Heeellllllloooooo

So, for all of you who keep saying to me (as I am standing next to you!) that I need to update my blog (::cough:: Tim) here is an update.

I've been in Michigan since May 29.  Soo...not a lot of Alaska to report...

I leave on August 1, and get to Emmonak August 5.  I wanted to spend a few days in Anchorage to go shopping for the year.

This summer I have pretty much finished everything that I wanted to.

• Saw Jamie, Mary, Ella, Gracie, and Livy in Ohio (met baby Cameron!)
• Saw my friends in Flint
• Saw my family in Jackson
• Went to visit Julie in Baltimore
• Took Alicia to Washington, D.C.
• Went to our family cabin in Charlevoix
• Crashed the aunts/uncles' weekend on Mackinac Island :)
• Went parasailing
• Rented a Jet Ski
• Saw all my nieces and nephews
• Saw the prison in Jackson (j/k)
• Went shopping

Now it's back to Alaska for another year. :)  Thank you so much to everyone for the kind words and wishes this year and summer.  Thank you also for the donations that I will be taking back with me.  I'm so excited for another great year!

Jackie

NYO State in Anchorage

So, we went to Anchorage for States in NYO.  I took two of my students, C for 1 foot high kick and A for Alaskan high kick and 1 arm reach.  I HAD A BLAST.  I was a Coach/Chaperone/Driver/Bank/... The week started off with A and C and I leaving Emo an hour late (due to weather) and playing "spot the moose" in the 207 on the way to Bethel.  It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Bethel from Emo in a 207.  Usually it takes half that time.  We got to Bethel and decided to go get food at the restaurant near by.  On our way, I stepped in a puddle, didn't see that there was a floating layer of ice on top of it...and fell on my butt.  Not only did I fall on the ice, but I fell in the 3 inches of muddy water.  And yes, I did just check my bag with my other clothes just minutes earlier.  Yay.  The kids thought that was an amazing start to the trip.  We then flew in a 737 to Anchorage.

Moose and Cabins for Camp

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb

We got to the hotel, checked in, and got started.  I had the bright idea of having a key to every one of the rooms without chaperones in them...I thought it was one of my better ideas.  So, every night I was up every 2 hours checking rooms.  However, I didn't need to.  They were all good.  I didn't have any incidents.  I was so worried about having girls and boys in a big city, in a hotel, and ones I hadn't met before.  They were awesome.  The biggest problems we had was them complaining that they were tired or that they didn't want to wait.  If that was the worst thing we had to deal with all week, then I think we could handle that!

We went to restaurants throughout the week.  We went to Chinese, Red Robin (Yum!), Chuck E Cheese, Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Food Courts at the malls.  We went to Walmart every night.  And we went to the mall I think 3 times.  Some of them went to a movie, but I wasn't able to.  I was the chaperone who went to the dance so they went to a movie during that if they didn't want to go to the dance.  It was nice to see the kids interact with all the other kids from different cities.

Thursday I woke up, watched the kids in the pool, and then went to get supplies to make a banner.  I was making the banner right up until they had opening ceremonies.  It was great to see all the 450ish athletes together on the floor together.

The girls playin in the pool

A and C racing.  C won with his gangly arms:)

We started competing on Thursday afternoon and A got 2nd in the state for Alaskan High Kick!!!!!!!!  This was right after he sprained his foot doing this event.  We then had to go to the hospital to get it checked out.  Thanks A.  We had a fun time at the hospital...we had eaten minimally all day, had a lack of sleep, and were exhausted.  We went from being nervous for Alaskan high kick, to excited we got second, to scared that he hurt his foot, to frustrated we were at the hospital, to giddy we were in a small area, to angry at each other for not being polite, to hyper for eating at the vending machine, to annoying to the PA, to YAY IT'S NOT BROKEN AND WE'RE GOING HOME TO BED!!!!

88" on Alaskan High Kick

Tied for 2nd place!!!

My 2nd Place medal and I at the hospital:) (he was off getting his X-rays - that's the only way I got it from him...)

Friday morning I went to the coach's meeting and learned a lot about the events.  We had A's 1 Arm Reach that day.  He got 6th place.  He got out and had to do a reach off for 4th or 5th place, but I didn't know that, so he wasn't warmed up.  It's okay, we'll get it next year.  We went to Chinese for lunch that day and Red Robin for dinner.

62" at 1 Arm Reach

Bloopsie (the other Female Chaperone/Coach) and me

A & C

Bloop and me

Saturday morning was another coach's meeting and C had 1 foot high kick.  I kept the height from him so it wasn't messing with his mind.  He made 104" easily (this is as high as I've ever seen him go).  They then moved them to the middle stand.  A judge came by and told him "Okay.  It's at 106" now, so that's where we're starting."  I was TICKED.  Why would you tell him?  Tell me, his coach.  I didn't want him to know.  So, he was very nervous about making that high of a height.  He got out there.  He got 4th place.  4TH IN THE STATE!!!  YAY!!! 

104" in 1 Foot High Kick

He just missed it...

4th PLACE!!!!

Overall, it was a great time and a great opportunity.  I keep getting texts from the athletes from other schools and pictures.  They wouldn't let me go when we hugged goodbye and they keep yelling at me that I need to come and teach at their schools.  I was told we did a great job by the athletic director and that they were all impressed.  I'm hoping I get to coach next year!  Thank you to everyone for the good luck's and the hopes.

Looking at pictures/videos from the week

My lovely Scammon Bay, Hooper Bay, and 1/2 Emmonak Kids

All the athletes

My medal kids and me

NYO to State!!!

So my kids did awesome at our meet.  We took fifth place overall.  1st in 1 foot highkick, 1st in Alaskan highkick, 3rd in Alaskan highkick, 1st in 1 arm reach, 4th in Toe Kick, 4th in Wrist Carry, 4th in Indian Stickpull, 5th in Indian Stickpull.

I have 2 students going to State(s), for the 1st places.  So I'm still going strong.  We travel probably on Wednesday of next week.  We're so excited!  It's in Anchorage.

4th Place Wrist Carry

Kneel Jump

1st Place 1 Arm Reach

1st Place Alaskan (& District Record)

1st Place 1 Foot Highkick (& District Record)

Congratulating each other

Indian Stick Pull

Kids

It was a rough day at school today.  The staff kept calling it Moaping Monday.  The kids weren't doing well. They were whining, putting their heads down, angry, and not listening.  I was pretty upset.  I just needed to take some time off and be by myself.  Then I came home and I just felt worse.  Then one of my Native friends called and told me she'd come pick me up and take me around town.  I told her it was all right.  Then two kids called me, offered to take me to the restaurant, and made sure I went.  They wouldn't let me just take the food home - they made sure I socialized.  Then they drove me around town, talked about everything that happened in the different buildings, where people lived... Just to get my mind off things.  Then I got home, and had a message from some old students saying they were there if I needed to talk.  "If you wanna talk Ms. Chomic, we can. You taught me as student, now let me help you as a friend."  

I was so touched.  It was just what I needed today.  We all have those days where we don't know what we're doing and if what we're trying to do is actually working... Today I realized it worked.  I had so many kids trying so hard to make sure I was okay.  I realized this is exactly where I need to be.  Thank you to all my students: previous and present.

NYO Practice

NYO is going great with the high schoolers!  I only have 2 girls, and one is in junior high, but it's cool.  We have 1 kid who hit 102" on 1 foot high kick in practice on Wednesday.  Another kid who hit 86" today in practice on Alaskan High Kick.  I have one kid who's really good at a lot of the events.  Another who went to states his 7th grade year for Wrist Carry, but his back is hurting horribly right now so I'm worried about him playing... Wow!  Awesome team!!!  We are hosting the whole district on April 12 & 13 so we'll have about 144 kids from other villages here....ahhhhhh!!!!

1 Foot High Kick...He's made it to 92"

Alaskan High Kick...He's made it to 86" in practice.

We had our Junior High Basketball players travel this weekend for the Up River / Down River Tournament.  Since we have 12 schools and we have to stay in the schools, we break everyone up into 2 groups: Up River and Down River.  We're Down River.  Our boys legally won the Down River Tournament, but since it was a double elimination tournament, our athletic director said that we had to play again against the team we beat.  So then we lost.  Jerks.

I am coming back next year, signed my contract, and turned it in.  I'm excited.  I really do love it here.  Mom and Dad rented the cottage in July, so I'm excited to go up there again!!!  And Jamie and Mary's baby should be hatched by the time I get back to the Midwest, so I'll travel right away down to see them:).  I don't know where I'm living this summer yet...probably will stay at everyone's places again.  I don't know if my room will be available in Flint...Any takers?! :)

NYO 2.0

Yup, time to start HIGH SCHOOL NYO....and they didn't have a coach...again...so I'm doing it...again.  These kids are AMAZING TO WATCH.

Alaskan High Kick

This is one of my kids doing Alaskan High Kick.  No it's not upside down...he's standing that tall on one hand!

And...again...I'm sick.  I feel like nothing has changed in the past few months...coaching...sick... It's going well though.

It's So Warm!

So, I was going to write on Monday about how warm it was here.  Everything is melting.  It's even been raining (of course there is snow mixed in with it...).  Now, since it's so warm, it's snowing...and a lot.  I woke up and walked out the door today, thinking I was going to walk into less snow with lots of water and freezing, and it was about 1 foot of snow.  Really?  It's like I'm living in Michigan again.  It was so nice to hear the sound of rain on the roof again though.  It got up to like 23 degrees!!!

Now, at 7:40 at night, we've had about 1 1/2 feet of snow today.  Urgh.  Now it's about 3 degrees, but it's making a slushy snow...perfect for snowball fights! :)  They usually aren't able to make snowballs or snowmen, so it's been fun this week.

On a different note, our high school basketball teams are in Kotlik for the tournament for districts.  The girls lost their first game...in overtime :(.  They play again tomorrow.  The boys won their first game by 3 points! :) The boys should be starting to play anytime now.  If they win this, they will definitely be going to states and will play for the championship of the district. The top two teams go.  Go boys!  1 more game!!!  They have been 2nd or 3rd all season, so we're really rooting for them!

I'm giving a GED test right now, so it's killing me having the VTC in the library RIGHT outside my classroom, where I can hear the kids and community listening and watching.  URGH!!!!  It's okay, 15 more minutes and I'll be watching!!! Yay!

UPDATE: The boys lost...:( But they were playing the #1 seed, so they tried hard.
Girls play at 1pm tomorrow, boys play at 2:30pm.  Go Huskies!!!