Now that I'm no longer Walking on Ice  or Nesting on the Nushagak . . .  

I now live 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 stretch my legs on a hot sunny day.   It is an idyllic  setting but at times my heart still pines for the white and tranquility  of bush  Alaska and my Yup'ik / Cup'ik friends there.

PictureView from my bedroom window.
PictureThe pizza oven awaits another pizza evening with locals.
PictureHaere 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 no longer teaching , but enjoying writing and story telling, a special gift that I use d as a behaviour tool to great effect. "Emma, please tell us a story."

PictureTalking 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.
 PicturePerforming 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.