Weekend in Bethel

I have to start by first clarifying my title. I did not spend a weekend in Bethel, although I was there Friday night and Saturday. But "Weekend in Bethel" is a better title than "Friday afternoon and most of Saturday in Bethel".

It's funny how schedules and time are not as important here. Our plane was supposed to leave Chefornak Friday afternoon between 1:30 and 2:00. I got a call at about 1:00 saying the plane would be there early and we should be ready to leave in 15 minutes. On the way back from Bethel Saturday evening we were supposed to leave at 6:00. We landed in Chefornak at 5:45. It's almost like traveling back in time.

On the way back we flew over the spot where we were stranded on the boat last weekend. As I was re-tellling the story to Jessica, the other teacher on the plane, I mentioned that I was a poor Irishman who was only able to be on the boat in the first place because I won a ticket while gambling. I was trying to move to a new land where I could find my fortune. She told me that she was a wealthy young lady who was engaged to someone she didn't truly love. I told her about my adventures on the boat; dancing, hanging off the bow, eating fancy dinners. I told her about wanting to  become an artist and she even agreed to pose for me. Oh, we had dreams...  Then, of course disaster hit, the boat crashed into a huge ice (I mean sand) berg (bar). After that it was kind of a blur although I do remember hearing Celine Dion at some point.

Speaking of ice (kind of), on Thursday I had my first Alaska snowball fight. There was a pile of ice chips outside of the store and some of the kids said they were going to throw it at me. Being the responsible, mature adult I am; I took it and threw it at them first. There was a woman from the village (Gladys) who helped me and we pretty much took care of those troublemakers.

Something that is odd/different here is the name situation. All of the teachers/adult are referred to by their first names. It took a couple of weeks for me to get used to it but actually it's kind of nice and I think it helps with teacher/student relationships. It's also funny how everybody knows everybody. I thought it was cool when I lived in McCullom Lake but this is even better. If I need to call a parent I just go to the office, tell them the student's name and the secretaries either tell me the number right away of just dial it while I'm standing there. Then when you call a parent it's not odd for them to walk to school and meet with you right then and there.

I get my first paycheck this Wednesday!

By the way Zach; I watched Bear Grylis today for the first time. You're right, I am just like him.