January 2010, Barrow, Alaska~

Dear Book-of-Words:

Aama Tyorek  here.  Sorry if I haven't written; been busy trying to take care of my family (my younger brothers Ululik and Sammik and my younger sisters Maki and Mikisaq), plus struggle with my schooling, not to mention, trying to keep warm.  It is brutally cold here:  temperatures in the negative teens to twenties for highs!! 

Brr!!  Now when an Inuk child says it's cold, then you know it's really cold outside!  Not fit for man or beast:  the winds howl from the north at speeds up past hurricane-force, and the white-out conditions of the blowing snow makes it very difficult to see, let alone, move effectively.  So we just stay in if we have to; we venture out only to go to school or if Father or my older brothers Sorqoq or Qisuk go hunting for food.  Then, when they do, they bundle up in extra layers of clothing so they don't freeze to death.

Christmas has come and gone, but to us it's just another day.  Don't have the money or the means to get to a store to get presents; we just go about our normal lives:  taking care of the family (me), hunting for food (Father, Qisuk, and Sorqaq), or trying to stay as warm as possible.

The only good thing about Christmas was we got some time off from school.  I was so glad; I hate school.  I get terrible marks on my spelling, and my grades are worse:  D's and F's.  Mother and Father try to work with me, but it only makes me more confused.  I also hate the Dog Children teasing me about my Native background; I can't help it that I was born a member of the Inuit tribe!!  It's who I am!!

Now we're back at school, and I hate it more than ever.  I wish I could just drop out and become a mother or stay home and sleep all day.

My friend Pammaliq is in the hospital in Fairbanks.  She has a bad flu.  She woke up yesterday morning, coughing up blood; she had to be flown by helicopter to Fairbanks because Barrow (where we live) doesn't have a good hospital to take care of that sort of thing.  I am most worried about her; I pray she doesn't go to the spirit world!  I love her too much; I've known Pammaliq since we were in kindergarten!

Pammaliq is like a sister to me; I tell her all my secrets!!

I have been praying to the spirit gods, asking them to keep Pammaliq safe and to let her live another day.  I don't know what I would do if she was to die!  I've already lost my grandmother and grandfather (Bird Woman and Grandfather Elk); it's a horrible thing to lose someone whom you love and care for so much!!

Another friend (Agluqarq) is also ill with this same flu, but she isn't as bad off as Pammaliq.  She is in the hospital as well, but she is expected to get better.  I have been praying for her too.

The auroras have been nicer to look at:  not as much red in them.  When they turn red, I know they are angry, and it scares me; but if they turn green or blue, then they are in a friendly mood, and I can stop worrying so much. 

Now, though, it is hard to see anything besides blowing snow; we've had a few blizzards, and we got several feet of snow; the winds then whips that around and makes seeing anything like stars or auroras, or even the sun, difficult at best.

Well, I have to go.  Ululik is coughing again, and is crying; I must tend to him, while Mother, Father, and the rest of the family continue to sleep.  I'm the only one up.  Or was, until Ululik woke up coughing.  Darn, I wish there was more we could do for his twitchy lungs!!  I hate hearing him cough, wheeze, and gasp for air!  I then worry that he might have the flu that Pammaliq and Agluqarq got!

Take care, Book-of-Words, and I will write in here again when I can.  May the Great Spirit bless you!  Bye!

~Love, Aama Tyorek.  :)