Let it Snow, Let it Snow -- Oh Wait, thats in PA!

Hi Everyone!
I cant believe its been almost 2 months since my last post. Time is flying by, and I'll be home for Christmas in less than 8 weeks! Crazy!

Quarter 1 is now over, and I'm over 1/4th of the way through the school year. The prep time needed for my classes is becoming a bit less as I get into the swing of teaching math, science, and AK Studies (which is a blast, because I also get to learn!)

Yesterday I taught elementary music!!! It was amazing! I know I'm suppose to be a math teacher, but many times I miss the music part of my life. This was the first time I sung with kids and directed in months. I used many things that I learned from Mrs Fitz and Mr Miller (my two music teachers in school) as well as many other things that I've learned through music at Erbs.

We are planning a Christmas musical that I will be directing with the elementary students. There also is a high chance that I will be teaching choir next semester! :) This girl is ALL smiles about that!!!!

Moose season has come and gone and walrus season is in full force (though they may only go out a few more times). So far there have been 2 walrus killed for the village. A few teachers went to see the hunters bring in the walrus 2 days ago. Apparently they eat the arteries and they call it "Eskimo chewing gum". My students wondered why I wasnt there, but hearing the stories, I know I missed out but would have thrown up if I had been present. They also ate the contents of the walrus stomach as they butchered it (it was full of clams).

We had the Salmon berry festival a few weeks ago, and I have a few pictures that are posted that one of the other teachers took of the festivities. I'm horrible with a camera, but mom is constantly telling me that I'm going to regret not taking more pictures of the seasons, people, ect.

At some point soon I'll try to take some pictures of the frozen tundra, and explain how that works (though it would be a long post).

Thank you for all the prayer support and the cards and gifts I've received! It means a lot to have people care about me even though I'm thousands of miles away, and I miss all of you!

Some of the teachers trying to push the 4-wheeler out of the muddy tundra, and yes, there are usually 5 adults on 1 4-wheeler. We manage. :)

 Pictures from the Salmon Berry Festival. First there was a fish catching contest with the kids. The one that caught the most won a prize as well as the kid that caught the largest fish. Then there were kayak races. Many people from the community gathered along the river to watch. There were different age groups that raced, and it was a rather cold day. (September)

 Kim, one of the other new teachers, with a moose head that had be brought back the day before. Below are some of the birds that are available in Kong. Colin and Dustin (2 of the teachers) enjoy bonding over hunting while us ladies sit inside and play board games (our favorite are clue and monopoly)

Most of the teachers at the beginning of a district - in service day (note: the native teachers werent there yet, yupik time means about 8:10 instead of 8am)

Below is a picture of my classroom. I have many more where this came from, and will try to post them on a later post.