If you want to hear about what it really is like living in rural Alaska, boy do I have a story. I had flown into Bethel on a Tuesday evening and had to get up early for the LKSD DLE Academy Wednesday morning. All to say, I had been in Bethel for less than 24 hours.
The first morning of the conference we were learning about Yugtun and Cugtun language instruction. We reviewed word walls, content boards, how to bring two languages into the classroom- all that good stuff. I was enjoying meeting new people and making new friends. During lunch I decided to go with a small group of people to the bank to cash a check. As I walked into the bank, I was greeted by a very nice man and woman behind the counter! We started a conversation about what I was there for, how long I had been in Bethel, and where I was going next. As I was standing there talking, the man behind the counter asked, “Do you want to try muktuk?” I had done some research before moving, so I knew that muktuk was whale blubber. I immediately said, “yes please!” He smiled really big and went to the back to grab it! I stood there waiting patiently as he came around and pulled out a bag full of little strips of whale blubber. He told me that he and his friends had gone hunting the weekend before and caught it. It was a bowhead whale! He had some salt for me to try along with it, but told me I first needed to try a piece without salt to see if I like the texture.
He handed me the piece of blubber and I popped it in my mouth! As I chewed, I was thinking to myself how much I loved this entire experience! I walk into a bank and get offered whale blubber after less than 24 hours of being in Alaska! To be honest, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! He gave me another piece with the salt and told me to try it like that. He was so excited that I enjoyed it. The piece with salt was also very yummy!
The best part was right before I left the bank. There was another worker who was sitting in the back. He stood up and started talking about how he had lived in Alaska for three years and had always said no to trying the muktuk! He said he couldn’t be one upped by a girl who has been here for less than 24 hours and decided to finally try it! We all laughed together and I thanked them for giving me this experience and walked back to the car. Needless to say, we were late returning to the DLE Academy that afternoon.
Josie Koeplin, Tununak
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