Michelle looks at storms in the distance. Even though they were coming our way, she didn't seem to mind much. She just continued picking in the cold and blowing winds.
This morning as I was working in my classroom I was startled by small hands banging on my window. I walked over and saw Michelle, a little girl from my class outside. She wanted to go berry picking. She had two one-gallon buckets which she and her sister were expected to fill. One was designated for blackberries, and the other for blueberries. I was led through a few miles of thick brush until we reached an open spot on the mountain where we sat down for a rest and Akutaq (a-goo-duk). Akutaq is one important use for berries around here. Traditionally, it was eaten by hunters when they were out for long periods of time. It's a mixture of seal oil and sugar with berries (sometimes meat or fish is added). The oil and sugar is mixed and mashed by hand, literally, and then berries are added to it. Salmon berries and blueberries are the most common, but once I also had Akutaq made from ferns that had been ground up. It is a refreshing sweet treat. Today, most people skip the seal oil and use Crisco. I guess importing is easier these days.
She wouldn't quit until her bucket was full.
Somersault on our way down the mountain. This is not recommended.
4 comments:
Is Michelle one of your students? Your Alaskan students are sooooo different than your NYC students. Drastic change, to say the least!
Yeah, drastic change is right. Kids are given big responsibilities here...like hiking up a mountain to pick two gallons of berries. They come back hours later when they are finished. No big deal. They bring a little snack and some water and eat all the blueberries they can while they are out. Really cool...and totally different.
Wait - that's not what your NYC students were like??
Awesome pictures. So glad you are loving what you're doing. I'm taking a speech class this semester and my first speech, a speech to inform, i'm talking about Teach across America. your favorite uncle Tim says Hi and wants to know if you're voting republican or democrat since the VP is the governor of your state. He says she's hot, but he isn't switching.
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