Arctic Village,
Alaska,
United States
Friday, October 12, 2007
I have now been teaching my 4th, 5th, and 6th graders for 3 weeks and I do beleive the honeymoon is over :) Yesterday was a hard day. Many of us have colds and the temps have dropped. The days are getting shorter and snow a bit deeper. We had two things happen this week that caused a lull in our otherwise content state. One of the construction workers working to build our new school got his arm caught in equipment designed to crush rock. He could have been killed but as it is may lose his arm. This happened right in front of the school in plain site and all the kids know this man because he is native and lives in the village. Right on the tale of that "Uncle Timothy" passed away. He was a respected Elder in the community and related in some way to many of the kids. There will be a funeral Monday and the community will actually be digging the grave this weekend. Death is much closer to this group of people than what we are used to. There are no morticians or funeral directors. There is only the village. All of this contributed to some really poor behavior yesterday and a very very long day for me and the kids. I wish I was in a more positive frame of mind myself. The teachers mood helps set the tone in the classroom. Anyway, by the end of the day we were all miserable. Later that night at "home" I had to really rest. I had a fever and I knew that I had to approach the next day differently. I prayed, I planned, and I slept :)
My class playing with Iphoto :)
Most of my class
Today is a new day and I started off with a word find since it is Friday. As we worked I played some really good native flute music. It made for a very peaceful work environment. I smiled more and spoke in moderate tones. The kids came back and seemed to want to start over. Ask any teacher and they will tell you that it is a roller coaster from day to day in the classroom. As interesting as this community is and as happy as they are to have a teacher I have to remember that I am not in the club and village life goes on as always.
Comments
Reality check
I hate that the honeymoon is over but now comes the fun time. I remember those times in Russia when everything was wrong but Praise the Lord, I had to find those fun times. As you are growing and learning and finding that this is reality for a time, remember you are being lifted up in prayer daily! Those 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are truly blessed that you are there to bring the 'light' of Jesus when outside is nothing but cold and darkness.