well. Thanks to my packages, the house now has Scatagories-Bible Edition- that should make for an interesting Saturday night in winter weekends to come!
Stay safe and I am praying for all of you as well. Feel free to send me a letter, give me a call, or better yet- plan a trip up here!
PS- IT SNOWED TODAY! FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE!
The festival began on Friday with dancers from Savoonga, Brevig Mission, Anchorage, Teller, Shismereff and a few others. However we did not arrive until Saturday in the early afternoon.
As Jacob and I drove the 71 miles away from the 'big city' of Nome we were greeted with blue skies, fall colors draped over the tundra and two herds of Caribou. Now, 71 miles is not far, but on a dirt road full of pot holes and with eyes on the lookout for wildlife traveling can add a significant amount of extra time. That, and I am not really used to these Alaskan 'highways'.
Upon our arrival we found the school, which was not too difficult since the village consists of beach, and two streets. Pictures will never do justice to the beauty and majesty that Alaska provides. I have never seen anything that compares.
The elementary school was buzzing with women running food back in forth in preparation to feed their out of town guests. Jacob and I walked around trying to take everything in and trying to absorb the atmosphere.
Walking down the single hall of the school I could see the murals an artist I know who worked so intently on some time before. James Adcox, you should check his stuff out, really, he is amazing.
Going all the way down the hall we reached the back door, a cool breeze with water hit my face and I stool in amazement at the surrounding mountains and water that stood before me. Remembering that I was there working- I wondered how I got this job in the first place.
We were invited to lunch in the cafeteria with the dancers and drummers, festival coordinators and volunteers. Food is always a welcoming surprise when you are in a new place. So, I dipped the ladle into the white mixture with meat floating around, snatched some fried bread and sat down. As the introductions and conversation subsided the woman next to me looked at me and said 'Oh, you are eating reindeer tongue.' My thoughts? Well, I cannot stop now. I was wondering why it was a little chewy.
I told Jacob, and he wanted to try it- so we retreated back to the kitchen and scooped up a clean bowl and spoon for him to experience. I have been eating so many new things- always keeps me on my toes, looking out for one more experience while I am here.
We ventured to find the beading workshop and after a few minutes watching me stick myself with a sewing needle and drop colored beads all over the floor Jacob went to watch the Eskimo games in the gym down the hall. Funny thing was that the Nome newspaper the 'Nome Nugget' showed up, and I am in this weeks issue, beading with the ladies in Teller, and I look lost like I always do in situations when arts and crafts are involved.
After I finished my project triumphantly I found Jacob and we ventured back outside to walk around the village.
We had some downtime until the dancing and drumming was scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.
Eskimo drumming and dancing are something to relaly see. I suggest if you do not have the option to venture up here to the Great Land you should venture online and find some videos. There was a dance done by the Savoonga performers called 'Rock n Roll' and the woman danced like 'white women' do for rock and roll songs. I have to admit, the accuracy was impeccable. Entertaining to say the least.
Between interviewing the coordinators and recording some of the drummers and dancers for air on KNOM Jacob and I could sit and take in the dancing. To watch these various groups gather together and entertain one another through drumming and dancing is powerful. I do not know what they are singing but you can still feel the passion and heritage that is being passed. The children mock the adults and seem to naturally feel the movements.
Since each group seems to play about one hour Jacob and I only really saw Savoonga and Brevig Mission. After all, we had a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive ahead of us.
We had a full and powerful day. A great way to really understand who I am here to serve in Western Alaska. I am thankful that KNOM enthusiastically sends out the volunteers to see and understand who we are here to serve and support. I look forward to future village trips- although I am still working on writing my news stories, not exactly something that comes easy for me. I am working on it, always challenging. KNOM, I feel as if that is their motto. They expect nothing less than your 100% best efforts. Not a bad way to be introduced into the working world.
I would like to say thank you to everyone for their support and prayers. Sometimes it is hard being here- away from Borders, coffee shops and friends, but it gets easier day by day. The community at the house is amazing, and we are all getting along so well. Thanks to my packages, the house now has Scatagories-Bible Edition- that should make for an interesting Saturday night in winter weekends to come!
Stay safe and I am praying for all of you as well. Feel free to send me a letter, give me a call, or better yet- plan a trip up here!
PS- IT SNOWED TODAY! FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
