The night was long and cold. After trying three times to find a suitable mattress to pump up and sleep on, I finally found a good one. NOT! By morning I was on a mattress skin (again). Ironically, I had a difficult time actually pushing the last bit of air out that remained to fold it up. Apparently it wanted to continue its slow leak instead of rushing out the vent. During the night, the heat in the room goes down (a good conservation measure of which I agree) but the wind outside speeded up the cooling process, so I ended up sleeping with my down parka and wool socks on inside my sleeping bag.
It felt like I had just fallen asleep when I woke up with a start. I better get up and take a quick shower because kids would be in the room very soon. I have to pack up and stow my gear by day to avoid pillage.
Once again I was called upon to judge a school science fair, the world's hardest task. How can I pick a first, second and third place from 12 (or more) entries? All the projects were aviation-themed so it was pretty interesting.
Investigated questions included: How do the shape and size of the blades effect wind generation?, What does ash do to an airplane engine?, What is the effect of friction on hovercraft?, What type of fabric is best for a parachute?, How does air density effect the speed of take-off? Tough, tough choices but at least I'm flying away so I can't be found to explain myself. Personally, I still favor the Danish system of allowing multiple first, second and third (or none of the above) based on criteria instead of comparison.
Tomorrow night, students from Nome and Chevak are coming to play basketball. 100 kids sleeping in the school and me. La la la...I don't hear a thing.
I'm still in Hooper Bay, home of the fantastic sunrise from the school windows. I declined the school lunch of a slab of beef, a scoop of rice, peas, peaches and strawberry milk. I got to observe some middle school math classes today, always my favorite age. They think I'm the mother of the teachers I observe...?
Tomorrow, I'm planning an outing to the store, my first chance out since I arrived yesterday. Too much work, too little sunlight. Too much cold, not enough sleep.
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