This week is class I had Christmas parties in all of my classes. I let the student pick what sort of activity they would like to and told them they could bring in any type of food they wanted as long as there was enough to share with the whole class. Here are some little stories and tidbits from all of the different classes:
-While playing Taboo with Christmas words, one of the students said this under his breath to another: I am the best conversator in the world!
-With one of my 1g groups we sang Jingle Bells in the following styles: Elvis, country, rap (with one student beat boxing), and opera.
-My 3b class (seniors) got really into it and we had our party in their DECORATED room. I walked in and felt like I was at a real Christmas party. We had several kinds of homemade cookies and sat around three desks that had been pushed together to be like a real table. We had tea, and my students creatively helped me to make my Nalegene as a tea cup. We sang some songs and played games. The best part was they invited me to their class Christmas party on Tuesday! :)
-One section of 3a wanted to go outside to build a snowman. Since the snow was not packing snow, we decided to just go walk around. We had a police man take our picture in front of the town's Christmas tree. Luckily we evaded being arrested because Polish law states that students MUST be in school.
-In the other section of the 3a we played regular Taboo, which they are very good at. They made me laugh for almost the whole time! My favorite moment was this. One girl said, "When you see Johnny Depp you want this." Her teammates (all girls) start yelling, "TO KISS," "TO HUG," "TO MAKE OUT," "A WEDDING!" Only after a little more convincing did the guess the actual word: autograph.
Overall, it was a really fun week and it was nice to be able to relax with the students. All of their final grades are in the books for the first semester, so we were really able to enjoy ourselves. There is only school on this Monday and Tuesday. Monday is regular, but Tuesday is all of the special Christmas activities. Both GTE and LOTE will have special assemblies and then have parties with their classes. I've been invited to 3b and 2ag, but will be just going to 3b because they asked first.
Tuesday is also an exciting day because I will be leaving Poland for my Christmas holiday! I'll be traveling to Italy! If I don't blog or speak to you again before the 24th, I hope that you have a blessed holiday! Enjoy the time with your family and friends and thank God for the precious gift that He's given us in His Son.
Peace,
Colleen
19 December 2009
14 December 2009
Blackout!
Last night our apartment building had its first blackout! I was on my computer when the lights flicker twice, which concerned me a little bit but I just kept on working. Then the lights went out completely! I was home alone with the only light being from my computer screen. Now sometimes the electricity will go out in just one of apartments, so I went over to Sarah's only to discover that here lights were out too. So I went into the staircase and tried duringn on those lights, but they were out as well. I went back inside and looked out my back window only to see darkness. NO lights in any other building behind mine were on. Luckily I was able to find the flashlight and get two candles going. Since it was almost ten o'clock anyhow, I decided it could just be bed time. I wrote Sarah a note and left her the flashlight once I was situated. The heat had turned off as well, so I put on long underwear underneath my sweats to stay warm.
After trying to fall asleep for some time, I realized that the gas heater was still on, even though it wasn't doing anything. Having just read a student's essay about Sylvia Path's suicide through gas inhalation, I became very anxious about the possibility of gas leaking into my room and killing me in my sleep. I didn't know what to do, so I wrote Sarah another note went something like this "So the heat has turned off and I'm afraid gas is leaking into my apartment. Do you think I will die? Can we talk about this? Come get me. Wear layers to bed. <3 Colleen."
A little bit later Sarah arrived home with one of her younger sisters, Claire, in tow. Sarah had gone to meet her in Ostrava. Somehow, the two of them managed to make it up our deathly staircase in the dark. I perked up when I heard the door open and got out of bed and helped them find the flashlight. Sarah and I assessed the situation and decided to turn off the heat completely; we would be cold, but we would be alive. For the third time, I settled into my bed and attempted to go to sleep. Luckily, I was finally successful.
At some point during the night, the electricity kicked back on so we were able to get ready in the light this morning! The sun doesn't really show up until 7:15 so we really do need the light. All of the food kept in the fridge, and I eventually figured out how to get the heater back on. I'm really tired today from all of the excitement, but none the worse for the wear. I am going to look into buying more candles though just in case we ever have a next time.
Peace,
Colleen
After trying to fall asleep for some time, I realized that the gas heater was still on, even though it wasn't doing anything. Having just read a student's essay about Sylvia Path's suicide through gas inhalation, I became very anxious about the possibility of gas leaking into my room and killing me in my sleep. I didn't know what to do, so I wrote Sarah another note went something like this "So the heat has turned off and I'm afraid gas is leaking into my apartment. Do you think I will die? Can we talk about this? Come get me. Wear layers to bed. <3 Colleen."
A little bit later Sarah arrived home with one of her younger sisters, Claire, in tow. Sarah had gone to meet her in Ostrava. Somehow, the two of them managed to make it up our deathly staircase in the dark. I perked up when I heard the door open and got out of bed and helped them find the flashlight. Sarah and I assessed the situation and decided to turn off the heat completely; we would be cold, but we would be alive. For the third time, I settled into my bed and attempted to go to sleep. Luckily, I was finally successful.
At some point during the night, the electricity kicked back on so we were able to get ready in the light this morning! The sun doesn't really show up until 7:15 so we really do need the light. All of the food kept in the fridge, and I eventually figured out how to get the heater back on. I'm really tired today from all of the excitement, but none the worse for the wear. I am going to look into buying more candles though just in case we ever have a next time.
Peace,
Colleen
12 December 2009
Bilingual Angel
Just as with Thanksgiving, I never thought I that would decorate MY first Christmas tree in Poland. Just as with Thanksgiving, I always thought this is something I would do with my husband (yes, I am still unwed). Instead, I have done these things with my dear roommate, Sarah, and let me tell you we are rock stars at getting ready for Christmas!
We started last weekend with some basic baking. We had another missionary, Natalie, over to help. Basic sugar cookies and chocolate chip meringues were the main event. Even though we made a REALLY big mess, we were quite successful!
The goal for this week was getting all of the decorations up with the main challenge being the Christmas tree. Someone had left behind one, so thankfully we had a tree to hang up! We put it up on Thursday, but then realized we didn't have any lights, so we postponed any further decorating until we had lights. One run to TESCO later, we were back in the game. After the lights came chains of snowflakes that we had cut out of paper. It looks really classy! We had a start to put on the top, but we both come from angel so a star would not do. Sarah found a pattern to make an angel out of a paper plate. Working together we constructed her (I drew, she cut).
Our angel looked great on top of the tree, but we decided she was missing something. Sarah suggested that she needed a little sign saying "Merry Christmas!" I quickly agreed and then added, "But we should probably make a little sign in each of the fourteen languages that we find on the back of our packaged food." Sarah quickly agreed and we got back to work. Now our angel has 14 different signs that we're going to change daily. She started out Polish, yesterday was Hungarian, today is Slovak. Yet to come are Estonian, Latvian, Russian, Hawaiian, British and American English, and so many more. We have the most culturally aware angel ever, and I couldn't be more proud.
I also was finally able to mail Christmas packages to my family and boyfriend yesterday! What a relief! Filling out the customs form in Polish was very stressful, and I had to find where I could buy brown wrapping paper to wrap them in. Thankfully it wasn't too expensive; I just hope that they make it across the ocean in time!
This week will be very busy with Christmas parties in every class, but it will fun to be able to relax with the students because last week was all grading. Only 7 more days of school until I'm Italy bound!!!
Peace,
Colleen
We started last weekend with some basic baking. We had another missionary, Natalie, over to help. Basic sugar cookies and chocolate chip meringues were the main event. Even though we made a REALLY big mess, we were quite successful!
The goal for this week was getting all of the decorations up with the main challenge being the Christmas tree. Someone had left behind one, so thankfully we had a tree to hang up! We put it up on Thursday, but then realized we didn't have any lights, so we postponed any further decorating until we had lights. One run to TESCO later, we were back in the game. After the lights came chains of snowflakes that we had cut out of paper. It looks really classy! We had a start to put on the top, but we both come from angel so a star would not do. Sarah found a pattern to make an angel out of a paper plate. Working together we constructed her (I drew, she cut).
Our angel looked great on top of the tree, but we decided she was missing something. Sarah suggested that she needed a little sign saying "Merry Christmas!" I quickly agreed and then added, "But we should probably make a little sign in each of the fourteen languages that we find on the back of our packaged food." Sarah quickly agreed and we got back to work. Now our angel has 14 different signs that we're going to change daily. She started out Polish, yesterday was Hungarian, today is Slovak. Yet to come are Estonian, Latvian, Russian, Hawaiian, British and American English, and so many more. We have the most culturally aware angel ever, and I couldn't be more proud.
I also was finally able to mail Christmas packages to my family and boyfriend yesterday! What a relief! Filling out the customs form in Polish was very stressful, and I had to find where I could buy brown wrapping paper to wrap them in. Thankfully it wasn't too expensive; I just hope that they make it across the ocean in time!
This week will be very busy with Christmas parties in every class, but it will fun to be able to relax with the students because last week was all grading. Only 7 more days of school until I'm Italy bound!!!
Peace,
Colleen
09 December 2009
First Observation!
A few weeks ago our director told us that she would need to come and watch one of our classes to monitor our teaching style and to make sure that we were doing an okay job. This makes perfect sense, but it also made me very nervous! I think what I do in the classroom is effective and worthwhile but I did not know if anyone else would think so. Also, I have never been observed by a professional educator before. Fortunately, she allowed us to pick which class we would like her to come to. I chose for her to come one of my third grade (senior) classes on a day when they were doing a participation grade, where they are graded based on how much they speak during the class period.
Today was D-day. When I woke up I wasn't feeling too nervous, but by the time I was about to walk to the classroom my heart was racing and I could feel my hands shaking a little bit. As nervous as I was, I think my students were even more nervous! They are usually a very talkative and energetic bunch, but today all they could manage to say at the start was, "We are very shy today." I assured them that it was okay to be nervous and that today was just like any other class. They eventually warmed up and starting talking at their usual level. As the class went on, they did an excellent job of speaking and overcoming their nervousness, and the more they relaxed, the more I relaxed. By the end of class, I was so proud of how they did and felt good about myself as well.
Thankfully, my director approved of the class and was pleased with how much the students were talking. She was glad that they felt comfortable enough to share with me and with the class. I know that today I succeeded because of my students. Of course, there are days when classes go poorly and I come home defeated. But I know that I am still learning how to be teacher, so I have to forgive myself for my mistakes and let go of my frustrations. But I don't feel that way today. Today was a good day.
Blessings,
Colleen
Today was D-day. When I woke up I wasn't feeling too nervous, but by the time I was about to walk to the classroom my heart was racing and I could feel my hands shaking a little bit. As nervous as I was, I think my students were even more nervous! They are usually a very talkative and energetic bunch, but today all they could manage to say at the start was, "We are very shy today." I assured them that it was okay to be nervous and that today was just like any other class. They eventually warmed up and starting talking at their usual level. As the class went on, they did an excellent job of speaking and overcoming their nervousness, and the more they relaxed, the more I relaxed. By the end of class, I was so proud of how they did and felt good about myself as well.
Thankfully, my director approved of the class and was pleased with how much the students were talking. She was glad that they felt comfortable enough to share with me and with the class. I know that today I succeeded because of my students. Of course, there are days when classes go poorly and I come home defeated. But I know that I am still learning how to be teacher, so I have to forgive myself for my mistakes and let go of my frustrations. But I don't feel that way today. Today was a good day.
Blessings,
Colleen
06 December 2009
Santa Came to Poland
Happy Saint Mikolaj Day! Many people across the world celebrate this special day in different ways. Here in Poland, Santa Claus comes to visit all of the good boys and girls and give them presents. In order to contact Santa, the children write notes to Santa and then tape them on their window so he can come by and read them! Saint Mikolaj Day presents are usually a little bit more simple than Christmas presents, which are brought by the angel. I'm looking forward to hear what the students received.
Believe or not, but Santa came to my flat! I got chocolate in my shoes!!! I was so surprised this morning!
I am very blessed to have such a caring roommate.
Peace,
Colleen
Believe or not, but Santa came to my flat! I got chocolate in my shoes!!! I was so surprised this morning!
I am very blessed to have such a caring roommate.
Peace,
Colleen
04 December 2009
Haircut!
Sarah has delightfully wavy hair and she likes to keep it short with lots of cute layers. Since moving to Poland, she has not gotten her haircut at all. I have not had a hair cut either, but I got my hair cut all to one length before I left so I have not really needed one until now. After much procrastination and hemming and hawing, we finally decided that we needed to do something about this. Today was the today.
A few weeks ago, Sarah had scoped out a place to go with our one friend, Bozena. The salon is located on the lowest floor of a somewhat sketchy apartment building. To say that I was somewhat nervous about going to this place and trusting what they would do to my hair would be an understatement. My occasional flair for the dramatic and overreaction was in high gear, but we were committed to making this happen. Sarah was brave and her drive to make this happen helped me to overcome my anxieties.
I went back and forth between what I wanted done to my hair about seventeen times throughout the day today. Did I want to get layers or keep it all one length? Should I get it angled? Should I just not get it cut at all? I eventually decided to just have a little trimmed off and keep it all one length. Our Polish tutor, Kamila, went with us to to the salon to speak for us. It was so good that we had her there because the hairdresser didn't speak any English, but as it turns out she did well with our hair! I think we're going to look okay. She dried our hair very awkwardly so it looks a little off today, but we think once we wash and style it ourselves tomorrow that we will be stunning. I think I can tally this in the success column.
And if it is actually bad, we'll just go and have someone else fix it. We could afford an emergency fix because we didn't spend that much on the actual haircut. How much did we spend, you ask?
$4.
Blessings,
Colleen
A few weeks ago, Sarah had scoped out a place to go with our one friend, Bozena. The salon is located on the lowest floor of a somewhat sketchy apartment building. To say that I was somewhat nervous about going to this place and trusting what they would do to my hair would be an understatement. My occasional flair for the dramatic and overreaction was in high gear, but we were committed to making this happen. Sarah was brave and her drive to make this happen helped me to overcome my anxieties.
I went back and forth between what I wanted done to my hair about seventeen times throughout the day today. Did I want to get layers or keep it all one length? Should I get it angled? Should I just not get it cut at all? I eventually decided to just have a little trimmed off and keep it all one length. Our Polish tutor, Kamila, went with us to to the salon to speak for us. It was so good that we had her there because the hairdresser didn't speak any English, but as it turns out she did well with our hair! I think we're going to look okay. She dried our hair very awkwardly so it looks a little off today, but we think once we wash and style it ourselves tomorrow that we will be stunning. I think I can tally this in the success column.
And if it is actually bad, we'll just go and have someone else fix it. We could afford an emergency fix because we didn't spend that much on the actual haircut. How much did we spend, you ask?
$4.
Blessings,
Colleen
02 December 2009
Everyday Polish with Kasia Pierogi
For those of you who were growing up in the 1990s and were fans of Nickelodeon, you will hopefully remember the show, "All That." For those of who who have no idea what I'm talking about, "All That" is a comedy sketch show, much like Saturday Night Live, for kids! One of the sketches on this show was Everyday French with Pierre Escargot and had Keenan sitting in a bathtub in a yellow rain coat and hat spouting off ridiculous French sayings. You can find some clips of it on youtube. Using this as my inspiration I would like to share some of my favorite Polish sentences that I have written for my Polish lessons. (I will not be able to add all of the ticks, dots, and dashes that Polish requires because I don't know how on my keyboard. Sorry.)
-Ja kocham Chris poniewaz on jest czempionem. I love Chris because he is a champion.
-Jam mam gorlya o imieniu Robbie. Ono lubi chilli. I have a gorilla named Robbie. He likes chilli.
-On nienawidza dezodorantu i ja nienawidzie go. He hates deodorant and I hate him.
-Nie mam cactusa w moim mieszkanii. I don't have a cactus in my apartment.
I am unsure if any of these sentences are particularly useful in real life situations, but I think they are really good practice. Sarah and I try to use a little Polish while we are at home, but it is mostly just silly. My favorite new thing to say is "tak tak tak tak tak," which means "yes yes yes yes yes." The teachers say this to each other ALL of the time. I like it a lot, so it has become my new slang. My favorite Polish words so far are ciocia (pronounced chocha) and babcia (babcha)which means aunt and grandma. I think they are super cute words.
The goods news in all of this is that my Polish is existent, and that I can form sentences other than "Jestem kobieta" (I am a woman). I am slowly and surely becoming a functional member of Polish society!!! Dobdze! (Good!)
Peace,
Colleen
-Ja kocham Chris poniewaz on jest czempionem. I love Chris because he is a champion.
-Jam mam gorlya o imieniu Robbie. Ono lubi chilli. I have a gorilla named Robbie. He likes chilli.
-On nienawidza dezodorantu i ja nienawidzie go. He hates deodorant and I hate him.
-Nie mam cactusa w moim mieszkanii. I don't have a cactus in my apartment.
I am unsure if any of these sentences are particularly useful in real life situations, but I think they are really good practice. Sarah and I try to use a little Polish while we are at home, but it is mostly just silly. My favorite new thing to say is "tak tak tak tak tak," which means "yes yes yes yes yes." The teachers say this to each other ALL of the time. I like it a lot, so it has become my new slang. My favorite Polish words so far are ciocia (pronounced chocha) and babcia (babcha)which means aunt and grandma. I think they are super cute words.
The goods news in all of this is that my Polish is existent, and that I can form sentences other than "Jestem kobieta" (I am a woman). I am slowly and surely becoming a functional member of Polish society!!! Dobdze! (Good!)
Peace,
Colleen
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