Year Numero Dos! :)

After a summer full of traveling everywhere and spending time with friends and family it was time to come back to AUK. This time leaving wasn't as hard or scary, because I had a year under my belt and knew what to expect. I flew up to Anchorage and spent the night in town with the roomie getting all the  food we would need till I go back into town again. 

We have the majority of our staff back this year, but have 3 new hires who have turned out to be not so bad. :) One is from Arkansas while the other two are from Missouri. It's nice to be back in a place where I know people and love my job. 

Last year my kids were no lie a handful and always kept me on my toes with their behavior. This year my kids have great behavior and we are getting to do so much more this year. It's crazy how much can change in a year. They listen and so far we have only had one major outburst. I'll take those odds any day. :)

This year has been more rainy and yucky then last year which I"m not a fan of, but comes with the territory I guess. Becca and I went on a boat ride to Emmonak and got to visit the new AC grocery store. This store is like the Taj Mahal of stores out here... Even comes equipped with an automatic door.  The group of kids jumping in front of it caught me off guard, but then I realized a majority of them have never seen those before especially in a village. It was definitely worth the trip. 

Here are some pictures from my time back here so enjoy. :)

New Adventures To Enjoy

This past week has been amazing I had a blast with my kids for St. Patrick's week. They learned about leprechauns and how to do an Irish Jig. We had a "visitor" named Lenny who magically came in and out all week and kept destroying our room. My kids kept saying you did it teacher because you are from Arkansas and you Joke. Some days their reasoning makes me laugh so hard. I think we are finally over the tough parts of fighting. Things are starting to get easier and more enjoyable each day. It's crazy that my first year of teaching is 3/4ths of the way over.

Friday night Sammy, Jana and I went to Nunam for Potlach and to see Brittnay and Essie. It's the fourth village I've been to and loved getting to go. Their village is much smaller than ours so their dancing was different. On the way back we got to stop in the middle of the Yukon and soak in the amazing sky and Northern Lights. I have seen them a couple of times now, but never this bright. Then on our way back we got lost and took a two hour detour at midnight. To say it was scary is an understatement, but thankfully we have some watching us and made it home safely. Definitely learned why it's smart to take a gps or have someone to follow.

I finally made my first adult purchase a SKIDOO!!! Start my mother worrying.... NOW! :) It is a used one another teacher had and fixed up. Nothing fancy but after two days of driving I'm in love! It's so nice to be able to hop on it and go play on the Yukon River. Also makes taking the trash out more fun. (Hint: We probably would have done it more as kids if we had had these.)

Two of the other teachers took me Manaq'ing which is Ice Fishing. Instead of sitting in a boat enjoying the sun we were bundled up and sitting on our skidoos with a pole in the water. We had to cut a hole through the ice to get to the water and keep it clear the whole time.

My kids and I made a website to where people can donate to our classroom so we can get items we need. Since we are in the bush it's hard to get small things you need here and there. The things we have asked for will greatly help the students  strengthen their reading and writing.

*** If you want to donate please go to http://www.donorschoose.org/srhoads12 and donate! My kids will send you pictures and letters to say thank you. :)

Fish for the Ice Cream 

Heaven! :) 

My Fishing Hole

Manaq'ing

My New Ride. :)

Enjoy the pictures. :)

One year turns into two! :)

It's been a while sense i've updated my blog.... Some of it was because i've been busy, but mostly i've been worn out and lazy.

Lots of things have happened since my last blog my kids are starting to work harder and we are getting more accomplished. The beginning of the year was rough and I figured it would be a great experience, but honestly didn't know how long i'd stay. As the months went by some of my kids calmed down and wanted to learn. There are still the crazy kids who want to fight tooth and nail with everything I say. I try not to let those kids wear me down and truck on.

December came and both my kids and my self needed a break. So we made a countdown for my classroom till school ended and one for Christmas. The kids wrote letters to Santa and made lists of things they wanted vs what they needed. The day before break we enjoyed our Christmas party and movies all day. I'm a firm believer now on limiting kids on the amount of sugar they have. My family who has been amazing this whole year sent my kids amazing gifts which they loved. My kids have become attached to my family without even meeting them. One day before I leave hopefully they will get to meet face to face.

Christmas vacation was absolutely amazing and exactly what I needed. We got to have two nights together in Anchorage as a staff and we had a blast. The friends I have made here have my experience crazy, enjoyable and unpredictable. I switched my flights around came home a day early. The surprise for my parents worked out perfect thanks to my brother. They were dead asleep when I got home and I think I scared them more than anything. After that it was days full of family and friends. I was exhausted by the time I got back to the village and ready to get back to work.

January was definitely the longest month this year and the hardest. I had to deal with difficult kids, parents and coworkers. I've never been pushed more in my life, but it worked out in the end. Some days I just want to scream and move home, but then I remember I'm here for a reason. Not every child may want to learn, but I'm here to teach the ones who want to. That's what I have to tell my self about ten times a day when I have a kid throwing a fit or refusing to work.

February has been a busy month with all the holidays. The kids had fun making and passing out valentines to their friends and siblings. Once again my amazing family sent up candy, crafts and fun things for them to do. We had a sugar overload and my headache after was terrible. Then we learned about Groundhog day, Presidents day and Black history month. A lot of information for these kiddos to take in a one time, but they are getting some of it.

One thing they aren't big fans of is writing, but they love sending and getting letters. They just finished writing letters to my brother wishing him good luck with his surgery. He has been sending them videos of work and they love them. So yesterday we made a video of them calling the hogs and sent it back. Have to teach them the important things in life. :) Today they are working on letters to the best friend since we are learning about cops. Sometimes it's nice to have friends with different jobs. So if any of you ever get bored my kids love getting letters or random things. PO Box 24 Alakanuk, Alaska 99554. They will respond I promise. :)

At the beginning of this month we got our contracts for next year and were given thirty days to sign them. I've signed mine and will officially be back next year. Right now the good outweighs the bad and I plan on staying until that switches. I'll be home at the end of May for three months then back to the north.

Thanks for all your love and support. :)