The Alaskan Adventure - Volume 9 - In Review
It's that time. The half year review. The good news is that I'm not being reviewed, but that I'm reviewing the first five months of my new life here in Mountain Village. I arrived on August 1st and in all honesty, if it ended now (which it's not people - don't worry), I have literally had the experience of a lifetime. My move to Alaska and Mountain Village was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. We all have to admit that change is scary. It was for me too. Most of my life I have felt like the proverbial square peg in the round hole, whether it was in relationships, with jobs or with my decision making process in general. The only thing I 'ever' felt was a good fit for me was my love for baseball and my pursuit/dream to be a professional baseball player. But now, for the first time in 27 years, my move to Mountain Village, Alaska is a perfect fit, the round peg in the round hole. This is my home.
What is home like now? Well, I've definitely settled in as I have written in the last couple of posts. The first thing that resonates to me is regarding the dark. Again, so many of my close friends and family were very concerned about how the dark would affect my bipolar illness, but it hasn't at all. I put on my 'happy lamp' (thank you Hazel Walters), which is next to my bed, every night for about 20 minutes before I go to sleep, so I'm sure that helps a little. I'm estimating here, so no one fact check me please, but the sun rises 'about' 11:00 am and sets 'about' 4:30 pm. Not a lot of sunlight, but you know what, it's okay. I get up in the dark and go home from work later in the evening in the dark. These changes seem to grow on you and become a part of the regularity of your day. Not a big deal.
How you dress seems to be a newer addition as well this time of year. The temperatures are hovering around zero, give or take a plus or minus here and there. I'm laughing out loud right now, because I was thinking of a way to explain the cold here. I think of it as a breathtaking cold, that literally takes my breath away and makes me cough a few times until I get used to it. It's like some people say that Arizona has a 'dry' heat. Well, Alaska has a 'dry' cold. It hits you hard at first, but like anything else here you get used to it. It's completely normal to see everyone in the AC Grocery Store with their snowsuits, Carhartt bibs and every other mask, glove and hat accessory possible. I was at a dance earlier in the fall, in muck boots, jeans and a sweatshirt so fashion is what you make it. I love that about up here. But I also have my head up my ass on most lunch hours as I will dash across the parking lot (after I get my daily sunrise pic), and go to my apartment for lunch. I'm running in tennis shoes, no jacket, no hat, no gloves...nothing. I can just hear my mom shouting, "Matthew, put some clothes on!", from somewhere in Heaven. Sorry Mom. Old habits die hard.
If I had to assess my first four and a half months in the classroom, I have to say that it is the best year of teaching in my twenty years as an educator. What that means is that in combination, I have the best group of students, teacher aides, paraprofessionals, staff and administration that I have ever had - combined. It is the first time in what feels like forever, that I wake up and look forward to going to work everyday. My kids are great and I love the people I work with. It's a great environment and I know there aren't a lot of people who can say that. I come in everyday and simply try to have fun. I just try to create a healthy mix of role model, silly teacher, story teller and the rest I make up as I go. With my staff members - jokes, sarcasm, and free flowing compliments make me feel a part of the school as I feel it should feel. Seeing my kids happy every day, seeing them enjoying their time at school and seeing their academic successes makes it all worth it. Hearing "Mr. Matt" called throughout the day is the best thing in the world to hear, second only to, "I love you Mr. Matt".
I have to admit that it doesn't hurt that my bipolar illness has been hovering in mania since late August. The best way to describe it is that it is like an emotional high that keeps you in a happy, upbeat, optimistic, enthusiastic, smiley, bubbly, ambitious and outgoing attitude. Yes, all those things at once. You feel alive and you can accomplish anything and everything. Unfortunately, I think it is the reason why I also stay up until 1-2 am most nights and sometimes later. I just feel like I can accomplish so much more from 9 pm to 2 am in the morning. My close friends are encouraging me to curb this somewhat and I appreciate that. But with all due respect to the people around me, I am with kids and adults from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm and I 'need' time for me to just be alone. My classroom is that reprieve from everyone and everything. Lol, except Earl the nightwatchman, who is a good friend of mine now. In my world, I get work done at a slower pace, I text, I FaceTime, I take power-naps in my comfy, red story chair and I blast music as loud as it can go, i.e. right now, The Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane. I know I can cut back on hours, but the time here is for me and it's my 'happy place'.
I have to tell you about the unfortunate 'worry' that looms here in Mountain Village. And that is the worry or fear in villagers, parents and administrators that teachers may not return from their Christmas and holiday breaks. It's a real thing that has been shared with me on a number of occasions. The first stories I have heard related to teachers who stepped off the plane at Mountain Village and other villages and got a ticket/flight out as soon as they could. It is most likely because of the culture shock and not being able to handle their new environment. The other stories come from teachers who would leave at Christmas and never come back. So the uncomfortable expectation and/or fear is always prevalent. I found out how serious people actually are about this when I tried to tease a little regarding my leaving. I'm traveling outside of the country by myself, to Costa Rica for my break. I have only been out of the country one other time, 22 years ago. My line to my co-workers and the villagers who know me, is that I have my one-way ticket to Costa Rica all set to go. There is usually a three to four second pause before there is an eye-opening response. Then what follows is the directive, "You better not. We need you here." People then usually share the stories of other teachers in the past who had not come back. I also joked and said that if I have a good time, I will be back and if I have a great time, I won't be back. The same responses follow. More directly, my roommate Jeremy, my friends and principals Tim and Jack have make it very clear that they will hunt me down and...well, you know. Overall, I joke.
My return to Mountain Village is going to bring an exciting and busy start to the new year. In addition to starting the new semester with my little kiddos, I will again be advising the high school's Natural Helpers group, that covers teenage issues, sets up high school activities and most importantly works with the community and its elders. I will also have to fulfill my requirements to extend my teaching license. I'm very nervous about that, but I'm sure it will be fine. I love 'teaching' school, I just don't like 'being in' school anymore. I will have to take a generalized test called the Praxis, and I will also have to complete two courses of Alaskan Cultural Studies. Just trying to get all my worry out of the way now. I was also very fortunate to be presented with the opportunity to start a film club in the high school. I'm going to take what I've learned in my 23 years of acting and writing, in tv commercials and film, and pass it on to the kids to inspire their creativity and talent. I'm really excited about that too. I am also working on filming an independent film that I wrote several years ago, but put on the back burner. The setting, the characters and the concept are all great here in Mountain Village, so I am excited to have the film club kids make it a part of their learning. Here is a little preview.
Well, that's it for my blogs in 2019. I'm so grateful for; all the opportunities I've been given, the wonderful, kind and amazing people I have met and continue to meet, the experiences I have had, the amazing school, students, parents and co-workers I have been blessed with, and for all of you who take the time to follow this journey, which still has more chapters (volumes) to be written.
My love, blessings and heartfelt warm wishes to everyone for your holidays and the new year.
Until next time...stay tuned
