A Day of Rest

Narrow mountain valley road outside of David, KY

Sunday arrived bright and early this morning and signalled a welcome opportunity to take a break from the preparations being made for the new school year which begins this Tuesday. Due to limited staffing, the school staff and faculty have been working together to cover all the bases including that of cooking for the students as we are currently without a full time cook. On Friday the absence of a predetermined kitchen staff necessitated a shopping trip to stock the kitchen for the students' arrival. As a new addition to the staff here at the David School I was quick to volunteer my services and have an opportunity to explore the area a bit. As it turned out, we filled eight shopping carts (or as the locals call them: "buggies") and pretty much an entire Chevy Suburban. Walmart pretty much had to restock all the shelves after we left.

Yesterday I had time after work to get a decent run in and was able to make it up over the nearby mountain pass behind the school. Altogether about 500 feet of a climb and then a thigh burning decent that mad the climb worth the torturous ascent. Later in the afternoon my house-mate James and I ended to day with a trip to the town of Paintsville to see the movie Babylon AD. Forgettable movie, but I'm starting to get my bearings and I spotted a Lowe's Hardware store that I'll need to stop at next week for shop supplies as I'm the school's new shop instructor.

Today Jill, Steven and I made it to the Catholic church, St. Martha's, in Prestonburg for mass. The fact that the Priest and most of the parishioners were largely ex baptists made for an interesting service and I was welcomed back for next week. It's nice to make those local connections.

Until I write again, God Bless!!!

“The Best Laid Plans…"

Day 5 Wednesday (8/27)

My day stared at 6am with a short 2 mile run on the mountain roads surrounding David. Although dodging local dogs and coal trucks was fun, I was glad to make it back and cool down in the pool.

I unfortunately don’t have a lot to report today as it basically revolved around lesson planning, paperwork, and lots of coffee. I did go out with my roommate to a nearby town for Chinese and groceries. Also, as my insurance kicks in first in October, I’ll have to be extra careful I guess!

“Bambi, Books, and Brats”

Day 4 Tuesday (8/26)

Today began at 6am with me hitting the snooze button on the alarm next to the ancient brass bed in the pink bedroom of the staff house. Why the pink room you might ask? Well, it was chosen more for its location away from the road then color. Despite of this fact, coal trucks are still earth shatteringly loud as they tear down route 404 at all hours not 30 feet from my femininely decorated habitation. It’s good I sleep like a log…

As James, Steve, Jill, and I drove up to the school today we noticed the soccer goal was tipped over. The culprit turned out to be a young fawn, helplessly tangled in the netting of the goal and alone. After cutting away the netting Bambi bounded off into the thick wooded hills. The whole experience provided an enlightened start to our day of lesson planning, and other preparatory activities.

As I had painstakingly carried a package of Johnsonville brats and Sheboygan hard rolls down from Wisconsin (I had to refrigerate them at every stop) the staff celebrated new beginnings by frying out at the house after work. Despite a limited charcoal supply, no matches or lighters in the house, and torrential rainfall, we were successful and enjoyed a familiar meal together. With plenty of stories and jokes to share, the evening past quickly and an unexpected call on my cell phone from a faraway friend was the perfect end to a long and eventful day.

“The Value of Patience

Day 2 Sunday (8/24)

Last night’s stay at the hotel across the highway from the garage would have been more fun had it been expected, or if I had at least had someone to share it with, but I dealt with the circumstances pretty well. At breakfast I met a family from Wisconsin and had a nice conversation about teaching as the father turned out to be from the West Bend school district.

Since I was fortunate enough to spend the day (as well as my inheritance) at the shop waiting for necessary repairs to be made, I had the pleasure of meeting several interesting people, including an older gentleman with whom I had one of the best genuine conversations in quite a while.

By 5 pm I was on the road again and two hours later I pulled into the driveway of my uncle’s family with hamburgers on the grill. Thanks guys!!! You’re awesome!!!!!!

“Departure

Day 1 Saturday (8/23)

Leaving home around 10:30 ensured I entered Chi-Town (Chicago) on the Ryan Expressway around lunchtime. Noon traffic in the windy city on a hot summer day (without AC) is definitely a learning experience and I was actually pleased to drive through Gary, IN! The drive through the city combined with a detour to I-65 was exhausting for one person inexperienced in long distance solo drives and I was happy to pull off the highway at a rest stop about 35-40 miles from Indianapolis. After a sort tour of the Men's’ room, I slipped behind the wheel of my dad’s GMC Suburban only to find turning the key elicited the ominous sound of a starter trying unsuccessfully to bring the truck’s engine to life.

After several prayerful quick attempts at starting the truck, I realized that, with limited cell phone coverage, I was stuck. Eventual unsuccessful calls to Indiana State Police and area garages proved futile, but a providential wayside attendant spent about an hour with me trying to reach an open repair place (on a Saturday) and eventually we found a Pep boys garage in Indy that would put the truck in the shop and try to fix what was thought to be a bad fuel pump inside the 40 gal. gas tank. It’s funny, although by this time I had planned on being in Cincinnati, OH spending a relaxing evening with my relatives’, I contemplated the feeling of restfulness the tow truck ride afforded. I was not having to drive all the way!

Early Intel. & Recon Mission

Although this post will likely be dated August twenty-seventh as that is when it found it's way to this blog page, the story of how I came to Eastern Kentucky needs to begin in early August. Therefore, I'll start my tale there. After college graduation in May I spent a long summer working with International students in my college's ESL program and continuing to send out applications for various pre-graduate school research jobs. Although I sent out quite a few applications, I heard back from very few with little success. As July drew to a close I realized that a break from the job search would be a good idea and took a friend's suggestion to go backpacking up on Michigan's northern coast at Pictured Rocks National Scenic Lakeshore. Although not physically relaxing, the trip afforded a pleasant mental break.



On the trip it just so happened that I met someone else in contemplation about future career plans. Although already in the workplace, she felt unfulfilled and was looking into posible volunteering oppertunities including Americorps. As I was applying to Peace Corps at the time it was refreshing to discus dedicating a period of one's life to service. Although I was set on volunteering for a period before grad school, I realized that Peace Corps was a long (27 months) and lonely (your posted often in solo housing) I felt the service oppertunities offered by other organizations whiuch involved living in community a more comfortable sinario. After the backpacking trip I registered with CNVS (Catholic Network of Volunteer Service), a clearing-house-like network connecting potential volunteers with organizations and within a day I was contacted by a small high school in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky that was in need of a science teacher. Investigation of the school's website revealed a private, faith-based, not-for-profit high school started 36 years ago by a young man from New York which served students which had for whatever reason slipped through the cracks of Kentucky's secondary school system. I was intrigued. And in a move which I realize may at first appear rash I decided to accept an invitation and head to Kentucky to see the place for myself.

Further research revealed the surounding area was ground zero for national attention in 1965 when then-president Lyndon Johnson delivered a speach concerning the economic crisis affecting millions of Americans living in Appalachia, a region now perhaps best known for it's strong cultural traditions and poverty. Despite the tremendous natural resources in terms of coal and other minerals, over 40% of the population in the area surounding the school is classified as below the national poverty line and average income ranges between $13-20,000.

The eleven hour car drive flew by as my college roomate Paul and I took turns driving and navigating and before long, seemingly endless stretches of highway were replaced with twisting mountain roads with crazy dropoffs and oncoming 50 ton coal trucks. It was great to finally find the school tucked up in a hollow off Rt 114 near the tiny town of David, KY. The rest of the trip involved a tour of the school and grounds where we learned the modern structure was built by students entirely of donated materials and featured environmentally efficient construction and a geothermal heating/cooling system. The impressive stucture was only surpased by the welcoming personalities of the teaching and administrative staff with totalled about 7 volunteers and employes from all parts of the country and all walks of life. After a successful interview, I made the fateful decision to sign on for the 2008/2009 school year as a science teacher who would also teach Algebra II and Vocational Arts (woodworking).

More to come soon!!! Stay tuned!

Peace!