It's your first birthday party... Have some Berries...

There is so much to write about!

Last night, I went to my first birthday party on the island. They are a big deal. You bring a few dollars for the kiddos and then eat dessert. There were three kinds of cake, 4 different pies, jello, Dreamwhip, and a berry salad thing. The birthday boys are 13-year-old twins. Their mom is one of the 3 year old teachers in the ECE building. Colleen was like "AMY! It's your first birthday party! Have some berries!" So I did. They tasted alright. The consistency was interesting. I had one bite left, and Colleen asked a teenage girl there to tell me what was in the berries. I told her to wait until I was done before I heard. So I finished. The local ingredients were seal oil and caribou fat. Nice. But I survived! I noticed that Colleen didn't help herself to any berries though! Ha Ha!!

Well, it's Timothy's 5th birthday today, so another party tonight!!

Today was my first day with kiddos! I will write about it later, but I have to go to Cross Country practice now!!!

There's No Place Like Nome...

So...

Tuesday, after school Colleen and I swam in the ocean. Ken, the Science teacher, estimated the water temperature at 40 degrees F. It was cold. We went in, went under, and got out. But we had to climb back up a rock hill to get to our towels. Cold, cold, cold!!!! Photos to come... when I have a computer of my own, and my external hard drive from home.

I went to Nome Tuesday night, and got back on Friday night. I had a good time. The conference was not so exciting, but I was good to get to work with the other teachers I will be working with.

Nome was small, about 4,000 people, but with the feeling of a larger city. It is a hub for bush Alaska, so everyone goes there. They have 2 hotels, at least 5 restaurants, at least 10 bars, at least 7 liquor stores, at least 2 grocery stores, and at least 2 taxi services. We ate at Subway and Airport Pizza a lot. We had a good time. I would like to go back soon!

Today was a work day at school. I got some stuff done, which was good. And then tonight Colleen and I are going to Steve and Angie's for dinner. We're having fajitas. I'm looking forward to it!

Well, I need to shower and get ready for dinner!

I like mail :)

I got my mailbox yesterday. My mailing address is now:

Amy Cellar
P.O. Box 176
Shishmaref, AK 99772

If it is a package, it's not a bad idea to send it to the school still, especially if it is big. If it is sent to the school, Warren, one of the maitenance men, will bring it to the house for me. Also, the post office is only open during school hours, so if it is bigger than fits in my little mailbox, I will just get a slip that says I have a package, and I won't be able to actually get it.

Sending mail and packages is a good thing though!!!

:)

Sand, sand and more sand!

So, I was able to get into my classroom yesterday! All of the head start employees that I will be working with are in Nome for training. Kate called Wilsa's cell phone for me, found out where she left her keys, and went and got them for me.

When I got into the building, there was sand EVERYWHERE. Gross. Like mud, all over the floor. I didn't want to unroll any carpets for move tables like that, so I went back into the main school to see if they knew when the maitenance workers would be back. Because it is a partnership with Head Start, the school workers don't clean out there. After a few phone calls, I was told that they wouldn't be back until school started, and I should just do it myself now. So I began that yesterday.

Sand was just the beginning. There was a 1/2 eaten donut on one of the tables. There was a full trash can. Eww.

The building is three major rooms. One is three year olds, one is four year olds, and one is the kitchen and prep room. There are also a couple of storage rooms. So, I called Wilsa to figure out which room is the 4 year old room, so I don't spend lots of time cleaning the wrong room.

I got the floor swept, pulled out the carpet, vacuumed it, and wiped down all of the chairs, cubbies, and tables. I still have cleaning to do, and obviously setting everything up, but I got a good start. I am spending time today reading about the Curiosity Corner program so that I know how to set things up.

Tonight, I am headed to Nome where I will be meeting up with the rest of the ECE teachers from the district for training. I guess we are staying at the Nugget Inn, which is not so nice. I leave at 6:05 tonight.

Last night Colleen and I went to Steve and Angie's to play games. We played Fluxx, which was a really fun card game. It is it's own deck - not like a regular deck of cards. Then we played Guitar Hero for awhile. They have 2 guitars, the drums, and the microphone. So that was really fun. We rocked out.

Well, I better get back to reading about the Curiosity Corner program!

"Because I don't like getting sand in my shoes"

So, things are going well. Today we had a three hour teacher meeting. And this afternoon we have a work day in our classrooms. I, however, do not have keys yet. I am in a different building right next to the school, and this is the first year that BSSD has been involved with the preschool, so know one seems to have keys, expect for my Head Start employees... who are in Nome.

There is sand everywhere. No dirt. I have been wearing my pink rubber boots because I don't like getting sand in my shoes, and it is too cold for flip flops. I only have 5 pairs of shoes now for the time being (rubber boots, tennis shoes, black dress flats, and 2 pairs of flip flops), and I think these are the best choice. All the kids I meet are like "why are you wearing rubber boots??!!!" and I say "Because I don't like sand in my shoes and it's too cold for flip flops." They are all wearing flip flops and Crocs. Typically, rubber boots are in the spring when the snow is melting and there are puddles all over.

I met Steve and Angie yesterday. Steve is 3rd grade and Angie is Social Studies. They are wonderful. Them, Colleen, and I played a really fun game last night. It's like Clue, but for grown ups. Game night will be frequent, and I am excited! :)

Well, I am gonna go help Kate the kindergarten teacher, since I have no keys.

I made it!

I am now offically in Alaska!

After a travel disaster that result in spending the night in a hotel in NC and arriving to Anchorage 19 hours late, I made it.

The Welcome Wagon was really nice. I got to meet some great people and it was awesome to have someone waiting for me at the airport.

Monday, I went to Unalakleet, where the district office is. I had two days to just hang out and meet people. They have a great little coffee shop in Unalakleet!!! :)

One night I went to a bridge on a river to fish. I couldn't fish, and actually only one of the six of us who went had a pole, but we had fun. We talked, hung out, and Shon jumped off the bridge into the freezing river, as some of the local kiddos were doing. I saw lots of dead and dying salmon. After then spawn, they die within 2 or 3 days. They were floating back down the river, dead or nearly there. We even saw some take their last little flip of life. The dead fish either float to the bottom or wash up on shore. So the shore was real gross.

Another night in Unalakleet we had a bonfire on the beach. That was pretty fun. We had s'mores and Jon played the guitar for us. After hanging out with great people from all over the district, I was really sad that we're not all at the same school.

Training went well. Julie Egli had all of the ECE teachers to her house for pizza on Wednesday night. It was really nice to be able to talk about what we would be doing and to meet everyone. Our kiddos don't start until the 31st (the rest of the kids start the 24th). Next week, all the ECE teachers in the district will be going to Nome for more training in SFA (Success for All - the reading program used in the district). The following week, we will be back in Unalakleet for more training.

I made it to Shishmaref last night. Colleen is really great. I think we will get along great. We went to the school last night and to the store. I have already met some people in the village, and they are really welcoming.

There is no dirt in Shishmaref. We are on a tiny island, and we only have sand. So we definitely take our shoes off at the door. I am glad to have my pink rubber boots here so that the sand doesn't even get in my shoes.

Very few of my boxes have made it here yet. My flat rate boxes of food made it though. A can of peaches exploded, which was disgusting. The box was black and damp and was rancid smelling. As I opened it, everything was wet, black, and molded. I threw away the exploded can, and one other can. Everything else I washed and peeled the yucky labels off. I think it will be okay.

I also got the boxes that were shipped from stores or online. So I had my bedding and towels, which was great. Also my slippers and boots were waiting for me.

I have no other boxes yet though. So no extra clothes. I only have what I had packed for Unalakleet, which was minimal anyway. And it is colder here, and I don't have enough outside clothes. I am currently at the school, with a load of laundry in the drier so that I have more than just the sweater and yoga pants that I am currently wearing (the only things left over from Unalakleet that were remotely clean). I hope that the rest of my boxes come soon!!

The house is fine. I didn't really know what to expect. The honey bucket is gross. I don't know if I can use it. Thank goodness there are flush toilets at the school. Also, I showered at the school today.

Things are going well, and I will be making some major adjustments in the next few months!

I will try and post more often, now that I am actually here, but I will be super busy, so no promises.

Peace out!

A quick update...

So, things have been super busy.

I had a going away party, which was really great! Between my party, and other meetings, I got to spend time with a lot of great friends. It was really nice.

Now I am in Myrtle Beach with my family. My cousin/best friend Courtney joined us, which was awesome.

I am leaving tomorrow for Alaska! The time since I decided to go has went by super fast! I can't believe it's already here! I hope I'm ready!

Well, I just stopped at the library to request a transcript and make a few copies! I will try and update shortly after I arrive in AK!

Ta-ta!