It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood....

Won't you be my neighbor??

Well, I had a nice Thanksgiving. I went to my principal's house where about 20 of us had our dinner. It was a fun time. The day before, we got out of school early and came down to the cafeteria where we served a Thanksgiving meal to the community. I was passing out the turkey. I don't know how many people came, but it had to be at least half of the village was there.

But the real fun was this morning. (Don't ask me why this was the fun part....I don't know, it just was!) I layered up and grabbed my outdoor broom to sweep off the snow on my porch, steps, & boardwalk. I don't have a shovel, so this was the best I could do.

The rain had iced up the snow, so it was mostly ice. By the way, brooms don't work so well on ice. But kicking seems to work. So I was kicking the ice off, listening to music, and pretty much having a good ole time. I know I was making a lot of noise, but it was after noon so I wasn't too worried about it.

After a few minutes, a neighbor in my complex comes out and starts shoveling her walk. Another one comes and then soon my principal's out there, and they're clearing off the boardwalk (I don't know if it was just coincidence or if I was making a huge racket). The ones with shovels (i.e. everyone but me) had helped me with my steps and boardwalk and had moved on to everyone else's boardwalk & steps.

The mood was light and jovial. But as I only had a broom, I wasn't much help. So I did what one does with a broom in the snow. I went to go smack icicles off my roof. I had already karate chopped the ones I could reach earlier. Brandishing my broom like the graceful samurai sword it should have been, I start at the icicles on the other side of my house, when I noticed an odd handle coming out from under the house. It was a shovel!! Now I could help shovel snow!!

I ran up to the group with a triumphant "Look what I found!!!" And soon there were four of us, clearing snow & breaking up the ice. I know it's supposed to be work, but after trying to shovel snow with a broom and your feet....a shovel is a lot better. Plus, adding sound effects always makes a job more fun. I was still in the martial art mindset so my sound effects shoveling were of that nature.

It was the reading specialist, the principal, the 3rd grade teacher and myself out there. We were cracking jokes & laughing. We cleared the whole boardwalk and everyone's steps. At one point the principal's wife came out with a camera to take a picture of all of us. At another point, the 3rd grade teacher hit me in the arm with a snowball. I am quite happy to report that I have pretty good aim and pegged him in the leg. He's lucky he went back into his house, otherwise it would have been war!!! (I'm not sure if he reads my blog, so I might need to declare war or at least threaten war in person....)

I stayed out a bit longer and practiced throwing snowballs. I haven't attempted a snowman yet, but the snow isn't that sticky yet. But it was fun stomping around and being silly.

I have knocked down all the icicles around my house and now I'm wondering if other people would notice if I did their houses next. I'm not sure what the appeal is but whatever, I'm just going with it.

Trippin'

Wow, this last week has been a trip....and actually I had a trip....and tried not to trip.

So this past weekend I went to Bethel to attend a math class. Actually, it was to learn about this curriculum which teaches math based on the Yup'ik Eskimo culture. (I've kinda moved on from the Eskimo part, I just consider them Yup'ik) So there's various modules: berry picking, patterns & parkas, building a fish rack, building a kayak, etc. The modules are age appropriate and totally integrate the math and traditional Yup'ik activities. I mean, how cool is that??? Except, this kass'aq (gus'ock) has no clue about the Yup'ik culture, so I signed up to take the class.

We flew to Bethel on Friday and arrive at a dorm. It was my first time sleeping in a dorm room. I had to share with my roommate. Actually, I really didn't have to share with her, but I had to share with someone and we both felt comfortable sharing a room. After dinner, we went shopping. Which was cool, but it wasn't as exciting as the first time I came to Bethel. Maybe because I really didn't need much.

And let me just say, it's kinda weird for me to run out of something, like ranch dressing and just go to my pantry and grab a bottle. It's kinda cool. I feel so organized. Yay me....

Anywho, the next day was a training day.

Okay, I know this is a blog on the internet, but it's not an anonymous blog...so I have to tread lightly...but there was someone at the event who really could have used a valium. Just saying the girl needed to take the stress level down a notch....or several notches. There....I think you know what I mean. And so does everyone else at the event.

But in all fairness, there was some stress. I realized my greatest fear that I haven't had to confront until I came to Alaska. I mean, I become a total baby. It's sad.

Here it is: the temperature got warmer (low 30's - woohoo!) and it began to rain. I thought, "Oh! The snow will melt!" Yeah, not quite. Some of you may already know this, but I didn't so I'll go ahead and explain. The rain froze the snow, making everything slick ice. Like the slipperiest ice ever.....

And here's the problem: well, I'll explain in a story: One day I got rollerblades. I got on my protective gear and was ready to learn how to rollerblade. I skate out past my driveway to the garbage can. And that's where I froze. I mean, I couldn't move! I was terrified. I'm pretty sure it was of falling, but the fear of death was in there too. I clung onto that garbage can for dear life. And that's when it hit me: I was the girl at the roller rink who couldn't let go of the railing. There was one part of the rink where there was no railing. It was open rink!! So I had to plan my path or I'd have to brave the openness of that rink (on carpet I'm fine. In fact, I would have been perfectly content to skate on a carpeted rink.) So I remember this as I'm clutching the smelly garbage can. And here comes my brother, Ethan, who of course will rescue me like the hero I know my baby brother to be.

"Help Ethan! I'm stuck."

"You skated yourself there, you can skate yourself back."

What? This was not the appropriate response. You can bet when I crawled on all fours off that garbage can back into the house, we had some words!

So you can see my problem here in Alaska. I thought I was smart. I have ice stabilizers for my shoes. They slip over my boots and help you keep your balance on the ice. (See picture) But when you're in Bethel and your ice stabilizers are still in your mudroom in Akiak, they will do you no good!

I don't know if people here know how terrified I am or if I'm just coming off annoying though. I made it around Bethel okay (walked the edge holding on to something). Today after work, I think I really acted like a baby. I had planned on catching a ride home but that plan backfired. So two coworkers and myself were traversing the patches of slick ice (the ground was either mud or ice) when a car started coming down the road. The very road that I was currently in the middle of. Problem!!

I decided I would in no way break my neck rushing across the road. So I decided to stand there and let them pass so I could continue my painfully slow trek across the road. The other members of my party had already made it to the other side and were asking me what was wrong.

Complete with a pout this is what came out of my mouth: "There is a truck coming and I will NOT be rushed!"

Thankfully, they just laughed and the truck stopped to give me a ride home (Thank you my hero!!!). This ice is not bringing out the best in me I'm afraid to say.

Oh! But that's not the only dramatic event for me in Bethel!!! Oh no! Did you know that bush planes don't like to land planes on fields of ice? We barely made a flight that would take us to Akiak....the rest of the people who were from different villages had to stay in Bethel another night. I was very happy to get home. Dorm life just isn't for me, I guess.

****************

Something else happened this weekend that was actually horrible. Two men, two brothers were drinking and got into a fight. And one brother stabbed the other one in the abdomen. Didn't kill him, but sent him to the hospital. Now, this is tragic enough, but the victim happened to be the father of one of my students. And the other brother was someone I know and liked very much. Actually, both men have been very kind and nice to me.

Of course my concern was for my student and his older brother. Mom isn't in the picture and I'm not sure why. So tonight I invited the two boys over my house for dinner. Now, you know I don't cook...but I planned on making spaghetti. And it was a big deal to me to make them dinner. I had spaghetti, corn, and fresh baked bread (alright, it was frozen) ready.

They were late but I had written a note to their grandmother with my phone number in case she wanted to talk to me. I wasn't expecting this.....I answer the phone: "Hello?" "Teacher, what time is it?" "It's 5:00, are you coming for dinner?" "Okay, we're coming."

And I served them my culinary masterpiece....and they only liked the corn. So I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I liked the spaghetti. It was prego. A coworker stopped by and tasted the sauce. He thinks it might have been too sweet for them. Which would explain why I liked it. But the night wasn't a total bust. They played my Wii Resort and had fun.

And that was the point. I guess......

Seasons in Akiak

I've been waiting months to do this one!!!

What Week Am I On?

Okay, so I don't really remember how many weeks I've been here....good thing there's a calendar: week 15

sunrise: 9:49 a.m. (thank you daylight savings)
sunset: 5:08 p.m. (wow....no help there)

I went for a walk today....and I brought my camera!!!

Enjoy:

Bloody 'ell

Well, this morning was not a great morning. Oh, it started out great. I had ordered new boots and they came in yesterday. They are awesome boots, let me tell you. Just look at the picture!! Sweet!!!

So I get to work (didn't have to walk - one of my friends gave me a ride) and the day starts.

I was making copies when I hear crying in the hallway. One of the teachers was holding tissue to a kid's face. "Bloody nose." I think to myself.

Then I hear my principal talking about taking the boy to the clinic. "Must be more serious than I thought." I start to get my things and walk back to my room. After all, the boy was surrounded by adults who seemed to have the situation under control.

Then they bring another bloody nose victim.

And this boy is one of my students. One of my kids.

HOLD THE PHONE

I walk into the office.....and I identify the boys. Both of them are my boys.

The principal clears out the office. I'm about to walk out when I asked the more injured boy if he wanted me to stay with him. He's not the needy type and I expected him to say no.

He nodded his head yes.

Okay, I think this is worse than I thought.

Without going into all the details. It was worse than I thought. Okay, it was horrible. My two boys ran into each other. One open mouth hit the other boy's eye. It was cut really bad and the boy was covered in blood. They sent both boys to Bethel. I haven't heard yet what happened or how bad the injuries are.

I spent the next half hour mopping up blood (they gave me gloves), and trying to soothe my boys. I had no clue what I was doing but a couple of people came up to me later and said how impressed they were with my handling the situation. I didn't really handle anything, I just tried to keep them calm, but I appreciate the compliments nonetheless.

The whole ordeal really bothered me. But I almost lost it when I looked up and through the office window I saw the boy with the eye injury's sister. She had this look that was a mixture of fear, and concern for her brother. His sister is also in my class.

After they got the boys off to the clinic, I calmed down the siblings and other girls who were upset. Rumors had been flying that the boy's eye popped.

Today was a hard day...I hate seeing my kids hurt, upset, and scared. And I got all that in one half hour.

Yes, I got the kids calmed down.....but I found that I needed to calm down.

I needed a hug....I needed my friends....I needed my family.....okay...what I really needed was a drink!

Trick or Treat

Wow! Halloween will never be the same!!!

It was kind of hard to come back to work as soon as I did after my illness, but somehow I managed. I really didn't want to miss out on anything.

A co-worker had gone out and bought pumpkins for every classroom. And there was to be a pumpkin carving contest. The winning pumpkin would win a party for the classroom. Now, some of you reading this may not know, but I can be a bit competitive. I'm getting a little tired of going up against the high school and honestly, my second graders haven't been fairing too well against them, but this was a contest that I knew I could win....for them of course, but my class could nail this!!!

When the pumpkin arrived, the kids were in awe. They asked me what would happen if they picked it up. I told them to find out. That's right, my students had never seen a pumpkin in real life before. One boy would carry it around and pat it saying, "That's my baby."

Next, came the task of selecting the pumpkin design. Since none of my students had ever carved a pumpkin, they wanted every design they saw. I found a pumpkin design that not only looked awesome, but that I could actually do. It's the one in the picture. I liked the idea of painting a haunted house & carving out the moon & windows. I thought it was different and very cool. Diffeniately something that could bring victory to the second grade. But I was going to let the kids pick out the end result. It was their pumpkin....sigh. Lucky for me they chose the one I wanted to do. I swear, I did not lead them to that choice at all.

We carved the pumpkin on Thursday. And they were so excited. Some of them stood at the door and told anyone who was passing by, "We're carving our pumpkin!!!" Everyone got a chance to pull out the guts of the pumpkin. Some of them really liked that part. Others were content to try it once and then watch other people do it.

I had a movie playing while I worked on the pumpkin. I didn't let the kids handle the knives and I do not feel guilty about that choice at all! Some watched while I drew, carved, and painted the pumpkin. It turned out pretty cool. The kids loved it! We were set for Friday's judging.

The next day we had people coming into our classroom saying "We heard you had a really cool pumpkin!!" Parents, kids, co-workers....this pumpkin was awesome. I forgot my camera, but the school newspaper came & took a picture of it.

Bet your thinking we won, right? Nope, the woman in charge of the contest was sick so it was cancelled. I'm thinking of a not-so-nice word right now.....

I think we had a chance too.......

But we didn't that let it ruin our Friday! Oh no! Not when we have some tee shirts to tie dye! I had gotten tee shirts and dye for the kids. I thought it would be fun to make tie dye shirts for the second graders. The kids loved it!! They absolutely loved making those shirts. I was a huge mess afterwards. I had taken off the gloves because they were slowing me down...so my hands were covered in dye. But the kids stayed pretty clean. I was the messiest person in the room. Go figure!!

So I really couldn't have missed out of work and missed out on all that fun! There was a carnival at the school Friday night, but sadly, I was so worn out from work that I just went home and slept.

Saturday was Trick or Treating. There were signs up that it started @ 3:00 at one villager's house. I thought that was kind of odd, but whatever. I had bought a ginormous bag of candy (for $30 - ouch!) and my roommate and I were ready.

3 hours later, there hadn't been any trick or treaters. Well, no matter but I thought it was kind of odd.

Then I saw some people heading our way. No, actually what I saw was the village heading our way. They lined up at our door - young kids, teenagers, parents, elders.....and people kept coming. There weren't a whole lot of costumes....just people wanting candy. We had this huge line of people.....there had to be about 100 people. And as quickly as they came.....they left. Within ten minutes, it was over. I only had a couple of pieces of candy left. I had never seen so many people at one time in the village.

It started snowing on Tuesday and hasn't stopped. I've never had Halloween in the snow before. It's 20 degrees outside. Yesterday, it was 14 degrees. I'm still liking the cold and loving the snow. I still haven't gotten my winter coat yet, but I'm still able to bundle up just fine.

This morning was pitch black on the way to work. I could only see as far as my flashlight shone. One of my co-workers thought it would be funny to run up behind me and scare me the other day. When I swung around I put my hand up on her chest to protect myself. I didn't push her down or anything, but I don't think she thought it was quite so funny after that. I like that my instinct was to protect myself. She's actually lucky I didn't hit her.

Sunrise: 10:14 a.m.
Sunset: 6:43 p.m.