B is for Butterfly

We are half way through our second week of summer camp. Our numbers have been different everyday because Smelt is passing through the village. Lots of our students are helping their families fish, cut, and dry the fish to store for the year. 

We have been working on letter B this week so today, we made butterflies. We took our butterflies for a spin outside. Loving the warm weather today!

We decided to run our butterflies down the hill.

And now a photo story of friendship...

Friends make everything better.

Weaving nets for fish week!

First Week

Here are more pictures from our first week of school. We had a great first week each day being completely different than the next. Our school day starts at ten a.m. but many students trickle in throughout the day. Since it does not get dark, lots of our students are up running and playing around until early morning.  We take them as they come, and make the most of the time we have together.

Morning routine of brushing teeth and washing faces.

love these sweet faces

ABC Yoga

"C"

A is for Alligator 

Birthday girl!

Our community art project.

Our friend Ross took us out on a river ride to experience an Alaskan day in the Tundra. We had a great time even when we lost feeling in our toes.

Ready for the river, (pre-frostbite)

Alyssa

Our photo shoot while Ross was fishing.....

Creating hand signals when we spot an animal....this is clearly a moose.

Not as obvious...beaver

Bear.

A Fox.

Linnea and Otter gloves. Linnea is clearly not a member of PETA. Ross with his Pike ( below)

In Alaska one must shoot guns.

Alyssa was a natural

I was clearly very comfortable.

Linnea channeling her inner Sarah Palin

 

Tuluksak, Alaska

Kari Meets Namibia meets Kari Teaching in Cool Places

Looks like my blogging days are about to be revisited….I can’t believe that it has already been two years since I was student teaching in Namibia. In some ways, it feels like it was just yesterday. Since Namibia, I completed my student teaching in Tacoma, WA, graduated, and moved to Minnesota. I have had a rewarding and fun year teaching extended day Kindergarten in Chaska, MN. But as summer was approaching I was looking for a new adventure. Admittedly, I know a little too much about the Real Housewives of every city and all contestants on the Bachelor (Sean and Catherine for life) . I decided it was time to be immersed in a new culture, school, and gain perspective.

I was excited for the opportunity to go with seven other PLU alum and our professor Jan Weiss to the Tundra of Alaska to teach a three week summer school program.  Between the eight of us, we are split into three Yupik villages:  Tuluksak, Akiak, and Akiachak. I am in Tuluksak, with my cousin Linnea, my new friend, and PLU alum, Alyssa Johnson. We have been warmly welcomed into the community and just completed our first day of Summer School. I thought I would share some photos of our first days here in Tuluksak!

Enjoy!

P.s. they are serious when they say it does not get dark in the summer. Thanks for my eye mask dad! Such a clutch.

Team Awesome. Love these ladies.

Our 4th plane of the day...

No but seriously we are going on this.....

still looking for the parachutes.

Boots with the Rubber

Mud Pies!

My class of pre-k and K. First day of school ever. 

Summer Journals 

Setting up for tomorrow's activities. Such sweet faces.