The snow is disappearing, it is November, instead of snow we have been experiencing rain, and today hurricane force winds. With daily rain comes ice at night, creating nice slick paths for ATVs and pedestrians heading to work in the darkness at 8:30 a.m.
The main street in Nome is called Front Street, fitting since it is right there on the front of the Bering Sea. I can see from my office window some of the lights that are strung in zig zag fashion across the street. Starting at the Library and headed down to the Post office, so basically a block. Little town little pleasures, quaint.
To give perspective on life in the Bush... heating options, typically people use gallons and gallons of heating oil to keep cozy and alive during the winter. Also, snow machines, careful- not snow mobiles, are a key travel component between villages and vital tools for hunting. Furthermore, airline tickets are strikingly expensive even from Nome to Anchorage.
I was hoping to get out to a village this weekend to cover a volleyball tournament, however it is just not possible at this time. The production department does not have the elasticity to have me gone a Thursday-Saturday, roughly. However, I would not have been able to get out today anyway, with the rain freezing on runways all carriers that I would have used to get out there would have been canceled. Perhaps I am just too clairvoyant.
KNOM does a yearly Christmas play every year written by a former volunteer. Several of the past plays have won awards, and I am going to be editing this years production. I should be receiving this year's play any time now.
I have been spending some time with the local Parish Priest in Nome, and attending Mass. It is interesting to how it is celebrated and the Biblical basis of every tradition presented. I sit thinking about the parallels between Protestant practices and the Catholic tradition. After all, that is where Protestant traditions are generated from. Funny, some Protestants think their fathers created most of the traditions... and Catholics feel that they do not even know the Bible like Protestants, I find that interesting because Mass is scripture, despite what some people think.
Nome is a special town and I feel privileged to be apart.
Happy Holidays everyone!
You are all in my prayers,
Kristina
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Dear Lower 48 Pal,
I look out my office windows and I can see the Bering sea and the mountains covered in snow, which right now are turning pink from the 5 p.m. setting sun. It is weird, the darkness. Really can calm someone down, or depress them.
It is getting darker earlier and earlier everyday. It is hard to mentally prepare for the fact that by the time I am off work the sun is setting, and I can feel a difference. Honestly it is a little scary to feel so complacent. I am making myself stay active. For instance I am trying to go work out at least 3 times a week, practice sign language and French. However, social activities I hear increase with the winter because more people gather to prevent cabin fever. I can really see why that interaction is so important.
I can also see why KNOM is so important for people in many villages. We are a connection, a beacon, something steady and supportive. Wow, maybe I should listen in more! No, I do listen to many programs we air. In fact I am enjoying learning all about the Saints as well as the Sacraments, two spot series that the Inspirational Director David Dodman produces. I just love learning about all denominations and faiths. I love being a nerd!
I have taken a liking to C.S. Lewis. I have had his books before but for some reason now I just cannot get enough and my roommates are aware of my current addiction. They hear about it almost on a nightly basis. I have steamed through Mere Christianity as well as The Great Divorce. I recommend these books for anyone with any level of faith.
I am learning to play racquetball, yes, I am working through my uncoordinated skills and trying to hit a small ball with a little racket in a little room. I could feel the walls closing in last time- or maybe that was because I was running into them.
I did another Sounding Board this week. Sounding Board is a caller driven show where KNOM staff and volunteers take turns researching a issue or topic and host a show about it for an hour once a week. This was my week and I chose Obesity in Western Alaska. The first 30 minutes were dry with no callers. Fortunately, people ended up calling in the second half and giving their take on the issue, maybe better next time. I need to come up with another topic... I am up again in a month. Any ideas?
I might be headed to Golovin in about 2 weeks to cover a volleyball tournament. Pray for that, I think it would be a slamming good time!.... I know I am lame. It is confining to think that I have not ventured out of the city of Nome for over 2 months. Makes me feel disconnected to the world.
How have you been? I have been rude and have not even asked. I a sorry! Your support and prayers keep me chugging along on late nights.
I do miss the lower 48, but KNOM is such an amazing place, and the staff is phenomenal. They have everyone's best interest at heart. They stand by their staff and volunteers, really helps when we are all so far from home.
Stay well and know you are in my prayers. Have a GLORIOUS day and enjoy the trees and the Sun... Since I do not see much of either here.
Yours,
Kristina
It is getting darker earlier and earlier everyday. It is hard to mentally prepare for the fact that by the time I am off work the sun is setting, and I can feel a difference. Honestly it is a little scary to feel so complacent. I am making myself stay active. For instance I am trying to go work out at least 3 times a week, practice sign language and French. However, social activities I hear increase with the winter because more people gather to prevent cabin fever. I can really see why that interaction is so important.
I can also see why KNOM is so important for people in many villages. We are a connection, a beacon, something steady and supportive. Wow, maybe I should listen in more! No, I do listen to many programs we air. In fact I am enjoying learning all about the Saints as well as the Sacraments, two spot series that the Inspirational Director David Dodman produces. I just love learning about all denominations and faiths. I love being a nerd!
I have taken a liking to C.S. Lewis. I have had his books before but for some reason now I just cannot get enough and my roommates are aware of my current addiction. They hear about it almost on a nightly basis. I have steamed through Mere Christianity as well as The Great Divorce. I recommend these books for anyone with any level of faith.
I am learning to play racquetball, yes, I am working through my uncoordinated skills and trying to hit a small ball with a little racket in a little room. I could feel the walls closing in last time- or maybe that was because I was running into them.
I did another Sounding Board this week. Sounding Board is a caller driven show where KNOM staff and volunteers take turns researching a issue or topic and host a show about it for an hour once a week. This was my week and I chose Obesity in Western Alaska. The first 30 minutes were dry with no callers. Fortunately, people ended up calling in the second half and giving their take on the issue, maybe better next time. I need to come up with another topic... I am up again in a month. Any ideas?
I might be headed to Golovin in about 2 weeks to cover a volleyball tournament. Pray for that, I think it would be a slamming good time!.... I know I am lame. It is confining to think that I have not ventured out of the city of Nome for over 2 months. Makes me feel disconnected to the world.
How have you been? I have been rude and have not even asked. I a sorry! Your support and prayers keep me chugging along on late nights.
I do miss the lower 48, but KNOM is such an amazing place, and the staff is phenomenal. They have everyone's best interest at heart. They stand by their staff and volunteers, really helps when we are all so far from home.
Stay well and know you are in my prayers. Have a GLORIOUS day and enjoy the trees and the Sun... Since I do not see much of either here.
Yours,
Kristina
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Firestarters, Blinking Lights, and T-Shirt Weather
It seems that children everywhere have decided that playing with matches and lighters is the new the national pastime. Now Nome is no exception.
The wildfires in Southern California started by a ten year old, and last year in Hooper Bay, Alaska some village children were playing with fire and ended up burning half the village down. These situations are so incredibly devastating for all involved. The fires will just hare through cities and villages devouring everything in their path. Where is Smokey the Bear?
In Nome there was one victim. There was a fire that broke out this past Tuesday morning and three men were inside. One did not make it out. This apparently was caused by children playing with a lighter in the garage.
The children will more than likely not be prosecuted, and I am not saying that they should be. They do not necessarily understand how their actions can result in mass destruction and even death. That is not something taught between dodge ball and addition.
When the fire broke out power to most, if not all of Nome, was cut off so the firefighters would not have to encounter live wires on top of the out of control blaze. It took crews a few hours to douse the flames, and even when it was out to the eye, hot spots continued so it was watched and baby sat, much like those kids should have been with the lighter. Children cannot be watched every moment, but something should be done, implement a program, have the parents attend a fire safety instruction course, something.
I suppose I am a little optimistic. I hope people prove me wrong.
It was not the first time (and most certainly not the last) the electricity in Nome has disappeared. This is a common occurrence, and will increase with winter swiftly approaching. I have come to live with the blinking clocks around me. We have a few clocks around the house that run off battery so we have backups in case our main alarms fail. At first I would run around resetting my life, as it should be with steady lights with the correct time- or maybe a little fast so I could arrive to work in a timely fashion. However, that is no longer the case. I know where to look for the correct or at least approximate time. So I sleep in a room with a steady blink of 12 midnight, I could not stand that when I was in the Lower 48.
Crazy what you can become acclimated to in life. Just take it as it comes, I can thank my God for that. He is the one that keeps me chugging up here 102 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
The daily temperatures are between the mid-twenties and low thirties now. Last week we had a day where it reached 36 and my response was 'Man it warmed up, I do not need a jacket to run home'. Life is funny that way.
T-shirt weather? For the locals and natives, always.
The wildfires in Southern California started by a ten year old, and last year in Hooper Bay, Alaska some village children were playing with fire and ended up burning half the village down. These situations are so incredibly devastating for all involved. The fires will just hare through cities and villages devouring everything in their path. Where is Smokey the Bear?
In Nome there was one victim. There was a fire that broke out this past Tuesday morning and three men were inside. One did not make it out. This apparently was caused by children playing with a lighter in the garage.
The children will more than likely not be prosecuted, and I am not saying that they should be. They do not necessarily understand how their actions can result in mass destruction and even death. That is not something taught between dodge ball and addition.
When the fire broke out power to most, if not all of Nome, was cut off so the firefighters would not have to encounter live wires on top of the out of control blaze. It took crews a few hours to douse the flames, and even when it was out to the eye, hot spots continued so it was watched and baby sat, much like those kids should have been with the lighter. Children cannot be watched every moment, but something should be done, implement a program, have the parents attend a fire safety instruction course, something.
I suppose I am a little optimistic. I hope people prove me wrong.
It was not the first time (and most certainly not the last) the electricity in Nome has disappeared. This is a common occurrence, and will increase with winter swiftly approaching. I have come to live with the blinking clocks around me. We have a few clocks around the house that run off battery so we have backups in case our main alarms fail. At first I would run around resetting my life, as it should be with steady lights with the correct time- or maybe a little fast so I could arrive to work in a timely fashion. However, that is no longer the case. I know where to look for the correct or at least approximate time. So I sleep in a room with a steady blink of 12 midnight, I could not stand that when I was in the Lower 48.
Crazy what you can become acclimated to in life. Just take it as it comes, I can thank my God for that. He is the one that keeps me chugging up here 102 miles south of the Arctic Circle.
The daily temperatures are between the mid-twenties and low thirties now. Last week we had a day where it reached 36 and my response was 'Man it warmed up, I do not need a jacket to run home'. Life is funny that way.
T-shirt weather? For the locals and natives, always.
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