Return from the Abyss

I'm a Teacher??

Ahoy! I am returning to the blogosphere after an Odysseian journey through my first year of teaching. There I was (and still am, and will be for the next 4 months) . . . standing in front of dozens of primarily impoverished, minority students with no experience and little idea of what to do. What a long, strange trip it's been. In the first 3 months of teaching I experienced enormous challenges, including:

• classes up to 35 students
• being cussed out and mocked daily 
• physically threatened

Then, suddenly, my admin switched my schedule, my classroom and my subject. Teaching freshmen algebra 1 for the last three months has relieved much stress (for I have an exceptional partner teacher) and offered me much more consistency in my teaching schedule (only 1 prep now compared to 3 before). Best of all, the switch allowed me to, effectively, start over as a teacher with 3 months practice - new rules, procedures, classroom arrangement, personality and strategies. I cannot say that I am now pleasantly comfortable and content now as a teacher, but the switch was a God-send; I may not have lasted.

I just want to see the sun . . .

I wake up at 5:20am and go to bed about 11pm. Most of the time between is allocated to work and preparing for work with little time allowed for rest and decompressing from all that work! I completed neglected my well-being and just stopped doing anything outdoors or physical. My first significant release came in October during fall break. The g.f. and I headed off to the Smokies for a wonderful trip. The scenery, the route, the campsites - everything - were great! I had a really difficult time letting go of my stress and worry though. I couldn't sleep well. I was quiet and sometimes moody. I cried one night as I was overwhelmed about my situation and my future.

Eyes on the Prize

Last fall I started to get an itch to thru-hike. Lauren and I were discussing some grand summer plan to celebrate and relax after our first year of teaching. I was looking through a copy of Backpacker, reading their "Favorite Hikes Ever" (or something). Numero uno was the world famous John Muir Trail. I pointed it out to the gf, who immediately said, "Let's go!" "Okay," I said, and the ball started rolling for our summer plans.

At this point, we have flights to San Francisco and permits for the JMT. We've been researching, reading books, looking at maps and have a plan. Late June, we'll fly out their with only our gear. The itinerary is to hike the entire 220 mi trail from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney in 15 days - 15mi/day average. The trip is my light at the end of the tunnel! I think about it often and am holding on for that release!

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir