The Crew

One of the most pleasant surprises that I've had while up in Alaska is the camaraderie and support of a group of fellow new teachers. When I arrived in Bethel on the first day of August, I looked around the tiny airport at a group of twenty-something-year-olds. I could tell, strictly by the looks on their faces, that they were new teachers. I'm sure I had that same befuddled look at that moment, waiting and wondering to myself, "What the hell did I get myself into?" Little did I know at the time, that I would quickly become friends with several of these new teachers, and they would make the transition of being in a new place (all alone) a little bit easier.

After being ushered out of the airport, the new teachers were transported in big, dusty vans to a college dormitory. I was placed in a cramped dorm with three other guys and our mountains of luggage. It wasn't the most comfortable situation, but no one who cares that much about comfort moves to rural Alaska. Over the next couple of days I got to know this group of new teachers. We all could relate--we were young, we wanted an adventure, and we didn't fully know what to expect.

I've been back and forth from Tunt to Bethel several times for new teacher in-services. It's always a good time, because of the group of teachers that I've gotten to know. We've actually formed a pretty tight-knit crew. I believe we bring the most interesting Friday nights Bethel has seen in a while when we're all in town. Do I know why we mix so well? A lot of it has to do with the fact that we're all in the same situation. It also has to do with the fact that we bring a good mix of personalities together. No one takes themselves too seriously. Everyone has a role in the group.

Our crew of new teachers is actually planning a trip to Anchorage for Thanksgiving. We can't go home to our families in various parts of the country, so we're going to let loose over the long weekend together. 

Thanksgiving is still pretty far away, but I'm excited for the trip. I can't wait to get back to a city for a few days. 

I'm into my third month of teaching in Alaska. The days and weeks are flying by. I wouldn't say I'm thriving, but overall things are going well. I like my job. I've made mistakes, but I keep adjusting. Everything is trial and error. I feel like a real teacher for the first time. I've made progress in the two-plus weeks since my last post (I need to post more often). One of the things that really helps is the fact that I'm not alone in this process. I now have friends that are going through the same grind everyday. I know I can mention something that's going on in my classroom or in the village, and they'll immediately understand. Even if these people aren't in the same village, I know they're out there. That's a good feeling.