I'm no longer Walking on Ice, Nesting on the Nushagak or Dancing on the Tundra!
I'm now living in a warm and sunny place in the top of the South Island of New Zealand, where the summers are long and the winters are mild. There is a profusion of orchards and vineyards just beyond the green lawns and gardens of my country home . And just a little further away there are beaches and rivers where I can walk my greyhound. It is an idyllic setting but at times my heart still pines for the white of bush Alaska and my Yup'ik friends there.
View from my bedroom window.
The pizza oven ready for a pizza evening with locals.
Haere mai, welcome.
I have been a teacher for as long as I can remember. The joy of teaching has been matched by the joy of living in a variety of interesting places and getting to know the people. I have lived and taught in New Zealand, London and Sydney, Australia. My students have brought so much joy and laughter into my life. Currently I am enjoying writing and story telling, a special gift that I use as a behaviour tool to great effect. "Emma, please tell us a story."
Talking about life in New Zealand.
Students loved to hear about NZ. They were amazed that I used a fireplace in my house to keep warm, and not central heating. They were eager to hear about living conditions in New Zealand, and were amused at my Kiwi accent.
Performing a haka powhiri for Christmas.
Teaching Maori traditional song and dance was very popular with the native Alaskan students. Here a middle school group perform with me for their families.