Frontier House: Official Proposal

Family Name:
Otteman
Occupations/Schools:
Langley Middle School

Open answer questions (attach additional pages. All questions must be answered.):
What attracted you to this project?
I am really interested in this time of life. I have read many books about it, and each time I am amazed by their strength. I think this would be a good thing for me too. It would help me to see how strong that I really am.
What hobbies and interests do you have?
Some of my interests include swimming, taking walks in the woods, and cooking. I have many others, but a lot of them wouldn't benefit me in this project. My life passion is animals, so I think that this would be useful.
What image do you have of pioneer living?
My image of pioneer life is very crude and hard. At the same time I see it as a pure life. Free of the twentieth century's crime and lies. I think that it would be very hard work, but in the end a good experience.
What's the most challenging thing you and your family (or group) have experienced?
We have experienced many challenging things. My dad grew up on a farm, and he was a major hard labor worker. He got up at 3 every morning to feed and do labor on the farm before school. He has also gone through a lot of mental hardships. My mother had a very terrible child hood. She had been taking care of her brothers and sisters for a long time. This has made her very strong. She also lived way out in the middle of no where in Oregon. She had learned to take care of herself, because she was by herself a lot. My sister and I have watched are family get betrayed, and hurt by the people we loved most. This has just brought us closer together as a family.
If you were chosen what do you think you would most miss about modern life?
I think that I would miss talking with my friends. They are very important to me, and I get lonely easily. I think I could do it though.
What qualities do you and your family have that make you suited to this experience?
Well my dad is a very hard worker. He does all the physical labor at my house and helps others with theirs. He chops our fire wood out in the woods. He also knows how to work on very little sleep. Every day he gets up at 3 am and works on airplanes until 5 pm. Than he gets home and does work around the house and at others people's houses until he goes to bed around 9 pm. He works as much as he can, sometimes 2 weeks in a row. And on his days off he pays bills and works around the house some more. It is very hard for him to keep still. My mom has worked at many different restaraunts as a chef. She knows what is okay to eat in the wild, and what is not. She has been doing this a long time so I know she is good at it. My sister is also a hard worker and she helps my dad a lot. I am the one that normally does cleaning and taking care of our animals.
What skills do you have that may help you?
I can work hard if needed. I am very good with animals, so I could milk the cows and feed them. My mom says that I am the most stubborn person she knows, if I set my mind on something I will get it done. I don't mind getting dirty, but I like to look nice. I really like the out doors. My sister and I used to play in the woods non stop. If I can help an animal in any way I will do it. No matter what.
What would you hope to get out of the experience?
I would hope to know that I could do this an survive. It would also make me look at my life very differently. I know that I am lucky, but I still think I don't understand how lucky I am.
What do you think will be the most difficult challenge of pioneer life?
I think that the biggest challenge for me would be doing the same thing over and over again. It would get boring after a while.
What skills would you like to learn from the experience?
I would like to learn to appreciate everything I have in my life. it would be cool to learn how to cook all the different food.
We'd like you to tell us:
What interests you about this project?
I like how true that it is to how the life was back than. They don't sugar coat anything. I would really get to see what it was like back than.
Do you have any concerns about your participation?
I would be scared to go out there. But I know I could last.
How much do you know about your family history -- do you have pioneer roots?
I don't know much about my family history because I am adopted. I do know that My dad's family has a lot of farmers in it though.
How did you hear about Frontier House?
My teacher, Mr. Berquist showed it too my class.