Another year??? Eek!

That's right! I've made the executive decision that I will continue my work in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta educating young minds and becoming more and more Yup'ik. I won't be in Toksook this year. Instead, I've transferred to a smaller village right off the Kuskokwim river, about 35 miles south of Bethel, called EEK.

Things that won't change

• I will be teaching in a village where I am a minority and don't speak the primary language
• There won't be many trees where I live, if any at all.
• There will be a lot of tundra everywhere
• There will be good fishing.
• I'm still an Alaska resident (cheap AK fishing license)
  

Things that will change

• I'll be teaching a younger age group (5th, 6th, and 7th graders)
• Smaller village (approx. 300) and smaller school (110 students K-12)
  
• I will be a tenured teacher
• I will be working with a new Mac-book computer
• I will be much closer to Bethel (quasai civilization)
• Flatter terrain, no hills nearby. But mountains 50 miles east (2000 - 4000 ft. elev.)
• Better fishing (Kings, Silvers, Chum, Dollys, Grayling, and Sheefish)
  

Anyway, I'm happy with my decision so far. I figured that I won't be stressing about finding a job in the lower 48 with the collapsing economy. I've heard many horror stories about school districts cutting the number of teachers they have and cutting budgets left and right. I just signed a contract today for next year, so my job search is over for a while.

Phew!
Stay tuned for summer adventures and news from EEK!