First Day in Koyuk...

After feeling a little nervous about spending two weeks up north, especially after just returning to Juneau, I have much more excitement for this experience now that I'm here-- the hard part for me is always leaving Juneau (leaving the comfort zone: literal and figurative). I flew to Nome on AK air this morning and had a full afternoon layover. After asking a couple of airport workers where the best lunch spot in Nome was, I walked into town and explored. My mother reminded me that I was the first decedent of the Hudert line to return to Nome after my Grandma Maureen's family lived there in the 40's, and I honestly think I saw the exact same building that were there in when my great-grandparents left with kids in tow in 1949. The building, all wood, were very old, many falling apart. I love walking through places that time hasn't touched. Nome felt like such a place.

I finally made it to Koyuk after a 30-minute flight on a 7-seater south of Nome. Koyuk, on the ocean's edge, is very beautiful. It has trees!! That's a big deal. I was picked up by one of the Koyuk teachers and brought to the school, where I will be living for the next two weeks. Shayn (the teacher I will be working with at the school) gave me a quick tour of the village: lots of parked snow machines, old wooden boats, wooden huts on the beach and 4-wheelers. After our tour I took it upon myself to take my camera out and explore a bit. I met several kids-- of course they're curious, "Who are you?" one middle-school aged boy asked me on the road. I told him I was going to be the art teacher for summer school.

I was surprised to find that ATT has service out here! Apparently they got it about a year ago. St. Mary's didn't have any, so I wasn't expecting to be able to use my phone, but I can.
Tomorrow I start with the kids. I'm just going to be a teacher's aid when Shayn is teaching, and then I'll have an hour with each group of students a day to drawing and paint. Looking forward to meeting the little ones!

Hope you enjoy my first few photos of Koyuk-- gives you a little glimpse of what I saw today.

Next to the road-- notice the washing machine.

I just like the color of that crate-- and Babel.

After the snow and ice melts all the lost basketballs from the school yard are found! I thought it was such a telling photo. It is by far my favorite photo I took today.

Beach home.

10-year old school-- still very nice.

Boats.