Week one down!

It's been a week and I'm not running home scared!!!  I'm been doin perty good, though I do have to say that I hate this having to watch my money thing.  And the no running water thing.  But, I get to do my laundry tomorrow afternoon and maybe take a shower tomorrow as well, we will see (though if I stink I can't smell myself :) :) :) ).  and on that note, I am finding all my materials, books, people to go to when I have a question and what not. 

OH did I mention that I cracked the screen of my Alaska phone and I have to pay full retail price if I want it replaced.  NO? Oh well maybe that's because I'm just going to live with it.  You can see the crack but you can't feel it.  Honestly it looks like a gigantic scratch and not a crack, but it's definitely a crack.

Yes people I had moose.  I know you are all shocked and I still get texts from mom saying that people don't believe I tried it but I did and it was good.  It was not stringy, it was a little tough though, but still good. 

Ok well I have to go because I am leaving in like 10 minutes for 'home' aka house on stilts, and I have to get some online stuff for my classes done.

First Work Day

Boy am I exhausted!!!  

This morning I woke up around 6 am to a cold room because I had left my bedroom door shut when I fell asleep.  Unfortunately that means I kept the heat out because the heater is in the front room.  So I went to the couch and sat on it to warm up before I could really function enough to get breakfast.

After we got ready to come to our first work day!!  My roommate was the first to try dumping the honey bucket.....hehe...That just means it's my turn next time :(

I did dump the water under our sink though! :)  That's not too hard of a job though. 

Anyway, I got my classroom all set up...well except cleaning a few more places.  So I can focus on lessons now and learning myself before I teach the kids.  From the look of things I will be doing A LOT of learning.  that's ok though.  That's what I signed up for.

Everyone I've been meeting and talking to has been nice and friendly.  This place definitely has a small town vibe (of course since it's a village or should I say small village vibe?) and that's good.  I think that will help me.

Now I just have to write out my expectations and my rules for the class so I can brainstorm what will be good and what doesn't really need mentioning.

Tootles for now

Training week

So, I arrived in Bethel Alaska after a very LONG day of flying on Sunday July 31st!!!  I met two teacher friends in the airport trying to find our transportation to the mysterious land of the long house where we were staying.  I say mysterious land of the long house because we didn't know who was picking us up or where we were going to stay.  Sounds crazy now that I type it that I didn't ask those questions but I guess when you are already asking all kinds of questions the obvious ones can slip right through the cracks.  Anyways, The two teachers I met were Jaclyn Whynott and Kristin Henke (I hope their names are spelled correctly!!)  They were and are a blast!  We decided to walk around bethel that night even though it was already like 8pm by the time we got settled in and what not.  Mainly because we were hungry and looking for something to eat.  This one place and I don't remember (to be honest I don't remember asking) the name of had AMAZING chinese food made by the owner himself.
 Monday, we were transferred to the Yute training center where our training would be held and we would be staying all dorm style like until Thursday.  We dropped off our luggage and hiked to the district office to get our paperwork, laptops, phones (GCI was there giving great deals to the new teachers) food (lunch and supper) and a couple other things I know I'm forgetting.  I also met my roommate.  I saw her walk into the room where we were signing up for phones and I'm like "Felicia??"  and she was all "Kristen??"  it was wierd because she totally looked like her pictures.
Anyways, turns out i'm staying on the bottom bunk, Jaclyn has the bunk above mine and Felicia has the loft bunk which is way up there.  OH and did I mention these bunk beds are not meant for adults?  yea, they are rickety and everything!
Yesterday (tuesday) we went on a 2 1/2 hour walk after training because Kristin wanted to go look around swanson's grocery store which wouldn't normally take that long, but we took the scenic route and went over some boardwalks and what not.  It was cool, but by the end I was most definetly ready to take a shower (the dust here is glacial silt and is so fine that it gets in everything!)  and just go to bed.
Today we tried the native food.  The dried salmon was good, the salmon paste was great and the eskimo ice cream was great too :).  I'm happy I tried that stuff.  I didn't have the guts to try the whale blubber, maybe next time.
That leaves us to tonight, we were suppose to go on the fishing trip, but not only did I just not feel like being out in the strong breeze, but it felt like I had so much to do that I wasn't going to be able to get done if I went.  I did get a LOT done by staying behind so now I feel like I can breathe.  Besides, I'll have tons of opportunities to go fishing and boating another time.
And that brings me to the pictures...below are pictures that Jaclyn took on our walk!  Thanks Jaclyn!

Almost!!

I really can't wait till Sunday!!!!!!  That's right folks sunday is when I fly to Alaska :)!  I am definetly feeling the crunch of time.  It's like I have no time at all to do anything I want and need to do.  But, I look at it this way, what I don't get done now (since I'm still at my parents at the moment), I can do when I get home for christmas break :).  Ok so maybe that's not the case.  I feel like I'm trying to pack more in my suitcase than I need, want and should have.  I feel lost and excited and totally at east at the same time.  I feel anxious and calm and sad and happy.  I'm grateful for the help everyone has been giving me and the surprises my family has given me. 

South Carolina was fun.  I got to see alot of family on my Grandma Jacksons side of the family.  Most importantly I got to spend a whole week with my grandma before I moved.  Barbra, Kim, Scott, Pat, James, Margrett (I think thats your name) were all awesome hosts and it was excellent to get to see you again!  I hope I'll be back next year, but if I'm not it was great to see you all again.  Kim give sammy kisses for me :). 

I know clay's going to miss me because as soon as I got home from the south carolina trip he informed me that he had plans for me the next day.  Turns out those plans were to shoot our guns which we hadn't done for a while.  I have a highpoint 9mm ....I shot the target with every bullet and shot 50 bullets :).  It was a great stress reliever.  I still have 2 boxes of bullets so I might be doing some more shooting before I leave. 

When your chooosing wat to pack and what to leave behind, how do you choose?!?!?!?!  I know that if it's somehting I really want my mother to send me she will.  So it's really just a matter of what do I want to wear or use in the next couple weeks.  The amazing part to me though, is that I have not had 1 doubt about taking the job in Alaska.  not one single doubt.  the only thing I have a problem or shall I say nervous feeling about, is O'Hare airport.  this time last year I was stuck in the Atlanta airport overnight on the way back from Jamaica after seeing my brother get married.  That was not a fun experience, I just don't want to have another bad airport expierience.

I guess that's all for now..Oh I have skype now so send me a message and I will send you my skype info :).

Moving Update

I thought I'd put an update since it's been about a week or so.  I have now offically mailed off two boxes of stuff.  My queen sheet set from Grandma Jackson, My towel and washcloth set and some clothes along with deodorant and a thermometer (wierd combination for first shipment I know I know).  At any rate, for both boxes and insurance and delivery comfirmation it cost me around 37 bucks total.  The tubs that will have the majority of my items in them will cost me more, I have no doubt.  However, I actually feel relieved instead of anxiuos that I got those first two boxes sent off.  My next step is to talk with my roommate about what to bring.  I have some things but for some reason not what I initially thought.  Apparently some of my things either got lost in transition or my roommates from college brought the major stuff.  I know that my pots and pans are being used by my mom because I thought they'd be better off used than in a box, but that just means I'll have to buy new or hope my roomie has some.  I do have backing stuff so I wont need that.  I found some bowls that if I pack carefully since they are glass I can send and about 6 plastic cups along with some kitchen utencils.  If nothing else, it will get us by till we can afford to buy more than just the complete basics if needed. 
I am finding it hard to make myself pack up my belongings.  I'm not sure why since I am extremely happy to be doing this.  I guess I just hate moving.  Maybe this will be my  last major move?  well, a girl can hope :).

The Adventure Begins!

I'm starting this blog so I can keep friends and family informed on my adventures in Teacher High School Social Science in Quinhagak Alaska!  For the next couple of months, this blog will consist of what it takes to get ready for the move.  It is some 3,000 miles away after all and requires careful planning.  Part of that planning is planning the best time to mail my belongings so that they will be there when I arrive.  Because it is so far away, the most economical means to get my belongings there is by parcel post from the USPS.  This means that I need to mail my things at least 3-6 weeks before I want them to arrive.  Because I will be arriving into Quinhagak on August 4th (although I will be in Bethel Alaska on August 1st)  That means I need to ship my belongings out in the first couple weeks of June at the latest.  This may create temporary panic on my part because that means my belongings will be in route to Alaska way before I am.  Because it costs so much to take things on the airplanes anymore, I will probably be shipping the majority and only taking what I need for the stay in Bethel Alaska that I have before I fly to Quinhagak.

Speaking of flying, I finally booked my flight last week.  As it stands, I leave Chicago Illinois on July 31st at 9 am and arrive in Bethel Alaska at 745 pm.  That will be one long day of flying.  But I look at it this way.  Since I have to be at the district office on Monday, Being exhausted from my flight on Sunday will help me sleep.

On the home front, my bedroom looks in the same dissaray as it has for a while now.  I have one tub full of clothes that I will be sending off on a very anxious bonvoyage.  I keep finding clothes in the laundry that I forgot I had.  And I am actually happy that most of my work clothes are winter wear!  I knew there was a reason I gravitated towards the fall/winter wear.  Anywho, I think all the dvd's are going to get boxed up tomorrow.  I will need entertainment after all and my dvd's will look great on the mac book pro the school gives the teachers :).  Well I say give, but technically it's lend, I assume.

I have met my roommate through e-mail.  That's right, LKSD has provided me with a roommate for the school year.  She comes from Ohio.  We will be living in a house on stilts.  I kind of hope they get the plumbing put in this summer, but just in case they don't, the fact that I might be using a honey bucket was on the con part of the pro/con list.  Though the pro/con list was definetly dominated by the pro's.

Ok, that's all for tonight.  I will periodically be writing more about LKSD and Quinhagak as I prepare for this most awesome adventure!