"Where does Jelly come from?"

Today during my online class through University of Alaska- Anchorage, they asked us to reflect on a journal entry from teaching this year. My thoughts raced back to last week when I was discussing the kids' power to make the choice to be a positive example. We were talking about the value in it, even when good behavior can go unnoticed or make you feel ostracized by your peers who are doing wrong.

From simple tasks within the school community to being a good citizen in the village, it's frustrating for my students to see some community members working diligently and others slacking. Many people including elders have had fuel stolen, windows broken, or boat anchors taken out and thrown causing them unnecessary distress. Some parents won't respond to concerned community members when their children are denting vehicles or 'causing mischief' past curfew.  Discussing these issues with the mayor of Alakanuk, he replied, "That's why I live on the other side of town."  I can say from at least three personal accounts that the Village Police Officers haven't responded to my calls to the main office or cell phones. Many others have stopped trying and will simply look the other way. This makes it harder to stress to my students why patience and perseverance are key for them to be able to create a positive change in the village someday.

While we were having the discussion, the phrase my mother said to me a few times growing up came out of my mouth. "The cream rises to the top," she'd tell me patiently, while I'd feel hot tears run down my face. I'd wrinkle my forehead trying to figure out how that saying fit my situation.

I asked my students if they had any idea what that saying meant. They didn't so I took a few minutes to let them explore this topic.

Since this climate has never been warm enough to support any type of dairy, the students were curious about the whole process. Then they asked questions like, "So butter is made from milk? Really?" "Ice Cream is made from it, too?" and "Cheese is dairy?" After a few more questions like that, I was glad we had covered that because apparently there was need to learn that.

Ready to move on, one student had another question. "Sooo... where does Jelly come from?" Not sure how to respond to that, I asked, "Well, where do you think it comes from? What kinds of flavors do you normally see for Jelly?" They brainstormed some typical flavors-- strawberry, blackberry, grape. I explained that jelly can be made differently, but usually there is some sugar to sweeten it and some type of pectin to thicken it.

Again, I was happy that we had a chance to talk about some things that may seem basic to some, but still complex for others. Then, just as we started to finally move onto our next activity, the student who asked the question piped up, "Huh. I thought Jelly came from Jellyfish!"







Note: I do not know any names of V. P. O. in Alakanuk and have no intention of harming their reputation. The facts stated in this blog are simply facts only experienced by me. I did not share any accounts or experiences by others about trying to reach the police.

Observing the jellyfish at the aquarium in Maui this summer.