Kotlik

Well it has been almost a month since I have posted anything. I just got a chance to sit down and write about my experience so far. We arrived in Kotlik on August 14th. When we got to the "airport" in Kotlik, its really just a landing strip, we dont even have a building to call an airport. So Felix ( the maintance man for the school, housing and village) came to pick us up on a four wheeler. He drove us through the village. I was very scared of falling off that thing the whole entire time! Then we went to the school and Bruce (the principal) gave us a tour and we got to see our classrooms for the first time! It was a very exciting moment for a first year teacher! Then we were able to see that all of our stuff arrived somewhat safely to Kotlik. Then Bruce gave us the million keys to our house, I think we have 4 each. So we went on the grand tour of our house. Then all the fun began. We realized right away how helpful EVERYONE in the village is. One of the other teacher's sons got a dolly and took our stuff from the school to our house. Keep in mind there are no roads, some of the path is on the boardwalk and the rest is just right through the Alaskan swamp. It took us probably 4 hours or so to get everything to the house. Then we spent the next two days getting settled in the house. Monday we started working on our classrooms. I was, and still am, overwhelmed with the amount of resources I have in my classroom. Maybe someday I will realize what they all are. Monday afternoon I found out that I will have a full time aide in my classroom. Her name is Agnes. She is the cutest little old lady. I honestly dont know what I would do without her. She has been my saving grace on MANY accounts. So Agnes and I put up bulletin boards and organized my classroom library and got ready for the kiddos. She has been very good about letting me do things the way I want to, but after I get done she says, you could of done this too. Its so helpful to have ideas for the next time I need them!! Then Thursday rolled around and my 12 bright and shiny first graders came walking in my door. I thought I was the teacher, but I have seriously learned more from these kids in the 11 days I have taught them than I did in my college career.

My first day of actually teaching was probably the hardest day I have had in a long time. The kids were wonderful and so excited to be at school. I had always pictured their parents dropping them off on the first day of school and coming into the classroom, that didnt happen so I just went on to what I thought I was going to do. I learned very quickly that my kids have a hard time with abstract thinking, so I did the teacher thing and just changed my lesson plans and went on. Then we went to lunch, it was VERY unorganized which kindof stressted me out but I just went on. After lunch we went to gym, where I am also the "coach" if you want to call it that. The first day they just had free time. So we go back to the classroom and do a few more activities and then it is time for them to go home. I was already stressed because I had like an hour of the day that wasnt planned out and nothing took the time I thought it would. So when school was out Agnes said you just walk the kids to the back door and tell them to go home. So I was expecting there parents to be there and ask them how there day went. Keep in mind these kids are 6 years old. No one was there to greet them and they just walked home or wherever they wanted to go till they wanted to go home. Then I went back to my classroom and cried because these kids are crying out for attention and they rarely get it at home.

I have been very sick these past couple of days and one morning one of my kids said: Maybe you just need to go home :) He is soo precious. Since there arent any stores here we have to order things over the internet. One of my kids came in with a new outfit on Thursday and his shoes where SOO COOL! They got everyone's attention all morning! I asked him Terrence where did you get your outfit and he said "My mom got it from the post office." What a cute kid :)