Wow. I can't believe it's been a week since I wrote!
I had another good teaching week. In Radom, I had four new classes of students on top of my classes from last week...so many names to remember! I surprised myself though with how many I did actually recall. Most of the students remembered my name too, so that felt nice. But the little ones, despite that, still say "teachaaaaaaaairrrr" to get my attention. With one of my adult groups, I had them write some Murphy's laws...they had to complete the sentence. (If something bad can happen, it will. First conditional, woo!) It was amusing to hear their answers. One of them was "If you're single and you meet someone you really like...", then they will be married, then your heart will be broken, then they will not like you back, then they will live really far away from you....
I had my first visitor this week! Yey! Dane was here Wednesday through Friday. Dane was one of the kiwis in our little group that I met/spent time with in Split, Croatia when I was there in early September. We successfully got into Bordo on Wednesday night...but probably because it was a Wednesday night. I am quite certain Radom is not used to backpackers coming through, as there were lots of stares on the walk from the train station. We went for perogies on Thursday before I had to teach my classes (finally!) and I enjoyed them! So very filling though. We ran into Randall on the way to the restaurant that he had actually recommended, so then he came inside with us to talk to the staff to make sure they treated us well. Haha Because after living here for a year, obviously Randall knows everyone. Then there was the Thursday evening mix-up. I had given Dane my keys to my flat in case he ran out of things to do during my classes. He was going to (maybe) meet me after class, and bring me a jacket to wear home. (It was SOOO warm on Thursday, so I hadn't brought my jacket with me.) So when my classes finished, I waited around for a few minutes, but no Dane. So I decided to take a bus home. I ALWAYS walk home. That was my first time taking the bus home, and I have to walk in the opposite direction from what I usually do. We must have JUST missed each other. Dane walked and thought we might have crossed paths. Anyways, so I get back to my flat, sans keys, and I buzz my apartment. No answer after several tries. Ok. He hasn't fallen asleep. Dane would hear the buzzing. I start buzzing other numbers, but of course I don't know how to explain that I live in the building. Finally someone let's me in. I try my doorbell, but clearly Dane is not inside. So I sit on the steps outside my door, reading my phrase books to see how I can explain the situation of my keys in case someone should come out into the hall. Then the lights go out. The hall lights are on a timer. Haha Anyways, I only had to wait about 10 minutes until Dane returned, having RUN back to my flat, my jacket in hand. Good intentions. Bad timing. Such is life sometimes. The best thing to do is laugh. It was really awesome to see Dane again!
Oh! One of my students last week asked me if I knew Gordon or Brandon...these are his friends' English teachers at another company. One is Canadian and one is Scottish. Apparently the company they work for though won't let them have contact with other schools...because they usually leave their company then. BUT THERE ARE MORE NATIVE SPEAKERS. It's our new mission to find them.
Us teacher girls went to Warsaw yesterday to go shopping! We caught an early train. We met up with one of Irene's friends. First stop - Starbucks! Kind of ridiculous eh? It was very exciting though, to be in a big city and be able to get around with English and the little Polish we know, much easier than it is in Radom. We walked around the old town a little - having a blast and taking it all in, this new weekend escape. Heather and I are the crazy Canadians - f.y.i - so we were singing and dancing and being Canadian! haha We stopped at a microbrewery for lunch before hitting the stores. We were all successful in finding some things, so that's always a bonus. It was a strange day, because our emotions were hitting some extremes, from our highs to some more reflective moments. It's so wonderful that we have each other, and that we're all here to listen, and be good friends to each other. It's nice that we can be candid and show our true colours when we need to.
Today I am hosting Canadian Thanksgiving, potluck style! We will also celebrate again in November for the Americans. TWO THANKSGIVINGS! WOO! It's actually the first time the girls will be over to my flat. I do live the farthest away though, so I am not exactly conveniently located. I am happy to have them over though!
I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving/Oktoberfest weekend! I am thankful for this womderful teaching opportunity and experience, and I am also very thankful that I have so many people supporting me and keeping in touch!! Lots of love. Thinking of you...
I had another good teaching week. In Radom, I had four new classes of students on top of my classes from last week...so many names to remember! I surprised myself though with how many I did actually recall. Most of the students remembered my name too, so that felt nice. But the little ones, despite that, still say "teachaaaaaaaairrrr" to get my attention. With one of my adult groups, I had them write some Murphy's laws...they had to complete the sentence. (If something bad can happen, it will. First conditional, woo!) It was amusing to hear their answers. One of them was "If you're single and you meet someone you really like...", then they will be married, then your heart will be broken, then they will not like you back, then they will live really far away from you....
I had my first visitor this week! Yey! Dane was here Wednesday through Friday. Dane was one of the kiwis in our little group that I met/spent time with in Split, Croatia when I was there in early September. We successfully got into Bordo on Wednesday night...but probably because it was a Wednesday night. I am quite certain Radom is not used to backpackers coming through, as there were lots of stares on the walk from the train station. We went for perogies on Thursday before I had to teach my classes (finally!) and I enjoyed them! So very filling though. We ran into Randall on the way to the restaurant that he had actually recommended, so then he came inside with us to talk to the staff to make sure they treated us well. Haha Because after living here for a year, obviously Randall knows everyone. Then there was the Thursday evening mix-up. I had given Dane my keys to my flat in case he ran out of things to do during my classes. He was going to (maybe) meet me after class, and bring me a jacket to wear home. (It was SOOO warm on Thursday, so I hadn't brought my jacket with me.) So when my classes finished, I waited around for a few minutes, but no Dane. So I decided to take a bus home. I ALWAYS walk home. That was my first time taking the bus home, and I have to walk in the opposite direction from what I usually do. We must have JUST missed each other. Dane walked and thought we might have crossed paths. Anyways, so I get back to my flat, sans keys, and I buzz my apartment. No answer after several tries. Ok. He hasn't fallen asleep. Dane would hear the buzzing. I start buzzing other numbers, but of course I don't know how to explain that I live in the building. Finally someone let's me in. I try my doorbell, but clearly Dane is not inside. So I sit on the steps outside my door, reading my phrase books to see how I can explain the situation of my keys in case someone should come out into the hall. Then the lights go out. The hall lights are on a timer. Haha Anyways, I only had to wait about 10 minutes until Dane returned, having RUN back to my flat, my jacket in hand. Good intentions. Bad timing. Such is life sometimes. The best thing to do is laugh. It was really awesome to see Dane again!
Oh! One of my students last week asked me if I knew Gordon or Brandon...these are his friends' English teachers at another company. One is Canadian and one is Scottish. Apparently the company they work for though won't let them have contact with other schools...because they usually leave their company then. BUT THERE ARE MORE NATIVE SPEAKERS. It's our new mission to find them.
Us teacher girls went to Warsaw yesterday to go shopping! We caught an early train. We met up with one of Irene's friends. First stop - Starbucks! Kind of ridiculous eh? It was very exciting though, to be in a big city and be able to get around with English and the little Polish we know, much easier than it is in Radom. We walked around the old town a little - having a blast and taking it all in, this new weekend escape. Heather and I are the crazy Canadians - f.y.i - so we were singing and dancing and being Canadian! haha We stopped at a microbrewery for lunch before hitting the stores. We were all successful in finding some things, so that's always a bonus. It was a strange day, because our emotions were hitting some extremes, from our highs to some more reflective moments. It's so wonderful that we have each other, and that we're all here to listen, and be good friends to each other. It's nice that we can be candid and show our true colours when we need to.
Today I am hosting Canadian Thanksgiving, potluck style! We will also celebrate again in November for the Americans. TWO THANKSGIVINGS! WOO! It's actually the first time the girls will be over to my flat. I do live the farthest away though, so I am not exactly conveniently located. I am happy to have them over though!
I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving/Oktoberfest weekend! I am thankful for this womderful teaching opportunity and experience, and I am also very thankful that I have so many people supporting me and keeping in touch!! Lots of love. Thinking of you...
oooh i'm jealous! Read my entry from Thursday: "So help me god, i would probably kill a baby kitten for some perogies right about now"
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're having such a wicked time! Keep it up!!