About
To test myself. To see what I am made of. To immerse myself in another culture. This is why I have moved to a native village in the Alaskan bush.
kristeninak
the journal of a teacher in the alaskan bush
To test myself. To see what I am made of. To immerse myself in another culture. This is why I have moved to a native village in the Alaskan bush.
HOLY CRAP KRISTEN– You will be able to write a book when this is done! It’s sounds like an amazing adventure– you definitely can’t say that you won’t be changed after this! It looks beautiful–
Hang in there– you’re going to rock it like you always do!
School has been good for me, though not nearly as “eventful” as your experience!
Good luck Kristen,
I think of you often,
Love
Sherri
I think of you too Sherri (your as adeventurous as me and you are a strong and beautiful person). If anyone could do what I am doing out here, it is you. I am glad teaching is going well in your first year too.
I could write an entire book on my co-worker, the ex-arkasas cop. He’s a hoot; I am glad he is around.
Notice I am using less conjunctions in my writing.
Love Always,
Kristen
post script
how’s the wedding planning? gmail me.
Things are still good here. The wedding, thankfully, was mostly planned this summer, so know there’s really only small things to plan for. (Sunday I get to go to Co Springs to pick out the fabric for my dress wu-hoo!)
So teaching really does attract the freakiest of the freaky, huh? I’m caught in a “team” of a teacher who while talented and a cool guy, seems to have some weird vendetta against the students and the world at large. My other “team” member is this sub (because the regular teacher just up and left for Louisiana one day) who came back from retirement (way back) and who, after about ten minutes, begins complaining about how his knees hurt him because he is 67, fat, asthmatic and mad about his retirement fund. Think Uncle Fester meets Social Studies and your getting in the neighborhood.
Just remember: We are living a life that will give us something to talk about later.
How are the moose? La Veta has a rampant bear problem (we’ve found scat in our yard and here them trying to get into our garbage– the grocery store has daily pictures of bears cruising main street at dawn).
Love Always
Sherri
The school four wheeler????????????
The school has a four wheeler for employees to use for errands and an occational tour of the local environment. Chores include running trash that we don’t want to burn to the dump and running a taxi service for people who fly in to visit the school (councellor, SPED, various coordinators, maintenance people, et cetera).
Here’s to wierd school staff, including my principal whose pants are so tight that they are cutting off circulation to his brain. Today he woundn’t let me borrow the truck to pick up students who were stuck down on the shore after returning from our week long camping trip. We had to get locals to hull all the students and their stuff back. The same principal walked by a bully knife fight recently on school grounds with his eyes closed as he called out that he was too busy to deal with anything. Actually, I should be fair, I think he is in shock about the environment up here and is having a trouble thinking straight. He has a tough job and I am glad I am not in his shoes.
Hey girl! I was just about to go to bed with my book (I’m indulging with “Memoirs of Geisha”) when I thought of you. I still sit gaped mouth reading these wild stories on your blog. Just remember sweets, it is an adventure. Always an adventure.
So I got married! October 14th was the big day. Everything went great, in a very predictable, cliche wedding way. There was panic, there was chaos and then there was the best day of my life. If you can imagine it, ten minutes before I was to walk down the isle, the wedding arch fell into the Cucharas river. Thankfully it’s a small river, it was fished out quickly and I am now and forever, Sherri Anderson (I even have the social security card to prove it).
I have my students reading Pablo Neruda and am teaching the art of the thesis paper. It brings back many memories and in some ways stirs the graduate school dream up again, but you know, I really like the teaching thing. I think I need to see it through.
I’ve promised myself at least 3 years and then reevaluation, if necessary.
Anyway, I e-mailed your other account with wedding photos– check them out when you get a chance. My favorite thing is that the joy and silliness of our life comes through in them.
I can’t wait to hear more about the bush, especially as you go into winter!
You are a hardy one Kristen Roecker.
And beautiful. And smart. And wonderful.
Love always,
Sherri
Hi Kristen,
OK> I found your blog. I was telling a friend of mine (a fellow teacher) about your adventures. Wow!!!! And, I am having a tough time teaching LD to Aurora, CO school children…..I can only imagine what you are dealing with….
Hang in there! have a great summer.
Mary H.
(I worked at Steck).