Happy weekend to all!
I have to say I am having a most wonderful day. This morning I went to the market to get my fresh produce. Then Heather and I went to the M1 shopping centre (where I seem to go every weekend). We decided to check out the outlet beside M1...we will never go anywhere else. THERE IS A SMOOTHIE BAR. THERE IS AN ORGANIC GROCERY STORE. THERE IS A REALLY NICE GROCERY STORE. They have Heinz ketchup! And cereal in boxes instead of bags! And cheddar cheese! And wasabi peas! This is all a really big deal to me. And little boys following me and Heather around, speaking English to us. It was definitely a successful day. I also found black winter boots, the essential black purse, and a cozy zip-up hoodie (I actually didn't bring one!). The boots were really my top priority for the weekend as we had our first snowfall on Wednesday. It stuck around for Thursday and Friday as well. It was a damp/slushy snow, but pretty nonetheless. Uncharacteristically early. It will be much more enjoyable with the proper attire though. My forty minute walk to the Radom school Wednesday and Thursday was not so pleasant as my feet were ill-equipped. Now I'm ready for any weather. Bring it.
Waiting for the bus after shopping today, there were three boys just staring at me and Heather and laughing, then they just started saying all the English words they knew, "shoes, my car blue, apples, green dog". It never ends. We're still the town spectacle.
In my previous post I mentioned that the other teachers are jealous of my apartment. Let me explain.
-I have an oven...some of the teachers do not.
-I have a sink in my bathroom...some of the other teachers do not.
-I have a balcony (and a pretty view)...some of the other teachers do not.
-I have a normal toilet and shower...some of the other teachers do not.
-My fridge is not really tiny (poor Heather).
-My walls are brightly coloured (and I have the zebra wall).
I am very grateful to have all these things!
Why I love Friday nights...
Friday nights are a bit of a write off here, as things close by 11 or 12, and I get home from teaching in Kozienice around 9. By the time I unwind, and even think about going out, it feels too late. So what have I done the past couple Friday nights? Chatted on Skype with the other teachers. Haha We all stay in, but have conference calls so it feels like we're hanging out! I probably shouldn't be admitting this. But just so you know, Fridays are excellent for catching me on Skype! Unless I'm travelling, I'll likely be around! So all you folks 6 hours (give or take) behind me, you can chat with me after your day, and still have your entire evening! Win-win.
Oh! Thursday the directors took us to the bank to open accounts. Pay day...woo! Very exciting stuff.
My teaching schedule is finally set. I still had some new classes last week and this week. I officially have eighteen classes per week, which includes one adult group each day. I really enjoy these classes. I thought they'd be scary, but they're fun. Even though they are lower-intermediate, and some beginners even, you can still joke around with adults and make things interesting. This week I got some of them writing personal ads! And with my power plant all men group on Friday, we did some number trivia. How many...days in a week, eggs in a dozen, keys on a piano, ways to leave your lover. This last one was a joke, and they asked about it. So I asked if they knew Paul Simon, or Simon and Garfunkel, then I started singing "Mrs. Robinson" to them. Then they knew. Anyways, it was a lead in for my next activity...listening to "50 Ways to Leave your Lover" and filling in some missing words from the lyrics. Come on, you know you want to be in my class! I'd say the age group I teach the most is 9-12. I have 9/10, 10/11. and 11/12 classes. These kids are wonderful. I really love them. My 7/8 kids are all super sweet too. My teenagers (16) are really smart, upper-intermediate, so I can challenge them and they get into good discussions. I just sing with my 5/6 because they get SO distracted SO easily. Oh man. I really do love this teaching thing.
Alright. Movie night in with Heather tonight. Lesson planning tomorrow. (And maybe a movie with one of the Polish teachers I met at a local school.) Good weekend! Hoo-ha!
A very random entry indeed. I'll try and post some more pictures soon!
I have to say I am having a most wonderful day. This morning I went to the market to get my fresh produce. Then Heather and I went to the M1 shopping centre (where I seem to go every weekend). We decided to check out the outlet beside M1...we will never go anywhere else. THERE IS A SMOOTHIE BAR. THERE IS AN ORGANIC GROCERY STORE. THERE IS A REALLY NICE GROCERY STORE. They have Heinz ketchup! And cereal in boxes instead of bags! And cheddar cheese! And wasabi peas! This is all a really big deal to me. And little boys following me and Heather around, speaking English to us. It was definitely a successful day. I also found black winter boots, the essential black purse, and a cozy zip-up hoodie (I actually didn't bring one!). The boots were really my top priority for the weekend as we had our first snowfall on Wednesday. It stuck around for Thursday and Friday as well. It was a damp/slushy snow, but pretty nonetheless. Uncharacteristically early. It will be much more enjoyable with the proper attire though. My forty minute walk to the Radom school Wednesday and Thursday was not so pleasant as my feet were ill-equipped. Now I'm ready for any weather. Bring it.
Waiting for the bus after shopping today, there were three boys just staring at me and Heather and laughing, then they just started saying all the English words they knew, "shoes, my car blue, apples, green dog". It never ends. We're still the town spectacle.
In my previous post I mentioned that the other teachers are jealous of my apartment. Let me explain.
-I have an oven...some of the teachers do not.
-I have a sink in my bathroom...some of the other teachers do not.
-I have a balcony (and a pretty view)...some of the other teachers do not.
-I have a normal toilet and shower...some of the other teachers do not.
-My fridge is not really tiny (poor Heather).
-My walls are brightly coloured (and I have the zebra wall).
I am very grateful to have all these things!
Why I love Friday nights...
Friday nights are a bit of a write off here, as things close by 11 or 12, and I get home from teaching in Kozienice around 9. By the time I unwind, and even think about going out, it feels too late. So what have I done the past couple Friday nights? Chatted on Skype with the other teachers. Haha We all stay in, but have conference calls so it feels like we're hanging out! I probably shouldn't be admitting this. But just so you know, Fridays are excellent for catching me on Skype! Unless I'm travelling, I'll likely be around! So all you folks 6 hours (give or take) behind me, you can chat with me after your day, and still have your entire evening! Win-win.
Oh! Thursday the directors took us to the bank to open accounts. Pay day...woo! Very exciting stuff.
My teaching schedule is finally set. I still had some new classes last week and this week. I officially have eighteen classes per week, which includes one adult group each day. I really enjoy these classes. I thought they'd be scary, but they're fun. Even though they are lower-intermediate, and some beginners even, you can still joke around with adults and make things interesting. This week I got some of them writing personal ads! And with my power plant all men group on Friday, we did some number trivia. How many...days in a week, eggs in a dozen, keys on a piano, ways to leave your lover. This last one was a joke, and they asked about it. So I asked if they knew Paul Simon, or Simon and Garfunkel, then I started singing "Mrs. Robinson" to them. Then they knew. Anyways, it was a lead in for my next activity...listening to "50 Ways to Leave your Lover" and filling in some missing words from the lyrics. Come on, you know you want to be in my class! I'd say the age group I teach the most is 9-12. I have 9/10, 10/11. and 11/12 classes. These kids are wonderful. I really love them. My 7/8 kids are all super sweet too. My teenagers (16) are really smart, upper-intermediate, so I can challenge them and they get into good discussions. I just sing with my 5/6 because they get SO distracted SO easily. Oh man. I really do love this teaching thing.
Alright. Movie night in with Heather tonight. Lesson planning tomorrow. (And maybe a movie with one of the Polish teachers I met at a local school.) Good weekend! Hoo-ha!
A very random entry indeed. I'll try and post some more pictures soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment