Hello to all,

It has been awhile since I last posted a summary of my time here

in Barrow, but it is not because I am lazy or because of ignorance. I have been quite busy with new hire in-service and coaching football. I finally have a little time on this Saturday afternoon to catch up, and believe me, I have a lot to tell you all.

First, I am getting my classroom in order. Each day, my excitement and anxiety grows as I am preparing for my first day as a classroom teacher. I found out the other day that I will teach three 90 minute classes each day (except on Wednesdays, where the classes will be 60 minutes). The following is an example of what the schedule will look like.

Monday: 8:00-9:30 Geography 7D

9:30-11:00 Geography 7B

11:00-12:30 Prep

12:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Language Arts 7D

Tuesday: 8:00-9:30 Geography 7C

9:30-11:00 Geography 7A

11:00-12:30 Prep

12:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Language Arts 7D

It will stay in this format. I will see 7D everyday and 7 A,B,

and C every other day. I like the schedule and as I said before, I am very excited.

Aside from school, football has been very busy. Today we had a middle school Jamboree. Many of the villages came to Barrow and the kids played well and had fun. The HMS Wolves did a great job.

The Barrow Whalers also played at 1:00. Sadly, they lost to the Nikiski Bulldogs, 27 to 2.

I am proud to announce that I am a certified referee. This was my second game. The first game, I was the back judge and this game, I was the line judge. I had a great time and look forward to the next game. I am swimming in a open sea of new experiences.

The other day at practice, head coach of the Whalers, Mark Voss, took me aside and said that a polar bear was spotted swimming down

the coast, not too far from the field. It never made it way to us but many people said they saw it walk down into the water and swim along the land. I thought to myself, I am always in the wrong place at the wrong time. A native would have said that being at the field, away from the bear, I was in the right place at the right time. Oh well. Steve said that I will see bears once fall whaling comes around.

This is a picture of a man who got himself in a pickle with a polar bear over at Kaktovik. The bear chased him around both vehicles. I do not know how the guy got himself into this position. He survived and the scary thing is...the polar bear is not even that big. The guy can see over the truck. On his hind legs, the bear is probably 8 feet tall. That is not that big for a polar bear. However, that bear would have ripped that guy apart. They are amazing creatures.

On another note, it snowed today. Mid-August, and I am walking around bundled up with snow smashing my face. I will tell you what, though, I love it and I love Barrow. Enjoy the pictures. Quyanaqpak for the comments. I will post later. Until then...

Tony