Hold On... He'll Break Open the Skies to Save Those Who Cry Out His Name....

Is it summer yet?  No.  Nope!  Not at all. 

Next week is SBA Testing Week.  It is also the week I plan on doing Easter activities.  Will my kiddos make it through the week alive?  Sure.  Will I?  That's debatable. 
So here's to hoping things will go well.

Recently the class as a whole has started to struggle with behavior again. :(   Fist fights, arguing, and stealing are popping back up.  So much I was actually dragged down the hallway by two students trying to pull them apart from one another.  That to me is the most frustrating thing that can happen.  I feel like I just spent most of the year getting them to the point they can work independently and cooperatively when working together.  Guess it's time for me to go back to the drawing board with behavior management  and class set up. 

On the a more positive note, tickets have been bought for my trip home.  I think I might start posting a list of things that I will want to do over the summer. The top of that list is wearing shorts and flip flops.  I have missed Indiana weather.  Especially the smell of the rain, the feel of the wind blowing in from my car window, and the sunshine hitting my face. 

Another awesome thing is I am getting ready for a week vacation in San Diego with my best friend and then a week on a mission trip with another friend in Mexico.  I am so stoked for June it's ridiculous!  Tickets have been bought.  Plans are underway.

And last but not least, I am almost done with my first year of teaching.  CRAZY RIGHT??!  I can hardly believe it!

One Day When The Sky Is Falling, I'll Be Standing Right Next to You

 

My mister was here only 2 weeks ago. 

He flew 4000 miles to stay with me for 6 days.

I literally was dancing around when I saw his plane land.  

I ran and jumped into his arms when he came into the airport.  

I couldn't believe he was really part of my world out here.  

I felt like laughing, crying, squealing, and dancing.

We snowmachined him around the big town of Bethel and all the way back to Atmautluak.

We spent a glorious week of pancake mornings, stir-fry dinners, and movie nights.  

He got to meet the village.

He got to see my class.

He read with some of my struggling readers.

He now really understands what I'm going through. 

A Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Akutaq Go Down...

In the past 3 days I have eaten more Native food than ever before.  Here in the village people throw parties for various reasons.  Birthdays, death anniversaries, and first kills.  During the summer and fall months they have the women come early and go to "Throwing Parties".  I think I've explained about these before, but if I haven't they are pretty self explanitory.  The person hosting the party buys tons and tons of items to give away, climbs to a high point on their property, and begins throwing these objects to the people on the ground.  Washcloths, socks, notebooks, bookbags, tupperware, candy... just about anything can be thrown.  After that comes the feast.

It's still winter here in Alaska, with some really terrible days of negative windchill.  But, people still have these parties.  Now, the village is invited to the house, given platefuls of food, and leave with presents.  You go into the person's house, find a place to sit, and wait for the family to come around and serve you.  Sometimes you end up in a persons room, other times in the living room, but hardly ever do you end up at a table.  That is reserved for the elders.  They get their food, drinks, and dessert first.  Then come the men, then the women, and children.
The feasts here usually consist of meat soups (moose, beaver, salmon, etc.), the occasional vegetables, and akutaq (crisco, sugar, and berries).  As you are eating the family members will come around with presents such as washcloths, shampoo, and tupperware.  The kids will usually get something to wash with, socks and gloves, and sometimes a toy and candy.  The end of the meal you are invited to sit at the table with the family. There is usally coffee and tea offered with cake, fried bread, or the occasional salted fish (still attached to the skin, bones, and eyes).

Personally I go because I know it's the best way for me to be involved with the community in a positive way, other than doing school activities.  Some meals are easier to swallow than others.  But, no matter how much sugar you add, akutaq is still hard to swallow.  I think it's the thought that I'm eating lard with sugar and berries.

Just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time...

One word, BASKETBALL.  Yes, basketball has got me up at this crazy hour.  Another word deserves to be highlighted.  Second word, CHAPERONE. 

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            Since the beginning of the school year I’ve been asked to chaperone/coach several sports.  First it was my own team, the cross-country middle school runners, then it was for the females on our school’s wrestling team, and now it has been for the high school basketball team.  Great kids, great experiences, and great opportunities to travel. 

            I should probably start by explaining how chaperoning works out here.  Because of our rural location, playing another school isn’t as easy as hopping on a bus and getting there in 30 mins.  It takes planning, lots of money, overnight stays, and the good graces of mother nature.  In the fall time most travel is done by bush plane to nearby villages and or the nearest town, Bethel.  In the winter we can still travel using plane, but the cheaper and therefore preferred method is snowmachine.  You heard me right, snowmachine!  When you stay over at another school, the team is led to a classroom to sleep and hangout in for the weekend.  Everyone sleeps on the floor, unless you were one of the smart ones to bring an air mattress.  Finally I say it takes the good graces of Mother  Nature.  I’ve been stuck twice now at other schools because of weather delays… one of which was because the windchill caused tempatures to be in the -50s!!!!

           Tonight was a moment that I won't forget, because I saw a glimpse of the culture that still resonates deep inside these kids.  All day I'd seen high school girls and boys running around texting, facebooking, and listening to music on ipods.  At the end of the night, after the gym was cleaned and the kids were supposed to be heading to bed we heard noises coming from the front of the school.  Boys from another school began singing and dancing the traditional Yup'ik story telling way.  It was so neat to see these young guys embracing their culture. 

If you were a sleep I'd be a dream... whereever's your heart there I'd be...

I am sitting here at my teacher desk surrounded by piles of things that could/should/need to be done.  Motivation has been absent from me this past week.  There are probably several different factors causing this to happen...

1. Exhaustion... I think I've hit my plateau of how much my body, mind, and emotions can handle.  It's exhausting, rewarding yes... but exhausting, to be a teacher.  ESPECIALLY a first year teacher.  Especially a first year teacher living 4000 miles away from her norm.  I can't just drive to starbucks to get my caffeine buzz early in the morning.  I can't go to the local gym, unless you count the gymnasium with NO workout equipment.  I can't just drive to my boyfriend or best friend's place to have a good vent or cry... But... I soldier on.  I keep late hours, work my mind, body, and soul to the breaking point and now it's hitting me.  But a weekend of sleep and productivity should help a bit.
2. "Spring Break".... To me this is kind of funny, because our spring break is a 4 day weekend that is in the middle of March, and the tundra, rivers, and ground will still be absolutely frozen solid.  The kids can feel it approaching and so can I.  I'm counting down the days because once it starts that's when Nate will make his way up here.  So excited!  But alas, prepping for his visit and the anticipation is causing me to stress and keep busy.
3. Lent... Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE my God.  I love my Savior.  I love being a Christian... but it really is difficult to give up something in remembrance for Christ.  I decided because I signed up for a 5K this summer (The Color Run), I will give up my biggest comfort up here.  Junk food.  I haven't had chips, candy, or fried foods since Wednesday.  Easy for some, maybe... but up here junk food and processed foods are the only real readily available options.  Plus I am one that tends to eat my feelings. Happy... I eat.  Sad... I eat.  Mad... I eat.  :)  Get the picture?  So my body seems to be rebelling from not having the constant sugar/carb intake it's used to.  But it's worth it. Every time I have the urge to eat the M&Ms sitting on my desk for my kiddos I'm reminded of Christ.  Candy or Savior?  I'd say Savior wins out every time.

Apologies for the whiny post.  Kind of felt like readers needed an accurate account of how things are going here.

And for a while I will take it day by day...

Around Halloween I happened upon a dog that’d been sticking around the school begging for shelter, food, and love.  I couldn’t say no to the poor thing laying on our gym floor one afternoon, so I picked it up and brought it home with me.  Before that fateful day, however, I’d already been approached by some of the wrestling girls to get a puppy from their dog’s upcoming litter.  I couldn’t say no to them either.  So for 4 months I’ve had 2 little dogs under my feet and making messes all over.  I named them Ranger and Lil (Ranger because he was the rescued puppy and Lil because she was absolutely tiny when I got her.) Unfortunately, about 2 weeks ago Ranger started acting a bit lethargic and listless.  Within 2 days he got really sick and passed away.  Village dogs tend to not live long out here, even in the best situations due to lack of vet care and random acts of violence.  On the bright-side, Lil has been doing fine since Ranger’s death and makes my evenings and weekends all the more fun.

Another favorite is online time, primarily spent on social networking sites, Pinterest, and skyping friends and the boyfriend.  I would say I am fairly well connected to people back home thanks to technology.  Without it, I doubt if I’d really know what all is happening outside of major world events.  As for Pinterest, I can easily say, “Hello, my name is Dorothy and I’m an addict.”  I can’t help but fall in love with all the great creative ideas that I find perusing that site.  Most of my pins involve teaching, so I feel it’s a justified waste of time. ;)  I’ve even gotten some great use of the ideas in the classroom already.

  And finally, on a regular basis after dinners Eli and  I put on Dexter just to decompress from our crazy days.  He always claims the recliner and I curl up with a blanket on the coach.  Sometimes it’s nice just to turn off the brain and just watch something.

You put your arms around me and I'm home...

Christmas Break  in Florida and Indiana

            I got in the day before Christmas Eve, which meant I was able to get in much needed last minute shopping.  J  God bless malls open the eve of a major holiday.  I spent more than I ever had in my life.  And that’s okay, because for the first time I had the money to really get my family, friends, and loved ones what they deserved.  Plus… I realized how much just being around these people made me happy.  Enjoyed my joint Christmas celebrations with Nate’s family and my own.  Always love opening presents with family.  That will probably never ever change.

            The day after Christmas was spent packing and traveling to Florida.  I was blessed to have the opportunity to spend a week with Nate’s family with their grandparents in their beautiful Florida summer home.  Lots of time was spent on the beach, shuffle boarding, shopping, and lounging around.  My favorite moments had to be the ones where I got to just be calm, quiet, and relaxed.  Guess that’s what a vacation is for eh?

Nate and I even managed a fancy dinner date in during the week. 

 On New Year’s Eve the family went to  Busch Gardens.  I spent the day riding roller coasters and seeing all sorts of animals.  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE riding rollercoasters!  And with Nate’s brother and dad, I was in great company.  There was even a fireworks show that night at midnight.  What a great way to ring in the New Year.

 During my final week of break I spent driving all over central Indiana visiting friends and family that I’d missed this past year in Alaska.  Grabbing lunches with gal pals from freshman year.  Starbucks gab fests with a fellow former RA staff member and friend.  Lunch and planning session with a fellow woman of God.  Chipotle with my favorite little man and best friend.  I even got in a slumber party with my bestie complete with future planning, pinteresting, and slushies.  It was sooo good to see people that I love. 

The day before I left it was more family, Shelly, and Nate time.  I cried when I was saying goodbye to everyone… I think it’s because this time it’s not as easy saying goodbye.  I know the adventure I was heading back to.  And I’d tasted what it’s like back home again.  But spring break (THE WEEK NATE WILL VISIT) and summer break (MEXICO MISSION TRIP/BUCKET LISTING) are on their way!