Adventures of Tim & Kaitlyn
  • Welcome
  • Photos & Videos
    • 2023
    • 2022 >
      • January 2022
      • February 2022 & Beacon Flip
      • March 2022 & Hooper Flip
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022 - Alaska & Hart Reunion
      • August 2022
      • September 2022 - Tyler & Jungle Flips
      • October 2022 & West Point Flip
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
    • 2021 >
      • January 2021
      • February 2021
      • March 2021
      • April 2021
      • May 2021
      • June 2021
      • July 2021
      • August 2021
      • September 2021
      • October 2021
      • November 2021
      • December 2021
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • Liberty House June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017-Ohio & Michigan
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • Africa 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
    • 2015 >
      • January 2015
      • February 2015
      • March 2015
      • Regional Jump Rope Competition
      • April 2015
      • May 2015
      • June 2015 - Juneau
      • July 2015 - Juneau & Anchorage
      • August 2015
      • Sept 2015
      • Oct 2015
      • Nov 2015
      • Dec 2015
    • 2014 >
      • December 2014
      • November 2014
      • October 2014
      • September 2014
      • August 2014
      • Sealing July 2014
      • July 2014
      • June 2014
      • May 2014
      • April 2014
      • March 2014
      • February 2014
      • January 2014
    • Jun-Dec 2013 >
      • December 2013
      • November 2013
      • October 2013
      • September 2013
      • August 2013
      • July 2013
      • June 2013
    • Jan-May 2013 >
      • Kaylee May 2013
      • Kaylee Apr 2013
      • Kaylee Mar 2013
      • Kaylee Feb 2013
      • Kaylee Jan 2013
    • Welcome Kaylee >
      • Kaylee Dec 2012
      • Kaylee's Placement Ceremony 2012
    • 2012 >
      • Fall AASG Conference 2012
      • Layton Triathlon 2012
      • Stansbury Triathlon 2012
      • Bahamas Cruise
    • Summer 2011 >
      • Hurdle for Hope 2011
      • Echo Triathlon 2011
      • New York & Seattle 2011
      • Alaska RV Road Trip
    • Togiak 2010-2011
    • Washington D.C. 2010
    • Tim's College Graduation 2010
    • Chilkoot Trail 2008
    • Wedding Pictures
  • Help Us Adopt
  • Blog
  • Link Page

Week XV: Taxi Cabs, Fetal Pigs, and Bill Nye

11/1/2010

 
Picture
     What do taxi cabs, fetal pigs, and Bill Nye all have in common? The National Science Teacher Convention in Kansas City.
     I left Togiak right after school on Tuesday to head to the convention.  I took about a 30 minute flight to Dillingham, an 1.5 hour flight to Anchorage, a 6 hour flight to Minneapolis, and finally another 1.5 hour flight to Kansas City.  It was a lot of flying, but I was excited for a change of pace.
     I spent Tuesday night in Anchorage with the Petersens.  Brother Petersen is our branch clerk.  They have got to be the nicest people.  They picked me up from the airport, leant me a car so I could go shopping, helped me back my bins full of all the stuff I bought, made me dinner (at 10:30 pm), made me breakfast (at 5:30 am), and packed me a lunch.  I kept trying to think of how I could repay them for all their kindness.  Nothing seemed appropriate.  Then I realized the best thing I could do is “pay it forward”.  I could make sure that I treat others like Petersens treated me.
     Wednesday night I checked into Hotel Phillips.  The desk clerk welcomed me “home” when I checked in.  From what I saw of Kansas City, I quite like it.  It is clean and the people there are clean and very friendly.  Not one person was rude to me the entire 3 days I was there.  I don’t think I can say that of any other cities I’ve visited.
     The conference went from Thursday at 8:00 am to Saturday at 12:00 pm.  There was more to do and see than was possible, but I did as much as I could.  I was exhausted by the end of each day.  Some of the sessions I went to were about computerized molecular models, newton’s forces, stem cells, hand-on atomic models, origins of the elements, and dissection.  Some of the highlights for me were dissecting a mammalian heart and a fetal pig, learning about how the elements were formed from small stars, large stars, super novas, and cosmic rays, and seeing Bill Nye the Science Guy.  Saturday morning I was sitting at a table having a bite to eat when I could hear a speaker in the next room.  I thought to myself, man that voice sounds really familiar.  That voice sounds like Bill Nye’s voice.  That speaker has humor like Bill Nye.  That speaker is goofy like Bill Nye.  I think that speaker is Bill Nye.  I finally went to investigate, and sure enough it was Bill Nye.  I tried to get a picture, but none of them turned out very well.

Picture
     Note: Going to a restaurant by yourself is an  interesting experience.
     I left Kansas City Saturday around 12:30 pm and got back to Togiak around 1:00 pm on Sunday (today).  This was actually 3 hours earlier than I was scheduled.  Once again, the Petersens generously hosted me for the evening, leant me the car to go shopping, made me dinner (at 11:00 pm), and drove me to the post office (at 11:30 pm) to mail my bins.  (The post office next to the airport is open until midnight, probably specifically for us bush people.) We got to watch a fox who was hanging out in the post office parking lot for quite awhile.  That was the first fox I think I’ve ever seen.  I also saw one this morning in Dillingham.
     I did get the opportunity to go to part of sacrament meeting with the Dillingham branch today.  That was a exciting.  It’s not often that I get to see anyone when I go to church or to actually go to church.  The members in that branch are extremely friendly.
     Tim was also out of town for Friday and Saturday this week.  He took his wrestlers to their first match in Dillingham.  I’ll let him fill you in on the details.
     
Short Short entitled “Taxi Cab” (don’t feel like you have to read this)
     I’m a little embarrassed to share this story, but I think it’s humorous, so I might as well let some other people enjoy my stupidity.  
      I realized when I reached Dillingham that I left my computer charger at the school.  I figured I could go 5 days without a computer.  I live in bush Alaska . . . I can rough it.  Then, with more thought, I realized no computer meant no lessons prepared for next week, which meant extremely high stress levels Sunday night.  So after some reconsideration, I decided when I got to Kansas City I would bite the bullet and buy a charger.  I found out there was an Apple store about 4 or 5 miles from my hotel, so I was planning on taking a taxi to the store Thursday evening.  After checking my wallet for cash I saw that I only had $5.03.  I don’t know much about taxis, but I was certain $5.03 was not enough to get me to the Apple store and back.  So I paid attention and noticed that some cabs advertised that they took credit cards.  I made a note to myself to make sure I got one of those cabs.  After standing on the sidewalk staring at the cab down the street wondering what the correct procedure was for “calling the cab”, I gave up and walked back inside the hotel.  Luckily, the bellhop came to my rescue and called the cab for me.  
      I was a little worried about how awkward this taxi ride was going to be.  Do you talk to the taxi driver?  Do you sit in silence?  Who knows?  The taxi driver noticed me excessively staring out the window and stated, “You’re visiting Kansas City.”  This started up quite the discussion.  I told him where I was from and what I was doing.  He told me where he was from and what he was doing.  He had moved from Ethiopia about 18 years ago and had been working in aviation.  He lost his job a year ago, got a job driving a taxi, and hates it.  
     When we arrived at the Apple store he asked me if I needed a ride back, told me to call him, and gave me a piece of paper with his number.  I wasn’t sure if this was normal or not, but I didn’t want to attempt calling a taxi on my own, especially in an area where they weren’t already waiting alongside the street, so I gladly accepted the number.  As I went to pay him with my credit card, he informed me that his machine was broken, so he’d need cash.  My heart sunk.  He didn’t take checks and I only had $5.03.  I didn’t know what to do.  He said, “it’s okay, you can pay me later.  You’re a science teacher, I trust you.”  Now I HAD  to call him for a ride home: I owed him money.
     Unfortunately, the apple store didn’t give cash back.  Neither did Barnes and Noble . . . or Starbucks . . . or the Jean store . . . or any other store on the whole plaza.  No problem: ATM + Debit Card = Cash.  I have never used my debit card, or an ATM for that matter.  Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea what my pin number was and my bank was closed, so I couldn’t call and ask.  I try all the “usual” pins: my pin numbers, Tim’s pin numbers; nothing works.  In fact, I tried so many pin numbers, that the machine kept my card and give me a receipt that said “Your bank has requested that we retain your card.”  What?!  I’m stuck in the middle of downtown Kansas City, I owe a random cab driver $15, I have no cash, I can’t get a hold of Tim, and I have no idea what to do.  Finally I call the cab driver.  When he comes I explain to him that I don’t have any cash.  He tells me “that’s okay, I can run your card manually.”  I was so relieved, yet frustrated that this piece of information was withheld for so long.  In the end, I made it home, the taxi driver got his money and a large tip, I resolved to get a new debit card with a pin I remember, and to never leave home without cash (more cash) again.  On a positive note: I did get a friendly “hello” from a taxi driver named Zee on Friday and Saturday as I walked back to my hotel.


Comments are closed.

    Tim & Kaitlyn

    A blog is where you talk about stuff....we do that here.

    Picture
    Tim & Kaitlyn
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
    See 10-Day Forecast
    © HotelsCombined.com

    Friends & Family

    Alicia
    Brady & Taryn
    Karen & Brad

    Kaylin
    Melissa
    Mike & Alyse
    Sarah & Jimi
    Scott & Sharon
    Hartlings
    Crazi Beautiful
    Tracy and Matt
    Marshall & Jani
    Tyler & Crystal
    Rachel Hatch
    Nic 
    Carmen & Jeremy
    Edgar & Sarah
    Gus & Cynthia
    Matt & Yvonne

    Steve & Angie

    Archives

    April 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    Categories

    All
    4th Of July
    4 Wheeler
    4wheeler051470c8ac
    4wheelere567169646
    Aasg
    Accident
    Adoption
    Afghan
    Akutaq
    Alaska
    Anchorage
    Andersons
    Anniversary
    Apartment
    Aste
    Baby
    Baby Sitting
    Baptism
    Basketball
    Basketball Tournament
    Bbq
    Bears
    Bill Nye
    Birthday
    Blacks
    Blog
    Bodies
    Camcorder
    Car
    Carnival
    Carving
    Cheeseburger
    Christmas
    Church
    Classes
    Conferences
    Contracts
    Cross Country
    Culture
    Daylight
    Death
    Denali
    Dillingham
    Dingy
    Eskimo Food
    Eyes
    Fairbanks
    Family
    Family Reunion
    Fights
    Finals
    Fireworks
    First Snow
    Fish
    Flat Iron
    Flight
    Flights
    Flooding
    Framing
    Frostbite
    Funeral
    Games
    Gas Station
    General Conference
    Gilmore Girls
    Graduation
    Halloween
    Hiking
    Homer
    Home Study
    Home Visit
    Hopin To Adopt
    Hotel
    Ice
    Ice Cream
    Ice Fishing
    Ice Skating
    Inservice
    Inservicef950ee9f89
    Ipad
    Itsaboutloveorg040d050fe4
    Ivory
    Jiu Jitsu
    Kansas City
    Kaylee
    Keyboard
    Kodiak
    Kuspuq
    Last Day
    Lds Family Services
    Leadership Substitutes Students7fda13d870
    Lockinbc83f421de
    Manokotak
    Mascot
    Mcdonalds00dd1ec757
    Meltoff69e1f3bf55
    Moose
    Moose Hoof
    Moving
    Mukluks
    Muktuq
    Netting
    New Semester
    New Stu
    New York
    Niagara Falls
    Palmyra
    Parentteacher Conference69b31a4a0f
    Parentteacher Conferencef8c4da4bae
    Pe
    Piano
    Potatoes
    Potluck
    Prank
    Praxis
    Principal
    Prom
    Pushpin
    Quiliting
    Quilt
    Qwirkle
    Retreat
    Rexburg
    Risotto
    Rtp
    Rv
    Salmon
    Saturday School
    School
    Science
    Sealskin
    Seattle
    Sewing
    Shopping
    Sick
    Smelting
    Smoothies
    Snowshoeing
    Spirit Week
    Spring Break
    Student Council
    Student Teacher
    Substitutes
    Summer
    Sunrise
    Super Storm
    Taxi
    Teeth
    Temple
    Thanksgiving
    Ticket To Ride
    Togiak
    Tournament
    Traveling
    Triathlon
    Tundra
    Twohillc75938e63c
    Valentine
    Vegetables
    Visiting Teaching
    Volleyball
    Washington Dc92ca0b9177
    Water Fight
    Weather
    Weathered In
    Website
    Wedding
    White Collar
    Wind
    Wrestling
    Zillah

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.