School year starts
Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mtn, Issaquah - Launching site for paragliders. Lake Sammamish in distance, with Squak Mountain on left and Cougar Mtn. behind that (shorter). Looking west.
Paragliders taking off
It's been crazy these past couple of weeks getting back in the flow of teaching! Actually, it's not the teaching that's stressful, rather the planning using a new book and materials, the numerous emails, and getting used to all the new things required of me at this school: advising students, updating grades, posting online, contacting parents, back to school nights, meetings, using 3 classrooms, attending mass, praying at the start of class, etc. I have no complaints about the work environment - the people all seem competent and nice, the building is well equipped, the students are darling, the parents are nice, and everyone is very welcoming. It's really not what I expected from a private Catholic school - none of the preconceived notions that I heard about, except maybe the level of involvement by the parents (much higher!). It still strikes me odd to hear our students and parents sometimes referred to as "clients", but essentially they are paying upwards of $17,500 for a year's education, so standards are high!
As for teaching middle school students, again they've beaten down any preconceived notions I had. Many people swear they could never teach middle school, and pick either high school or elementary. It had really never crossed my mind to apply for middle school, but I'm so happy I did because I love it! The kids are still so innocent - they do all their homework (mostly) and aren't so defiant towards teachers or the concept of schooling. The highschoolers I've taught in the past and currently (I do have a 9th grade class) seem to allow chips on their shoulders to remain there forever, let their personal life get in the way of their education, and begin to make bad decisions. For example, my middle schoolers are eager to please and complete everything asked of them, even going above and beyond. High schoolers, I often find, when posed with a difficult assignment, opt to consciously not do it or group together with other slackers and silently protest by not doing any work. The middle schoolers so far seem so energetic towards education - although they, too, have many side stories and conversations. All in all, I am enjoying my 7th and 8th grade classes more than my 9th grade class!
Our apartment complex ammenities
Here in Issaquah Orion has become more of an indoor cat - he seems afraid to go outside most of the time, perhaps due to construction noise across the green belt, the noises of neighbors upstairs and next door, or possibly he's seen animals outside (although the dogs are probably most what scares him). The drive to work is about 8 miles, about 20 minutes with school bus traffic, and all on 40 mph country roads. Noe has a longer haul to work sometimes in Renton, Lynnwood, Seattle, Shoreline, or Woodinville, depending on the house they're currently working on. Last weekend we enjoyed the last days the apartment pool was open, hiked up to Poo Poo Point via the Chirico Trail starting at the landing site for paragliders and reaching the launching site with great views. This weekend we hope to visit the rodeo at the Puyallup fair and continue to try new hiking trails right here in Issaquah.
We're also hoping to rent a cabin in the mountains for a part of Xmas break - to enjoy the cold and snowy holidays for once! (It's been a while)
Hannah and Sam camping
During August - I took Hannah and Sam camping and we also visited the Cougar Mtn zoo and saw the Planet of the Apes movie. I spent most of my weekends and weekdays working (school started the 24th, but I had to start on the 10th with orientations and meetings). The summer seemed so short! Even after traveling to Thailand for 10 days, moving to Issaquah, visiting Butte, MT and Chelan, WA, I really had just about 6 weeks from when I stopped teaching on Rota until I started work at Eastside Catholic. Now this may seem like a lot of time, but once you factor in 17 days of traveling, finding the apartment, buying a car, moving and unpacking, shopping for new clothes, it really hasn't been so much "downtime" vacation. Still, it was a good enough transition time between moving across the world and getting started with a new job. Noe, luckily, started working once he and Chris were back from Thailand and ready to see each other 24/7 again.
Bengal Tigers at the Cougar Mountain Zoo
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