...No one? Bueller? Me neither.
I am, however, used to it, but this time, the packing is different. I am packing up my life to go move to Alaska for a grand teaching adventure! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity kind of fell into my lap in March, when I traveled to Seattle, WA with a friend from college for a weekend. We participated in a job fair through Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP), had several interviews, and received job offers at the end of the day before flying back to Syracuse. Oh. And before we left Seattle, I had called the HR Director back from North West Arctic Borough School District and told him that I was accepting the position. Since then (until about May), I've been floating around in this "I'm moving to Alaska" cloud... and then that bubble got popped when I realized that I would have to pack up and ship out my things.
Packing can seem like an insurmountable challenge. I don't really have a gauge to help me figure out if I have more stuff than the average 25 year old or not, but if you ever want to significantly downsize your material possessions, try moving across the country. I have determined that I will have to leave behind the majority of my books, and I was already aware that I would not be taking my furniture with me, as the two bedroom apartment T and I are going to be sharing is furnished. Oh! Did I forget to mention that? T - my friend from college - accepted the job offer from the same school district and we will be teaching in the same village! Hooray!
So what to bring? Well, obviously, kitchen supplies. Thankfully, I am more than well prepared for the kitchen, seeing as my aunts unloaded all of their extras into my car a couple of years ago when I officially moved out into my first apartment. Toiletries will be a big deal, too, because everything is a lot less expensive in the lower 48 than it is in AK. Additionally, I *am* bringing some books - mostly on education and history, which is my subject, plus some teacher supplies and things to make the apartment and classroom a little more *me*.
And clothes. Well, this part is kind of tricky... I have a suitcase of clothes that I haven't worn in two years - so that's going to be sorted and donated ASAP, plus I've been going through this weird losing weight / clothes not fitting thing, which is nice, but requires that I go on a shopping adventure. Furthermore, I need Alaska-specific clothing: wicking material shorts, pants, shirts, some super special boots (-40, -100 rating), bibs (snow bibs, maybe fishing bibs?), a *serious* windbreaker, hat, gloves, etc. Basically, the whole nine yards. Oh! And then there's the parka that I'll have to buy later. Plus a regular puffy-coat thing, because the one I have now may have been good for Upstate NY winter (172" of snow!), but it will not combat the cold weather temps of rural AK - I'll be living ABOVE the Arctic Circle. Yup. People live up there.
Luckily for me, I have incredibly supportive friends and family. In fact, my wonderful friend, A, has volunteered to come out and help me pack today. So I should probably get to that...
With that said, I know this post isn't explicitly about a teaching adventure, but it is my firm belief that you can take any thing (any activity, interaction, situation, etc.) and turn it into a teachable moment.
Make today a wonderful one!
-Meg
