Hello! I first must apologize for the delay in posting. It's been quite a while since I've had the time, or should I say made the time to sit down and put fingers to keyboard and update the outside of my status in Kentucky. Well, here I am!
Exclamation points aside, it has been a challenging experience thus far and I am still searching for that illusive feeling of having everything under my complete control. My preconceived ideals concerning the big picture of being both a source of knowledge and a role modal to these kids sustains me each day, and I must say that the ability to shrug off the little annoyances and instead of over-reacting or freaking out has given me at least a superficial sense of calm in this nontraditional setting. Calls back home and occasional visits with friends and relatives in Ohio have given me inner strength although that to is not always easy. For example, driving back to David from Cincinnati, Ohio a few weeks ago gave me a harsh lesson in handling severe weather as I had to contend with the combined force of that bad storm which hit Chicago and fallout from Hurricane Ike. Together they combined to create one of the worst windstorms Kentucky has ever experienced, with Gail force cross winds and occasional rain playing with the nerves of all drivers on I-75. Driving the truck was a challenge and what normally would have been a 3.5 hour drive lasted almost 5 hours.
Since that experience I have done a little exploring and have checked out local state parks, lakes, bike shops, and random small towns in an effort to better familiarize myself with the area and escape the relative isolation of the school. For example yesterday I checked out the Apple Festival in the town of Paintsville. Although the "festival" itself was less interesting then I had been lead to believe, I did get some grocery and hardware shopping done at Lowe's and Walmart. However, since Paintsville is located in a dry county, procuring any type of libation was not possible. But fear not, I'm working on that. :)
Classes are going well for the most part with industrial arts being the most entertaining of my six periods. The students have already completed several projects including boomerangs, bird houses, bird cutouts (to protect birds from flying into the school windows), and several laminated cutting boards. Current projects include a bat house, several speaker boxes, and a host of folding walnut and canvas camp chairs that would make a wonderful gift for a loved one this holiday season (hint, hint!). It's great to end the day with smiles on the kids faces, all my fingers, and a dusting of sawdust. A day well spent!
Until I write again... God Bless!!!
Mike
Exclamation points aside, it has been a challenging experience thus far and I am still searching for that illusive feeling of having everything under my complete control. My preconceived ideals concerning the big picture of being both a source of knowledge and a role modal to these kids sustains me each day, and I must say that the ability to shrug off the little annoyances and instead of over-reacting or freaking out has given me at least a superficial sense of calm in this nontraditional setting. Calls back home and occasional visits with friends and relatives in Ohio have given me inner strength although that to is not always easy. For example, driving back to David from Cincinnati, Ohio a few weeks ago gave me a harsh lesson in handling severe weather as I had to contend with the combined force of that bad storm which hit Chicago and fallout from Hurricane Ike. Together they combined to create one of the worst windstorms Kentucky has ever experienced, with Gail force cross winds and occasional rain playing with the nerves of all drivers on I-75. Driving the truck was a challenge and what normally would have been a 3.5 hour drive lasted almost 5 hours.
Since that experience I have done a little exploring and have checked out local state parks, lakes, bike shops, and random small towns in an effort to better familiarize myself with the area and escape the relative isolation of the school. For example yesterday I checked out the Apple Festival in the town of Paintsville. Although the "festival" itself was less interesting then I had been lead to believe, I did get some grocery and hardware shopping done at Lowe's and Walmart. However, since Paintsville is located in a dry county, procuring any type of libation was not possible. But fear not, I'm working on that. :)
Classes are going well for the most part with industrial arts being the most entertaining of my six periods. The students have already completed several projects including boomerangs, bird houses, bird cutouts (to protect birds from flying into the school windows), and several laminated cutting boards. Current projects include a bat house, several speaker boxes, and a host of folding walnut and canvas camp chairs that would make a wonderful gift for a loved one this holiday season (hint, hint!). It's great to end the day with smiles on the kids faces, all my fingers, and a dusting of sawdust. A day well spent!
Until I write again... God Bless!!!
Mike
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