Abandoned in Rural Alaska
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:41PM I have now completed my rather unusual two thousand mile commute and this time I brought my wife. I call it a commute, but I only travel four times a year, twice each during the summer and Christmas. I live in Washington State, but the rest of the year, I teach in a remote Yup’ik (Eskimo) village in Alaska.
This is the start of my third year teaching in the village and I felt settled enough to bring my wife Lorraine. We left Seattle on the redeye to Anchorage. Then in the wee morning hours, with just a hint of sunlight, we walked out on the tarmac, boarded an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 configured for half cargo and half passengers, and flew to the city of Bethel. With a population of 6,000 Bethel is the largest city in western Alaska. We quickly picked up our bags and hitched a ride into town to do some last minute shopping. Lorraine bought a variety of perishable items that we could cram into our baggage or carry in a bag.
In less than an hour, we were back at the airport for the 10:30 flight to the village. It is always a good idea to be on time for the flight, but one of the first things you learn in rural Alaska is that a flight schedule is merely a suggestion. When we board the ancient Cessna 207 for the trip to the village, it was nearly 11:30. I tried to get my wife to take the co-pilot seat, but she would have none of that and climbed into the back. I sat beside the pilot. Only a net separated Lorraine, seated right behind me, from cargo and mail stacked to her left and filling the plane behind her. As we rumbled down the runway, Lorraine covered her ears and counted the strips of duct tape on the inside of the fuselage.
Between Bethel and the village, there is only green tundra dotted by lakes, streams and rivers. Few of the bodies of water have names. It is not the Alaska you see in postcards or calendars, but it has a beauty all its own.
As our plane curved over Eek, I saw something unusual, another plane parked beside the single dirt runway. As soon as we landed, our plane pulled up near the other one. As my feet touched the ground, I heard the laugh of one of my fellow teachers. The five other teachers had already boarded a charter for a series of meeting in Bethel. As soon as possible, they told me, get back to Bethel.
Lorraine was grateful to be on the ground, but the wild rides were not yet over. We climbed on the back of four-wheel ATV for the mile long bumpy ride down a dirt road to the village of Eek.
At our apartment behind the school, I dumped my clothes on the bed and repacked for Bethel. With my bags packed, I explained how to distill water and asked, “Will you be okay?” She assured me that she would be fine. Less than an hour later, I was back in the air. The people of Eek are good, but as I looked back over the community, I wondered how Lorraine felt being the only outsider in the village.
Reader Comments (6)
I was glad to hear that you were able to "Eek" out another safe trip. I miss seeing you both at church but I'm pleased that the Lord is using you in our neighbor to the North. It's nice being able to keep up with you on your blog. Godspeed.
Hi Kyle and Lorraine,
It's been over a week since this was posted, how about "the rest of the story".
I was just looking at your weather, and there sure isn't much difference between the highs and lows. Your highs are pretty close to our lows. Is your distiller one of those one gallon units with the condenser and fan on top?
I have on that I have been using for years. I think my English breakfast tea is ready, so for now..........
Cheers,
Glenn
on = one (typo)
Glenn,
Okay, I'll work on "the rest of the story." I've been busier than expected with the start of school. Yes, my distiller is just as you describe it.
Kyle
Shane,
Thank you for the kind words and the visit to my blog. Now that things have slowed down at school I hope to post more here. See you at Christmas.
Kyle
Kyle: Love the website. Love the stories. Have you considered writing some of your stories for Reader's Digest or writing a non-fiction book about your adventures? You'd definitely have a wonderful platform and a wonderful voice. Just a thought. Your wife seems to have a nack for writing--maybe she could write about her trips to Eek? Just a thought.