Almost Four Years Later, Continued.......

Upon moving back to Utah, I moved in with another teacher. I am so grateful for her willingness to let me live in her home.  However, Austin was going to come home in July of 2016 which was less than a year later.  I knew I needed to move out to have a place for him to live.

In the meantime, I was lucky enough to get a job at a year round elementary school.  I worked with wonderful people and really enjoyed my students.  I decided that during one of my weeks off school, I would go to North Carolina to visit a friend who had moved there.  Unfortunately, she thought it wouldn't be a good idea because she would hopefully have a new job and I would be home alone all day, plus there would not be much time for us to spend together.  I was not happy, because I really wanted to visit her.  But, I thought, maybe it was for the best.

As I was thinking about things, I realized that the three weeks I was off were the exact weeks of the Iditarod, a dog sled race in Alaska.  I had followed the race for several years, and used it in my classroom.  I never thought I could actually see it in person.  As I pondered, I realized that I could, if I saved, go to Alaska.  It would be pricy, but if I paid for pieces each month, then by the End of February I would be prepared to go.

So, I went.  I spent all three weeks of my break in Alaska.  I flew to Anchorage and attended the conference for teachers which began the Monday before the race started.  It was fantastic!  I was able to be at the start and restart of the race.  Then, I went to Fairbanks for a week.  I went on some tours and saw the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), along with a lot of other things.  The third week I was in Nome for the end of the race.  I had to leave the Sunday at the end of the third week, which meant I missed the red lantern winner, and the musher's banquet.

This trip cut through to my soul.  It was almost like a spiritual experience.  I had such joy in everything I saw and did.  When I got home, I could hardly think of anything else.  People would ask about the trip and all I could do was smile real big and say it was great!  My greatest wish was now to move to Alaska.  I had even started applying for jobs while I was at the teacher conference.  However, it became June and early July and I still did not have a job in Alaska.  I finally gave up the dream for the next school year.

Austin had returned home and had already left for college.  I was a little down because now my son was gone again and I was going to stay where I was.  Oh well, I figured it wasn't the right time.  However, much to my surprise on July 25, I received a call that offered a job in a remote village called Shaktoolik.  I was asked to be there before August 3rd if possible.  Crazy!!!!  I accepted, gave away almost everything I owned, moved the rest of it to my parent's garage in Arizona, and arrived for new teacher training the afternoon of August 3rd.

I am now in my second year of teaching in Shaktoolik.  I LOVE the people here.  They are beautiful inside and out.  They are hard workers, and love their families.  I am blessed to be here.

Almost Four Years Later

I never intended for four years to go by before I wrote on my blog again.  However, here I am......2017......

What a whirlwind of things have happened since I last posted.  First, I created a new blog.  You can access it here.  You will notice as soon as you click that I have moved.  However, I didn't just make a straight move.  It happened in increments.  Let me explain.

First, in February of 2014 I graduated with my doctorate degree.  I was so nervous to defend it.  Finishing was not without difficulty.  The person who was chairing my dissertation committee quit responding to me.  It took quite a while for someone from the university to tell me that she was no longer working for the University.  That left me with no committee and a dissertation that had only one chapter left to write.  I contacted several people who said they had no room for another dissertation on their schedule. 

After about 25 contacts, I found someone who agreed to chair my committee.  That was terrific!  There was only one little problem.  The new chair wanted changes made in the first four chapters which would change some of what I was making conclusions and recommendations about.  Luckily, we worked well together and made some compromises on both sides.  I finished writing and scheduled my defense for the end of February. 

Finally, after 7 years, a lot of sweat and tears, tons of researching, writing, and editing, I became Dr. Balluff!  Signe Balluff, EdD. 

The problem now was finding a job that would help pay off those student loans!  After all, they always say, once you have your doctorate, doors open up for you.  I was excited to see what doors would open. 

Problem was.........nothing opened for me.  I have applied for administrative positions for 11 years now.  I think it is getting even harder now that I have my doctorate.  Not only that, I'm not a schmoozer so I don't act like a ladder climber.  If I get a position, I want to get it because of who I am.  Not because I pretended to be someone I'm not. 

Between February and July, Austin graduated from high school and left to serve a two year mission for our church.  I had foot surgery on both of my feet, had my dog put down due to age, and moved from Utah to Arizona.  What was I thinking? 

I moved to Arizona and lived with my parents.  Well, I  hated my job, and because of foot issues was having a hard time physically, and having a little bit of depression.  So, in 2015 I moved back to Utah.  What was I thinking?