Manokotak "Nunaniq" School
That's my house. The school is just about 200 meters away to the west.
Nunaniq (noon-an-ik) means beautiful in Yup'ik and this school really lives up to its name. It is situated in the eastern part of the village up about four miles from where the majority of the population lives and at the base of some 1,200 ft rolling hills. Kids get to school by school bus, four-wheeler or "snow machine" in the winter.
I get asked, "how are the kids?" often. To be honest, in my experience, kids seem to be kids anywhere you go. They seem to need the same things: love, care, expectation, positivity and to know that you believe in them. The truth is, the kids are great, my school is wonderful, it's just different from anything I've ever known, culturally, geographically and situationally. I think I most appreciate the forced change within myself, the learning and the adjustments that must take place for me (communication, tone of voice, way of life and so many other things) -- more on all that later.
On the weekends many kids help their parents fish and with daylight lasting until about 11:30pm now, kids play until dark. School isn't the priority for all as hunting and fishing are relied on for subsistence and livelihood. I have two students who I have not yet met because they are in Anchorage at the state fair selling fish. Such is life.
Manokotak has a population of 400 and Manokotak "Nunaniq" School (K-12) has 120 kids. The school day is a long one. I have my 12 4th and 5th graders (I know, I know ridiculously small class) from 8:50 - 3:12 straight. I teach everything, from literacy to physical education. I even eat lunch with the kids which entitles me to a free lunch. Square meals around here are hard to come by, not to mention expensive to import. We don't have a grocery store of any kind here either, so it's worth lunch duty.
Life is beautiful here and I am very happy. I also have a fantastic view of the tundra from my classroom windows, complete with winding rivers and a faint view of the ocean in the distance. It's a ridiculous view really. I am fortunate to be here and to be doing what I love.
Thanks for reading and for the notes and emails!
3 comments:
BEAUTIFUL! AMAZING!
you are my hero. not even moldova compares to that
oh, i like your blog so much, i think you must be a very original and ramantic person. good luck!!! my dear friend , you are a true idealist and hero who has courage to move the most prosperous new york city in the world to remote ,cold rurul Alaska.
so nice to meet you! hope we can be your friends because i'm a big dreamer i think.
Post a Comment