HOT, RUNNING, WATER

RUNNING HOT WATER – YIPEEE!!!
Never thought I would be so excited to do dishes in my life! That’s right my house has been upgraded, it only took over three years but finally it happened. Still no shower and no sewage but I can deal with that. Remember school is only 100 yards away, so that’s closer then the restroom at your job for some of you, plus I am at school a large part of everyday.
If you remember last year my water supply was two large 30 plus gallon trash cans in my bath tub and I had to scoop the water out of them. To do dishes, clean or whatever I had to scoop the water heat it on the stove and then use it before it cooled down. So doing dishes was a process. You would be surprised how easily you get side tracked if you have to wait for water to boil before doing dishes (10-15min for my big pots to heat up). Well you can now just turn on the tap and in about 15 sec we have hot water filling our dish pan.
And with two people living here now we create way more dishes, it is surprising. We both have noticed, last year we each could go a week without really doing dishes, this year about a day. Some of it might have to do with having Rachel, the new teacher, over a lot also, don’t know.
We also seem to create way more sewage. I am having to go to the lagoon twice a week to dump the honey bucket. Last year, I went once a week because I would rather carry it then use the wheelbarrow. Alecia would go to the lagoon every two or three weeks. But I think that has to do with us being home more. Last year as new teachers both of us were at school way more.
Okay that’s the latest – Pictures and information about all the construction to come this weekend.

A New School Year

We made it back to Kongiganak and school has started. Actually Lacy and I have been back for over three weeks. And Kong is the happening place. There are a number of “construction” projects underway or getting underway, a new water tower, expansion on the run way, shoring up the river bank with gravel (big time) a barge landing dock, and of course the new school. I need to get out and take some pictures. Hopefully this week some time weater pending.

School has been back in session for two weeks we are getting ready to start week three. Second year is way easier. I have the math program pretty roughly laid out from last year, just have to make adjustments and add to it. I am currently working on laying it out for a couple of our younger grades.

I have four hours of math this year with about three different classes/levels per hour. I have everything from 4th grade math to second semester Alegbra going on in my classroom. But the students and I are getting into the grove, and slowly they are learning to wait their turn. Our new 6th graders have been a good influence on the older students and I have seen a significant increase in the number of students who do their homework. Okay so any increase over zero from last year is a big increase. I am also teaching HS Alaskan Studies – the whole class is totally online so very nice. And of course I have Jr. High PE.





I think Lacy is happy to be back in the village. She has taken up residency in her old spot, the corner of the couch and she doesn’t move much. She does like running on the tundra, but hates having to take a sponge bath afterwards. We are waiting for the freeze and then we won't be living with a smelly dog.

Lacy and I also have a roommate for the first half of the school year. That wild and crazy BRATT – Ms. Alecia Pike decided literally at the last minute to come back just until Christmas.


Due to all the construction going on, Daryl (our Site-Admin) had rented out the extra house, thinking we wouldn’t need it. (Yeah, in a village there are not hotels or houses to rent thus visitors usually sleep in the school in a classroom – but not going to work with long term construction projects – more on the construction housing to come) So we agreed to be roomies – since my house is technically a two bedroom house. So the workout room is no more – the bike is in the living room and we go to the school gym to lift weights and “workout”. So anyways Alecia arrived on Friday, school started on Monday. So far it has been good. It’s taking a little getting use to on my part, I haven’t had a roommate since my junior year in collage, and we all know that was a long time ago. But all in all it has been good having Alecia back. Her and Lacy are still fighting for the title of Biggest BRATT. Lacy is pulling ahead.

Okay let me get this posted and maybe I’ll head to bed and relax a little this evening.