Another Amazing Adventure: August 2011

Happy Monday!

Today was a great day - 21 of my 25 students were at school...9 girls and 12 boys! We did not even attempt to start curriculum, but played lots of team-building activities and reviewed Classroom Agreements and Expectations. All in all, it was a HUGE success!! My Mentor Teacher is teaching 5th grade right across the hall and taught the 5th/6th grade blend last year, so she is a WEALTH of knowledge and has already been a huge blessing to me with lesson plans, daily schedule, etc., etc., etc., AND to top it off, there was a card and a chocolate bar waiting for me on my desk this morning wishing me a good first day. She is one sweet lady!

Of my boys, I have a John, a Johnny, and a Jonathan - so if I ever get frazzled with names, I figure I'm safe shouting "John" and I'll get someone's attention! :)

We went out and played one of my ol' Camp A games in the sunshine and when asking the students what they liked about the day there was a resounding "when we played People-to-People!" I think it will make an appearance numerous more times in the coming months! :)

I'm writing this blog at 9:50 my time and it is still very much sunny and daylight outside. I'm looking into investing in some DARK, thick curtains for my window right above my bed. So if any of my dear friends (cough: S & Bers) would be interested in helping a girl out I'd probably be able to get the dimensions of the window for you! :) Just let me know and I'd be glad to help out!!!

I am also attaching pictures of my apartment - working on getting pics of the classroom, but as of 7:30 this morning it still wasn't "finished." They'll come later!!!

Enjoy!! Love you all!!!
~Am

I live in the bottom right side - my bedroom is the 3rd one down on the side with the red car :)

Living Room

Kitchen

My bed with my Jan Quilt :)

Bedroom Shelf

Day 10: Homer (Tuesday)

- Wally the Whale feeding and showing himself in Ottis’s Otter Canal J

7:30 – heading to the ferry terminal. Got parked and met up with David. Load up and David found us a table and bench (short one, but at least we got one!) Unloaded all my stuff (there’s A LOT of it!)

8:30 – forgot my nalgene bottle so am running back to the motorhome to get it. Find M&D on the beach collecting round rocks J

10:30 – take off. Got pictures of the beach and the motorhome as we sail away.

Head to bed pretty early….listen to my iPod…a little rocky (some sickies during the night)

Day 11: Sea to Kodiak to sea (Wednesday)

- Got into Kodiak at 845 – David and I head off the boat (with Chet) for a brisk walk. We make it halfway across the bridge then Julie calls – she recommends getting a taxi and going to see the bears at the park or reserve.

- Taxi lady doesn’t know anything about it – Visitor’s Center doesn’t know – National Wildlife Museum doesn’t know…we call Julie back – she doesn’t really know either J

- So we walk to Subway, split a sandwich and visit as we watch the bay

- I head back to the ferry in hopes of planning for t he beginning of the year. Instead I take a little nap…

- 2:30 – up and heading off the boat for a beer with David @ The Village

- 4:00 another Subway sandwich and head back to the boat

- 4:45 leaving Kodiak………..

- 600-700: heading thru Whale crossing

o Seeing puffins and other sea birds

o Humpback whales and Finbacks

- 715: Pass by “Otter Island” – a brazillion of them!! J Apparently this area is safe from Orca and has a good food supply for them. Then are ALL over!

All of those "things" in the water are Sea Otters!!!!

- 800: we are allowed down to our cars – I get the bed roll for David (he put up the tent on the upper area

- 830ish: Movie and bedtime (I took my Bonine – supposed to be 15 foot swells tonight – it was only 8 foot swells last night)

Day 12: Sea to Chignik to Sea to Sand Point to Sea (Thursday)

- Up at 900…a little rough but feeling pretty good….just tired

- 1130 – 100 : Chignik ….walked around a bit. Saw the famous doughnut shop..took a shower

- Met the other teacher and her nephew – VERY nice! Lucas will be in my room

- Names in a drawing for a FREE 1-hour tour around Cold Bay – both David and my names were drawn

- 1030pm-1200am – Sand Point…the sun was still out when we landed….much classier place than Chignik

Day 13: Sea to King Cove to Sea to Cold Bay to False Pass (Friday)

- Slept in….didn’t wake up at King Cove…

- Stopped at Cold Bay and got loaded up into the tour vans…very sunny and beautiful!! Saw lots of birds, FOX and 2 KITS!!!! Lots of volcanoes and mountains…gorgeous!

- Back on the boat – saw 2 bears on the water’s edge

- ate lunch

- 1:30 :: weekly fire and boat drill

- 4:30 :: passing through False Pass – good bear spotting territory….keeping our fingers crossed! J …no bears, but beautiful scenery!

- 5:00 - False Pass until 645…..very windy! Choosing not to get off the ship

Day 14: Arriving in Dutch Harbor!!! (Saturday)

We finally arrive in Dutch Harbor at about 915 and there is a crew there to meet me! Julie and her mama, Superintendent, both principals, the office manager - it was a pretty big deal! Finally figured out where my house is and followed the caravan to Unalaska. My place is sweet!!! Met Mary, a friend of one of the roommates since they both couldn't be there and Trent, another friend, who grew up in Olney - crazy small world!!

Julie and her mom helped me unload my car and I got settled in. Then off to the school for a Community Potluck. Saw the kids dancing traditional dances and singing songs. Pretty cool! Then met up with Julie, her mom, and many of her friends so I could meet the "crew" for dinner and dancing.

Sunday:

Hiking Bunker Hill with Julie and her mom, followed by more unpacking. They later invited me over for a delicious dinner! Alex got home this evening - I think I'm really going to like her! :)

Monday:

Got into the classroom today and met with the School District people.

Look closely - you can see salmon jumping...

Very productive. Later in the evening, Alex and I went to the beach to look for beach glass and pick Salmonberries - delicious!

Tuesday:

Happy Birthday, Sheryll!! halibut dinner to celebrate! yummy!!

Wednesday:

More classroom time - it is starting to come together very nicely! Then dinner and movie with Julie. Mary and Alex called and drug us out to the beach to watch the sunset and go for a walk! It is so beautiful here!

Thursday:

Another teacher took us out on the boat to one of the far off bays - we saw whales, seals, puffins, and lots of waterfalls!! AND the sun was out - I even got a little bit of a sunburn! It was wonderful!!!