Supply and demand

Round two of substitute teaching ensued on Wednesday. Fortunately I didn't have to cancel any of my classes this time. They were of the quiet side of the spectrum - teenagers - but still happy to be involved.

I realized why I can survive as a supply teacher. I learn names...fast. In all five classes I stepped in for this week, I knew the students' names within five minutes. This allows me to include everyone - calling on students to participate. It also allows me to call out the names of those not-so on task. It makes people feel good too, when you know their name. Now when I see some of those students in the halls at the school, they wave or say hi or smile. Yes, I never noticed until now how handy my ability to learn names quite quickly could be. Not to toot my own horn or anything...

I have this one student in Koz on Fridays who always asks the most amusing questions - he clearly watches a lot of American films. He's asked the meaning behind such words and phrases as, "gonna", "wanna", "Hasta la vista, baby", and "hardcore". Attentive little 11-year-old he is. I always look forward to his inquiries.

I've gotten into a routine on Thursday with the secretary at the Radom school. I am the last teacher done, so when she closes up we take the bus together. (The other evenings I just walk home.) She lives in the same building as I do. Once her husband picked us up, and that was a real treat. This week, he picked us up twice!! SO EXCITING given the crazy-below zero temperatures we've been having. The little things make me smile.

It was a balmy -1 today. It's getting messy outside, after our regular -20 temperatures. It's supposed to get quite cold again though. Good thing Heather and I are LEAVING FOR SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TWO WEEK WINTER BREAK! WOOO!

We take an overnight bus tomorrow after work, to Wroclaw (pronounced Vroh-suave), where we catch a morning flight to Bristol. We're in Bristol overnight, then we fly to Girona Sunday. Then we'll head to Barcelona, and traverse the northern coast...as west as Santiago de Compostela. Ahhh...an adventure of hiking and outdoors! Weatherman is calling for about 12 degrees and sunshine, so fingers crossed!

I'm making a pitstop in Munich on my way back to Poland, to visit Kathleen!!!! It will be good to see someone from home!!

I may be slightly regretting my choice to live off of a homemade three-bean and chickpea salad over the passed few days, pre-planes, -trains, and -automobiles (Buses too.) It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Time to finish packing...! I'll be on hiatus while away. I'm sure I'll have lots to tell when I return! Sending warmth and sunshine to those who need it, and love always. xo