The 2019-2020 school year is not one I am likely to ever forget!
The fall was marked with tragedy, and we all thought winter vacation would be a good reset button for the school year. On January 1, a fire suppression pipe burst upstairs and flooded the entire side of the school. Luckily, my classroom didn't see a ton of damage; however, the school was closed the entire month of January to tear out carpet, sheetrock, ceiling...
We were back in school for exactly five and a half weeks before COVID-19 shut schools down on Friday, March 13. It was beyond heartbreaking for me. My class had been so blessed by family and friends. My students were really hitting their stride and doing some amazing things for 3rd graders. We were just starting my favorite science and social studies units for the year...and it just evaporated. We cannot do distance learning on the computers because there is virtually no internet throughout the village beyond cell data for social media. I never got to say a proper goodbye to my little learners. We didn't get to have our Earth Day party or have our monthly growth/achievement celebrations.
In early April, there was an issue with the water system, and teacher housing was without running water for a week. No showers, no toilets, no water to drink...nothing. There was a lot of getting snow to melt, hauling water from the washeteria...not something I care to experience again!
Ravn, the larger rural air service here, declared bankruptcy and shut down without warning. Major airlines slashed flights. My flights home changed four times before I finally accepted that I was receiving a very clear message that I was not going to be able to see my family this summer. The construction company here putting our school back together. I've been volunteering in the office and taking a million online professional development classes. I also have been working to bridge the school wifi to teacher housing, which is a much welcome addition.
This year has definitely been one for the books! I plan on staying in 3rd grade this year, though class will look VERY different this year because of social distancing regulations. I've been sharing more pictures on my social media of classroom things this year, and next year I hope to finally get good at regular posts here.
Year 2 Recap
Monday, December 23, 2019
The first half of my 2nd year has been full of highs and lows. It managed to drag on and feel like it would never end while simultaneously rushing by me!
I moved down to 3rd grade this year. I went back early to set up my new classroom and ended up getting weathered in the village instead of making it back to Anchorage for district in-service! It gave me a much needed extra couple of days to work in my room while I participated in our back to school meetings via video conference.
Unfortunately, the year started off with multiple tragedies. Three high school seniors committed suicide between August and November, plus a stepfather of one of those boys. We've spent a good bit of time and energy on trauma response. The village was emotionally exhausted trying to heal.
I ended up with strep throat the first weekend of November. I can't remember the last time I felt so physically terrible. A week later, my roommate came down with it. The house, and my classroom, got a good bit of disinfecting after that!
My little learners and I have been blessed this year, as well. At the end of the summer I posted on Facebook about getting sponsors for monthly chapter books from our Scholastic book orders. Not only did every child in my class get sponsored, but people donated money beyond that for whatever they might need during the year as well as others purchasing items off our class Amazon wish list. My grandmother sewed pillowcases for all of my students as well as two quilts for the top graduates this year. My uncle sent each of my students a pack of colored pencils plus some science experiment kits.
Luckily, all of the stars and planets aligned for my trip home for Christmas this time around! I got on a flight out of the village that went directly to Bethel instead of stopping at two other villages. After a planned 8 hour layover and the best takeout food I've had there, we were on the Alaska jet to Anchorage. I had about an hour there before my plane took off for Denver. For the first time ever, I managed to sleep for that entire 5 hour flight! I spent about 2 hours in Denver before heading to Houston for an hour then finally home. I can only hope my return to Hooper Bay is as smooth!!
It's hard to believe I'm halfway through my 2nd year out here. My students made some amazing growth on their math benchmark tests. There are some positive programs starting at the school with our new administration. I'm working with 4th and 5th grade students during after-school tutoring 2-3 days a week, and they are so excited to come work with me.
I plan on enjoying my short break with my family and relaxing a bit. The spring semester will be here before I know it!
I moved down to 3rd grade this year. I went back early to set up my new classroom and ended up getting weathered in the village instead of making it back to Anchorage for district in-service! It gave me a much needed extra couple of days to work in my room while I participated in our back to school meetings via video conference.
Unfortunately, the year started off with multiple tragedies. Three high school seniors committed suicide between August and November, plus a stepfather of one of those boys. We've spent a good bit of time and energy on trauma response. The village was emotionally exhausted trying to heal.
I ended up with strep throat the first weekend of November. I can't remember the last time I felt so physically terrible. A week later, my roommate came down with it. The house, and my classroom, got a good bit of disinfecting after that!
My little learners and I have been blessed this year, as well. At the end of the summer I posted on Facebook about getting sponsors for monthly chapter books from our Scholastic book orders. Not only did every child in my class get sponsored, but people donated money beyond that for whatever they might need during the year as well as others purchasing items off our class Amazon wish list. My grandmother sewed pillowcases for all of my students as well as two quilts for the top graduates this year. My uncle sent each of my students a pack of colored pencils plus some science experiment kits.
Luckily, all of the stars and planets aligned for my trip home for Christmas this time around! I got on a flight out of the village that went directly to Bethel instead of stopping at two other villages. After a planned 8 hour layover and the best takeout food I've had there, we were on the Alaska jet to Anchorage. I had about an hour there before my plane took off for Denver. For the first time ever, I managed to sleep for that entire 5 hour flight! I spent about 2 hours in Denver before heading to Houston for an hour then finally home. I can only hope my return to Hooper Bay is as smooth!!
It's hard to believe I'm halfway through my 2nd year out here. My students made some amazing growth on their math benchmark tests. There are some positive programs starting at the school with our new administration. I'm working with 4th and 5th grade students during after-school tutoring 2-3 days a week, and they are so excited to come work with me.
I plan on enjoying my short break with my family and relaxing a bit. The spring semester will be here before I know it!
Monday, July 29, 2019
I didn't keep up with this blog nearly as much as I thought I would during my first year in Bush Alaska. I figured teaching for 6 years already would make things an easier adjustment, but in many ways I felt like it was my first year all over again.
I experienced many highs and a good number of lows last year. I second-guessed myself less than 5 hours after landing in my new village. I struggled adjusting to my travel plans being under constant attack by Mother Nature. I learned to expect punching through the snow before it had time to pack down (or again as it melted) while walking around. I dealt with water issues, power outages, and completely losing cell phone network coverage (including internet) for days at a time. I missed my best friend's wedding almost immediately after school started as well as being there when my dad had both knees replaced.
I also made new friends who are basically family at this point. I learned how to function as a teacher without an interactive board. I built relationships with students more than I ever did as a Lower 48 teacher (and I worked at it back then!). I stood in the Bering Sea, picked tundra berries, ate foods I'd never imagined, harvested moose meat to eat, and wondered at Alaskan Native cultural events. I grew as a teacher, hopeful school leader, and as a person. I've been on more planes in the last year than the rest of my life combined! I've found a network of like-minded Alaskan teachers who support and inspire each other constantly.
Many things are changing this year: new school administration, new grade level, new teachers. While I'm sad knowing I have to once again say goodbye to my family in just over a week, I'm excited to see my Alaskan family and hug my kids--the students I taught last year, the ones I got to know through my many classroom visits, and those I get to teach this year. I'm excited to see what new things await me this year.
Enjoy a ton of pictures of my many adventures last year.
I hope to blog more regularly in the coming year. Here's to exciting new adventures!
I experienced many highs and a good number of lows last year. I second-guessed myself less than 5 hours after landing in my new village. I struggled adjusting to my travel plans being under constant attack by Mother Nature. I learned to expect punching through the snow before it had time to pack down (or again as it melted) while walking around. I dealt with water issues, power outages, and completely losing cell phone network coverage (including internet) for days at a time. I missed my best friend's wedding almost immediately after school started as well as being there when my dad had both knees replaced.
I also made new friends who are basically family at this point. I learned how to function as a teacher without an interactive board. I built relationships with students more than I ever did as a Lower 48 teacher (and I worked at it back then!). I stood in the Bering Sea, picked tundra berries, ate foods I'd never imagined, harvested moose meat to eat, and wondered at Alaskan Native cultural events. I grew as a teacher, hopeful school leader, and as a person. I've been on more planes in the last year than the rest of my life combined! I've found a network of like-minded Alaskan teachers who support and inspire each other constantly.
Many things are changing this year: new school administration, new grade level, new teachers. While I'm sad knowing I have to once again say goodbye to my family in just over a week, I'm excited to see my Alaskan family and hug my kids--the students I taught last year, the ones I got to know through my many classroom visits, and those I get to teach this year. I'm excited to see what new things await me this year.
Enjoy a ton of pictures of my many adventures last year.
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| A student made me akutaq (a-goo-duck) which is whipped Crisco with tundra berries! |
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| This is what your storage freezer looks like when you have to order a year's worth of meat at once. |
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| A view of Hooper Bay. I get to see this out my bedroom window. |
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| Flying in Alaska is mesmerizing. This is of mountains on the way to Anchorage. |
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| I saw the Northern Lights!!!!! |
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| Thanksgiving with my Alaskan family :) |
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| Sometimes you don't know who you are saying hello to on your morning walk to school since this is what you wear. |
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| This is the EVERY. DAY. low price! My soda (pop in the village) addiction is gone. |
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| Doesn't everyone have snowball fights during the monthly fire drill?? |
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| In peak winter, the playground is almost completely buried in snow drifts. A preschool student would stand taller than those monkey bar rings! |
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| That faint darker color to the left? My apartment complex. It's about a football field away (like, walking a line--not from end zone to end zone). |
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| Sunrise is one of my favorite times of day now. I just had to wait until 9AM or later sometimes to see it :) |
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| We went to play at the beach (Bering Sea) on a beautifully sunny spring day. |
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| Our school hosted Native Youth Olympics. This is the boys' Seal Hop. They go across the court hopping on their knuckles! |
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| I took this photo walking home from prom. It's at least 10PM. |
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| I ate Beluga Whale. |
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| This is my favorite creamer, on sale! I would pay $3ish in the Lower 48. **I did NOT buy this sale item! |
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| Seal meat before I took a bite. |
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| There are no roads, so no buses to get to sports games. This is nearby Scammon Bay getting ready to head the hour+ back home after a basketball game. |
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| This is when you really start to notice how cold it is! |
I hope to blog more regularly in the coming year. Here's to exciting new adventures!
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Traveling in Bush Alaska during the winter months is a nightmare! People who act like their 4 hour delay in the Lower 48 is a huge inconvenience have NO IDEA what the true meaning of delay and hassle is. Let me paint a picture for you.
Going Home for Christmas 2018
In retrospect, it's a miracle I made my flight out my village. Planes had been flying all day with great weather. Our flight was about 90 minutes late, which is pretty much considered on time for out here. While we were waiting in the truck at the airstrip, I commented about how small the plane looked coming in. There were 7 teachers booked on this flight out, but quickly realized they sent a plane with enough room for 5. The assistant principal stayed behind and luckily the co-pilot seat was empty for a 6th person. Mind you, we have 2 small pets on this flight as well. The pilot informs us that NONE of our luggage can fly because the plane is too small. You are allowed two 50 pound bags, but nothing was leaving with us. As he's trying to call Bethel to figure out that situation, they inform him that if he doesn't get in the air NOW, we are not leaving tonight because weather was coming in fast. When the bush pilot gets jumpy, I start to cry. It's one of my stress reactions. We managed to get out of Bethel with no further incident beyond bathrooms not working in the regional airport, so I have an 8 hour layover in Anchorage to think about all the things I am now realizing I don't have for vacation (medicine, glasses, underwear, etc.).
I should also mention that Alaska Air bumped me out of First Class because they overbooked pets in that cabin. I had to argue at each of my layovers to get out of the middle seat I'd been moved to. In Houston, my plane was delayed. I'm already crying and tired, only to find out when they call us to board that the plane isn't coming tonight. United was booking us hotels. I'm basically nonverbal with how hard I'm crying at this point and find out the hotel they booked doesn't accept pets. I also have no luggage to change, brush my teeth, shower...anything. The next morning, my plane is delayed another two hours. There was not enough Starbucks to boost my mood.
Side Note: GCI, who provides phone services in the Bush, uses T Mobile networks in the Lower 48. Guess who has NO SERVICE in my region? That's right, T Mobile. After two days of arguing with GCI, they got me connected through AT&T, but I could only make calls. No data, so no texting etc.
Going Home for Spring Semester 2019
I thought, surely, that I'd used up every ounce of bad luck on the trip from Alaska to Louisiana. I was wrong. Cocoa threw up in her cage before we even left Monroe, on the flight that was delayed by 90 minutes to start. At each of my layovers of 2+ hours, the layover disappeared and left me literally running from gate to gate for boarding. In Seattle, they have terminal construction. They de-planed us outside, put us on a super crowded shuttle, and took us to the other end of where I needed to be. I finally got to Anchorage and had an overnight layover. I'm now a PRO at sleeping comfortably on airport floors.
I boarded my flight about an hour late to start back to the village. About 20 minutes before we should have landed, they inform us that we are being diverted to Dillingham. The bathrooms are not functioning because of frozen pipes. We re-board the plane after it refuels only to find out they are turning us around back to Anchorage. Cue the crying again. I managed to get on the Alaska Air flight out that night so I'm now clocking 24 hours at the Anchorage airport. I was lucky, because all Ravn flights were being diverted and canceled and the next available tickets weren't for another WEEK.
I make it to Bethel finally to meet my roommate. Saturday we are scheduled to fly in the morning. We take an $8 per person taxi to the airport. Flight on weather hold. Three hours later, flight canceled. We get put on standby for the afternoon flight which also gets canceled. We have now sat in the Bethel airport, without working restrooms, for around 8 hours. We take another taxi at $8 per person back to the hotel and spend $25 each on dinner. We go back Sunday morning, same morning hold/cancel pattern. We wait for the afternoon flight which also ended up getting canceled (but earlier). We spent another 6 hours sitting in the airport, $16 each on a taxi, and $25 on dinner. Monday morning is another $8 taxi. The flight is on weather hold for hours. They finally decide they are going to get planes going. At this point, we heard a group of teachers on the other air service got out but got turned around because of icing wings. We boarded and went to Chevak first. It was SO WINDY, I was still scared we would get turned back to Bethel.
The landing in Hooper Bay was the single scariest moment of my life. We were approaching the runway sideways because of crosswinds and just barely corrected before the land. As we went to touch down, the wind picked us up again, which made us actually touch down much farther than the pilot intended. The runway was pure ice. We started spinning and weren't stopping. The plane finally screeched to a stop at the very end of the runway with a wheel going off the side. All I could think was how cold the Bering Sea would be when we ended up there! When the pilot tried to turn us back to de-plane, the plane started spinning in circles again. We finally made it off the plane with the pilot telling us there were probably some stains in his pants after that landing! We thought we were finally safe, only to have the door to the CanAm fly open on the ride back. I've never been so happy to see my Bush apartment in my life! It took hours for me to stop shaking, even after a shower and doing laundry.
RTI Conference in Late January 2019
I was looking forward to the best conference in the state this past weekend. Flights in and out of the village were canceled Thursday. And again on Friday. Guess who never made it to Anchorage for the conference?
Summary
We got the first planes in or out of the village in 8 days today, with the exception of one freight plane that came Friday. Goods for the store came on that plane that had expiration dates from before Christmas. That stuff had been sitting in Anchorage/Bethel for long enough for it to have expired over a month ago! Today stuff came in that it currently half off because it's about to expire as well. I'm supposed to attend the ASTE technology conference in a couple of weeks. We shall see how that goes.
I'm learning to just accept that I have no control of my comings and goings right now. It is, what it is!
Going Home for Christmas 2018
In retrospect, it's a miracle I made my flight out my village. Planes had been flying all day with great weather. Our flight was about 90 minutes late, which is pretty much considered on time for out here. While we were waiting in the truck at the airstrip, I commented about how small the plane looked coming in. There were 7 teachers booked on this flight out, but quickly realized they sent a plane with enough room for 5. The assistant principal stayed behind and luckily the co-pilot seat was empty for a 6th person. Mind you, we have 2 small pets on this flight as well. The pilot informs us that NONE of our luggage can fly because the plane is too small. You are allowed two 50 pound bags, but nothing was leaving with us. As he's trying to call Bethel to figure out that situation, they inform him that if he doesn't get in the air NOW, we are not leaving tonight because weather was coming in fast. When the bush pilot gets jumpy, I start to cry. It's one of my stress reactions. We managed to get out of Bethel with no further incident beyond bathrooms not working in the regional airport, so I have an 8 hour layover in Anchorage to think about all the things I am now realizing I don't have for vacation (medicine, glasses, underwear, etc.).
I should also mention that Alaska Air bumped me out of First Class because they overbooked pets in that cabin. I had to argue at each of my layovers to get out of the middle seat I'd been moved to. In Houston, my plane was delayed. I'm already crying and tired, only to find out when they call us to board that the plane isn't coming tonight. United was booking us hotels. I'm basically nonverbal with how hard I'm crying at this point and find out the hotel they booked doesn't accept pets. I also have no luggage to change, brush my teeth, shower...anything. The next morning, my plane is delayed another two hours. There was not enough Starbucks to boost my mood.
Side Note: GCI, who provides phone services in the Bush, uses T Mobile networks in the Lower 48. Guess who has NO SERVICE in my region? That's right, T Mobile. After two days of arguing with GCI, they got me connected through AT&T, but I could only make calls. No data, so no texting etc.
Going Home for Spring Semester 2019
I thought, surely, that I'd used up every ounce of bad luck on the trip from Alaska to Louisiana. I was wrong. Cocoa threw up in her cage before we even left Monroe, on the flight that was delayed by 90 minutes to start. At each of my layovers of 2+ hours, the layover disappeared and left me literally running from gate to gate for boarding. In Seattle, they have terminal construction. They de-planed us outside, put us on a super crowded shuttle, and took us to the other end of where I needed to be. I finally got to Anchorage and had an overnight layover. I'm now a PRO at sleeping comfortably on airport floors.
I boarded my flight about an hour late to start back to the village. About 20 minutes before we should have landed, they inform us that we are being diverted to Dillingham. The bathrooms are not functioning because of frozen pipes. We re-board the plane after it refuels only to find out they are turning us around back to Anchorage. Cue the crying again. I managed to get on the Alaska Air flight out that night so I'm now clocking 24 hours at the Anchorage airport. I was lucky, because all Ravn flights were being diverted and canceled and the next available tickets weren't for another WEEK.
I make it to Bethel finally to meet my roommate. Saturday we are scheduled to fly in the morning. We take an $8 per person taxi to the airport. Flight on weather hold. Three hours later, flight canceled. We get put on standby for the afternoon flight which also gets canceled. We have now sat in the Bethel airport, without working restrooms, for around 8 hours. We take another taxi at $8 per person back to the hotel and spend $25 each on dinner. We go back Sunday morning, same morning hold/cancel pattern. We wait for the afternoon flight which also ended up getting canceled (but earlier). We spent another 6 hours sitting in the airport, $16 each on a taxi, and $25 on dinner. Monday morning is another $8 taxi. The flight is on weather hold for hours. They finally decide they are going to get planes going. At this point, we heard a group of teachers on the other air service got out but got turned around because of icing wings. We boarded and went to Chevak first. It was SO WINDY, I was still scared we would get turned back to Bethel.
The landing in Hooper Bay was the single scariest moment of my life. We were approaching the runway sideways because of crosswinds and just barely corrected before the land. As we went to touch down, the wind picked us up again, which made us actually touch down much farther than the pilot intended. The runway was pure ice. We started spinning and weren't stopping. The plane finally screeched to a stop at the very end of the runway with a wheel going off the side. All I could think was how cold the Bering Sea would be when we ended up there! When the pilot tried to turn us back to de-plane, the plane started spinning in circles again. We finally made it off the plane with the pilot telling us there were probably some stains in his pants after that landing! We thought we were finally safe, only to have the door to the CanAm fly open on the ride back. I've never been so happy to see my Bush apartment in my life! It took hours for me to stop shaking, even after a shower and doing laundry.
RTI Conference in Late January 2019
I was looking forward to the best conference in the state this past weekend. Flights in and out of the village were canceled Thursday. And again on Friday. Guess who never made it to Anchorage for the conference?
Summary
We got the first planes in or out of the village in 8 days today, with the exception of one freight plane that came Friday. Goods for the store came on that plane that had expiration dates from before Christmas. That stuff had been sitting in Anchorage/Bethel for long enough for it to have expired over a month ago! Today stuff came in that it currently half off because it's about to expire as well. I'm supposed to attend the ASTE technology conference in a couple of weeks. We shall see how that goes.
I'm learning to just accept that I have no control of my comings and goings right now. It is, what it is!
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Life in Bush Alaska is a lesson in patience and creativity. I'm becoming a seasoned pro at online shopping and getting things shipped to my village!
Hooper Bay has an AC store, so we get fairly regular shipments of produce and have a decent stock of refrigerated stuff. Things are just much more expensive here than in the Lower 48! For example, Jiffy corn muffin mix is something like $0.49 back home. If I bought one here, I'd pay $2.45. Think I'm kidding?
I'm getting really good at going through and getting the 1/2 price items that are getting ready to go out of date. I'm not being dramatic when I say that bread is BOGO right now so we have 1.5 packs in the fridge and 2 (soon to be 4) more in the freezer! I don't have soda (pop) available because I refuse to pay $15 for a 12 pack. Right now 20 packs are on sale for $18, and I may splurge for special occasions :)
For the sake of saving money and getting things they don't sell here, I'm getting quite good at online grocery shopping. Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart (seldom), Best Buy, and a few others are becoming my best friends.
Target
I like getting things from Target because I get 5% off with my card. I get things like microwaveable soups for lunch, bath stuff, canned goods, some boxed goods, Halloween candy, etc. The shipping ranges anywhere from 2 weeks to almost a month when planes are weathered in. So far, there have been two major issues. One time they shipped me 13 bottles of beet juice instead of all the actual stuff I ordered. After a long phone call, they replaced everything but the pasta that was now out of stock. Just the other day, a $200 order of food supplies, bath rugs, and my air fryer were listed as damaged then "issue." I called Target who said the boxes were lost in transit so they refunded my order. I'm thinking I either need to do multiple small orders so the boxes are manageable or only use Target for lighter items.
Amazon
If you plan on living out here, Amazon Prime is a must! I've ordered light bulbs, tea, classroom display items, postcards (that people have requested), shelf stable coffee creamer, rain boots, winter boots, hangers, laundry baskets, etc. I was finally able to get pillows sent out thanks to them. Amazon saved my life when it came to shopping for my cat Cocoa. They shipped out a litter box, big pails of cat litter, huge bags of food, etc. Prime doesn't mean free 2-day shipping here! It's between 1-2 weeks. The good news is that they are the first boxes to get loaded on planes after priority shipping boxes from USPS!!
Wal-Mart
I did a bush order while I was in Anchorage and sent a few things out. It takes a few weeks for the stuff to arrive and they charge you a percentage for packing/shipping. Ordering online is often not the best option because they charge you an "Alaska shipping" fee. Sometimes you actually can get free shipping, but it's not common at the moment. The only thing I've ordered from them is the specialty light for our pantry. Even with the $6 shipping, I got two lights cheaper than I could get one from Amazon.
Best Buy
I ordered our Blu Ray player and HDMI cables from Best Buy with no issue. I also ordered color toner for my laser printer in my classroom since Amazon wouldn't ship to my address here on that item. The price was the same, and I still got free shipping. I find they ship quickly, too. I think both times was right at a week.
Mr. Prime Beef
This order was quite the experience! The teachers get together and make one order for the whole year around Labor Day. It's basically a butcher that you can order all kinds of meat from. Because we order the way we do (over 1,000 pounds of meat together) it goes Bypass Mail which is cheaper. We got chicken, a variety of beef, pork, bacon, catfish, halibut, shrimp, and some frozen veggies. Trying to estimate what you will use in a year is overwhelming. I'm looking forward to its arrival so we can add a bit of variety to our current dinner offerings.
Others
I haven't tried Dollar General yet, but I've been told they are a decent option. Nuts.com has a lot of bulk nuts, dried fruit options, and spices. I plan on ordering from them soon. A teacher here is from Wisconsin so in the next couple of weeks we will put together a bulk cheese order!
Family and Friends
Some things I just haven't been able to locate (yet) online. Things like shelf-stable cheese tortellini and gnocchi have evaded me so far. My family loves me enough to send these in a care package. When we first got here and were eating ramen and cheese quesadillas fairly regularly until we got situated, my sister went shopping and packed up a tote full of food items for us. My Baba has sent a couple of boxes with snack chocolate and cake mixes as well as guacamole and hummus! My mom's friend Melanie, who used to live in Alaska, has adopted me and sends candy for the kids and I as well as some other goodies.
If you want to send care packages or letters, I'd love it! Mail is super exciting here :)
If you have to have a physical address for whatever reason, even though they don't exist here:
Hooper Bay has an AC store, so we get fairly regular shipments of produce and have a decent stock of refrigerated stuff. Things are just much more expensive here than in the Lower 48! For example, Jiffy corn muffin mix is something like $0.49 back home. If I bought one here, I'd pay $2.45. Think I'm kidding?
I'm getting really good at going through and getting the 1/2 price items that are getting ready to go out of date. I'm not being dramatic when I say that bread is BOGO right now so we have 1.5 packs in the fridge and 2 (soon to be 4) more in the freezer! I don't have soda (pop) available because I refuse to pay $15 for a 12 pack. Right now 20 packs are on sale for $18, and I may splurge for special occasions :)
For the sake of saving money and getting things they don't sell here, I'm getting quite good at online grocery shopping. Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart (seldom), Best Buy, and a few others are becoming my best friends.
Target
I like getting things from Target because I get 5% off with my card. I get things like microwaveable soups for lunch, bath stuff, canned goods, some boxed goods, Halloween candy, etc. The shipping ranges anywhere from 2 weeks to almost a month when planes are weathered in. So far, there have been two major issues. One time they shipped me 13 bottles of beet juice instead of all the actual stuff I ordered. After a long phone call, they replaced everything but the pasta that was now out of stock. Just the other day, a $200 order of food supplies, bath rugs, and my air fryer were listed as damaged then "issue." I called Target who said the boxes were lost in transit so they refunded my order. I'm thinking I either need to do multiple small orders so the boxes are manageable or only use Target for lighter items.
Amazon
If you plan on living out here, Amazon Prime is a must! I've ordered light bulbs, tea, classroom display items, postcards (that people have requested), shelf stable coffee creamer, rain boots, winter boots, hangers, laundry baskets, etc. I was finally able to get pillows sent out thanks to them. Amazon saved my life when it came to shopping for my cat Cocoa. They shipped out a litter box, big pails of cat litter, huge bags of food, etc. Prime doesn't mean free 2-day shipping here! It's between 1-2 weeks. The good news is that they are the first boxes to get loaded on planes after priority shipping boxes from USPS!!
Wal-Mart
I did a bush order while I was in Anchorage and sent a few things out. It takes a few weeks for the stuff to arrive and they charge you a percentage for packing/shipping. Ordering online is often not the best option because they charge you an "Alaska shipping" fee. Sometimes you actually can get free shipping, but it's not common at the moment. The only thing I've ordered from them is the specialty light for our pantry. Even with the $6 shipping, I got two lights cheaper than I could get one from Amazon.
Best Buy
I ordered our Blu Ray player and HDMI cables from Best Buy with no issue. I also ordered color toner for my laser printer in my classroom since Amazon wouldn't ship to my address here on that item. The price was the same, and I still got free shipping. I find they ship quickly, too. I think both times was right at a week.
Mr. Prime Beef
This order was quite the experience! The teachers get together and make one order for the whole year around Labor Day. It's basically a butcher that you can order all kinds of meat from. Because we order the way we do (over 1,000 pounds of meat together) it goes Bypass Mail which is cheaper. We got chicken, a variety of beef, pork, bacon, catfish, halibut, shrimp, and some frozen veggies. Trying to estimate what you will use in a year is overwhelming. I'm looking forward to its arrival so we can add a bit of variety to our current dinner offerings.
Others
I haven't tried Dollar General yet, but I've been told they are a decent option. Nuts.com has a lot of bulk nuts, dried fruit options, and spices. I plan on ordering from them soon. A teacher here is from Wisconsin so in the next couple of weeks we will put together a bulk cheese order!
Family and Friends
Some things I just haven't been able to locate (yet) online. Things like shelf-stable cheese tortellini and gnocchi have evaded me so far. My family loves me enough to send these in a care package. When we first got here and were eating ramen and cheese quesadillas fairly regularly until we got situated, my sister went shopping and packed up a tote full of food items for us. My Baba has sent a couple of boxes with snack chocolate and cake mixes as well as guacamole and hummus! My mom's friend Melanie, who used to live in Alaska, has adopted me and sends candy for the kids and I as well as some other goodies.
If you want to send care packages or letters, I'd love it! Mail is super exciting here :)
Brittany Taraba
PO Box 249
Hooper Bay AK 99604
If you have to have a physical address for whatever reason, even though they don't exist here:
Brittany Taraba
c/o Hooper Bay School
249 School Road
Hooper Bay AK 99604
Friday, October 5, 2018
I never intended for it to be so long in between posts! An educators know that the beginning of school is a hectic time. Combine that with being in a new state, new house, new school, and new grade--it's been one heck of an almost 2 months in my new home :)
I flew from Monroe to Anchorage on August 9. Let me tell you that 16 travel hours with a cat in tow makes for an extremely stressful experience. I figured since her happy meds were about done for with only 4 more hours that I'd give a half dose. I will never make that mistake again! I spent Friday with my new friend Courtney doing some quick shopping and getting my new phone. I've taken over her spot at school now that she's moved to Anchorage, and she was so patient answering all my questions!
Friday night my roommate Darla arrived with her dog Lincoln. We flew out early the next morning. My home airport is a small, regional one so the planes aren't nearly as big. I thought that would adequately prepare me for the small planes I was in for. I was wrong. The flight from Anchorage to Bethel wasn't so bad since the plane was just slightly smaller than I'm used to. It was very weird going outside and stepping into the plane.
Bethel turned into an experience! Our flight was delayed due to a low weather ceiling. They suddenly wanted to charge us extra for our pet carriers as well as consider our carryon backpacks luggage. That put us over the luggage weight limit, so we also had to pay for that privilege! After finally getting the okay to fly, we walked out to the smallest plane, that everyone else was excited about because it was the bigger option! I couldn't see anything below because of the cloud cover, and the pilots had no problem looking at their phones during the flight. When an alarm went off, I about came out of my seat before being told it was the signal we were about to land.
The principal and counselor picked us up in the school truck and took us to our apartment. They were so helpful. The maintenance guys had moved almost all our boxes/totes from the school to our place so we could start getting settled in right away. Those first few days were an series of overwhelming piles of totes and boxes as well as moving classrooms across the school.
I'm working on getting better with the blog updates. My immediate goal is to catch up on almost 2 months of life here, then keep it up to date :)
I flew from Monroe to Anchorage on August 9. Let me tell you that 16 travel hours with a cat in tow makes for an extremely stressful experience. I figured since her happy meds were about done for with only 4 more hours that I'd give a half dose. I will never make that mistake again! I spent Friday with my new friend Courtney doing some quick shopping and getting my new phone. I've taken over her spot at school now that she's moved to Anchorage, and she was so patient answering all my questions!
Friday night my roommate Darla arrived with her dog Lincoln. We flew out early the next morning. My home airport is a small, regional one so the planes aren't nearly as big. I thought that would adequately prepare me for the small planes I was in for. I was wrong. The flight from Anchorage to Bethel wasn't so bad since the plane was just slightly smaller than I'm used to. It was very weird going outside and stepping into the plane.
Bethel turned into an experience! Our flight was delayed due to a low weather ceiling. They suddenly wanted to charge us extra for our pet carriers as well as consider our carryon backpacks luggage. That put us over the luggage weight limit, so we also had to pay for that privilege! After finally getting the okay to fly, we walked out to the smallest plane, that everyone else was excited about because it was the bigger option! I couldn't see anything below because of the cloud cover, and the pilots had no problem looking at their phones during the flight. When an alarm went off, I about came out of my seat before being told it was the signal we were about to land.
The principal and counselor picked us up in the school truck and took us to our apartment. They were so helpful. The maintenance guys had moved almost all our boxes/totes from the school to our place so we could start getting settled in right away. Those first few days were an series of overwhelming piles of totes and boxes as well as moving classrooms across the school.
I'm working on getting better with the blog updates. My immediate goal is to catch up on almost 2 months of life here, then keep it up to date :)
Saturday, June 9, 2018
I believe I've told you before that I absolutely detest packing. I don't care how excited I am for a trip, I will wait until hours prior to leaving to actually pack things in my go bag. Packing for an entire life move is beyond overwhelming.
My classroom was the first thing to get sorted and packed, since I had to leave the room clean and empty when I checked out May 25. Most of my curriculum, intervention, book library, etc. got packed up and sent to storage since I'm moving from 2nd to 4th grade.
The only time I was truly made fun of by my family was when I packed up my pens, Sharpies, and highlighters. Please forgive my appearance, it's far too hot in Louisiana (even indoors).
My dad was speechless for a bit when he saw just how vast a teacher collection of writing tools could be.
You'll notice the black and yellow totes behind me. That's how my things are getting moved, via the USPS. They come pre-drilled with holes so I can put zip ties around the lid to keep them more secure. I will also send some things (like my massive collection) in flat rate shipping boxes.
I've only got the winter clothing/accessories and my heated blankets packed from the personal side of my life. In the next couple of weeks, between traveling and getting paperwork ready for my school district, I'll be carefully going through my room figuring out what I can't live without.
There will be a Part 2 with information about the actual costs of my Alaskan move. I'll also be sure to fill you in on the online shopping part of my moving adventure.
In other news, I've chatted with my roommate on the phone. Her name is Darla, and she's from Montana! She's bringing a Yorkie named Lincoln with her, so Cocoa will have a friend :)
My classroom was the first thing to get sorted and packed, since I had to leave the room clean and empty when I checked out May 25. Most of my curriculum, intervention, book library, etc. got packed up and sent to storage since I'm moving from 2nd to 4th grade.
The only time I was truly made fun of by my family was when I packed up my pens, Sharpies, and highlighters. Please forgive my appearance, it's far too hot in Louisiana (even indoors).
My dad was speechless for a bit when he saw just how vast a teacher collection of writing tools could be.
You'll notice the black and yellow totes behind me. That's how my things are getting moved, via the USPS. They come pre-drilled with holes so I can put zip ties around the lid to keep them more secure. I will also send some things (like my massive collection) in flat rate shipping boxes.
I've only got the winter clothing/accessories and my heated blankets packed from the personal side of my life. In the next couple of weeks, between traveling and getting paperwork ready for my school district, I'll be carefully going through my room figuring out what I can't live without.
There will be a Part 2 with information about the actual costs of my Alaskan move. I'll also be sure to fill you in on the online shopping part of my moving adventure.
In other news, I've chatted with my roommate on the phone. Her name is Darla, and she's from Montana! She's bringing a Yorkie named Lincoln with her, so Cocoa will have a friend :)