Anchorage, Alaska

August 4th to August 14th
We arrived in Anchorage on August 4th, but Kristen's training didn't start until August 8th. So...we set up bank accounts, got our drivers licenses, switched car insurance, found a place to store the car....you get the idea. We really didn't do anything that was too exciting. Hence, no pictures until training. We stayed in North Hall, one of the res halls at the University of Alaska Anchorage. It wasn't just staff members from Galena there. There were also staff members from 2 other residential high schools in Alaska--Mt. Edgecumb High School in Sitka and the Living Center in Nenana. A good time was had by all.
Tired after a long day of training. Left: Gwenn (standing) and Carrie. Right: Heather (red shirt), Ben L., and Jenn.
Later that same night, playing a team-building ice-breaker kind of game (it's a res life thing). From left: Dave, Jenn, Stacey, Ben B., and Aaron (on the floor).
The Alaska Native Heritage Center
On Thursday afternoon, Kristen and the other trainees went to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you are going to be in Anchorage, this is a must-see. There were performances to watch, movies to see, traditional village dwellings to visit, and lots and lots of neat things to buy. And a lot of other stuff to do, too, including some amazing exhibits. We took A LOT of pictures, there, so get ready. This one on the left is of a statue in front of the center. It is of the Raven, a powerful figure in Native mythology.
David, right, works as a storyteller at the Heritage Center. He was really good at making string figures, which is used in some traditional Native storytelling. In the picture below, he's showing a trick where he took Heather's ring off of the string without pulling the string off of her fingers. Pretty cool.
At the center, we had an opportunity to watch some native dancing, performed by a group of mostly high school students. They were so amazing we came back for a second performance later in the afternoon. Many of us were literally moved to tears by the emotions in the songs and in the dancing.
Luke, right, is one of the dancers and he is very compelling to watch. He hammed it up for the crowd, even dancing right in front of our seats at times. He clearly enjoyed performing for a crowd.
Vera (far right in top and right picture) joined in during one of the dances.
At the end of each performance, the dancers invited everyone on stage to dance with them. Left: Pia (jeans, black shirt) gives it a go. Above: Ben B. shakes his groove thing, on the floor. Below: Dave, Aaron, Ben L., Jenn, and Heather join in.
Below: Members of the audience came up to join a traditional dance.
Above: The three game boys--amazing athletes who could kick and jump like you wouldn't belive.
Right: The door to one of the traditional native homes. The door was actually carved (burned) out of a tree.
Left: A traditional totem.
Above: Timi examines a native sewing kit.
Aaron and Becca with a kayek.
Becca and the lower jawbones of a whale. Seriously. These were used to mark villages.
Jerome was one of the staff members at the center and he was kind enough to try on some traditional snow goggles for us.
Karen and a moose. Don't worry.
It's not real.
This is a traditional open fish trap made by the chief of the Athabascan tribe.
Members of the Athabascan tribe can be found all over the interior of Alaska, including in Galena, where we will be living.
Just thought this quote was funny.
Ben L. and Jenn purchased strings to make figures with at the center and spent the evening practicing on them. Right, Ben shows off his new skill.
Our last dinner all together (minus Ruthie from Nenana, unfortunately):
Left: Ben B. (Galena), Gwenn (G), Becca (Mt. Edgecumb), Pia (Nenana), Jenn (G), Kristen (G), James (G), Dave (G). On the end is Christina (N). On the right, Carrie (ME), Aaron (ME), Karen (N), Stacey (G), Ben L. (G), Timi (the one silly enough to try to train us all), and Vera (G).
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