And I am now officially 19!
I feel older. But I guess age isn't something that can be negotiated.
Anyway, teaching! It has been crazy so far but incredible. The kids are adorable and hilarious, and it is definitely worth everything I did to get here!
Stories?
I have a few.
On my birthday, I still had to teach. So as I was getting ready to leave, I was also replying to an email from my mom telling me Happy Birthday (which coming from her was not right, it wasn't by birthday when she sent it!) and she asked if anyone here knew it was my birthday. Some of the teachers knew, but for my host family? I had no idea. Right as I had typed that in, Anya, Artom, and Alena came in and said happy birthday. Coincidence? I think not! I got a traditional Russian pattern scarf (woo!!) and Alena made me a birthday card that said 'May all your dreamsz come true. Happy birthday to you' it was absolutely adorable! Timosha even made me a little paper heart.
Then off to class. If I haven't metnioned him before, here he is: Maxime.
Demon spawn of evil.
Along with screaming in high pitched tones and mauling other children, his hobbies include tearing down piles of stacked up toys, laughing at you while you chase him, and wailing on anyone who attempts to contain him.
Me and Marci were attempting to get him out of the classroom (if a student misbehaves, we have to find a Russian teacher) he claws my arm, wraps his legs around my thighs, twists around with a hold on Marci, and bites so hard she bruised within minutes.
Evil.
The rest of the Private 1 kids are adorable!
I will get pictures up asap!
Random fact about Russia, no one liked to give you change.
Now I had been told this since ILP training, and never planned to have to ever need so much change.
Until today.
I thought I had enough roubles in coins to get me on the private bus to the Metro station for the day, but I was mistaken. My smallest bill was a 500 rouble (about $17) and it is 35 roubles to take a private bus. I was hoping for the best as I handed the driver my money.
He began to lecture me in Russian, shaking the money at me, and I told him I spoke no English, and I shrugged because that was the smallest bill I had. He continued to growl at me until a man sitting behind me said something to him, to which the driver stopped in the middle of the road to count out my change. Very begrudgingly.
The man who spoke gestured for me to put my wallet away. I told him thank you (in Russian, one of the few words I know in the language) and took my change from the very grumpy driver and walked to the back of the bus very red in the face.
It's not exactly that they do not have the change to give, Russians just dont want to give it to you.
So if no one gave you change ever, where will you come up with small enough bills to do exact money?
Logic.
However, America has it's quirks too so I can't complain!
Today, I also used Owl City to teach my lesson. I was teaching my 10 year olds about how certain words rhyme, and make a poem. I tried to explain that songs were poems and one of the kids said, 'Like Linkin Park?' (High five to that kid) And I asked if any of them had an iPod (they all raised their hands) and I borrowed one from the girl in the front row. The first English song I saw was Fireflies by Owl City. So I started the song and asked, 'Who knows this song?' Everyone did, so we listened. I would pause after every phrase and they had to tell me the words that rhymed. They were surprisingly good at it.
I also made it safely TO and FROM my head teachers apartment using the bus system BY MYSELF WITHOUT getting lost. At least, today I didn't get lost.
I guess that is what being 19 gets you.
I feel older. But I guess age isn't something that can be negotiated.
Anyway, teaching! It has been crazy so far but incredible. The kids are adorable and hilarious, and it is definitely worth everything I did to get here!
Stories?
I have a few.
On my birthday, I still had to teach. So as I was getting ready to leave, I was also replying to an email from my mom telling me Happy Birthday (which coming from her was not right, it wasn't by birthday when she sent it!) and she asked if anyone here knew it was my birthday. Some of the teachers knew, but for my host family? I had no idea. Right as I had typed that in, Anya, Artom, and Alena came in and said happy birthday. Coincidence? I think not! I got a traditional Russian pattern scarf (woo!!) and Alena made me a birthday card that said 'May all your dreamsz come true. Happy birthday to you' it was absolutely adorable! Timosha even made me a little paper heart.
Then off to class. If I haven't metnioned him before, here he is: Maxime.
Demon spawn of evil.
Along with screaming in high pitched tones and mauling other children, his hobbies include tearing down piles of stacked up toys, laughing at you while you chase him, and wailing on anyone who attempts to contain him.
Me and Marci were attempting to get him out of the classroom (if a student misbehaves, we have to find a Russian teacher) he claws my arm, wraps his legs around my thighs, twists around with a hold on Marci, and bites so hard she bruised within minutes.
Evil.
The rest of the Private 1 kids are adorable!
I will get pictures up asap!
Random fact about Russia, no one liked to give you change.
Now I had been told this since ILP training, and never planned to have to ever need so much change.
Until today.
I thought I had enough roubles in coins to get me on the private bus to the Metro station for the day, but I was mistaken. My smallest bill was a 500 rouble (about $17) and it is 35 roubles to take a private bus. I was hoping for the best as I handed the driver my money.
He began to lecture me in Russian, shaking the money at me, and I told him I spoke no English, and I shrugged because that was the smallest bill I had. He continued to growl at me until a man sitting behind me said something to him, to which the driver stopped in the middle of the road to count out my change. Very begrudgingly.
The man who spoke gestured for me to put my wallet away. I told him thank you (in Russian, one of the few words I know in the language) and took my change from the very grumpy driver and walked to the back of the bus very red in the face.
It's not exactly that they do not have the change to give, Russians just dont want to give it to you.
So if no one gave you change ever, where will you come up with small enough bills to do exact money?
Logic.
However, America has it's quirks too so I can't complain!
Today, I also used Owl City to teach my lesson. I was teaching my 10 year olds about how certain words rhyme, and make a poem. I tried to explain that songs were poems and one of the kids said, 'Like Linkin Park?' (High five to that kid) And I asked if any of them had an iPod (they all raised their hands) and I borrowed one from the girl in the front row. The first English song I saw was Fireflies by Owl City. So I started the song and asked, 'Who knows this song?' Everyone did, so we listened. I would pause after every phrase and they had to tell me the words that rhymed. They were surprisingly good at it.
I also made it safely TO and FROM my head teachers apartment using the bus system BY MYSELF WITHOUT getting lost. At least, today I didn't get lost.
I guess that is what being 19 gets you.
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