What it's like in Wisconsin

It's crazy to think I've been in Wisconsin not even one full year. And for all the things residents and outsiders told me, maybe to make me concerned, I'm typing this outside on a beautiful sunny day, and gave been contemplating making the 13 minute walk to the lake, so it's really a pretty magnificent place. However, as Kyle and I continue to find ways to absorb ourselves in our new community, we have noticed some things in Wisconsin that seem a little different than where each of us grew up. (Note - I do not intend to offend any Wisconsin natives, and apologize if I do).

1. Hired dog walkers - This is one Kyle seems to notice more than I, but there are people who walk dogs for pay around here. I mean, we've known that was a thing, but have never seen it done so frequently. And Kyle is astounded (he tells me pretty much every time we see one "I've never seen a dog walker until I moved to Wisconsin.")
2. Fog - Okay, yes, we've seen fog before. I even had a fog delay or two in my school years. But the thing is, being so close to the lake, it's a consistent weather pattern. In fact, we watched fog roll in on a beautiful, sunny day just as we sat by the lake. It enveloped the lighthouse, then us, then moved on. I've joked that it seems during everyone's first visit, it's foggy; myself, my parents, my in-laws, my friends... All experienced fog no matter how short their stay was. Fog is a sudden thing and it happens more frequently than the places we've lived.
3. Lack of snow... And snow days - This I knew before moving here. Michiganders, you get the lake effect coming across the lake. Being by the east side of the lake does not receive lake effect very much. Not to say we didn't get snow this year - we did - but it's mostly just cold with a few inches of snow. Which leads to little to no school off for snow days. This year, despite windchill temps in the -20s for several days, we did not have one day off of school. As I've said, I was probably more anxious about it than the kids because I've pretty much always had least two days off during the winter for snow. When I told my friends later in the year how my school had 7 snow days built in for cushion, they were shocked; when I told the kids I'd had 6 snow days in 7 weeks last January, they were floored. They can't imagine that much time off of school. Welcome to Wisconsin, Becca.
4. DMV vs. Secretary of State - This may be just a Jenison/Grandville area thing, but where do you go when you're taking your driver's test, or renew your license, or get new plates? The S.O.S. office. But not in Sheboygan. All of that is taken care of at the DMV office, not the S.O.S.
5. "The city" - I know that Kyle and I would differ on this point, because he lived in the boonies and anything with several traffic signals and more than a handful of buildings would be considered city to him, but this is my blog so I'm writing about it. Anyone who knows where my parents live in Michigan... is that considered living "in the city"? Because I sure don't think so. To me, living in the city means living in and around the downtown area of GR, like exits 73 and above off of I-196. To me, living "in the city" means you're near a large downtown area. Well, the other day a friend of mine who lives about 3 blocks north of me was saying how she loves that she lives in the city. I was a little stunned, and the conversation continued around the table of others who live in the same neighborhood mentioning that they like living in the city. So apparently I am a city-dweller in my upper level apartment on the semi-quiet streets or this neighborhood where it's safe to walk pretty much everywhere. This is also due to the fact that the stretch of 8th St. just south of here is considered "downtown" so I guess I do live "in the city" but not near what my idea of city living is like.
6. Alcohol is not taboo - The way I grew up, alcohol wasn't considered shunned by any means, but being a camp counselor and then a teacher-in-training it was considered wise not to be liberal about it or be caught buying it where campers/students could be because it'd be a bad influence. You just didn't talk about it that much unless with family or close friends (and Kyle definitely grew up on an even more conservative side of this issue... his viewpoints bordered on alcohol is taboo). You don't drink it at school gatherings or church functions. However, the first time I went to another person's house in Sheboygan I was offered alcohol, and the trend continued at others' houses, whether we were there with teachers or for a church gathering. Now, my friends here are not drunks nor do they drink excessively. It just seems more easily accepted that if you're legal, no one will judge you for drinking. To the point that parents also do it at some school-sponsored events (with their own money), which was probably the most surprising of all to me because I was trained that chaperones/adults/teachers should probably refrain during those kind of functions. Again, it's not like I'm living with drunks here, but just in an area that is more open to the idea that legal-aged drinkers can relax with a good beer/wine (really, Milwaukee's baseball team has a stadium named "Miller Park" and the team is the Brewers, so...).

For all its surprises and differences, we love this place. Kyle is convinced we will one day buy a house on the lake and since that's always been a dream I'd be happy to have it happen. In the meantime, we enjoy our 12 minute walk to the lake (in less time we can see the lake, but aren't necessarily at the lake front), or a three minute drive to the beach itself (which only really differs from Michigan beaches in water temperature). I enjoy that fact that I can get to wherever I truly need to go by walking even when Kyle has the car. We enjoy our neighbors (and are getting new ones soon, who supposedly are around our age!), we enjoy our church and are working to get more involved there (I'm now on education committee and praise team, Kyle is getting involved in the youth group), and the community is so friendly, kind-hearted, and safe - from the insurance company to the grocers to the internet technician to the appliance maintenance guys. There are adjustments we've made, but ultimately we live in the area we love, still have access to the communities we've grown up in, and are in the right place for this time in our lives. We'll see what God does next.

Thank Yous of June 2015

Dear 8th grade class,

    I write this letter to say thank you to you, my first homeroom class. I’ve evaluated you on your speeches and writing, and I guess now it’s my turn.

    First of all, you should know you have a special piece of my history. According to some other teachers and professors I’ve had, the “first” always holds a special place in a leader’s memory. I may be teaching for another 30 years (or not… we’ll see what God has in store), but you - the 14 people of this class - will be remembered. I may not recognize your faces by the time you’re 23, because you will all change. But each of your names will strike a chord. Oh yeah! My first 8th grade class! So know that, if you don’t hear anything else - know that you are special to me.

    In addition, you have made me feel special, and for that acceptance I thank you. Let’s be honest, I really didn’t know what was going on about one-third of the time. I hadn’t been here to know the precedent - this is how it was done before, or that I as the 8th grade homeroom was supposed to take on certain class activity responsibilities, or many other things that I as a teacher was expected to know but didn’t because I didn’t have the background. But many of you did. I can recall occasions where I turned to one of you to ask or confirm something about how something was done at school. I can recall even more where one of you asked me a question, received an “uhhh… I don’t know” and instead of getting frustrated with me, just shrugged it off and either waited until I found the answer or found a source who did. For that grace shown me, thank you. Thank you too for pulling me into your community. Honestly, sometimes it was fun to just “hang out” with you and just have fun. I was so overwhelmed and blessed by how much you and your families showed love to Mr. Koning and I  by throwing us a wedding shower; thank you for the love you showed through the gifts you gave there but even more just the thought you put into the party. In so many ways, I have felt accepted and cared about by you, my 8th grade students.

    Lastly, I just want you all to know what a joy it has been teaching you. You make me laugh daily. I have enjoyed playing with you on the blacktop, cheering you on in sports, feeling pride swell up as you nailed your speech fest pieces, or just soaking in the sound of some of the amazing music you made at music fest. I have been pleased with the questions you’ve asked, and the ways that you’ve pushed yourselves, and the ways I’ve seen you grow. I have been so incredibly impressed by the servant leadership I saw from each of you at the fundraising events. To know that I am attempting to guide and teach some of the next generation - some of the people God has really big, amazing plans for - is a pleasure for me.

Thank you for your unique quirks and for the dozens of ways you’ve brought a smile to my face. Thank you for this school year, SCS class of 2015.

Your teacher,

Mrs. Koning

Dear 7th grade class,

   

    I write this as a thank you. Let’s hope I don’t blow it grammatically because then I may never hear the end of it.

    The first phrase that I think of for my year with you is “whoa, what a ride.” Let’s be real - we saw a lot of each other this year. There was three to four class periods a day, plus I saw some of you in b1 or study place or exploratories. One of the major benefits for me was how well I got to know you all, though. As compared to the other classes, I know a lot more about your interests, your opinions, and the ways you learn than the other two grades. And I love knowing my students besides just faces and names. I like hearing your stories - in the right time and place. So though you have spent a lot of time in room one, I appreciate what I learned - not just the material, but about you as a class.

    I learned a lot about myself and teaching from you, too. I love you all appropriately, but I’m going to be honest - there were some challenges we encountered in this classroom. But you know what? That was okay. It helped me grow as a teacher. We learned from each other - I got a feel for you as a class, you got a feel for me, I learned how to tackle challenges in the classroom, and you learned what to expect from me and how to reach for the bar that is set for you. So no, I don’t leave this year with bad blood between you and I (cue David or Eyob and the T-Swift references?). I care about you as image-bearers of God and I trust in His plans for you. So thank you for helping me to grow.

    Another encouragement I have for each of you is the growth I’ve seen in a year, and I want to thank you for your participation in this classroom. I’ve seen you develop more as writers, able to articulate your thoughts and opinions in well-formed sentences and paragraphs. I’ve seen creativity from each of you, through skits, projects, stories, and reading connections. I have watched you become readers who pay close attention to the text and work to pick out what is important and relevant to know. I have appreciated the input in small-group or class discussions; many of you have ideas I hadn’t even thought of myself. Your relevant questions pushed my thinking further, and pushed me to look into more material. Don’t lose that curiosity. Questions are good. You all are intelligent historians, Bible scholars, readers, and writers from what I’ve seen happen in this classroom. So thank you for your work; thank you for participating; thank you for expanding my mind.

    I would like to close saying thank you for this year - for walking together through its challenges, its funny moments, and its work. Thank you for putting a smile on my face with your antics, your HSM references, and your stories. I look forward to what next year - 8th grade! - will bring. Until then, continue to ask questions in order to learn, keep reading in order to learn more about this world and the different viewpoints in it, and keep writing in all the forms you are able to (you are writing when you’re texting or on Facebook!). But as you do, remember who you’re representing - not me, but Christ. Do good - and do well - this summer.

Your teacher,

Mrs. Koning

Dear 6th grade class,

    I wanted to write you, as a class, a thank you letter at the end of this year. There are many things to say, but I’ll try to keep this condensed.

First, I appreciate you for the spunk and personality that this class carries. You all have very unique, very distinct personalities. And though some of the things you do make me roll my eyes, there’s usually a smile hiding close behind. Your class makes me laugh. You are special to me, each of you; even through the frustrations, I do care about you all.

Second, thank you each for your willingness and eagerness. There was hardly ever a time I didn’t have enough volunteers - for anything. You each were always eager to help, eager to share your writing, eager to come to the board. You also were open to suggestion and advice. As a teacher, having students who will do what you ask or suggest is valuable. Thank you for asking questions, and then taking my answer into consideration. I have seen you grow as writers this year, and I am so proud. As we go on together as a class and teacher, don’t lose that curiosity or that enthusiasm. And I as your teacher will do my best to give you guidance, answers, and even admit when I’m not sure.

Finally, I am eager to see what next year will bring. Did you know you’re the first class that I will see go through all of middle school and graduate? That’s a pretty special position; no matter how much longer I teach, you will always be the only class to hold that place. And as you enter seventh grade, I anticipate getting to know you each even better. We only saw each other in class three times a week this year; next year, the amount of time spent in my classroom is raised significantly. You can take that as a good or bad thing; I take it as good. I look forward to seeing you develop as students, learners, historians, writers, and readers. I look forward to getting to watch you grow and mature. I look forward to getting to know you and your stories even more. But until then, enjoy your summer. Continue to be curious about life, keep reading in order to learn more about this world and the different viewpoints in it, and keep writing in all the forms you are able to (you are writing when you’re texting or on Facebook!). But as you do, remember who you’re representing - not me, but Christ.

Thank you for the smiles and the ways you’ve helped me grow. May you continue to grow - as a person and as a child of God.

Your teacher,

Mrs. Koning