Check-in - Week 3

The new school being built.

Mud.

Stray dogs and puppies everywhere.

Really cute, kinda sad.

Kids' favorite activities and Yupik names.

Adjusting class routines. 

Saturday food giveaway.

First time berry picking!

It's been a while, but as you can imagine, with the start of school things have been pretty busy. The first week was a huge learning experience. I had to make lots of little adjustments to class routines and rules. We're done with week 3 and I feel like my students and I have fallen into a nice groove. They're a great bunch of kids, full of energy, and enthusiastic about school. We've had up days and down, but for the most part we've developed a good relationship and I'm enjoying my time with them.

I've spent a lot of time with the other teachers and have had a few opportunities to meet some locals. Last Saturday, the school organized a food giveaway to the village. All the teachers helped out, and the locals came by on 4-wheelers to pick up food. The school cook, Randy, Alan, and I delivered food to village elders. The weather was perfect, everyone was in good spirits, and the families were very appreciative. Later that evening, a local couple, Steven and his wife Marry-Jane, invited us to go berry picking about a half-mile up river. It was my first Yupik experience and lots of fun. Steven even let me drive the boat back to the village! Great times.

Today was a great honor. The fifth-grade teacher, Maxine, decided to give me a Yupik name. She told me, "You're my brother." I asked, "How?" She replied, "We'll your people walked over here a long time ago!" How great is that?! My Yupik name in 'Ulapaq' (pronounced Ulapak) or 'Ulap' for short. Yupik names are given in memory of a villager who has passed away. My name comes from another Robert, who's Yupik name was Ulapaq. It is such a great honor to be given a Yupik name, especially considering how new to the village I am.

I'm really happy here. I'll keep you all posted!

Building a Classroom

 

My room is as ready as I could make it and all 23 kids arrive tomorrow. Our principal wants us to spend the first day on routines and ice-breakers, and I'm completely okay with that.

For individual student behavior I'm using a card system and free-time, and for whole group I'm using class points and we'll decide as a class what the reward will be for reaching 100 points. Someone left a bell in our apartment, so I thought it'd be fun to try it out in the classroom. If I get their attention in one ring, they get a point, two rings - no points, and three rings - they lose a point. It was a last minute idea, I'm interested to see how it works.

The administrators out here seem really relaxed. When I've brought any ideas to them, they've simply said, "Try it. If it doesn't work come talk to us." Couldn't ask for anything more! 

Getting There, Part 3 - Kipnuk at Last

New teacher orientation wrapped up with a sampling of native foods and a quick overview of what kinds of communities and cultures we would soon be entering. Everyone was excited and anxious to finally get to their new homes and careers.

I immediately recognized our pilot from  Flying Wild Alaska. A week ago I was watching this guy from the comfort of my living room couch. The experience had taken a turn from surreal to completely absurd. I felt like I had walked into my own personal tv show. Like everyone else I met in Bethel, he was super down to earth and happy to take this picture with me. He even took off his glove to shake my hand, just like in the show! Classy.

Nerves of steel.

About 45 minutes of tundra.

First glimpse of Kipnuk.

It was exhilarating to finally be in Kipnuk and I couldn't stop smiling. Alan and I took a couple bags and headed into town and the others waited for the ATV and wagon to arrive. When we reached the teacher housing we were mobbed by some truly adorable and energetic children. They were excited to carry our bags and help us with our boxes that had been shipped in ahead of time. Within 10 minutes our small army had unloaded all of our belongings and were running wild in our new teacher housing (something they love, but rarely get to do). The kids were extremely curious and straight to the point. One girl demanded, "Show me your hands!" Without much thought I stuck my hands out. "No ring." She noted aloud. The mini interrogation continued, "Why you not married?" "You got girlfriend?" "How old are you?" Luckily, the kids' 9:00 pm curfew was quickly approaching and we were able to marshall them home without much trouble.

This place is impossible to describe. All I can tell you is that it makes me smile.

Teacher Housing (East Building). School on the left.

Our place.

Blinds are on the way.

Reunited with Rita!

Lunch with the neighbors.

Stir-fry and salmon-berry pie.

Stephanie and I were thrilled to finally be moved in. The housing is amazing and all our teacher neighbors were incredibly welcoming. In no time at all we were all hanging out in each other's apartments, sharing food, and laughing like a bunch of kids. It only took one evening for me to feel at home. 

My very first classroom.

District wide meeting, bush style.

Over the next two days we began our teacher inservice, meeting the whole crew, setting up our rooms, and doing everything we could to prepare for the incoming kids. 

School starts two days from now and I feel utterly unprepared and confident at the same time. I was told I'd have around 12 students and instead I have 23, so that took a minute to sink in. Luckily, everyone is really supportive and the kids seem excited to have me as their teacher. This year is about to be one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I'm in.

p.s.

Alaska doesn't honor temporary teaching certificates, meaning that I had to scramble like a bat out of hell to get my WA degree conferred through the state. This has been the only negative part of my experience so far and I'm unbelievably thrilled to have it off my back. Big thanks to my parents and all those pencil pushers for getting me through it. Any recently graduated teachers thinking about Alaska, make sure you get your home state degree posted ASAP!

Getting There, Part 2 - Breaking the Bank in Bethel

Landing in Bethel

Landed in Bethel at 7:45 to very pacific northwestish weather. Ross, from LKSD picked up all the new teachers from the airport and took us to the college dorms to drop off bags. From there it was straight to the district office for a long day of paperwork. No rest for the weary! Other tasks included setting up a bank account, and buying a cellphone through G.C.I. the only provider that works in western AK. Some problems with my temporary WA teaching certificate made for some very stressful moments. Things still haven't been completely resolved. I'm doing what I can and hoping for the best. Other than that, the people here are really friendly and I'm enjoying Bethel. I also got to meet another new Kipnuk teacher, Alan. He's spent a lot of time in Bethel and different villages and even has his private pilot license. Alan's been a huge help, driving me around town and helping me figure out how to get food from Bethel to Kipnuk.

Home for now.

The view.

Day two in Bethel was teacher orientation. Got to meet the other new Kipnuk teachers and my principal and vice principal, they all seem really nice. After orientation, we got tickets from Era for our flight to the village, and my new roommate Stephanie and I joined a big group to the grocery store. The way it works is you buy your food and the store boxes and holds it overnight. The next day we pick the boxes up from the store just before we get on our planes to the village. And yes, the prices are pretty jaw dropping.

Make'em count!

Things you find in Bethel grocery stores.

L to R - Me, Alan, and Stephanie

Flying Wild Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the last day of new teacher orientation, and that evening we're all off to our villages. Can't wait to get to Kipnuk and meet the locals. So far everything has seemed more like a summer camp than real a job. I think that's a good sign. Still worried about my certification, but I'm staying positive. Will be reporting next from Kipnuk!