An Unexpected Twist...

Day 2.

Those 5 and 6 year olds I was expecting? Those 7 and 8 year olds I was expecting? Each group for 45 minutes...? I definitely got the wrong schedule. Thank goodness I still had my 11 year olds and was prepared for one lesson!!

Instead, I had a group of 13/14 year olds for 90 minutes, and a group of adults for 90 minutes. I was pretty sure I couldn't drag out an hour and a half of "I spy...", "Simon says", singing songs, and naming colours with these groups. Plus, I was set to start half an hour before I thought. So yes, tears started streaming down my face. I didn't have all the materials I wanted and needed to do these lessons properly, and class would be starting in 20 minutes. Oh. And instead of finishing at 7pm I would be teaching until 8:30pm. I did not bring my dinner with me!

Irene was also teaching at Radom today, and she was a huge help. Luckily she had her laptop so I could do my music/lyrics activity, and she helped me brainstorm some more ideas. I did also have my folder of extra materials/back up activities with me, so I got some things organized. So in the end, I pulled off two very successful lessons! They were lots of fun, and the time got filled. The students seemed to enjoy them as well. Smooth sailing. *phew!*

And everything happens for a reason right? When Irene and I were done our classes this evening, we decided to check out the dance studio that is on the top floor of the building that the school is in. There was an Argentine tango class going on. Chatting with the receptionist we tried to figure out what time classes are. She had some people from the class come out who had stronger English. One of the boys from my PERFECT group at one of the local schools last week was there! I totally recognized him because he sat in the very front row of my class and spoke lots and smiled at me and helped me when my city map fell from the blackboard. He recognized me too and came over to help the language barrier. Hooray! So we are going to meet with the director tomorrow afternoon to get some information on the dance classes! See? Originally I was supposed to teach out of town, but now that I am in Radom three times per week with the DANCE STUDIO right above me, I will perhaps get to take some classes ater all, which was one of my plans/goals for when I moved here! Yey!!

Alas, even though it was raining on my walk home, I was in a most delightful mood. Kebab in hand, reflecting on the positive turn of events.

Oh! One of the activities I've been doing with my students this week is getting them to describe a picture of Uptown Waterloo. I don't tell them what it is though. A lot of answers include "quiet, clean, boring"...and then I finish the activity by telling them it's where I'm from. My favourite part is their reaction! haha They usually laugh or gasp or start saying nicer things about it. This amuses me greatly.