After a much needed break in December I am back to work and everything is going great. Everyone is well on their way to being back in the swing of things after the 2 weeks off. It is hard to believe we are already half-way through the 3rd quarter. I am working on 3 classes this semester, all are going pretty well and it has kept me busy in the evenings after school a few times a week. The weather has been pretty good lately we have a snow storm about once to twice a week so it has been pretty nice to get outside once in a while. Snow days are pretty much non-exsistent here, at least for the teachers. Living right next to the school has it's perks, I am not sure if that is a plus or not yet. :)
Everything has been going rather well considering. I gearing up for the rest of the school year trying to prepare all of my students for the impending state testing. As much as I hate to teach to the test, it is really necessary to cover certain concepts they are unfamiliar with that may be on the tests. Many of my students are excited about different things coming up like the Basketball tournaments that are to be held in Dillingham and Manokotak. It is really the main source of entertainment here during the winter. The whole village comes out to support the kids, which is marvelous!! I am also getting ready for a conference in Anchorage towards the end of February. I will be there for almost a week. A very exciting break especially when I will be able to hang out with other adults and be away from kids for a little while. Who would have know that I would be excited about something as simple as having an adult conversation. :) I will definitely make the most of it.
It has been a nice transition back into classes and work. There is more sunlight now and we are gaining more by the day. Very exciting for sure, I can actually do some work after school and still go for a walk when I am done to get some fresh air and chat with one of the other teachers. Fresh air is definitely plentiful out here, and the view are amazing I am for sure in heaven looking out over the tundra and mountains in the distance. The snow frosts those mountains tops in a beautiful way. Going for a walk also means the necessary use of Yaktraks. If you have never had the pleasure of being acquainted with a pair of these marvelous inventions and live anywhere there is ice, they are well worth the investment. These handy things are a clumsy person's best friend. Those of you who know my track record I definitely fall into the category of clumsy. Since the roads up here are only gravel they get very slick when the snow melts and then refreezes. So going for a walk could mean falling on your behind and sliding rather than walking, especially for me. :) I have definitely found something that prevents the past inevitability of a fall on the butt.
I am still looking for something to do over the summer so that I don't go absolutely crazy. I have been debating trying to find a job working at a resort in the Anchorage vicinity or something along those lines. I have also considered possibly taking a trip to Italy or there a-bouts. I will have to see how everything pans out. My main idea is to not work with kids over the summer and get a nice break from the school year. If anyone has any ideas let me know so that I might get a hold of my plans. I will need to start posting more regularly, if you have any questions let me know and I will try to answer them for you.
