Eighty-Sixth Stop Easter

HAPPY EASTER!!

Oh how time is flying by at a rapid speed.  I cannot believe that is Easter already.  Here in the village, though, it is just another day. The village here is Russian Orthodox and celebrate the Julian calendar, which means Easter is not celebrated here till April 12th.

Here is to one more week and it will finally be Spring Break.  It is now just around the corner.  One week to go!  This break is much needed and I cannot wait for the wonderful adventures that await.

Eighty-Fifth Stop: Exxon Valdez

 Twenty six years ago on March 24, 1989, one of the nations worse environmental disasters hit the U.S.  It started with the 987 foot long oil tanker named Exxon Valdez that departed from Valdez Marine Terminal and made its way towards Prince William Sound in Alaska.

    Just a few minutes after midnight, the ship hit some reef and tore open the hull of the ship releasing an estimated 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's waters.  The initial responses from Exxon and the Alyeska Pipeline Company were not sufficient enough to contain the the spill.  The approaching storm then spread the oil even more up and down the coast line covering more than a 1,000 miles.

     The spill caused hundreds of thousands of animals to lose their life and many people suffered from the spill as well.  Many of the villages, similar to the one I am living in now, depended on the ocean to provide their food for the year and it was now tarnished.  Many companies that depend on the ocean for revenue were not able to work.  It became an all-hands-on-deck to try and contain the oil and clean up the waters and beaches.

     A few of the people that I have talked to here in the village still are very touched and emotional when it comes to this topic.  It changed everyones life.  The people here in the village went from being able to provide for their families to now having their way of life taken away from them due to the contamination.  Many agencies had to step in and help provide food and money to those affected by the spill.

    Billions of dollars were spent on the cleanup costs and fines that Exxon was responsible for.  There still remains many cases waiting trial in court.

     There has been evidence and confirmation of suspicions that the captain, Joseph Hazelwood, was intoxicated while navigating the ship.  He was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of negligent discharge of oil, he only was fined $50,000, and also sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service.

     The oil, for the most part, has disappeared and is no longer visible to the eye.  There are still many Alaskan beaches that still have pollution.  On those beaches,if you were to dig a few inches below the surface, you will be able to find oil remnants.  The impact on the communities that depend on the ocean to provide are still recovering from the spill.

    Many kids in the schools here will never know the impact and this spill had on the community.  It will soon be forgotten as many National disasters are.  There is something, though, when you sit with an elder and you hear their story and how it impacted them.  Adults and children taking long shifts to work on cleaning their beaches along with others.  To see the emotion as they recount their stories is something I will never be able to forget.

 

Pictures were taken from Google. Information was taken from different online sources and personal stories from individuals in the village. 

Eighty Fourth Stop: Basket Weaving

Who would of thought that the joke that is often made is in fact very challenging!

When it came time for me to sit down and pick classes, my parents or I would make the joke about fitting in "under-water basket weaving".  This class, of course, did not exist at my college.  Nor would I have signed up for it because I did not have time for any other classes if they were not related to my majors.

Since I have come up here to Nanwalek, I have been able to get involved with Sugpiaq culture.  One thing that I have fallen in love with is the artistic abilities and skills that have been passed down from generation to generation.

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with my kiddo's mom and started to learn how to.... You guessed it...basket weave.  It is challenging, but so much fun!  Just like anything, it will take practice and patience.   I cannot wait to see how this project will turn out.

To all the men and women who do weaving with much smaller grass, I give you major kudos.  I am struggling with the thicker grass.  I cannot imagine anything smaller and I'm not even under water.

I will not make another joke about "under-water basket weaving"...because this is no joke!

Eighty Third Stop: St. Patrick's Day

A year ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to join my Parental Unit and best friend in New York City to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...A day where everyone in the city is Irish and out celebrating. 

The reasons why were therefore many:   Orange County Fire Authority was invited to join the NYFD in the St. Patrick's Day Parade because of their efforts to support raising money for September 11th victims.  Also,  many of the men and women from the OCFD were there to support the fallen fire fighters and their families with the funerals.  

We were able to see so many amazing things ...that included seeing my dad march in the parade while it was freezing outside. We also got to watch many school groups and other organizations from the city walking with pride.  One of the parts that is so " heart touching" is seeing 343 flags carried by New York Fire Fighters...One flag to represent each one of the fire fighters killed on September 11th.

We also were able to ride on the fire boat. It is known as "Marine One".   We took a trip around the Hudson River and it was such an amazing experience.  This boat has been modified some, but, on September 11th , it helped provide water to the disaster. 

We also had the opportunity to take the tour of the waterfalls at Ground Zero that are in the foot prints of the fallen.  It is truly a beautiful dedication to those who lost their lives that day. MIt is a beautiful place for family and friends to go and remember their loved ones.  

 My parents are there again this year and said that they opened the museum and it is an entire day worth taking in what they have set up.

We took a trip across the Hudson River to see The Statue of Liberty and then over to Ellis Island.  There are some moments in life where you just have to stop and recognize what that place truly represents.  It was the first place the immigrants saw, and the place that held so many hopes, dreams, and wishes, all which were given; or taken away, sadly.  Both sides of my family came through those doors - the Zeuli's and the Scortt's.  Interesting to note that is where our name was changed from Scortino to Scortt...Very empowering moment.

We were then able to catch the train and go to Hoboken, NJ.   This is where the amazing little sweet shop called Carlo's Bake Shop is.  This little shop is the original home of The Cake Boss...seen on TV.   Hoboken is such a cute little place and is well worth the trip. 

We walked all over Manhatten and saw Rockefeller Center in and amongst so many more beautiful buildings.  It is truly a place that everyone has to experience at least once.   You have to experience the energy, the people, the food, stores, and the culture.  It is one of the many awesome things that makes this country beautiful. 

 

Eighty Second Stop: Snow in March

   I was starting to think that winter did not exist here in Alaska.  I had seen more snow fall on the east coast, Texas, and California.. specifically Hunington Beach!  What the heck was that about?

    Then the village goes to sleep-only to wake up to a snow storm.  This beautiful white solid powder was falling from the sky and it covered everything.  It was so beautiful and made everything look so pure and untouched.  It was so beyond the word "beautiful"!

    I am happy to say that I finally saw what an Alaskan winter looks and feels like.  March is said to be month that provides the most snow... so far it is off to a good start.  Let the good times keep on falling.

At Homer Air waiting to fly out.

Sunny day at the beach!

Snow.. snow.. snow!

Lagoon is frozen over. So pretty!

Eighty First Stop: Support

  A good friend of mine, who I have had the honor of getting to know through the Far-Sighted Puppy Club for Guide Dogs for the Blind, experienced something nobody should have to go through... A tragedy that I cannot even fathom.  She lost both of her parents.  She is the oldest and is my age with a younger sister.

    I had the honor of meeting her parents and cannot imagine what she and her sister are going through.  Please take a minute to send love, support, and strength to her and her sister.  If you want to make a donation to Guide Dog's,  they are having all donations made to them- due to the major roll that Guide Dog's has played in their lives.

    God bless and may you find strength, Ashley, from all those who surround and send their love.  "Bear hugs"  from Alaska, since I do not have a puppy.

Please help support my friend during this time by supporting a wonderful organization. Thank you!

https://www.crowdrise.com/tohonorthecarrollfamily

Eightieth Stop: Time

     It is amazing how fast time is flying.  It is already the middle of March and St. Patrick's Day is around the corner, too.  This is unreal to me.  In the midst of time flying, we are down to only 40-something days left until school is completed.  This is the true mind blower.

     As the end of the school year fast approaches, it has allowed me to really reflect back on this adventure.  It is seems so unreal.  I moved here in August with three suit cases and a huge "unknown".    Not only have I come to know what this beautiful state has to offer,  I look forward to being able to call here, Alaska, my home.

     The beauty here is breath-taking and I have said this so many times, but feel like it can never be said enough.  When you ask the Universe, or God, to help you provide, it truly does.  It may not be what we wanted, but what we need.  Sometimes thing have to fall apart for reasons that we do not understand, so better things can fall together.  This, I always use to say, but never saw it truly happen until now.