A New Start

I am about to start my first week working with children again and I'm really excited. I think my biggest challenge will be the length of classes here. They are only one hour and forty five minutes long, in contrast with the three hour classes I taught all of last year. It will take some getting used to, but I think it might be a good change of pace for my teaching style. I feel like I always ended up killing time last year.

The people here are just phenomenal and I already feel like a part of the community. Two nights ago one of the people working here made us all bracelets out of retired climbing rope with the insides taken out. Another naturalist also made me a cording survival bracelet (all the other naturalists already have them). It is a very functional community it seems up here in our secluded valley in the mountains. From where I sit this morning I can see three peaks!

I have been hiking, running, and baking bread. So when it all comes down to it I am quite content.

I haven't done any biking yet because of what are called Goat Heads. These evil seeds that pop tires! I apparently need to grease my rims or something before biking. I need to look into it more so my bike doesn't end up with a flat.

Last week the weather was just beautiful. Mid 70's (F) each day and around 30 at night. This week will be a bit chillier at about 55 each day and 30 at night. It is also quite windy today.

My next two weeks will be quite full since instead of just teaching four classes a day I am also training in on everything between the classes as well that typically rotate between the ten of us. It will be exhausting, but worth it I dare say.

More to come later when there is more time; now I am off to a meeting!

-AZ