(no longer) The Northernmost Jew

I'm gonna eat crow on this one. I was in a cranky mood and shouldn't have said that you wouldn't make it. That being said let me explain.

Some people just don't make here, and that happens for a variety of reasons. Some people just can't take the cold or the lack of daylight. Some people miss their family or whatever area they call home. Much of the time, however, it is their attitude that does them in. The first thing you hear them talking about is how filthy the village is and the hoardes of skinny dogs, the dirty children, the smell of rancid seal oil and thawing honeybuckets etc etc. Some people never get past that and the locals become, well, weary of listening to all the moaning and whining.

We all come from different areas and have different expectations. The biggest problem we get with new people in this area is they seem to try to fit the Northwest Arctic into their expectations of what is "right" or "proper". Doing that here makes as much sense as going to africa and trying to reconcile their lives into the Northwest Arctic expectation of what is right.

A lot of folks wonder why they seem to be held at arms length by the locals. While they may be friendly, the locals sometimes seem standoffish. It is difficult to invest your time and heart in a relationship with someone who will probably be gone in a year. Many many people come to this region to make their money and go. They invest little in the community but reap the benefits in their pockets. Although the locals are, for the most part, used to this, sometimes it can be hard to stomach.

One time I was at Church and there was this guy who was a Doctor, had been here going on three years. It was his last sunday in town, he was moving to Arizona. He got up and thanked everyone and blah blah and then went on to say that he felt like he was like somedody or other in the Bible and how because he was faithful and steadfast G*d was "delivering" him from his trials. Let me tell you, there were some of us sitting there who would have loved to deliver that condesending twerp from his trials. I have a lot of stories like that.

Don't get me wrong. I by no means think that this area is perfect. I too see the hoards of skinny dogs and smell the honeybuckets....I just don't let it cloud the beauty and the bigger picture. I am not from here. I am originally from NH, but this is what I now call home. This area fits me like a glove. I tried to leave once, but after two miserable years realized that this is where I belong. The open tundra, the rivers, the mountains, the people speak to my heart and give me peace. I hope you find some of that here.

I have committed the sin of assumption which is the same no matter where you go, and I apologize. I shouldn't judge your motives or your fortitude.
 

BTW.....there are a few Jewish folks here in Kotzebue....well at least there is one. Ummmmm....the judge, Richard Erlich is jewish. Ummm.....can't think of any others at the moment. Yes.......losing the support of a local religious community will be difficult. This is a deeply Christian are and the locals will find it difficult to relate at all to you on areligious basis. The children, however, may find it fascinating. Anyway...read this http://reformjudaismmag.net/02fall/icerebbe.shtml
 

Hey all

I'm Amy's (sorta) ex and still really good friend, and can provide perhaps another perspective. I live in Anchorage now, and to be blunt, thought Amy was the worst candidate alive to teach in the Bush; well I might be worse :) I've actually been amazed how well she has adapted, and actually at the acceptance she seems to have found there. I've known others who have taught in Native bush communities with a wide variety of experiences but you are right about one thing. The districts simply have to figure out who is likely to stick around and who won't, the kids deserve that.

I met up with Amy in Kotzebue a couple of weeks ago and was blown away by how friendly everyone was. (It of course helps a lot to know someone in town and in my case I happen to know Bob Douglass through Ham Radio). If my life were a bit less complicated .I'd be looking for an IT spot at the hospital in Kotz right now!

Alaska is a weird place. It often brings out something in a person you didn't know was there. I think Amy's biggest long term difficulty is going to be that I think she has found her "calling" (being a rural teacher) in a place without a Jewish community. I think she will have more of a challenge NOT staying than staying though
 

To Ariel HaSchnauzer, yup, YOU would be the worst candidate alive
for this job! ;)

But then, I still have John Candy in a parka images of you when I think of you living in Alaska!

Amy, I enjoy your observations about the town and expect that once you feel more at home in
Deering, your blog will reflect it.

Karen
 

Karen:

the funny thing is, there are more John Candy in a parka types up here than one would think (though man I'd really rather be John Goodman in a parka! Even as horrid an elitist as I can be, the "status" crap means less than nothing up here, and as much as I hate to admit it, there is a lot to be said for that.

*ARF*
 

Wow what a "battle"! haha.. I'm going on student exchange to Finland and it's going to be such a huge difference cos I'm from sunny Singapore and Finland is going to freeze my toes off. I liked all your comments and the posts as well.