Hey guys, my name is Natalie. I am a social work student, and part time baker, hospital intern, dog walker, and training and development specialist for continuing education in social work - someday I hope to have a more concise job title. I am in my senior year at OU, and I'm planning to take a year off school after this before applying to masters programs in Public Health and Social Work. I hope to work either in environmental justice or food justice eventually, in part because food insecurity and climate change are so visible and so scary in Alaska, where I grew up. A lot of people are at least partially reliant on hunting and gathering, which are definitely threatened by changes in the climate.
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| Me dipnetting in the Kenai River. Personal photo. |
Although I've come to love a lot of things about Oklahoma, I definitely plan to go back home after graduation. Before you ask, it
is cold there, it
is very far away, and I don't regularly see bears in town... Growing up in such a pretty place made me really love being outside, so I go hiking or camping any chance I get. I also love running, watching movies, and making textile art, particularly knitting and embroidery. When I'm home, my family and I spend a lot of time in the mountains around town. Usually, we bring beer and a picnic dinner to enjoy at the top. I really love food and I try to spend my free time cooking and baking. I also love eating.
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| My dad and step mom on a mountain. Personal photo. |
I have an old cat named Paco, who is mostly hairless and very lovable, and two dogs named Oscar and Duke. Unfortunately, all three live in Alaska, so I see them pretty rarely.
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| Paco. Personal photo. |
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| Oscar and Duke on Near Point. Personal photo. |
I really enjoy reading and fairy tales, but I really dislike creative writing, so this class will be an interesting challenge for me. I am looking forward to trying new things and hopefully enjoying them.
Oh, how fabulous that you grew up in Alaska, Natalie! I don't think that there has ever been anyone in this class (and I have been teaching class for FOREVER) who grew up in Alaska. There's an Alaska unit in the UnTextbook, but it's just a tiny sliver of all the great storytelling traditions from that part of the world. Last year a student did a really fabulous choose-your-own adventure type of story inspired by the Inuit legend of Sedna; he told it inside a dungeons-and-dragons type game frame, and it turned out great I think; here's a link: Dungeons and Decisions.
ReplyDeleteAbout creative writing: my experience has been that most people find writing realistic fiction very hard to do... but when it comes to writing their own fairy tales and folktales, which rely very much on formulas and repetition and other easy-to-learn storytelling techniques, everything is different, easier, and more fun too. Modern realistic fiction rejects that formulaic approach, but traditional storytelling relied on formulas to create imaginary worlds shared by the storytellers and their audiences. Personally, I far prefer these traditional kinds of stories to modern fiction; I don't really read a lot of novels... but I read folktales and myths and legends all the time, and I don't think I will ever stop. I will certainly never run out of books to read; here's the Freebookapalooza of free online books for the class. So, I hope you will have fun with this approach to creative writing... you'll get to see what you think as the storytelling starts in Week 2!
And your pets are such cuties; maybe Paco and/or Oscar and Oliver can be characters in a story you write for class. There's an extra credit Tech Tip if you want to add their pictures to our "Padlet of Pets" -- here's the link: Padlet Tech Tips. All that extra credit stuff starts in Week 2 but there's no need to wait (that's an all-purpose mantra for this class: no need to wait!)... and I hope you will have fun with the class!
Hey, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteWow, how do you find time to maintain your schedule? You've got more to fill your resume than most professionals, and you haven't even left school yet! I admire your desire to pursue fields that are so closely related to your home -- the fact about hunter-gatherers in Alaska really struck me. I hadn't realized that food shortages could be such a problem in those regions. I also admire your cooking and baking skills, which are two abilities I've been meaning to develop -- the meal plan won't last forever.
Good luck with this semester! I bet you'll be nailing the creative writing in no time!
Hello, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI found your introduction fascinating as I had no idea that there was such a serious problem with food insecurity in Alaska. I think it is amazing and inspiring that you are actively working to change your home state and the world for the better. I, too, am a cat mom and had a hard time living apart from them for the two and a half years I lived in Norman and Germany. I am happy to be back with my kitties and am sure you are looking forward to returning home, whenever that may be, and seeing your Paco again (he is so adorable, by the way--how old is he? My cat Cooper just turned 14!).
Best wishes for the semester and I hope you will come to enjoy creative writing more!
Hi Natalie!
ReplyDeleteLet me just say first, WOW I love your cat Paco! He looks like such an interesting cat, and I his eyes are really cool. Your dogs are also really pretty.
I think it's really cool that you grew up in Alaska! Alaska is one of the top places that I want to travel to, and your pictures make me want to go there even more. The mountains look really beautiful.
I grew up in Wisconsin, so kind of like Alaska but a little warmer! I definitely don't think I want to live in Wisconsin after graduation, though. I've gotten used to the warmer temperatures down south haha.
I hope your last semester at OU is going well, and I hope you have a great gap year before graduate school!
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie,
Wow, you are busy! I thought I had no time between my one job and school... Good luck on your senior year and on your gap year. I really want to go to Alaska one day, I have heard great things. One of my friends is from there and she posts a lot of beautiful pictures. That is such a long way to travel though. I am about three hours from my family here in Norman and that is far enough for me.
Your dogs are really pretty! The one looks to be some type of collie. Those are my favorite dogs. I have a dog and two cats at home that I miss while I am at school.
Good luck with your semester and with this class!
~Elyse
Hey Natalie!
ReplyDeleteYour dedication to providing equal access and/or opportunity through environmental and food justice is inspiring. I hadn't even considered a lot of problems faced by people up in the north.
Even if you dislike creative writing, I think you'll either develop into it or show off some natural talent. Even your introduction post shows that sort of potential.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Gage R.
Hi, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI want to say that it is so cool that you grew up in Alaska! It looks so pretty there, and I am quite envious that you got to grow up somewhere with mountains! I have grown up in Oklahoma all my life, and I only get to see mountains (and pretty nature, for that matter) whenever my family goes on trips. Maybe one day, I can make a trip out to Alaska and see for myself just how pretty it is in real life. Your dogs, Oscar and Duke, look so photogenic with the mountains behind them in your picture, and I am sure they are great dogs! I hope you can try to have some fun with the challenge of creative writing in this class.
Good luck with the rest of your semester!
Hi Natalie from Alaska! Your introduction is so exciting. You must be an extremely interesting person. I think it's awesome that you found something that you're passionate about. Not many people are able to say that, so it's so good that you have a goal to find work in something you actually care about. I really liked your use of personal photos in your introduction. It gives it a nice touch that lets me know more about you! Good luck with your semester! I hope your return to Alaska will be everything you hoped it would be.
ReplyDeleteHey Natalie!!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I have so much respect for what you do and the impact you want to make in the future! You seem like such an amazing person, with interesting roots, too! I don't think I've met someone from Alaska before (we don't get many of them here in Oklahoma!). I do apologize for the boring landscape...I like to go hiking too, but I always go to Arkansas or out further west when I do. Alaska is so beautiful! I was actually planning a hiking trip there this summer with my friends (we're all graduating as well), any tips? Have you seen the northern lights before? I am totally in love with Paco and your two dogs! Glad I got to meet you (at least online) and I look forward to what else you'll contribute this semester! :)
-Moriah C.
Hey Natalie!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a jump from Alaska to Oklahoma. I’m sure the transition was crazy, but I’m glad you seem to have enjoyed your past few years here at OU! Have you been able to find ways to still enjoy being outside here in Norman, or has it been difficult since we have zero mountains and very few places close to hike and explore?
Best of luck with your senior year,
- JD
Hi Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI do think we lived on the same floor freshman year! Super exciting that you plan to go back to Alaska once you graduate! I am also very interested in your future career aspirations. I think working to help prevent food insecurity is really important and admirable. Paco is the cutest! Good luck in your last semester and I can't wait to read some more of your work.
Natalie,
ReplyDeleteThat is way cool that you reign from Alaska. I'm almost jealous, because I am sure you're so used to the cold weather we are enduring now. Is bears just randomly strolling through Alaskan towns a stereotype? Because if so, I had no clue. I did know about the whole hunting reliance and people seeing Russia from their backyard, haha. Nonetheless, it was cool to read more about you and your life in Alaska.
Best of luck!
-Lance J.
Hello, Natalie!
ReplyDeleteIt really does sound like you have your hands full with a variety of different activities! I have never actually met a baker before, so this is a first for me! I am honestly not surprised that you want to go back to Alaska – there really is not much here in Oklahoma. I would move myself if I did not have family here. I love your cat!
Hi Natalie!
ReplyDeleteYou have such an interesting life! One of my best friends growing up lived in Alaska and always talked about how beautiful it was and how much he missed it. I would love to visit one day. I only came to Oklahoma from Dallas so I can't imagine what it's like to go so far away from your home for school. What made you choose OU?
Hey there Natalie!
ReplyDeleteYou sure do sound busy with your hands full with all of the activities you are in. I am definitely with you when you say you want to go back to Oklahoma, because I lived in Canada for two years and would do anything to go back. I look forward to reading some of your stories!
Hello Natalie,
ReplyDeleteMy sister's best friend is actually from Alaska, so I have seen tons of photos and heard all kind of stories about it. I thought that I was busy, but it seems as if you have gotten me beat by a mile. I really appreciate the work you are doing and think it is absolutely awesome. I am wondering what type of dogs those are, as I have most certainly seen one of those breeds in a John Wayne movie! I can't imagine moving so far away from home, but it seems like you are doing just fine. Looking forward to seeing more from you as you enhance your creative writing skills!
Hey Natalie!
ReplyDeleteI actually have some cousins that live out in Alaska, and I am very impressed and confused on how they do it because it is freezing there, so you must be tough! You really do seem to be a very busy person, and wow keep killing it! I'm from Broken Arrow, OK, so I think it's courageous of you to come here and do so much. I am a HUGE dog lover, so I think anyone that is a dog person is automatically fantastic, so you passed! Keep doing great things, and I hope the rest of your semester is also great!