I was working with my tutoring kids and Jori says, that Sam is going to the top and wondering if we wanted to tag along. Well, I had a home visit to do with my kindergarten student so I wasn't sure I would make it, but Sandra said, go! I've come to learn that if the weather is nice you drop what you are doing and take advantage of it! So Jori, Sam, and I started for the top a little after four.
As we were climbing higher and higher I realized I wasn't afraid as much as I was in the beginning and I looked around more. It was really pretty and if Sam didn't have her boom box playing it would have been so peaceful. Some parts we had to use the grass to pull our selves up, well I did because I can't just walk up a mountain, I'd probably fall. Also there was the little problem of the fox running around so we, well Sam and Jori, armed themselves with rocks to throw at the fox. I was the sacrifice if the rocks didn't work, a job I wasn't sure I wanted, but I couldn't carry rocks so by default it was my job. (I say this with humor intended)
When we made it just passed "Shoe" (Pac Man) we could see the remains of a plane that crashed close to 30 years ago. It was an eerie site; just the thought that people died right there, close to where I'm standing. Creepy! Sam told us not to step or touch any of the remains of the plane otherwise the people that died in the crash would haunt us. Again....creepy! Then a little bit passed the plane crash we saw what looked like a satellite dish, that fell from the sky, which that's probably what it is, but that's just crazy to think that something like that happens, but it does.
Oh and while we are making our way to the top we are starting to see Russia! Not just Big Diomede, which I'm told is just Big Diomede, not Russia according to the locals; but yes mainland Russia! It was so cool! Same said wait until you make it to the top then you can see more. So that was a bit of a motivator to make it to the top.
A bit later Sam said there's the top! I was so happy because my legs were turning into jello and my knees were starting to kill me, I'm SO out of shape! When I made it to the top I looked around and it wasn't like what I thought it would be. It was very rocky, more grass, not very flat, but still very cool. I looked East and I could see Alaska then I look to the West and I can see Russia! It was so pretty! Then I looked down where I came from and though oh crap how in the world am I suppose to get back down!
As I looked around top I was very proud of myself that I made it up the mountain without rope and without freaking out! I still can't believe it in a way. But the way down that's a different story. Sam showed us the way we're going, which was straight down and that didn't look fun at all! A lot of the edges looked like drop offs and I was scared to death! But as we got going it wasn't as bad, wait a minute, who am I kidding!? It was terrifying for me! I was so scared that the closer to the village we got the crabbier and scared I got. Going up was not bad, but coming back down is nothing but rock and some of the rocks don't stay put!
When I made it back to the house I was so happy to be on flat ground and off that mountain. After I calmed down and got some dinner in me I was a much better person and thought about what I just accomplished! I climbed a flipping mountain! Me!? The one afraid of heights! I did it! I'm so glad I took the time to do that even though I paid for it the next day!
Ah, Tuesday was a rough day. One, since I climbed the mountain the day before I didn't really have anything ready for that day and two my body was....killing....me! Every muscle in my body was like oh my we did major workout yesterday! But it was great and I'm glad I did it! Now I'm not sure if I wanna do that again. I want to because it was so cool and I would like to spend more time on top, but that way down was so scary that it's kinda stopping me in my tracks. We'll see if I ever do that again, not making any promises. Not only am I glad I did it, but I'm very glad that we had Sam take us up, because we did decide we should just go without anyone else and we could figure it out. I'm so glad we didn't do that because we would have gotten lost and/or stuck some where. It may be a tiny island, but things can still go wrong and you can get lost or misplaced.
So the beginning of the week started out great, even Tuesday was fine even though I was tired and didn't wanna be at school; but still a good day. Then Wednesday was a tough day for every classroom in the gym. One of my students who doesn't come to school much because she's a force to be reckon with, cute, but she has a temper. Don't we all sometimes? Well, she had a hard time coming to school on Wednesday and she cried for an hour! Literally an hour, in a gym! It was so loud, I felt so sorry for the my students, but they worked through it and did awesome! So I made sure to give them lots of Diomede tallies because I was amazed at how well they worked through the noise. Every time she calmed down I asked if she wanted to join us, but the screaming would start again, but I kept trying because I wanted her to feel like she was still a part of our class. Then Becky came over to try and the screaming got louder once again, and then the little girl's grandpa, he's one of our awesome janitors, came over to give it a try and that really raised the screaming volume.
But around 10:15, about an hour after this all started she just stopped. It was so weird, she just decided I'm done. So I asked her if she would like to get a book off the shelf and read with us and she said yes. So she got a book came to Story Corner and read with us. It was so weird, but awesome that she just stopped and she worked and participated the rest of the day. It was like nothing happened. Then the next day she had an awesome drop off and day. She came in and was ready to start the day and I never had a problem with her. I love when she comes to school because she's wonderful when she gets there. She might start the day rough sometimes, not all the time, but once she's ready to start the day she's great! I hope to see her more next week :)
After Wednesday the rest of the week was a little rough because the kids were just tired and didn't wanna be at school. So I felt like I was beating my head against the wall. But every day is not suppose to be perfect because perfect would be boring. But Friday afternoon the kids and myself were done we didn't wanna be there any more. We were definitely ready for a weekend. Next week will be a great one because the kids are going to rest of up this weekend and come in Monday and be ready to learn!
Even though I have those days that everyone has, I am loving my job. I like all my students, they each bring something to my classroom. I know one evening this week I took a little walk to the helipad and sat on a rock down there, since I didn't have kids hanging on me, I just watched the ocean for a bit and I felt happy! I'm happy with where my life is going and I love my job! I hope things keep looking up for me, but time will tell because life is very unpredictable.
I love watching the waves roll in
Pac Man, about half way up
Sam our guide and Jori
She's crazy! There's no way I'd do that.
Diomede is getting smaller....
And smaller....
This is how steep it is
30 year old plan crash
The trail
Diomede is SO tiny!
Russia!
Alaska & The Top
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