Thankful to be in the Home Stretch

Well, I've made it to the home stretch.  I survived a very difficult and stressful week.  One week exactly until I fly back home.  This coming week is going to be a busy, but exciting one.  The new teacher and his wife will be here to learn how the classroom runs before they dive in, the principal of the school will be here, the special education teachers will be here, and I hear there will be some other people here as well.  It's going to be pretty crazy, but I think it will be a good final week of teaching in Perryville. 

Because there are so many people coming in next week, there are going to be some ladies staying in my apartment since I have two extra beds that no one is sleeping in.  I think it will probably be the special education teachers that I met last week.  It will be nice to have some company for a change.  I have enjoyed the time to myself and having my own apartment to live in, but I do miss having other people around, even just to eat dinner with.  Plus, maybe they will be able to help me finish off some of my food before I leave.  That would be nice.

I guess that there is also going to be a potluck on Tuesday to thank me for being here and to welcome the new teacher and his wife.  I've never had a potluck thrown for me before.  I'm looking forward to it.  It will also give me a chance to cook up some of the food I have left and share it with the people in the village.  That should be a good way to get rid of at least some of my food :-) 

So far this has been quite the experience.  It has definitely been challenging and overwhelming at times, and I have been frustrated and stressed, but it has also been an opportunity to learn and grow.  I do not consider myself an excellent teacher by any stretch of the imagination, but I am proud of myself for being able to survive here in this multi-level classroom in a remote village in Alaska.  I mean, if the head teacher tells me that I'm doing a great job on multiple occassions, then I've gotta be doing something right.....right?  I think this experience has also definitely helped me to identify some of my strengths and weaknesses, which is useful to know.  There is certainly a lot that I can take away from this experience when I go, and I am thankful for the opportunity that I have had.

While I am happy to be here, and have learned a lot, and have enjoyed my time.....I will be very ready to go home next Friday.  I miss my family.  I miss my friends.  I miss going to my church.  I  miss my Jeep.  I miss my bed.  I miss meals that are not from a box or a can.  I have absolutely learned a great deal about teaching and the classroom while I have been here, but I have also learned how blessed I am.  I am so thankful for my family and friends, and for being able to see (most of) them whenever I want to.  I am thankful for the ability to drive to the grocery store to buy what I need.  I am thankful that I do not have to worry about encountering a hungry bear on a daily basis.  I am thankful for luxuries that I often take for granted....going to the movies, watching tv, having friends that are just a 5 minute drive away, being able to drive to the next town whenever I want to, having internet in my house, eating meals with my family, etc.  I know I haven't been living in a remote village for that long, but it doesn't take long to discover there are a lot of things that I miss, or that I never realized how fortunate I was to have.  This experience has taught me a lot about teaching, but it has also taught me how grateful I am for what I have.  I guess that's never a bad lesson to learn :-)