Thursday (almost the last day), I spent at a Russian Orthodox Village, called Razdolna. I knew nothing about their religion before my Alaska course. The experience was something that I cannot fully describe, the only way to understand is to be their and see their community. The drive to the village was about a 30 minute drive on a muddy, bumpy dirt road. The whole community has a population of about 250 people. They like to be traditional, however their schools have modern technology like smart boards. There are about 75 students total. Many of them are out sick with pertussis, a serious outbreak that has occurred recently in the area. In this population only about 2% of the children are vaccinated (with anything), due to their beliefs. Currently, the community is fasting, which means that they are only having vegan diets (for 7 weeks). Their diet during this time mostly consists of breadsticks, beans, and rice. My day consisted of spending the day at their schools. There is a building/classroom for Kindergarten and first grade. There is a building for 2nd/3rd grade and 4th/5th. A building for middle school and another for high school. I spent the majority of the day teaching to the elementary aged children, I taught about the spreading of germs and about healthy foods during their vegan diets, which are important topics during this time.
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AuthorI am Rhiannon, a student at The College of St. Scholastica. I am a senior nursig student. There are 14 of us exploring Alaska to learn about their culture and explore their healthcare. ArchivesCategories |