Six months ago I was so thankful it was over. (I was also a college graduate!)
One month ago I accepted my first teaching job.
Three weeks ago I found a place to live.
And five days ago I moved.
Over the course of the year, my life has changed in ways I never could have imagined. This was the year that I decided I really wanted to be a teacher. This was the year that stretched me, pulled me, and twisted me in ways I never thought I'd go. And this is the year that I begin my career. After jumping through many hoops, I find myself here, in Ellinwood, KS, USA. And guess what? First graders get to call me Miss Everhart once again!
There is just something about moving to a small town and having your own place and classroom. Now I know it's not for everyone, especially the small town part, but as my friends would say, it's perfect for me. And thank goodness this town is so friendly. I have already made friends with the grocery store owner (because I went to the store the first three days I was in town). I've also met a few friendly faces at a 4th of July get together. I feel like I'm making friends, but heck, it's a slow process, because I'm still sitting here eating ice cream and blogging all by myself on a Friday night. No worries, I'm still so happy to be here.
I'm constantly reminding myself that I am here to be a teacher. However, a few weeks ago, that message wasn't so prominent in my mind. When we came to the "big city" to look for a place to live, there was one, yes, one place to live. Apartment B in the four-plex caty-corner from the Lutheran church. Now, this is no Pebblebrook (my very nice apartment in Manhattan), in fact this place was complete with fluffy brown carpet (that I described as "afro hair") and a very ugly green bathroom (Mom says it's official name is "avocado green"). In the hopes of making me a "good Lutheran," my principal suggested I take Apartment B because that was the only thing in town. So, I of course took it. I was pretty disappointed in what I would be moving into, but I just had to remind myself that "I'm moving there to teach!"
When I moved in on Monday, the "ugly bathroom" and "afro carpet" were the least of my worries, because when we walked in we had a few more problems. Let me list them; air conditioning broken, moldy fridge, dirty bathroom and kitchen, and a hand full of other tiny issues. But the biggest problem of all? EVERYONE HERE IS A KU FAN (or so it seems). Don't worry K-State friends, I will not grow weary and sway back to the crimson and blue; I bleed purple through and through (and I'm going to let everyone know)! But here I am again reminding myself that "I am here to teach!"
A part of moving to a small community is becoming a part of it. Now, on the 4th of July, I felt like I came pretty close to "becoming a part of the community" by being on the front page of the Ellinwood paper. After barely missing an old woman's head with a firework and almost catching her tree on fire, all I could say to myself was, "seriously, Andrea, this is how you make your entrance to the town?!" Thankfully, I wasn't the one to start a fire -- someone else in town got that privilege (Ellinwood knows how to do fireworks). Anyways, if you do it the right way, it's important to become a part of the community, especially as a teacher. So I will give it my best to do so.
There is a nice little Baptist church outside of town (no luck in making me a "good Lutheran," Mr. Sjogren) and in fact, I already have church buddies. Conveniently, a family friend from 4-H is from here and her parents go to church there. My friend gave me his grandparents address and so when I went for my walk tonight, I found myself at their house where they were outside. I left their house after a half-hour conversation, with one big smile on my face and a ride to church for Sunday morning. Slowly, I will become a part of this community.
I couldn't be happier to be where I'm at. I know I will have struggles that will stretched me, pulled me, and twisted me in ways I don't think I will ever go, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I will try my hardest, never give up, keep smiling, and I will teach.
As for the green bathroom, fluffy carpet, once-modly fridge, filthy apartment, and KU fans.... that will all be okay, because that's not why I'm here.
Thanks everyone for all of your support. I can't wait to begin this journey. It is my hope to keep up this blog going as the school year begins.
Below are some pictures of everything Ellinwood:
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| Ellinwood Grade School |
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| Classroom with windows! Lots of windows! That does a kid good. |
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| My classroom full of stuff. Needs some work! |
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| My lovely "home" for at least the next year, if not a few more. |
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| Living room. Not to bad, eh? You hardly notice the carpet once I added in Grandma Everhart's "ugly chair." |
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| Here's a good thing about the apartment; the kitchen (even if the counter tops, cabinets, oven, and microwave were all filthy). |
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| You can't even tell the shower, toilet and sink are all "avocado green." It's really growing on me, especially since I covered it up! |
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| And here's to being an Ellinwood resident. (Happy 4th, just a few days late). |
Until next time,
Andrea
