When do we grow up? Do we ever grow up? More importantly, do we have to grow up?

Sticking to something is not always easy. And probably the only excuse I have for not blogging in a while. Either that or the lack of sunlight which doesn’t exactly inspire happy thoughts. 

But here I am, home for the holidays and in a whirlwind over what has happened this past year. I have gone for months at a time in which the only thing I do after school is consume pre-packaged noodles and watch t.v. I’d like to say that I go on huge expeditions after school and come home with a different type of meat each night but then I would only be lying. And I’m surprisingly okay with the truth right now. 

The truth has led me to the question that I’m sure a lot of mid-20 year old somethings are asking themselves right now: what exactly does it take to be an adult? Sometimes I think that I have this life thing together and go a few days with an extra spring in my step but then I do something stupid and have to suffer the consequences for not thinking things all the way through. I was actually pretty pleased with myself for the first half of the school year for always getting my dishes done and making semi- healthy meals. But then I started to lose my mojo. I mean if all you ever do is go to work, cook dinner, wash up, do laundry etc, etc .. where is the inspiration in that?! Yes, you have dishes that squeak and clothes that smell good but you are also in danger of being classified as ‘robot.’ And if ‘robots’ and ‘adults’ are synonyms, do we have to grow up?!

The beginning of my second year teaching in Togiak has been a whole new adventure from the first. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that this is my second year and that even through their are so many differences among the staff, I am still in the same place. But I do love my new coworkers as well as being able to teach 7 of the same kids. Although it’s weird because they remember things I told them last year that I forgot all about. Like, ‘Miss. Keleher remember when you stepped on your hamster and it died.’ Or ‘remember when Lexi was part of this class but so-in-so wasn’t.’ At first they were rather obsessed with figuring out who is/ isn’t in our new class but I think we have it all figured out now! We have moved on to new topics of interest and have recently completed our animal research projects. One of my students, decided that she was going to research the horse. It was a all great until she came across the word ‘ass’ in relation to donkeys. She flipped out and decided she couldn't research the horse anymore because the book had a  bad word in it. Of course one of the other kids took me up on the new rule that you can only use that word when talking about donkeys and loudly proclaimed, “now all I am going to talk about is donkeys!” Some of what they say has me chuckling on the inside! 

In a weird way sometimes it seems like kids are a whole heck of a lot wiser. They like their routine, stick to the rules and never fail to be amazed when snow falls outside the window. What does it matter if the dishes aren’t done if it is snowing outside? Priorities, priorities my friend! Why can’t we all just inspire to be kids forever?! 

Tata for now! Thanks for reading! 

Travel to, from and around the bush

I have never had a huge problem with flying. In fact, I used to love everything about it from wandering the airport to the thrill of take off to endless re-fills of pop.

However, that was my opinion from when I would fly Laguadia to Denver non-stop. Getting to and from Connecticut from Bush, Alaska has changed those views a little.

Here are some tips for any future bush traveler as well as my personal observations throughout my travels:

1.) Bush pilots don’t fly if they can’t see within 15 miles all around them. And they often don’t tell you whether or not they are going to fly that day until the end of the day. This may lead to cancelled flights, many hours on hold with airlines to change connecting flights and plenty of time to attempt to get comfy in the airport itself. If you are good at sweet talking your way through life, that may help in getting fees waived for changing tickets.

2.) From a traveler’s perspective, the muffin is quite universal. From New York to Anchorage- they are everywhere. At first, it may seem like a simple ounce of joy. When one first gets to the airport, there is nothing more thrilling than sitting down at a Starbucks, surrounded by luggage, muffin in hand. Although, the longer one spends in the air and in various airports, the more the muffin starts to lose it’s appeal. It becomes a dry, tasteless bun that does nothing but limit the body’s number of regular bowel movements.

3.) The temperature changes as your travel. Don’t get stuck in your east coast shoes in the icy muck of Dillingham, Alaska. Unless you deem the hot chocolate to be worth it.

4.) There is nothing better then having a random conversation with a random stranger who you will probably never see again on a plane or in a taxi. Yea, it is probably not best to get pregnant in Dillingham. If anything goes wrong, there is really not much they can do.

5.) It can suck to be stuck whether in Togiak, Dillingham, Anchorage, Chicago… but it can also be awesome. Go on a shopping spree, eat every single dinner out… who knows you might see a moose!

6.) Sometimes out-of-your-control wacky things happen. Get in a tug of war fight over your luggage with a drunk who thinks they should be able to get on their plane despite being intoxicated? Airport security is getting better and better by the day!

But more importantly, don’t freak out about anything that may happen. You can’t plan a trip to the bush and expect it to go perfectly so you might as well embrace the adventure.  

Just to clarify.. I still don’t have a problem with flying. Just more of an appreciation for my destination the longer the trip takes!

Dogs.... and the Bush

"A dog is a man's best friend".. I would never argue that quote. But what that neglects to mention is how much time and responsibility a dog takes up for a single teacher living in Bush Alaska. Gently put,  I am me, ready to travel and explore the North, South, East and West of Alaska and of the world. I've been weighing the alternatives of what to do for a while.. here are some reactions to my final decision:

Dad: "Why are you getting rid of him?" "Bring him back home and we will try to find a home for him."
Grandparents: "WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! Give Cocoa's uncle away????????"
Sister: "Now do you understand how mommy felt all those years?" (This was a painfully annoying question to answer but she has a point..)
Friend: "Also, because I have few opportunities to be "miss-know-it-all" with you. I would like to point out that a certain someone discouraged you from adopting the dog. Okay, now I feel better." (Took me a little bit longer to realize this then she did...)
Room mate: "You don't have to justify what you are doing. He is annoying." (I censored the language here.)
Anonymous: "I feel bad for her. Her frontal lobe isn't fully developed yet."

Over all, I'm glad I tried to make it work.. but I'm even more glad that Sprout is a dog and not a baby... at least I could put Sprout outside, on a leash outside when he wouldn't shut up.

And Ah, Aunt Jane.. although this is was a rough decision to make, I am still have a lot of work to do on the getting rid of dog front. I love how wonderful family makes you feel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjdnM8GfLFY (You will have to copy and paste into your browser.)

This does a pretty accurate job of describing the growing gap between the Yup'ik culture and modern times. It is interesting being here from an outsider's perspective because their is a constant push to integrate more and more Yupik into the schools, yet kids are all consumed by their video games and the internet. They need instant gratification which is what is driving the current generation away from the culture. Just from the beginning of the year to now we have gone from having a Yup'ik instructor once a week for 20 minutes to having classroom aides teach it for a half hour everyday.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we have been studying Early Exploration and the pilgrim's voyage to the United States. I planned multiple lessons in a row but I think they gained the most when the lesson became more of a conversation. We spent 15 minutes looking up what the pilgrims and Indians ate at the First Thanksgiving on the smart board and talking about how much different the food was back then (totally unplanned.) It is not what you expect.. go take a peak for yourself. Did you know they had lobster at the First Thanksgiving? Great minds always learning!
Here is the quote of the week from one of my students in response to early exploration: "I didn't know so much happened before we were born!" Although this is a simple thought, it is something that is easy to forget because sometimes it seems like we are overly consumed by the present. It re-newed my excitement about teaching social studies and history.. or rather exploring the past with them.

It's funny.. even through I always feel mentally drained at the end of the day, their is always this ounce of sadness that I won't see my kids until the next day. Then again, my mind is oddly twisted.
Thanks for following! I will continue to keep you all posted on life in the tundra!

Time still flies in the middle of nowhere

Sometimes I forget where I am... but then I look outside my kitchen window and see miles of tundra followed by ocean. It's an adjustment to my living style.. for one thing I am constantly thinking about how I can reuse EVERYTHING. Coffee creamer containers are great for storing beans and egg cartons  provide the kids a great way to practice their addition facts. Personally, I am learning how to be more proactive... forgetting to order toilet paper is a mistake I am never going to make again. And it's quite hard to find a replacement for soap. Although if anyone has any suggestions... 

Here is the good, the bad and the ugly over the past few weeks: 

1.) Their is something to be said for flying shotgun. It was unbelievable to be able to look out the front window while taking off. Although, at first I had a hard time putting my faith in the pilot's ability to eat his apple and get us off the ground. But ya know, I'm not sure why I was so worried. He had talent..and could probably get us back and fourth to Togiak with his eyes closed.

2.) I am adjusting to the slower pace of life. Either that or I am realizing that I was always slow, but I just fit in better here. 

3.) Halloween still goes on without the leaves changing color, apple picking or carving a jack-o-lantern.  Kids pile on the back of an ATV in order to cover the most ground possible. It is also not uncommon to see middle age men trick-o-treating.. a tradition that I am not fond of in the slightest. Let's keep this holiday about the kids! 

4.) I have a new found respect for basket weaving, I spent a good 24 hours on my 'basket.' Let's just say it would make a good home for a really tiny bird... That being said, I learned a lot about the culture just from working on it. 

5.) Seeing gravel roads in Dillingham this past weekend was a bit unreal. And actually walking into a bank and talking to a bank teller? Man, life does not get much better than that! 

6.) My heart ached a little bit during all staff pickup. Wherever I go, I shall carry a disc. 

7.) Their is nothing better then the way my kids smile when we dance in the morning. They love being silly and aren't afraid to take risks. 

Walking a mob of dogs. We only started with three.. but around here they all follow... Our intention was to 'lose' a few in town. That didn't happen.. but a few days later a few of them got picked up by a truck and got taken to the dump. As annoying as some of them were, it was a little disheartening to see things end the way they did.

 Retirement struck early...

Being in Alaska is a grand adventure... almost too grand of an adventure not to share it with a companion. I CHOSE to adopt a puppy and not just because he was found shivering outside on a cold, windy day. Although, that part certainly had a lot to do with it. But, in my defense I did take about a week to think about it. 

Anyways, Spout is a tiny, white haired dog of unknown breed. I will be sure once I show a picture to my sister... years of looking at that dog book and she should know.. no pressure. 

Here is a list of the good, the bad and the ugly as I continue to live and teach out here in bush Alaska: 

1.) It's getting darker and colder.. but walking to school at sun rise is pretty unbelievable.

2.) Whatever I write on my lesson plans at the beginning of the week is not what is on my plans at the end of the week. Post it notes are my best friend. So is being slightly dysfunctional at times. 

3.)I AM in the middle of nowhere. And when I forget, I just look out my window.

4.) I teach okay lessons. I teach lessons where I sit down afterwards and wonder if anything actually went right. It's a challenge to figure out how to engage the kids and get the content across... but when I do manage I feel like I am walking on water. 

5.) Kids have a pretty unique view of the world and I love when they include me in their curiosity. One of my boys who has trouble sitting still and has a tendency to blunt out found a caterpillar on the playground. We spent the rest of recess caring for and wondering about the caterpillar. I then followed up by reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar inside. I think that events such as this partially explain the messed up schedule and my overall dysfunction but oh well. 

6.) Theirs lots of mud out here. It's pretty fantastic. 

7.) Being in the middle of no where, at least their is lots of mud!

Walking to school:

Pure cuteness, yea?!

Teaching can be so unpredictable. I thought I knew how to be flexible  but being in the classroom brings a whole new meaning to that word. At this point, I think I am learning more from them then they are from me. During morning routine, the students are expected to find their name tag, answer the question of the day and then take a seat and pull out their writer's notebook. Last Thursday, the prompt I had written on the board was, "If you were in the middle of the ocean and your boat started to sink, what would you do?' The students took this in so many directions! One child wrote, " I would never get on the boat. I would stay at the cabin with my mommy, daddy and assorted cousins." Another said, 'I would patch it up and then go up river fishing.' The range of answers caught me by surprise and we ended up missing calendar time so everyone had a chance to share. This being said, the amount of times I have had to stop a math lesson so they could get their wiggles has been high so being flexible can also seem counter productive at times... 

Here is a video riding down the beach... 

Mountains on the left, opposite the beach. Not quite your Jersey Shore!