Happy February!
I’ve been super busy lately but am loving every minute of it. Work is going great; even though I have to plan for 7 different classes I really enjoy (almost) all of them. Have I told yall I get to teach Health 2 times a day? One at the high school level and one at the junior high level. That really excites me because it’s my favorite subject and one I actually imagined myself teaching back when I was in college. The kids enjoy making fun of how health-conscious I am, but I think I may be rubbing off on some of them, too. :)
It’s been extremely cold lately. We are still drastically short on snow this year, but at least the temperatures are getting down into the negative 30s so it actually feels like Alaska again. The high school boys are hosting a basketball tournament now. It is long over-due, as we’ve had to cancel games for the past 3 weeks because of weather. They thought they wouldn’t be able to play this time because of the temperature; if the weather is negative 40 or colder we aren’t allowed to transport students. But thankfully it just stayed in the negative 30s. Betsy and Emily ran the kitchen at the tournament and Paula and I kept score for the first game. I hear them bouncing balls in the gym right now - they have one more game before the teams fly out and we resume our normal Saturday school schedule.
Several of us went to Anchorage a few weeks ago for an RTI Conference. It was great being able to stock up on some groceries. Speaking of groceries, I finally decided to get on the Full Circle Farm orders - every 2 weeks they deliver fresh (yes, fresh!) food to the village, weather permitting. I haven’t done it in the past simply because it’s pricey, but I figured after 4 and a half years of eating canned vegetables I deserve the good stuff. The last box that came there were little green bugs in the lettuce. Paula had them too, so we asked Matt (the science teacher) what they are and he assured us they were harmless. Paula gave her lettuce supply to Matt, and I was okay with eating them. (Who AM I!?!?) Hey, more protein.
While we were in Anchorage Matt and I were really getting a lot figured out for our summer kayaking trip from Bethel to Newtok. We visited REI and he found the kayak he wants. I’m still going with the Oru kayak, and I hope I made the right decision. The only setback we’ve encountered is being able to find a map of that isolated region. No one has it! I can zoom in on google earth, at least, and print pieces off there and piece them together, but we’d like something water proof, too. I ordered a map kit from National Geographic, and if I understand it correctly, that will give us printable pages and a water-proof casing. We will see when it comes in!
Another fun thing we did while in Anchorage was rock climbing! Matt is an avid climber - I have only been climbing with that machine attached to ya, you know what I mean? Never legitimately climbing with someone belaying. So this is a funny story - I finally upgraded my phone and can get internet now. On the way to the rock climbing gym Matt was trying to tell me how to do it, because he said they are pretty picky about knowing your stuff before they let you climb. Sure enough, when we got there, they said we both had to pass a test to prove we can do it. So while we were filling out our paperwork, me acting like I knew what was going on, I quickly whipped out my new phone and you-tubed “how to belay” - trying to teach myself before the test. While the guy working was helping someone get supplies, Matt took me over to the wall and showed me how to tie the proper knots, how to stand, etc. Then the worker came back over and had us go through the procedure 3 or 4 times, closely watching our every move to make sure we were doing everything right. Somehow I passed the test! It was pretty wild - we had a great rest of the afternoon climbing.
We have never before gone so long and so often without planes flying. For a few weeks we would only get a plane a week, if that. The bush pilots are apparently not taking as many chances, I’m assuming because of all the plane crashes that they had. One airline even changed their name. Haha.. well, we may be more shut off now but at least there are fewer crashes.
Brandi, Kevin, and their kiddos comes back TODAY!!! We are all so very excited. We really like her sub, Henry, and he is doing a great job, but we miss them so much! They have a new little boy and we can’t wait to meet him. Paula and I have been cleaning out/putting together new stuff for the house, and rearranging bedrooms so they will be surprised when they get in. The students made a welcome home poster for them and we’ll go over after school today to hang it and begin the Welcome Home Party that will most likely last the rest of the day, even though they won’t get here until tonight. :) If it’s one thing we teachers know how to do, it’s have a good time.
