First of all I just have to say that I had an amazing first week of school with my kiddos. I have 11 kids in my class. 9 boys and 2 girls. You might think that its crazy to have that many boys but it's actually pretty great. Some of them are very quiet and some are mellow. Some of them are wild and some are just plain silly ! I think it makes for a great combination.
It's been great working up at the "BIG SCHOOL" and not having to walk across town to HeadStart each day. It's great to work with everyone that I live by and see every day, but I'm still missing my ladies from HeadStart. I really loved working with all native teachers and I really loved forming those relationships. It's hard to believe that I don't work with them anymore but I will still get to see them often because they either have students in my class or their kids are on my cross country team or I might just see them in the village.
I forgot how exhausting teaching is. It hasn't been that long since I've had to work but yet it still feels like I got hit by a bus at the end of the week. I think its because my brain is not used to making so many decisions or planning so much. I also think I'm on my feet way more when I teach so that is another change for my body. I have been thinking a lot about the kids that I taught last year. I really miss them and their families but I have also thinking about how much better my school year will be in a school that runs properly. I feel like last year I did not get the support that I needed as only a 2nd year teacher. I feel a little jipped that I did not get help with improving my job performance or critiqued on my teaching because there were so many other things to worry about. I feel like I did not advance in my career as much as I would have liked to. However, I feel like I gained a lot of experience with classroom management and stressful situations. I'm not saying that where I worked was really really terrible or something, I'm just saying that in this situation with where I'm working now, I have a lot less problems and a lot less stress.
So I've been coaching cross country and I really am starting to enjoy it. I like working with the older kids just as much as with the younger kids. There's something so rewarding about coaching that I never realized existed until now. It's great for the kids to know that there is a person supporting them and pushing them to do better. Also, because of me they will be able to travel for this sport and that's a huge deal for them. This year we will be going to Noorvik for a meet. If you've ever heard of Noorvik it's probably because it's on one of those Alaska T.V. Shows. I think it's called Life Below Zero. There's a couple that live in Noorvik on that show. The man who is white, and his native wife. They are my favorite people on that show. I hope when I go there I get to see them. That'd be pretty sweet.
Still not a lot of word on the pilot. He's busy and so am I. I think dating in this sort of situation is going to be way harder than I could have ever imagined. But, I am content with where I am now and I think good things will happen if I just wait. No hurry for me. Just happy to be here and love my job!
So, Thursday night after practice, John and Richelle ask if I want to go fishing with them in their canoe at Moses Point. Of course I felt like fishing since my glorious mother sent me new fishing goodies in the mail. :) I get out past Iron Creek and boom boom boom, bang bang.. I have no idea what happened I just pulled over and thought my tire had popped because thats what it felt like. So, I start my machine, check my tires and it all seems good except my machine will not move when I hit the gas. Then, there I was stranded. John and Richelle were ahead of me and had no idea that I had broken down. I figured they'd wait there for me and wonder where I was and eventually figure out that I had broken down. So, like I said (eventually) someone would have found me. Anyway, two nice men found me instead and dragged me and my 4wheeler home. They thought that my transmission when out on my machine but it was in fact a broken belt. I ordered a new one from Morgan's in Nome and it was sent here the very next day. I don't know how. Maybe it was Facebook or maybe just word of mouth, but every one in the entire village knew about my break down. I was asked about it all day on Friday. Word travels fast in this village :)
John put on my new belt for me last night and it all seemed to be coming together but when I drove it, it still made funny sounds. There were still pieces of the broken belt stuck way in there. Megan's husband, Scott fixed the whole dang thing for me today so I bought him a gallon of ice cream :) I am really lucky to have people here to take care of me. Now I have to get a new filter for my machine, some oil, figure out how to change the oil, order an owner's manual since I don't have one and buy a tire pump. Let's hope I can handle all of this hahah
My mom messaged me this morning and said that my professional license for Alaska came today. (my teaching license) I'm really glad that all went through and i don't have to worry about it until 2019 now.
Now here comes the even great part! I went fishing tonight at Moses Point with Amanda and Mark. We borrowed John's canoe so that we could go up river and fish instead of just fishing offshore. I really thought I would have another day where I didn't catch anything but guess what? I TOTALLY CAUGHT A HUGE SILVER SALMON!
It caught my completely by surprise. It was that kind of surprise where you don't really know what's happening when it's happening and you scream out and feel like an idiot afterward. Anyway, this fish was huge and was a pretty big challenge for me to reel him in. Mark was there to help me and stop me from breaking my line. Mr. Silver Salmon got all tuckered out and we were able to pull him to shore. I have never been so happy in my whole life to touch something so slimy. So, I pulled the fish in, smacked it over the head with a huge log like some kind of cavewoman, ripped its gil (so that it would bleed out so that there wasn't as much blood when I cut it later), and sat there with this cheesy smile on my face for at the longest while.
Mark taught me how to cut fish tonight. I learned from Sandra the first time but I needed a refresher. I'm still not very good at it but I did get much better tonight. Mark is a good teacher. I think I'm really getting the hang of it. :) Dad, you would be proud. I have all these beautiful (BONELESS) salmon cuts in my freezer right now. All by myself :)
Ok, well it's getting late and I'm exhausted. Love and miss you all. Hope you enjoy my pictures
I also am posting pictures of when I went fishing the other night with Mark and they sifted 30 some odd salmon from the river in a net. Pretty neat to watch as well. I watched them cut all the fish that night too. It's amazing how fast some people are. I envy them.
Goodnight all
Sammy
Michelle taking a picture of me…
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