r BluesWe are unable to repair the church bell tower-which was the main construction job of the team. In fact, we have to tear it down-2 stories tall/added to the church in 1962. It is rotten, unsalvageable and not safe. My team is very disappointed in that we wanted to improve the situation not tear it down. That section of the church will have to be rebuilt from the ground floor up as it is leaking will fall down in time. So send in the demolition crew. Where do we take the scrap/demolished materials? To the dump. There is a dump for "regular" garbage, one for cars and old implements/metal and another for "other".
This Alaskan village is much like what we call a reservation in the lower 48. It is interesting to learn about their life and life style oh so very different from Boca Ville. So side by side we are living with our new friends following their lifestyle. Gwen has been our wonderful guide-including ordering the food for us, preparing much of it, taking us around the village and helping organize our nitely discussions and crafts for the kids. She purchased enough food to feed an army-not of 7! I guess she must have heard about Buba and Bocahantis. We call our team TNT (Tyonek Northstar Team). Our fearless leader is John/Motown, Bad News Blake/Florida, Andrew the Reverand Right, Rob/Seattle Slew, Monica/Pinkie Lee and Buba and Boca.
Fishing and Hoping a la Net!
Today was the day of the week for fishing. We put out nets in the dry mud 
stone beach. You lay it out with a little buoy so the net catches the salmon. This subsistence fishing (for the Alaskan Natives) are able to fish in the tradition of their village i.e. the net. So we waited for the tide to come in so the fish would also come in. During this time they set up a fire and had a wiener roast and s'mores. Buba was so excited!
After the 3 wolves chased me down the beach, I waited in the truck-everybody has one in various stages of use. After awhile, I ventured out of the truck over to the camp fire and decided to join in the fun and roast my very own marshmallow. Let's see it's been about 43 years since I've Kumbaya-ed...sure enough, ewwwwwwwwwwwwow! Who knew not to touch the black marshmallow with your thumb. No Aloe plant to sooth that burn-so what's the Alaskan Native way to treat this burn? Stick it in the water. Here it is June and I assure you there is no swimming on this beach. So much for Bocahantis at the camp fire...I guess all that sunscreen I brought won't help.
stone beach. You lay it out with a little buoy so the net catches the salmon. This subsistence fishing (for the Alaskan Natives) are able to fish in the tradition of their village i.e. the net. So we waited for the tide to come in so the fish would also come in. During this time they set up a fire and had a wiener roast and s'mores. Buba was so excited!After the 3 wolves chased me down the beach, I waited in the truck-everybody has one in various stages of use. After awhile, I ventured out of the truck over to the camp fire and decided to join in the fun and roast my very own marshmallow. Let's see it's been about 43 years since I've Kumbaya-ed...sure enough, ewwwwwwwwwwwwow! Who knew not to touch the black marshmallow with your thumb. No Aloe plant to sooth that burn-so what's the Alaskan Native way to treat this burn? Stick it in the water. Here it is June and I assure you there is no swimming on this beach. So much for Bocahantis at the camp fire...I guess all that sunscreen I brought won't help.
We did catch a big fish. Hoo Hoo! The Tyonek people are not only known as the beach people but known for their fishing on lakes and rivers. We had smoked kippers? Is that salmon too? We are slowly making our way starting to establish a rapport with the Tubughna people. While we are all Americans we come from a very different life experience and hence point of views. I am trying my best to understand this life-so removed and isolated from what I know. Buba thinks it is just fine and is trying to figure out how he can get a house here. Lots of pick up trucks and ATV's to get around the land....we even drove down on the beach in a truck, got stuck and had to floor it to get out. Now that was trippy!
VESPA VESPERS
We held Vespers on Saturday evening. I loved attending service in a church that was so old and all of their grandparents attended. Oddly- the service used to be in Russian as well as their singing. "They don't look Russian". Today it is done in English. We 
held our first arts and crafts class. Our team was up at the church and I was the only one back to the hall...well here come the kids piling in and ready for the class. Pinky Lee Monica was up with the guys and had all the craft stuff-OF COURSE I PANICKED! What could I do but run to the pantry and pull all the treats out...juice, cookies, candies and on and on. Whewwwwwwwwww. Saved. I was an immediate success of course. The 
rest of the team had a bit of a time calming down my students after I got them good and sugared up. I have been ordered to stay out of the pantry. Check out my students riding around after the sugar buzz.
held our first arts and crafts class. Our team was up at the church and I was the only one back to the hall...well here come the kids piling in and ready for the class. Pinky Lee Monica was up with the guys and had all the craft stuff-OF COURSE I PANICKED! What could I do but run to the pantry and pull all the treats out...juice, cookies, candies and on and on. Whewwwwwwwwww. Saved. I was an immediate success of course. The 
rest of the team had a bit of a time calming down my students after I got them good and sugared up. I have been ordered to stay out of the pantry. Check out my students riding around after the sugar buzz.
