Gusties:
In honor of Kristian finally posting on the blog, I have written a rap
for you. It was inspired by your blog.
Vanni
-----------------------------------------
New peeps arrived in time for the sunshine
That keeps you awake when you really wanna sleep.
The Royal Wedding in UK inspired fairy tale dreams
Of weddings on the tundra where the drifts are really deep.
A trip to "the Point" was the real fairy tale-
In a van with a tour guide, whom we now don't trust,
Told us we'd count animals, not electric poles.
'Cept for 1 dece pic, the ride wuz just a bust.
We've put that trip behind us and are taking in the sights;
Having a whale of a time but runnin' outta cash.
An experience of a lifetime with memories that are "rad,"
Let's just chalk it up to the "power of the stache."
---------------------------------
Watch out! Vanni "Beast" Prichard aka DJ Vanni P is in the house!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Slinky, Slinky, Everyone Loves a Slinky...
Good evening my dear loyal blog readers,
I want you to close your eyes and think of a slinky. Are you thinking of a slinky? I'm serious....well, I was just going to elaborate off some characteristics that a slinky possesses, but I just realized that you wouldn't be able to read it with your eyes closed.
Alright, think with your eyes open then....think of a long, silver, metal slinky in a physics lab. Your sending transverse and longitudinal waves....examining what happens when you send one wave down on one side and sending another wave on the opposite side or maybe sending waves on both sides...maybe one person on the other end is sending the wave and as it reaches your end, it bounces off you and goes back on a different side....OR maybe you possess a funny bone and are thinking of Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective-When Nature Calls at the part where he slinks a slinky down from the monastery high in the mountains.
What's the point? Life is like a slinky.
Sound is sent through longitudinal waves. As teachers, we are projecting our voices of knowledge to our students and sharing our experiences. We start the ripple of pulses that alter pathways of students, hopefully in a positive way. We never stop and often have to present information in multiple waves..I mean ways.
Transverse waves are powerful and are easily visible. When you send one wave down one side and another wave on the same side, but on the opposite end, you will find that when they meet, the waves combine forming a giant wave and then pass on through as though they never met. It's like working with a person. You're combined efforts produce large results, but when you're finished, you carry on in your ways. Maybe the effort is an act of kindness where for a brief second, there's good in the world and it is evident.
There are times when waves heading for each other on opposite sides meet as well. When they meet, both waves are demolished producing a straight line for a brief moment until the waves pass through each other. I like to think of this as meeting someone with different views--both of you are stubborn and refuse to listen to each other.
There are times when only one wave is sent and it reaches the end only to bounce back on the opposite side. There are times when you are going to be by yourself and when you hit that wall, you WILL bounce back, but in a new direction. With the departure of Deb and Lois, we are recharged and are approaching things in a new direction.
And, there will be times when you will get tangled, knotted, and oxidized (yay chemistry!). Those knots and oxidization will be seen in your slinky because it will not compress as tightly as it once did when it was shiny and brand new.
Just in the four weeks I've been here, I can safely say that I have gone through all of these slinky experiences. I have collaborated with total strangers to do something nice/sweet/cool/amazing, I have met people that I don't share the same views or attitudes, I have fallen but have bounced back in a new direction *cough*chemistry*cough*, and I have been stretched and pulled beyond limits that I didn't think I could go beyond.
With two weeks left, I know that I will miss this place dearly. But like a slinky, I hope a wave will send me back up here in the near future.
GO, SLINKY GO!
Brit
I want you to close your eyes and think of a slinky. Are you thinking of a slinky? I'm serious....well, I was just going to elaborate off some characteristics that a slinky possesses, but I just realized that you wouldn't be able to read it with your eyes closed.
Alright, think with your eyes open then....think of a long, silver, metal slinky in a physics lab. Your sending transverse and longitudinal waves....examining what happens when you send one wave down on one side and sending another wave on the opposite side or maybe sending waves on both sides...maybe one person on the other end is sending the wave and as it reaches your end, it bounces off you and goes back on a different side....OR maybe you possess a funny bone and are thinking of Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective-When Nature Calls at the part where he slinks a slinky down from the monastery high in the mountains.
What's the point? Life is like a slinky.
Sound is sent through longitudinal waves. As teachers, we are projecting our voices of knowledge to our students and sharing our experiences. We start the ripple of pulses that alter pathways of students, hopefully in a positive way. We never stop and often have to present information in multiple waves..I mean ways.
Transverse waves are powerful and are easily visible. When you send one wave down one side and another wave on the same side, but on the opposite end, you will find that when they meet, the waves combine forming a giant wave and then pass on through as though they never met. It's like working with a person. You're combined efforts produce large results, but when you're finished, you carry on in your ways. Maybe the effort is an act of kindness where for a brief second, there's good in the world and it is evident.
There are times when waves heading for each other on opposite sides meet as well. When they meet, both waves are demolished producing a straight line for a brief moment until the waves pass through each other. I like to think of this as meeting someone with different views--both of you are stubborn and refuse to listen to each other.
There are times when only one wave is sent and it reaches the end only to bounce back on the opposite side. There are times when you are going to be by yourself and when you hit that wall, you WILL bounce back, but in a new direction. With the departure of Deb and Lois, we are recharged and are approaching things in a new direction.
And, there will be times when you will get tangled, knotted, and oxidized (yay chemistry!). Those knots and oxidization will be seen in your slinky because it will not compress as tightly as it once did when it was shiny and brand new.
Just in the four weeks I've been here, I can safely say that I have gone through all of these slinky experiences. I have collaborated with total strangers to do something nice/sweet/cool/amazing, I have met people that I don't share the same views or attitudes, I have fallen but have bounced back in a new direction *cough*chemistry*cough*, and I have been stretched and pulled beyond limits that I didn't think I could go beyond.
With two weeks left, I know that I will miss this place dearly. But like a slinky, I hope a wave will send me back up here in the near future.
GO, SLINKY GO!
Brit
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Behold the Power of the 'Stache
For the first time in my life I am growing out my mustache.
Within a week, Osama bin Laden is killed and Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano throws a no-hitter.
You can thank me later.
And now for something completely different.
It's kind of funny trying explain to people why I am enjoying my time up here in Barrow. There is no movie theater, no clubs, no shows, no trees, no grass, and a gallon of milk costs $11 dollars. Sounds miserable, right? The reply that I always give people asking me why I like it here is this: it's not Minnesota.
I know that sounds odd but I think of it this way. I enjoy eating at Chipotle and eat there often. It's been one of my favorite places to eat since I was a kid. But then a new restaurant is opening up and it's serving Greek food. I decide that I'm going to check it out. Does that mean I don't like Chipotle anymore? Of course not. The new place might be good or it might be bad but I just want to find out.
When presented with the opportunity to go to Barrow, I jumped at the bit. Not because I knew it was going to be awesome (which it has) or that I'm trying to run away from Minnesota (Prince lives in Minnesota, come on!) but because I wanted to try something new and have myself an adventure, which is precisely what I have had. None of my previous experiences can compare to what I have seen and done in Barrow. And as I look into my future and start applying for jobs, I am looking for somewhere to bring me an adventure. That might be a school in the heart of Minneapolis or a remote school in Honduras. Whatever happens, I'm up for the challenge.
Hi Ho Silver, AWAY!
Kristian
Twins Win!
Within a week, Osama bin Laden is killed and Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano throws a no-hitter.
You can thank me later.
And now for something completely different.
It's kind of funny trying explain to people why I am enjoying my time up here in Barrow. There is no movie theater, no clubs, no shows, no trees, no grass, and a gallon of milk costs $11 dollars. Sounds miserable, right? The reply that I always give people asking me why I like it here is this: it's not Minnesota.
I know that sounds odd but I think of it this way. I enjoy eating at Chipotle and eat there often. It's been one of my favorite places to eat since I was a kid. But then a new restaurant is opening up and it's serving Greek food. I decide that I'm going to check it out. Does that mean I don't like Chipotle anymore? Of course not. The new place might be good or it might be bad but I just want to find out.
When presented with the opportunity to go to Barrow, I jumped at the bit. Not because I knew it was going to be awesome (which it has) or that I'm trying to run away from Minnesota (Prince lives in Minnesota, come on!) but because I wanted to try something new and have myself an adventure, which is precisely what I have had. None of my previous experiences can compare to what I have seen and done in Barrow. And as I look into my future and start applying for jobs, I am looking for somewhere to bring me an adventure. That might be a school in the heart of Minneapolis or a remote school in Honduras. Whatever happens, I'm up for the challenge.
Hi Ho Silver, AWAY!
Kristian
Twins Win!
Sunshine!
As we may have mentioned before Barrow, Alaska is pretty much on the top of the world. Because of this fact, plus the fact that the earth rotates at a 23.4 degree angle and the time of year, it means that tonight we will have approximately 20 hours and 45 minutes of daylight. This may seem like a cool thing, but it gets tiring. I am having trouble adjusting to the change. My internal clock is telling me that because it is still light out it is okay to be awake... even though it is 1:30 in the morning and I have to be up to teach at 5:45, when it will be bright once again.
The sunshine also is difficult on our students. After the almost 24 hour darkness that the students experience in December the sunshine is a bright and welcome change. This means that they are up "playing out" on their snow machines until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning every night. I have been working with my second graders on telling time. I asked them to show me on their individual clocks what time they went to bed. The times varied from 8:00 at night until 2:00 in the morning. No wonder some kids come to school looking tired!
The sun has never been a problem for me before. I've gone to bed when it's still been up, and I have seen it rise and set and not gone to bed... but this going to sleep when it is up and getting up again and it is still as bright is getting a little old. I wouldn't mind seeing a little less of the sun... it might help with the whole sleeping thing.
Until Next Time,
Quyanaq (thank you) for reading
Trevor
The sunshine also is difficult on our students. After the almost 24 hour darkness that the students experience in December the sunshine is a bright and welcome change. This means that they are up "playing out" on their snow machines until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning every night. I have been working with my second graders on telling time. I asked them to show me on their individual clocks what time they went to bed. The times varied from 8:00 at night until 2:00 in the morning. No wonder some kids come to school looking tired!
The sun has never been a problem for me before. I've gone to bed when it's still been up, and I have seen it rise and set and not gone to bed... but this going to sleep when it is up and getting up again and it is still as bright is getting a little old. I wouldn't mind seeing a little less of the sun... it might help with the whole sleeping thing.
Until Next Time,
Quyanaq (thank you) for reading
Trevor
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A Royal Wedding in the Tundra.
This entry was supposed to be created on Friday, so put on your time machine hats and take a little trip to the past.
As you all know there was an extraordinary awesome amazingly wonderful and fairy tale like wedding this Friday. Thats right Kate Middleton and Prince William got hitched at a little church you might know called Westminster Abbey. I LOVE weddings. I do not care who is getting hitched weddings are just all around wonderful. Its a time for friends, family, and sometimes the world to come together and celebrate the wonderful commitment that two people are making to one another. It is just so presh (short for precious).
This huge wedding made me ask the question how do the peoples of Alaska celebrate weddings. And this is what I found about Inuit wedding customs:
1. In the past marriages were often arranged by the parents.
2. In the past the most successful hunter could take on more than one wife, though this was uncommon.
3. Plumpness was considered a virtue, a sign of wealth and health.
4. Married couples would set up their home with the males parents for some time.
5. Temporary marriages were set up non-kin alliances for hunting and/or warfare alliances.
Those are just some interesting things I found out about the Inuit people and their marriage customs. Check out more cool facts about the Inuit culture here: CLICK ME.
Thanks for reading.
Meredith
P.S. Its almost 24 hour daylight.
We go to bed when the sun is up and we wake up when the sun is up.... very strange.
As you all know there was an extraordinary awesome amazingly wonderful and fairy tale like wedding this Friday. Thats right Kate Middleton and Prince William got hitched at a little church you might know called Westminster Abbey. I LOVE weddings. I do not care who is getting hitched weddings are just all around wonderful. Its a time for friends, family, and sometimes the world to come together and celebrate the wonderful commitment that two people are making to one another. It is just so presh (short for precious).
This huge wedding made me ask the question how do the peoples of Alaska celebrate weddings. And this is what I found about Inuit wedding customs:
1. In the past marriages were often arranged by the parents.
2. In the past the most successful hunter could take on more than one wife, though this was uncommon.
3. Plumpness was considered a virtue, a sign of wealth and health.
4. Married couples would set up their home with the males parents for some time.
5. Temporary marriages were set up non-kin alliances for hunting and/or warfare alliances.
Those are just some interesting things I found out about the Inuit people and their marriage customs. Check out more cool facts about the Inuit culture here: CLICK ME.
Thanks for reading.
Meredith
P.S. Its almost 24 hour daylight.
We go to bed when the sun is up and we wake up when the sun is up.... very strange.
What a bust!
Deb and Lois arranged a tour of the 'tundra'. We all thought we were going to the point to search for wildlife at last! As the van arrived, a few of us had a bad feeling about this. It is impossible to get to the point via automobile. You have to either snowmachine, ATV it, ski it, walk it (with a gun), or sprinkle pixie dust on yourself in order to fly. The point lies approximately 2.6 miles north from where the road ends.
As we scampered into the van with "moi" as co-pilot, we began our "tour" of Barrow. We drove all over town and stopped at many points for a historical background lesson. We ventured west to the ice road (a temporary road that you must travel at your own risk to Atqasuk) for search of arctic fox. Instead, we saw massive storage bins for fuel, giant satellite dishes (Yay for AT&T..I get better service here than back home!) and the gravel pits. We took a break for lunch at Brower's Cafe, the oldest building in Barrow (built in the 1880s and it still stands). After a delicious meal, it was time for the tundra! We drove by the college and I got this knot-in-the-stomach feeling....we weren't going to the tundra...we're just going as far as you can get to the point. "This is were we are going to see polar bears," said our tour guide. We arrived at the end of the road, jumped out, lifted the binoculars to our eyes and saw...nothing. Nada, well except for a buried snowmachine. If I couldn't see a polar bear, I decided to climb a ginormous snow pile to see if I could see open water. Nope. Instead, I saw two snowmachines returning from the lead. One guy looked at me and waved, so I gladly waved back.
Then, we drove 17 miles south to middle of nowhere in search of wild animals. We saw a snowy owl and that's about it. One time, our tour guide said, "Caribou!" All of us with binoculars were glued to the window, but it was hard to see with our tour guide still driving. He finally stopped. Lois announced, "It's a box." "Here, let me look," said the tour guide. He confirmed it was a box. We went until the road ended and played in the snow. It's funny because on the drive were electrical lines and it finally ended at a gas checkpoint shed. I noticed that all of the electrical poles were numbered and it started at the shed. Many of us had trouble staying awake for the 17 mile drive because it was so bright, we had just eaten, and it was so barren. I tried to count electrical poles, but lost count at 219 as my eyes took a little cat nap.
I can't tell you how many of us were disappointed. All of us had high expectations and were expecting to actually go to the point. We had pretty much seen all of the sights so far on our tour some point beforehand (with the exception of Deb and Lois).
Overall, I'm sure Deb and Lois enjoyed their day. As a future note, never take the tour. Steve and friends from the college do a better job and it's easier on the pockets, if you know what I mean.
None of this tour was worthy of me to actually take pictures for I had seen all of it before. Sorry for being so blunt, but it's the truth. Hopefully some of the other Gusties post some pics.
Happy May Day!
Brit
As we scampered into the van with "moi" as co-pilot, we began our "tour" of Barrow. We drove all over town and stopped at many points for a historical background lesson. We ventured west to the ice road (a temporary road that you must travel at your own risk to Atqasuk) for search of arctic fox. Instead, we saw massive storage bins for fuel, giant satellite dishes (Yay for AT&T..I get better service here than back home!) and the gravel pits. We took a break for lunch at Brower's Cafe, the oldest building in Barrow (built in the 1880s and it still stands). After a delicious meal, it was time for the tundra! We drove by the college and I got this knot-in-the-stomach feeling....we weren't going to the tundra...we're just going as far as you can get to the point. "This is were we are going to see polar bears," said our tour guide. We arrived at the end of the road, jumped out, lifted the binoculars to our eyes and saw...nothing. Nada, well except for a buried snowmachine. If I couldn't see a polar bear, I decided to climb a ginormous snow pile to see if I could see open water. Nope. Instead, I saw two snowmachines returning from the lead. One guy looked at me and waved, so I gladly waved back.
Then, we drove 17 miles south to middle of nowhere in search of wild animals. We saw a snowy owl and that's about it. One time, our tour guide said, "Caribou!" All of us with binoculars were glued to the window, but it was hard to see with our tour guide still driving. He finally stopped. Lois announced, "It's a box." "Here, let me look," said the tour guide. He confirmed it was a box. We went until the road ended and played in the snow. It's funny because on the drive were electrical lines and it finally ended at a gas checkpoint shed. I noticed that all of the electrical poles were numbered and it started at the shed. Many of us had trouble staying awake for the 17 mile drive because it was so bright, we had just eaten, and it was so barren. I tried to count electrical poles, but lost count at 219 as my eyes took a little cat nap.
I can't tell you how many of us were disappointed. All of us had high expectations and were expecting to actually go to the point. We had pretty much seen all of the sights so far on our tour some point beforehand (with the exception of Deb and Lois).
Overall, I'm sure Deb and Lois enjoyed their day. As a future note, never take the tour. Steve and friends from the college do a better job and it's easier on the pockets, if you know what I mean.
None of this tour was worthy of me to actually take pictures for I had seen all of it before. Sorry for being so blunt, but it's the truth. Hopefully some of the other Gusties post some pics.
Happy May Day!
Brit
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