Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Beclabito Memories and Discomfort

Tonight there will be a dinner in Farmington in my honor. It's nice that some would want to do this...but there is an overlapping feeling of politics. Dinner-Great idea! Politics-Get me out of here! I know enough about the people involved to take it all in stride.

My classroom feels empty...maybe like a prom after all of the decorations have been taken down. There is plenty I'll miss. There are some things I won't miss. I explore these thoughts in expectation of some speech on my part tonight.

I will miss the students. The kids who came to visit me with drawings and writing. The writing club I'd started was popular with many of the students. I enjoyed having morning duty and overseeing running races "...around the tree, around the basketball court, around the slide, back to me and slap my hand". I liked the time I had with the 4th grade as a sub and also the time I was able to teach some of the 2nd graders reading.

My adult students were a trip! The day started and ended according to their schedule. I tried not to get discouraged. I always had a plan and coffee brewing in the morning. I find teaching one or two students so much more difficult than a classroom full (in fact I'll take 70 students over two any day!).

My opinion towards wanting a full classroom seemed to conflict with others' opinions. To me, few students is way more work and dull than many students. I had way too many days with only one or two students. To say I was underwhelmed and bored would be an understatement.

I will miss the wildlife. The rabbit and lizard population at the school is healthy. In the warm months, I felt I was constantly chasing lizards out the door. There aren't too many rez dogs around Beclabito. Some days I'd see one or two. I did, on a couple of walks to the highways, watch a pack of 6 or 8 dogs chasing something (probably a rabbit).

Phone calls at Beclabito were always interesting. If I had a call, the cooks in the kitchen would yell for me. If my door was closed, they might walk down the hall and open to yell in. usually by the time I got to the phone the caller would have hung up. If I still had someone on the line, I usually had to speak very loud (not yell) over the cooking, dish washing, or country western music (the ladies always picked a local station to listen to).

The old building my classroom was in had been build some 75 years ago. There were old pipes and other less desirable things to deal with (such as the possibility of asbestos or other toxins in the air). the classroom itself had been a library, a dorm and a multi grade classroom prior to Adult Education moving in.

One thing I was able to add to the Beclabito adult education class that I think will, stick is puzzle building. I guess it is a minor addition, but proof that I made some difference. I enjoyed the conversations and visiting with students that happened while we put them together.

The biggest thing I will not miss from this setting is taking on the role of coordinator. Wow, did that ever suck! Try taking on double the duties without buy-in from your coworkers. Add to this no extra pay (although other sites do pay their coordinators). I absolutely hated it! Lordy, don't ever put me in charge of something without some backing! Ouch!!! Still, I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I guess I'm nearly Sampson in my inner strength!

I do believe we are all on a journey. To me God is a busdriver. My journey has lead me to Belcabito and is now without a doubt leading me away. Sometimes I'm slow on understanding why things go the way they do. I suspect given a little time all of this will make complete sense.

I appreciate the time with kids, adults, and staff. I hope to have continued contact to the school. As the new building goes up, I hope to hear the numbers, hopes and strengths of students soars.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Snails and Other Stuff

It has been a landmark weekend for the Keleher clan. My nephew Finian evidently broke the world record for "snails on the face". There were three news camera crews overseeing the event. Of course, I think it is cool...but the posted comments were less impressed.

As for myself, I have three more days at work in Beclabito. I'm sad to be leaving the good kids. I'm glad to be moving onto new pastures. I wonder what I'll be doing for income in the near future.

The box pile is building in my garage. I will with the help of friends haul all of my stuff to Farmington and load it on a semi trailer. I'm nearly ready...just hope the heat doesn't get too crazy.

My writing and reading are suffering right now. I suspect I'll get back into the groove after I settle in my house. In the meantime, I will probably take a break and do some sort of travel.