This past weekend, I had the pleasure of going to Unalakleet, a village southeast of Nome, for two nights and three days. The purpose of my trip was to work on an project I am producing, which is usually the reason any staff member from KNOM travels to a village in the region. It is a hard fact that travel is expensive, and there needs to be a reason for any trips.
To be able to spend the amount of time I stayed in Unalakleet was such a gift. To break away from the normal routine to go and collect material for a project was a much-needed cleanse. If you cannot tell, I love being in the field. It is such a cluster of anxiety and wonder.
That may not sound appealing. But if you know the feeling, you will agree that it is amazing. There is nothing like fumbling with your mic while trying to get good sound, sleeping on the floor of a school, getting lost while taking in a new landscape, and meeting new people.
This process can feel like creating puzzle pieces for a puzzle that doesn’t exist yet. As the collector, you have no idea what this project will look like and you are deciding what to collect as things are happening in front of you. The fear of missing a sound or a moment that will be crucial to your final piece is so real. Being on your own, trying to figure things out can be maddening, but it can also be very fulfilling.
At the end of every trip, there is time to reflect on what you just experienced. For me, it is hard for me to put anything into context or order in my mind. Instead, I like to stare at the runway as I wait for the plane and just let the fatigue and awe wash over me until I get on the plane to return home.
