"Oh you're from Rhode Island, like Family Guy."

That's what one of my future students said to me when I told him I was from Rhode Island. It was not the response I was expecting, but it made me laugh inside. It doesn't completely feel like I'm in the United States but the more and more I talk to kids here, the more I realize they're like typical American kids. They like SpongeBob, Transformers, Hanna Montana, and Adult Swim here too. As an outsider coming in, it's apparent that there's a balance, or perhaps the better word is clash, between tradition and assimilation to U.S. popular culture.

There's definitely a rich tradition here. I've heard many people speak Yupik. I've seen customary Yupik clothes. I've touched Yupik art. I've tasted Yupik food. At the same time, in many villages the Yupik language is no longer taught in school (in Tunt it still is). Teenagers dress like teenagers anywhere else in the country. One of the most popular (and expensive) things to drink is Coca Cola. Things are much different than they were even 20 years ago. I think it's a good thing that, for a community so isolated, people seem to be benefiting from the same products and technology from the lower 48. However, no one wants to see a culture disappear that's been here thousands of years. The people I've talked to agree. They appreciate the fact that Yupik is taught in schools till the third grade--then English becomes the primary language. It's a difficult balance to keep Yupik culture a part of school, but face the same federal standards of anywhere else in the country--in English.

With that being said, the culture here is amazing. I'm awed by the amount of pride people have in their village. Last night I went to a Yupik dance. I thought it would be a good way to meet people. The hospitality shown to me was great. I may have embarrassed myself a bit when I was introduced to the crowd and called up to dance, but it was a good time. When I first sat down the band was playing loudly. A woman leaned over and said to me, "This must be you're first time meeting Eskimos. We're probably not what you expected." I nodded.