Johnny is in Barrow, Alaska, and he writes in his "travel journal", so he can let his family and friends back home in Nashville, Tennessee, just what he is up to.
Days 3 and 4, Barrow, Alaska~
Dear Family and Friends Back Home~
I am having a very good time up here in Barrow, Alaska, with Sikik Eegeesiak and her family; but there isn't really anything to do here in Barrow. For one thing, it is a small town, and there just isn't much to do for a kid like me--that is, unless you like the cold and snow, chasing dogs around, or riding on sleds and whatnot. Or they play baseball and basketball, and the ground is just too uneven for my chair; so I am forced to sit on the sidelines and watch--as usual. GRR!! The kids all look at me like I am strange: they are forever touching me, looking at my white hair, my fair skin, and my blue eyes; they say I am funny looking. It is embarrassing; I feel like a bug in a glass jar! I also have the kids looking at my wheelchair, my braces, or my oxygen, and it makes me uncomfortable. They don't understand what I have to go through, and I don't like being stared at. It's like my old school all over again, and it makes me nervous.
The kids here are mostly Native Alaskans: Inuit or Native Alaskan Indian, and some don't even speak English; and it is hard to figure out just what they are saying. It's also weird because they eat things like seal, whale, and stuff, and I tried some whale yesterday, and I wasn't all that impressed. In fact, I found it rather disgusting; I nearly lost my belly, and it was all I could do to keep from puking all over the ground. I also tried some seal meat, but it was way too greasy, and I don't know why, but these people up here seem to love their food buried in oil or grease. It is too rich for my sensitive belly, so what I have eaten here has not been much. Give me a good old foot long hot dog ANY day; that is more my speed! Or a cheeseburger at least!
Sikik's family is very nice; and I got to meet her daddy at the hospital; but it made me nervous because all he did was sleep or cry out in pain. He is on tubes, and it was hard for me to look at him. I just sat there and stared out the window while I was at the hospital while Sikik and her family talked to the daddy in Inuit, and I felt like a stranger. I wish I were home; I miss you guys, and I miss my room and my nice, warm bed! I also miss Jose' Varquez and my friends from school! Barrow, Alaska, has got NOTHING on Nashville, Tennessee: there's no Opry shows here, and there's not really that much to do; it's no wonder a lot of the kids are so bored a lot of the time. All they do is hang out and just act silly, and they also pick on one another. Or they wrestle and try to knock each other down or play basketball or throw snowballs at one another. Or they have sled dog races.
We saw the Northern Lights; I definitely could see them, especially if they were lighter colored, and it was cool seeing them moving like ribbons against the night sky. My dog, "Ginger", got scared of the Northern Lights; all she did was run around in circles and bark her head off! We had to go in because "Ginger" was going nuts, and she was scared of the lights! I was wishing Ronee' could be here with me, but Barbara and I both enjoyed the Northern Lights very much. Barbara is fine; but she is wishing she could be home, too. She misses the family, and she'd much rather be there, but I am glad she is with me, so she can take care of me. Sikik helps her out, too, and she is very gentle and good with my needs.
We saw some wolves and polar bears, and we also saw some walruses on the water, and we saw some seals, too. We also saw some Inuit men going out for fish or hunting for game, and it was very interesting. But how they live here is so very different than what I am used to back home, and I don't know if I could stand being here all year round. It is too cold, for one thing, and there's not really all that much to do.
I will write more later; we are going to a Native Alaskan store, and maybe I can find something for you guys there. Take care, and I will write again soon! See you on Saturday sometime; I can't wait to see you again!
Love, your son, Johnny ("I can't believe I actually ate WALRUS and SEAL!") Sandusky, aged 12.
P.S.: The seal and walrus must have not been THAT bad because I am NOT dead; I am still alive! LOL
P.P.S.: Saw my first beluga whale (I don't remember seeing them last year when we were in Alaska!); it was all white, and it was cute! They make high squeaky noises, and they seem quite friendly. I put a picture of one of the whales on this; enjoy! :) Now I know what Raffi means when he sings "Baby Beluga"! :)
Johnny sounds just like any kid, when he is put into a totally new environment...they get just a little homesick for the familiar...
great story Karen...
Karen, The picture is Adorable! How did
you find it?!?!?!? What an excellent and
Superb job you did with the Story!
More please!
Love to you from Big D,
Rebecca Pauline Lang
Johnny sounds homesick...but what an adventure! Maybe he could change his attitude about the people--they find him strange, too. Have him introduce them to his culture, maybe they have more in common than he realizes! He also needs to understand how fortunate he is, living where he does--now that he has seen how some people live, maybe he can begin a project to better their circumstances. Just a thought??
Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Cheryl Strayed, this is more than a travelogue—it's a hilarious and heartfelt journey for anyone who has ever wondered: "Is this it?"
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Days 3 and 4, Barrow, Alaska~
