I can't believe that I only have a month left before I'll be back home. It seems like it was yesterday that I just got to Alaska. I have had some amazing experiences so far. Some good, some excellent, and some life changing.
I've learned a lot about teaching in Bush Alaska. I do want to teach here, and I've decided to pursue teaching opportunities here in the district. I don't know what will happen, but I've let my intentions known, and we'll go from there.
I've made some friends up here and have learned a great deal about teaching the students here. I learn something everyday about being a teacher from all of the teachers and administration that I've come in contact with. I have to thank a few teachers that have helped me get through a very interesting 7 days of substituting in the 3rd grade.
The first few days were interesting, like most students, a substitute seems to be a great choice to see what rules they can get away with. While I'd only been here for a week before I did the substituting, the kids didn't know me as well as when I subbed for the teacher in Teller. This week has been trying at times, but I learned a lot from the students, myself, and from the other teachers and the administrators. I'm glad that I especially had the help and support of the other 3rd grade teacher, with ideas and helping me learn the ropes. She's a great teacher and I'm thankful that she was there and let me ask her questions. I am also glad for the teacher that I subbed for as well, who sent over sub plans via email, and was willing to talk to me on the phone about what she wanted me to accomplish and answer my questions. No one died while she was gone!
You learn a lot about your students, and some students continually surprise you. There are several in the class that I worked with, and would always be surprised at what they know. It just goes to prove that you can't assume anything.
Yesterday was the last day of school before spring break. They let the students out 1.5 hours early, and I gave the students some free time after writing. We watched a "Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss" episode (which I think was a show on PBS?) and at the end of the day the kids said "I was the best sub ever." Which I thanked them for, but laughed a little inside because sometimes they said they didn't like me because I made them work and learn.
Last night was also supposed to be the other interns last night. We went down to the old school which has been converted into teacher housing on the 4 wheeler. 4 adults on the 4 wheeler was interesting, one on front, one driving and two on the back. Made me feel like I was in one of those countries that put everyone and their grandma on their mopeds and drive around town. We went and played games, and they are games that I think I want to get in the future. A game called "Bang!" Also here.which is a wild west card game developed in Italy. Most of the cards are in Italian with English subtitles. We also played "7 Wonders". It seemed to be like Settlers of Catan, but a bit different. It was a lot of fun.
After we played games, one of the teachers who had volunteered to teach me how to drive the schools 4 wheeler said "Want to learn now?" and I jokingly said, "You said 12 on Saturday, you really meant 12am Saturday not noon?" She laughed. I said sure, and off we went to get dressed to go and learn to drive!
It's actually pretty easy, I didn't crash! I did have some issues with the switching of gears and letting off on the gas. It's not like driving a car, because the gas is controlled with your hand and there is no clutch, you just switch gears with your foot.
Although it was really windy out and it felt like I had to keep turning the wheels into the wind. I mentioned it to her afterwards about it feeling like it needed an alignment and that the wind seemed to be a big factor in driving. She agreed with me, but that it was mostly the wind tho.
I need a bit more practice, but I think I can do it by myself.
It's spring break now, we have a week off. I'm not sure what I will be doing. Some teachers are leaving/have left, and others are staying.
My roommate, another intern, is a special ed teacher. He was offered a position in a different village to finish out the remainder of the year. He was supposed to leave this morning, but it was too windy for the planes to fly, so he's still here. One of the maintenance staff just stopped by wondering if he was still going to go tomorrow. I said that he was planning on it. He stated that it might still be too windy for the planes to fly, so my roommate might still be here tomorrow as well. This is life in Bush Alaska. Sometimes you don't get to catch your flight out of where you are teaching. A saying out here is "If a plane comes, you get on it." Even if your plane is supposed to be ERA (now Ravn), if Bering Air comes, you get on it.
He's all packed up to leave, now he will have to unpack his sleeping bag, and other stuff to sleep here again tonight.
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