Hey everyone! October has flown by here in the bush! It has been a crazy couple of weeks, that’s for sure.
Early last week, the PFDs (Permanent Fund Dividends) were released. PFDs are money that comes from Alaska’s oil sales every year. This year every Alaska resident (including babies and children) received $1,022. The students always get excited and harder to manage around this time of the year, because they know they will be getting new clothes, shoes, and toys. Some of them even miss school and go on trips to Fairbanks or Anchorage with their parents to go to doctors and gather supplies. Akaichak nightlife also gets more interesting around PFD time. Some natives choose to spend their money on drugs and alcohol, which is illegal to have and consume in the village [most villages], but since Bethel opened liquor stores in May, the surrounding villages have had better access to it. There was also a four-wheeler- pedestrian accident a few weeks ago that caused a fatality. The driver of the four-wheeler was drunk and the pedestrian was an Elder. You can read an article on the accident HERE.
Things are going well in the classroom. I’m happy with my students’ progress. We are getting ready for Halloween! We are going to be making paper Jack-O-Lanterns, making Q tip skeletons, and doing activities to go with the book and animated short Room on the Broom. Friday afternoon we will have our class party and then the whole school will have a parade in their costumes. Halloween is a HUGE deal here, even to the adults and Elders, so Friday evening the school will host its annual Halloween carnival. I am doing a cakewalk again with another teacher, and there will be face painting, a haunted house, and carnival type games for the village to enjoy. Monday is when they will go trick or treating. I have two bags of candy and I’m hoping it lasts a while!
Wrestling season is in full swing, last weekend Collin and I took 9 jr. high and high school boys and girls to the Bethel Scramble. We ended up with a 2nd place, a 3rd place, two 4th places, and two 6th places, so that was pretty good for the first tournament. Our next tournament is the first weekend of November in Anchorage. We are planning on taking 5 high school kids and are hoping to be able to get out and about the city a bit. It’d be nice to get to Wal-Mart and stock up on some food!
When I’m not teaching or chaperoning, I like to relax at home. I play with our 3 dogs. I read lots of books on my Kindle app on my phone. I’m also watching more TV than I usually do. I’m a fan of This is Us, Speechless, Designated Survivor, American Horror Story, Modern Family, and The Walking Dead (which starts its new season tomorrow!). I did lift weights with Collin after school 3 days a week, and will hopefully resume that again after wrestling season, if I have enough motivation, that is. When Collin isn’t subbing or coaching, he watches TV (mainly football), and plays video games on his computer. Every once in a while he will go hunting or collect firewood for a native guy. A lot of the teachers also get together most Friday nights and play poker, so we do go to that.
That’s my update for this month! Thanks for reading! Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Things are going well in the classroom. I’m happy with my students’ progress. We are getting ready for Halloween! We are going to be making paper Jack-O-Lanterns, making Q tip skeletons, and doing activities to go with the book and animated short Room on the Broom. Friday afternoon we will have our class party and then the whole school will have a parade in their costumes. Halloween is a HUGE deal here, even to the adults and Elders, so Friday evening the school will host its annual Halloween carnival. I am doing a cakewalk again with another teacher, and there will be face painting, a haunted house, and carnival type games for the village to enjoy. Monday is when they will go trick or treating. I have two bags of candy and I’m hoping it lasts a while!
Wrestling season is in full swing, last weekend Collin and I took 9 jr. high and high school boys and girls to the Bethel Scramble. We ended up with a 2nd place, a 3rd place, two 4th places, and two 6th places, so that was pretty good for the first tournament. Our next tournament is the first weekend of November in Anchorage. We are planning on taking 5 high school kids and are hoping to be able to get out and about the city a bit. It’d be nice to get to Wal-Mart and stock up on some food!
When I’m not teaching or chaperoning, I like to relax at home. I play with our 3 dogs. I read lots of books on my Kindle app on my phone. I’m also watching more TV than I usually do. I’m a fan of This is Us, Speechless, Designated Survivor, American Horror Story, Modern Family, and The Walking Dead (which starts its new season tomorrow!). I did lift weights with Collin after school 3 days a week, and will hopefully resume that again after wrestling season, if I have enough motivation, that is. When Collin isn’t subbing or coaching, he watches TV (mainly football), and plays video games on his computer. Every once in a while he will go hunting or collect firewood for a native guy. A lot of the teachers also get together most Friday nights and play poker, so we do go to that.
That’s my update for this month! Thanks for reading! Have a safe and happy Halloween!