Sorry, I'm taken!

I wish there was a Do Not Call Again status for job applications. Another school district sent me an email the other day about setting up an interview time. I replied that I had signed my letter of intent and I was taken. The next day I received a phone call from a Principal in a different district wanting a phone interview. I called back and left a message that I signed a letter of intent and I'm taken. 

It's amazing to me that I would have this many school districts interested in me. When I graduated from OVU, I applied in a staggering amount of districts in WV. I only got one interview! One... uno... un! It was with Hamilton Middle School in Wood County. It was in my hometown and I was excited. One of the questions during my interview was if I felt that teaching middle school was stressful. My answer was no! I've been in stressful situations in which my actions or my inactions could have caused the death of one or more individuals. Teaching middle school science would be a piece of cake. 

What I should have said....

Teaching middle school can be difficult at times, but the skills I learned in the military enables me to cope with stressful events in a healthy appropriate manner. 

It doesn't matter that I didn't get that job. I was hired at VCS half way through my interview. It was WV's loss that they didn't hire a passionate WV girl to teach science. My first year at VCS, I applied to WV schools with no luck. I didn't even get acknowledged that I applied in some counties. All the hype about needing highly qualified science teachers sounded like a tub of malarky to me. 

Fast forward to the present day. The ATP job fair in Minneapolis was successful. Posting my resume on the ATP website has been positive. Unfortunately, a little too positive and successful. I've been forced to turn down interviews and jobs in other districts. Some have questioned me if I picked my district too son. I don't think so, I think I'm destined for Barrow. Maybe I should just put something on my voice mail to let others know I'm not available. 

8 weeks and I'm frustrated

I'm at about 8 weeks till I fly to Barrow, Alaska to start my new job teaching high school science. I'm becoming more frustrated with my current surroundings. I don't know if its my brain telling me to separate now or whats going on. I am frustrated that I still can't share the news with my current students. I have to wait and be extremely careful about who, what, where and why I say certain things. Its beyond annoying, but I'm not a psychologist or counselor and don't get to make a decision on this one. 

Saying goodbyes can be difficult for some people. I still remember a going away party that we had at Ponderosa up by the Mall. I think it might have been 1999. I was headed overseas to Bahrain. I hugged my Uncle Paul.  (He actually wasn't an uncle. He is married to my mother's cousin, Liz.) Paul was sick and I didn't want to say goodbye to him. I told him that I would see him later and he said no that it was goodbye. I told him that I didn't accept that but okay. Sadly, Uncle Paul passed away while I was overseas. Thanks to Bill Clinton's mess he created with Monica Lewinsky, I was unable to fly home for his funeral. I still think back to how difficult it was to hug him and to say good bye. He knew that it was the last time we would hug. I still miss him. 

There are times when its easy to say goodbyes. I can casually say goodbye to cousins and distant friends. I know that I will be with them for a long time. I can even hug my mother in all her hysterics good bye. I try to make it quick before airport security stops her. (Anyone remember the Parkersburg airport incident? She ran to the plane to get Baby Emily? That was the last time we flew there!)

In the coming weeks, I'm working on saying my good byes and giving people a sense of closure in our relationship. They can keep in touch or we might not ever meet again. I don't know my future and its not for me to know. I live my life the best I can with a smile on my face. 

Make new friends,

but keep the old,

some are silver,

and some are gold,

a circle is round,

it has no end,

that's how long,

you're gonna be my friend.

Highly Recommend

I highly recommend that anyone that is interested in working in Alaska, attend an Alaska Teacher Placement Job Fair and use the forums on the website. I found another teacher that will be a new hire in Barrow. We have been emailing each other about info that we are learning and about our stories. She will be at the Middle School, so she might be Abi's teacher! 

Tenant Information Form!

Today I received an email containing my Tenant Information Form. This form will help the district decide my housing assignment. According to the Negotiated Agreement, if I am assigned district housing I have to live there as a condition of employment. If I read that correctly, then its a form of forced housing due to employment. I need to check with a tax accountant about it, but it sounds like I can write off my housing costs. awesome!

Another bonus about working for this school district is the price of rent. Currently, I pay $785 for a 2BD in an awesome school district. I pay the extra money so that the girls can attend a school in a community that values education. In Barrow, I will pay $776 for a 3BD! Utilities in Barrow are charged at a set rate for me. It will be $150 per unit plus $50 for each non-teacher occupant. After doing some math it comes to $350 for electric, water and gas. Gas in temperatures that range from -40 to 50 degrees. I am okay with that!

Cable and internet is not included. We have an Amazon Prime membership and watch many of our favorite shows online now. I will have to find a way to see The Walking Dead! It is my guilty pleasure show that makes me smile. I enjoy The Vikings, but I know I can watch that show online. I can't seem to make it to 10pm sometimes. 

Massie will not be coming with us to Alaska. I don't think that she would survive the cold or the living with other dogs. She will be going to a family members house. (Anyone interested?)

After some calls to the district, I learned that they will try to place me near the school, but it might not be possible. I'm okay with that because I will have a child in all three schools. Georgia will be in elementary school, Abi will be in middle school and Emily will be at the high school. 

I've been a bundle of excitement after receiving one piece of paper from the district. I will be smiling for a bit, knowing that the countdown has started. Once my contract arrives, I will be able to buy my tickets and start sending items to my new town. 

The end is nigh...

Another Praxis?!?

Yes, you read that correctly. I am studying for two new Praxis exams. I really should have taken these while I was in college while the info was still fresh in my brain. 

My goal is to take the first exam in November/December and the second exam March/April. I want to space these exams because they will be the most challenge Praxis exams I have ever taken. 

Chemistry: Content Knowledge (0245 and 5245)

and

Physics: Content Knowledge (0265 and 5265)

By this time next year, I should be able to boast that I am highly qualified to teach 4th grade through 12th grade science ALL subjects? What's that? Oh yeah, that's Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I will be able to teach it all. LOL.

So if I look a bit stressed because I can't remember Hess' Law or anything about Brewster's polarized lenses, be nice. Just smile and tell me that there's a plan for me. Then briskly walk away. Seriously, though, I have taken several Praxis exams. I took all three of the Praxis I exams and scored high. I have taken Principles of Learning and Teaching, Middle School Science, Physical Science, General Science and Biology. My studying methods work and preparation is the key to passing exams. 

Where am I going to take these exams? 

I can take the paper exam in Barrow where I live! Or I can fly into Fairbanks and take them by appointment. It might be worth flying to Fairbanks for a vacation/shopping trip combined with a Praxis exam. I remember taking my Chemistry II final and going to Wal-mart because I could not think. My brain was malfunctioning and did not want to make a decision on anything. I walked around for about forty five minutes before my brain reset and I went home to play some God of War. (Yes, I play God of War during times of extreme stress. It has been replaced with Dante's Inferno and Left 4 Dead.)

Keep me in your prayers during this time of testing!

List of Things I Want To Do In Barrow, Alaska.

1. Go wading in the Arctic Ocean.

2. Participate in the Polar Bear Plunge. 

3. Visit Point Barrow

4. Visit the Visitor's Center

5. Find the Will Rogers and Wiley Post Monument

6. Walk down Main Street with shorts on.

7. Visit Inupiat Heritage Center

8. Build an ice castle on Barrow Beach

9. Take a picture between the Whale Bone Arch

10. Visit UIC (Ukpegvik Inupiat Corporation Science Center

11. Make friends with someone at the airport

12. Take pictures by all three hotels in town

13. Take a picture of a stuffed Polar bear and act scared

14. Take a picture of a polar bear in nature from a distance

15. Take a picture of me next to a whale

16. Touch a whale

17. Attend Nalukataq Festival

18. Eat at Pepe's North of the Border

19. Learn Inupiat

20. Eat at Brower's Cafe

21. Eat at Sam & Lee's Chinese Restaurant

22. Visit the AC store, claim that the prices are so cheap and take pics of them!

23. Take a random Tundra Tour

24. Attend a scientific lecture at Ilisagvik College

25. Go on a birding tour

26. Use Barrow Taxi

27. Use Arctic Cab

28. Build a snowman

29. Learn an Inupiat Dance

30. Learn an Inupiat Song

31. Go berry picking with a local

32. Learn to filet a fish the right way

33. Watch a Barrow Whaler Football Game!

34. Watch a Barrow Wrestling match

35. Watch a Barrow Girls Basketball Game

36. Watch a Barrow Boys Basketball Game

37. Take a picture of a rainbow

38. Take a picture of the last sunset for the year

39. Take a picture of the first sunrise for the year

40. Go hunting

41. Drive a Honda to work

42. Drive a Snow Go to work

43. Walk to work in the snow

44. Take a picture of the full moon

45. Take a picture during the summer at midnight

46. Visit the Northern Lights

47. Take a picture of the Northern Lights

48. Attend Barrow High School Graduation

49. Attend Barrow High School Prom

50. Climb the Whale Tower

51. Go ice fishing

52. Tan a hide

53. Take a pic of an arctic fox

54. Take a pic of grass

55. Eat seal

56. Eat walrus

57. Eat whale

58. Eat moose

59. Attend a local church

60. Visit the library

61. Meet an Alaskan Police Officer

62. Find a flower blooming

63. Eat salmonberries

64. Take a pic next to the palm trees

65. Build an igloo

66. jump on the parachute made of hides

67. Take a picture of noon on the shortest day

68. Eat at arctic Thai

69. Eat at Orties

70. Eat at Osaka

71. Eat at Shogun

72. Visit the Quick Stop 24

73. Take a bus trip around town

74. Visit Freshwater lake

75. Visit the Satcom Array

76. Visit the Helicopter Company - Not necessary to get inside one!

77. Meet the Mayor

78. Shake hands with everyone on the School Board

79. Skate at the Roller Rink

80. Go to Youth Center until Emily kicks me out

81. Do something at the Community Center

82. Go ice skating

83. Learn curling

84. Play Bingo

85. Find ivory or baleen jewelry

86. Learn about carving

87. Learn about fur products

88. Run or walk in a 5K 

89. Watch a cross country match

90. Watch Native Youth Olympics

91. Bake something for a bake sale

92. Experience Kiviq

93. Experience Piuraaġiaqta

94. Learn how to call geese

95. Ride on a dog sled

96. Paint a trash can with motivational words

97. Watch Qitik

98. Ride on a dog sled

99. Visit Mound 44 and Learn about it

100. Visit the Presbyterian Church

101. Learn location of hospital

102. Fill up at the gas station

103. Find Dew Line

104. Bundle up and take a pic outside the Bank

105. Visit the National Weather Service Station and ask about the forecast

106. Take a picture of Cakeater Road

107. Visit the Post Office and make friends with the workers

108. Play at the Playground

109. Walk the whole length of town in one day saying hello to everyone 

110. Find a snowy owl

111. eat caribou

112. Eat Eskimo Ice Cream!

113. Learn to make the best Eskimo Ice Cream!

114. Add to this list!

115. Have someone else add to the list

116. Make friends. 

117. Visit St. Patrick's Church

118. Visit Cornerstone Community Church

119. Visit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

120. Visit the Assembly of God Church

121. Visit Grace Michael

122. Visit Isakoak Lagoon

**This list is not over! It will be added to and completed in some random order!

Flea Market and Egg Hunt

Today was an interesting day for the Sargents. Toby took Emily and Abi with him to sell things at the flea market. 

Did I mention we are down to 9 weeks? 

The girls do a great job of selling items. They have learned the art of negotiation. Unfortunately, my E.T did not make it. It was broken in the car drive to the flea market. 

Georgia spent her afternoon with Mommy at the neighborhood egg hunt. She jumped on the bouncy house, toured the fire truck, waited in line for a pink balloon dog and still had time to pick up some eggs. 

The day was beautiful! The birds were singing and people were generally upbeat and happy. I wonder if I am going to be able to move (in 9 weeks). And with a sly Cheshire Cat grin, I think so. Change can be difficult at first, but that doesn't mean that you should go through life avoiding it. I still remember that first morning I woke up in Bahrain. I opened the curtains to my hotel room at the Holiday Inn with excitement. The sunlight seeped through me. I knew my adventure was there. I was able to see many things that my peers back in West Virginia would never see. I cried when I flew out of Bahrain. It was like an intense heartbreak. 

I still want to travel back to Bahrain and Sasebo, Japan. Those places are special to me. I hope that Alaska will become another special place in my heart.

How long will I stay? 

I truly do not know at this point. My contract is a one year contract. I have two courses in Alaskan Studies to take in the next two years to renew my Alaskan license. I have three courses, two reading and one phonics, to take for Ohio. (I still have no idea why a science teacher needs phonics. Its like a cruel joke!) I plan on keeping my Ohio license updated unlike my West Virginia license which I allowed to expire. 

Today was/is a good day. And I am headed out now to enjoy the sunlight and the free vitamin D. Love you all!

Splitting Activities

If you have a large family or grew up in a large family, you know that there are times when parents have to split the kids up for activities. Sunday was no different for us. 

Abi attended the Reds vs Tampa Bay game with Toby. She received two free tickets for completing community service with her school. 

All decked out in red for the game!

Georgia and Emily were stuck with me for the day. We started things off with some sun and Starbucks. Emily has been drinking coffee off and on since 5th grade. The caffeine has the opposite effect with her; it helps her to focus. Now she's allowed to have a whole cup to herself and add a bit of sugar and cream. At Starbucks, she likes to be fancy with her frapps. 

And yes, she did shorten her hair. 

Georgia enjoyed the chairs and sun more than anything else. She plays a mean game of Eye Spy. 

not sure what she's doing in this one. 

Em left to attend her Girl Scout meeting leaving Georgia and I to contemplate our next actions. We decided to play at a park for a bit until the sun just got to be too much for my little blonde. Then we headed to Kroger's for some sushi. We LOVE sushi in our house! 

yum!

We played at one more park before we had to pick Emily up and head home for Massie. It's been a long day and there's still daylight left. I guess its time to sit under the tree outside and read a good book. Georgia is hooked on fables right now. Her favorite is "The Old Man and the Rice Balls." 

Georgia can't wait to see a whale in Alaska! 

Today was just a small adventure leading up to our large adventure in Alaska. 

Your life in a box.

As part of the move, we decided that everyone would be allowed to mail two 18 gallon totes weighing up to 50 lbs each. We bought several of them at Walmart for food and household items. Two boxes. Your whole life and very existence has to fit in two of them. One would have clothes and shoes excluding cold weather gear. Muck boots are in suitcases for the plane. The other box would have all your worldly goods. In Georgia's case, its baby dolls and pet shops. 

Could you fit all your stuff into this box? 

I'll post pics as the time get closer of how the amazing feat was accomplished. 

Not her finest moment

Georgia rode on a ride that is best described as the baby shaker. A line of kids are raised up in the air and shaken all the way to the ground. This occurs several times. The kids smile and giggle. Parents laugh. I thought shaking babies was illegal? Enjoy the video and pay attention to the last 3 seconds of it. Something happens!

Lists, Packing and checking...

Our goal is to be out of our apartment by mid-June. This enables us to spend time with family and friends prior to flying to Barrow. We are 10 weeks away from our get out of the apartment date. We have been collecting items for a few months to mail to Barrow. We have a list to sell at our favorite flea market, list of things to donate, list of things to trash, list of things to store and list of things still to buy. 

I am a nerd and need to have lists to keep me on track and focused. I made an excel spreadsheet to organize shopping lists, clothing items and to do the very famous Sargent Family Budget Worksheet. I like computers so it didn't take me very long to do this. 

We hit lots of sales! We found the "good" deodorant on sale for 50 cents! We would buy as much as our mad cash fund would allow. We found pasta for cheap and stocked up. End of season sales gave us huge discounts on coats, insulated bibs, boots, gloves and more. Em and I got heated boots on sale at the Columbia outlet for $20! 

We plugged them in and tried them out around the house! They were amazing. I highly recommend these boots. 

Yes, it was a mess to put all our items into 18 gallon tubs. We wanted to balance the weight and keep each tub under 50 pounds. As of this post, we have 6 tubs of food to get us started in Barrow and 2 tubs with cleaning, medicines, and misc items. That's 8 tubs to get started and there's still a few items to buy a ship. I completely forgot to buy canned tomatoes, sugar and flour. 


We shopped for our cold weather gear and rain gear at these places:

The Columbia Outlet Store

Cabela's

Bass Pro Shops - we love fishing!

REI

Field and Stream

Walmart, Target, GAP Clearance Store, Burlington Coat Factory, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Kroger, Flea Markets and more!

We were focused on getting the most bang for our buck. We did not want to skimp on outerwear. Staying warm and dry is the most important thing in the tundra. 



I hope that you enjoy reading about the build up to our Alaskan Adventure!

Road Trip Pics

Georgia passed out early in the trip. 

Emily had the whole 3rd row to stretch out and sleep. 

Abi kept us company for a long time. She took full advantage of the Mommy-Daddy time. Its so difficult to be the middle child! 

Same Day

I had to contact lots of people before I sign and send these away. I want to get them turned in before the board meeting this month. 


Papers are signed, received and accepted. 



**reprinted

The morning after

It's Tuesday, April 8th 2014. I have a Letter of Intent to sign in front of me. It's a hard thing to do, leaving the familiar behind to start something new. It was difficult to sign my military papers when I was nineteen. It was even harder to actually leave. It was hard to sign my contract with VCS and harder to move to Cincinnati. 

I know that this move will be a positive experience for us. Its been over a year that we have worked on this and prayed about it. God has a plan for me. I don't know what it is, but I am willing to have him work his will in my life. 

I love you all if I sign or if I don't. 

**reprinted from my journal

Time on deck 21:21

We are almost to Indy and I've called at tortured my co-workers enough. I am going to Alaska, it all a matter of picking a location. 

I am leaning towards North Slope, but I still have to run some numbers for cost of living and everything. 

I could be the next 11th and 12th grade science teacher at Barrow High School in Barrow, Alaska. The most northern school district in the United States. 

**reprinted from the journal

Another District!

And on the way home, somewhere in Wisconsin, Northwest Arctic messaged me that they were still interested. 

So I formed another set of questions to be answered....

1. Housing and utilities cost in Kotzebue?

2. Do we need a snow go or honda? And how to get them up there?

3. If housing isn't district housing, do we have to buy furniture?

4. Outdoor recreation on a spit? (spit is the actual geographic term for a type of peninsula)

I texted those questions to be answered. At the same time, I had to think about which district did I truly connect with at the fair. 

It was started to look like North Slope. 



**reprinted from the journal

Thinking in the car

Pros                                                            Cons

1. 4BD and 3 BD                                     1. Its cold

2. Larger Pay                                           2. Off sets cost of living

3. Football and swimming                        3. daylight hours in 
                                                                      summer and night in
                                                                       winter
4. Teaching only science
to 11/12th grade

5. Prices to fly aren't that bad. 


Questions for North Slope

1. Explain housing and utilities more.

2. How do we get a snow-go or honda?

3. Outdoor recreation?

4. Football opportunities?

5. Possible to move in July?


**reprinted from my journal

Find Chick!

Sunday was the day of the job fair. I arrived promptly downstairs at 9:00 and was the fourth applicant to walk through the door. I dressed smartly, but didn't want to look high maintenance. I looked comfortable and pleasant. 

I visited Southwest first and introduced myself to the gentlemen by the poster board. One had previously interviewed me on the telephone. They called the Principal in Alaska in order for me to talk to him. 

Next it was time to talk to Bering Strait. They were very honest and up front about everything. They declined me, but accepted my application for the future. They pointed me into the direction of other districts. 

Annette Island set up an interview with me and gave me some great swag. 

Fairbanks and Denali had nothing for me, but they still got my resume, handshake and smile. 

Two districts were no shows to the job fair. I checked ATP website and there were no science openings with them. 

My favorite district to talk to was St. Mary's. Its a small district with huge hearts. They love education and want their children to be educated. I spoke with one representative after the fair about his life and all things Alaska. He gave us insight on how to connect with communities and fit in. 

Lower Kuskokwim interviewed me just in case there was a future opening. 

And here's were things got real....

Lower Yukon, Northwest Arctic and North Slope were interested in me. All three districts are located beside each other in northern Alaska and all three tables were beside each other at the fair. All three sought me out and spoke to me about opportunities. 

North Slope made the first move by handing me a Letter of Intent at 1 pm. They were serious about hiring me after my interview. I had a great time being interviewed by the Principal of Barrow. She was easy to talk to about my teaching style and method. 

I stayed at the fair until it was almost finished. I left in a quandary. I no longer wanted to work for Southwest. I was interested in three school districts that were at the bottom of my top 10 list. What was a girl to do? 

I sat in the atrium in the middle of the hotel with all my packets, swag and notes. In the middle of that mess, I met Chick. A really helpful retired teacher that worked for ATP. We spoke about comparing my needs with the various districts. 

Monday was going to be a long ride home and tonight's reception was going to be interesting. I had to think through lots of information. 



** reprinted from my journal. 

Hotel Time/Mall of America

The Alaska Teacher Placement Job Fair was held at the Embassy Suites in Bloomington. We arrived very late at night. It was a miracle that we didn't sleep in the next morning. We were able to enjoy the omelet station.

Saturday morning we headed to the Mall of America. It is a borderline Mecca for me and all things shopping. There's a rumor that they will be adding 300 more stores. I have no idea how that is possible. We were there from 9 am until 4 pm! Most of the time we were at Nickelodeon theme park. Georgia rode her first roller coaster and Abi and Emily went on a double loop ride.

I always take a pic of our parking spot. In comes in handy sometimes!

We LOVE Dora!

We love Sponge Bob this much!

Abi carried the Minnion that we won!

Ready to drive!

All three girls rode the coaster. I was so proud of my Georgia. It was her first big girl ride. 

"That roller coaster made my heart stop!" 

Abi and Emily's coaster was intense! I have no idea how they rode that ride. Straight up and straight down and two loops! You can count me out on that ride!

I finally got to eat at Tony Roma's resturant and didn't see even 1/8 of the mall.

The line for the Rainforest was over 45 mins!

We went back to the hotel and crashed hard. The Great Gatsby was on tv. Everyone passed out.

Then it was pool time!

**reprinted from the journal

Did I see that correctly?

Exit 171C Janesville,

FUDDRUCKERS!!!

Yes, please! Life would be complete if there was a Schlotzsky's Deli nearby!

** from the journal again!

Road Trip

322 miles to go?

322 miles to go.

322 miles to go!!!!!

Chicago to Minneapolis

Last Part!

Insert Hallelujah Chorus!

** from my journal

No Root Beer!

I dislike, nay detest the beverage known as root beer.

I never, ever, ever and I mean ever order it.

I will drink water in lieu of root beer.

The counter girl at South Holland McD's tried to convince me otherwise.

Whatever.

Just give me Dr. Pepper in my cup. The survey on the receipt will give me justice, right?


** reposted from my personal journal

Job Fair/Road Trip

After a rocky start at the Hertz counter at CVG, we hopped in the rental car headed towards Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to GoogleMaps, it was going to take us about 11 hours to get there. It helped me mentally to break the trip up into segments that were easy to manage.

Cincinnati to Indianapolis
Indianapolis to Chicago
Chicago to Minneapolis

It looked so easy on paper to drive this trip even with all the bathroom and lunch breaks. It was going to fun and an adventure for all (or so I hoped). 

The first segment:

This is the road that never ends,

It goes on and on my friends....

Yes, a simple 90 minute ride can prove to be too much for me. Ask anyone that has sat with me during a meeting with a scarf. 

The second segment:

Things that really happened or was said during the trip.

1. I am tired of Pearl Jam. (wrong you can never get tired of Pearl Jam!)

2. Comparison of Alanis Morissette's song "You oughta know" with Adele's "Someone like you." 

3. Bah-sten accents all around for 10 miles!

4. Just take a nap already! 

5. OMG! Its a wind farm! Slow down so I can take a picture of all the turbines!

6. I'm that baby's pappy!

7. Is that a pig farm or chicken farm?

8. Its a 90's party up in the hizzouse (?)

9. That University of St. Francis has one heck of a basketball team!

10. If you fart, crack a window!

11. Followed by... ewwww! It smells like fried chicken in here!

12. Gary, Indiana, my home sweeeet hooooome!

13. Oh yeah, time change! We lost an hour. Where's the hour? I want it back!

14. 8 miles to the state line baby! 

15. Welcome to Illinois!

16. Are you Illonoid yet? LOL

**Once again, this is reprinted from my personal journal that I was keeping at the time. 

Research, Research, Research

I used Pinterest to help me organize my links to helpful sites.

Koliganek is located in the Southwest School District. I thought the area was a good fit for us.

Kotzebue is located up north in the Northwest Arctic School District

Barrow was a possibility and was in my top 15 schools.

We thought about driving to Alaska! I needed lots of help with that one. I also pinned ideas about clothing we needed.

Look around and enjoy!

We got the itch... again!

I've been travelling since I was nineteen years old and left home for the first time for the Navy. The Navy taught me many things including not to be too settled in your location because you never know when you will move again.

I have seen some beautiful places that some country girls only see in books and on television. I explored Chicago. I wandered through the souq in Bahrain. I teed off in Augusta, GA. I taught English in Japan. I returned home for a few years to move again to Cincinnati, OH.

Cincinnati, Ohio has been a wonderful place to raise the girls, but we got the itch. I have a great job working at Village Christian School. It was my very first job after graduating from OVU. In fact, I had accomplished the impossible by graduating on Saturday and hired by Monday afternoon. I taught 4th through 12th grade science. I was highly qualified in every science except for Chemistry and Physics. My typical workload ranged from eight to ten preps a day.

YIKES!

I loved it! I still love the staff and the kids. It was a challenging site, but I learned about compassion, grace and love. I was able to see students that couldn't read, begin to read. I saw girls start to put value in their education more than their bodies. Student growth was apparent there. 

The job search started with jobs overseas working in the Department of Defense Schools. That idea was a bust; there were no vacancies posted. I guess once you are in their system, you never want to leave it. I looked at teaching English overseas. I loved living in Bahrain and there were several jobs in Dubai. Then I found a job teaching science in the US Virgin Islands. Oh my! I could enjoy the beach, the sand and sun. It was definitely on my short list of jobs. 

One night I was doing random searches on the computer when I found jobs in Alaska. Tundra, salmon, ocean, arctic organisms, Northern Lights were words and pictures that flooded by brain. It was with the support of my husband that I started researching districts. Then I researched taxes, passports, travel dates, flights, cost of living, medical insurance, medical care, fishing, hunting and more. It all led up to me applying for an Alaskan teaching license. I applied for several jobs at Alaska Teacher Placement. 

Its exciting to have this opportunity and the support of my husband and kids. Its sad because I truly will miss my co-workers at VCS. I have had a wonderful time working for them. For now though, we have an itch and need to move on. Love you all!

**This post was reprinted from the journal that I was keeping while searching for a job.