As we touched down on the runway on one of my flights back to the village the plane tilted sideways a bit, as if being shoved by the wind. We quickly recover, and as we are taxiing down the runway the pilot asks me if we have a flat. I look out the window. Yup, the tire was damaged and as it was rolling it was pulling away from the rim. At this point we were traveling slowly, we did not make all the away down to the airport "terminal" instead we pulled in near where the fuel is delivered and unloaded the plane there. Ashely was meeting me with Zoey and her sled so she could help pull my bags home. She had to run about 1/4 mile to meet me when she realized the plane was not coming to its normal place. I do not travel light. Every time I have left the village since December I have brought my skis and all my outdoor gear. Zoey got to pull my bag and box of produce home.
There was a blond woman on the plane who looked familiar. When I went over to the school she was there talking with my Principal. She was the principal from Allakakett. (sp.) Over winter break I had met a teacher from Allakakett in Fairbanks. I mentioned this to her, apparently he had told her about our meeting, she said she knew and that He was very happy where he was, as if I was trying to woo him away to come here and teach. I asked her some questions about the high school, and my principal started acting possessive about me. There is high turn over in bush schools, some districts as much as 50% of the staff leaves every year. Theses positions can be hard to fill with the right people. So once they find a teacher they like, they want to hold on to them, but I did not realize how fiercely they would do that!
A few hours later the tire was replaced and the principal from Allakaket was on her way. Time for me to get to work. papers to grade and lesson plans to write after a long weekend away.
No comments:
Post a Comment