It has been a busy few months - again! Between “Mind the World,” our PC In-Service Training and some traveling I have hardly had a moments rest. No complaints though, as it was all great!!
November was a crazy month! School 14 has a program called “Mind the World” in which they focus on one particular country for an entire month and have evening presentations on everything from history to films. We just finished “United States” month - with about 16 nights in November having special programs for students. I was personally in charge of the following evenings: History of the US Flag, History of the US National Anthem, a Cincinnati Presentation, American Classical Music Night, American Folk/Tall Tale Night and a special English Club night. Without going into complete detail I will say that the best moment was on the closing night when all the students stood, put their hands over their hearts and then played the US National Anthem...it brought tears to my eyes. The entire month was so special and the teachers at #14 did a great job...especially Claudia who ran the entire event!!! She is a dynamo! Now we get to rest for a few months and get ready for South Korea in February.
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| Local cameraman and newscaster...I was on TV! |
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| Teaching the kids "Clementine" |
I just returned from our In-Service Training (IST) in Sinaia. Prior to the training, three of my friends (Lindsey, Kelly & Meg) and I traveled to Brașov & Sinaia to see the sights. All three of these girls are in their early 20’s and it makes me feel like I’m with my nieces...it’s so nice to be with them! I often forget that I’m old enough to be their mothers (or awesome aunt!). Of course, when it’s late and we’ve been up drinking beer all night I am reminded of that fact!! I really enjoyed being with these girls. I am so impressed that at such an young age they are so mature and worldly...not to mention silly and fun to be with! It keeps me young at heart!
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| Homemade wine and crackers...what else do you need? |
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| Smallest street in Romania |
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| Our new favorite Hostel...which was very hard to find! |
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| Beautiful Brașov |
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| Entering Peleș Castel in Sinaia |
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| Peleș - King Carol lived here |
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| Walking down the mountain |
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| A little vin fiert to warm the soul...out of Dracula mugs! |
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| Back in Broșov - Biserica Negra (The Black Church) |
IST was exhausting! It was a week long and we were busy the entire time! Language lessons each morning and training sessions in the afternoon. The good news, I found out that after leaving Pre-Service Training at an Intermediate Low level of Romanian I am now almost at Intermediate High! I guess I’m soaking in more than I knew! I was busy at this training. I am on a Legacy Committee and gave a brief presentation with the Country Director about this, I helped facilitate a Creative Teaching presentation with Ester...an amazing, creative teacher, and I planned our Friday night Holiday Party. Since our counterparts were in attendance the last two days we threw them a party to thank them for their support, etc. The party was a booming success. (All those parties Mom and Dad threw while we were growing up paid off as it sounds like Stephen and I are the party planners in our perspective jobs!!). I think the highlight of this week was the night when they turned on all the Christmas lights and had a firework display. Abby (my roomie) and I watched from our balcony and it was amazing! They were literally in our face. When the finale hit, we both squealed like little kids! I though, “Oh, I should have my camera!” Then I realized that so often I get so obsessed with taking photos that I forget to just be in the moment and enjoy what I’m actually seeing. So, no pictures, but a great memory!!
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| Sinaia - view from my hotel balcony |
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| My PC BFF - Grant! |
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| We had a fund raiser for our gender equality group and voted on the best design to shave in heads/beards! |
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| Megan...she is something else! Total integration!! :) |
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| Sweet dogs cuddled up and asleep on the sidewalk |
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| Our Country Director, Sheila and Program/Training Manager, Alex |
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| My counterparts (Simona does not like pictures!!) :) |
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| Santa (Grant) made an appearance and made this little guy pretty happy! |
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| Wouldn't be a party in Romania without dancing! |
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| Holiday festivities - go figure! |
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| Waiting for more vin fiert on a cold evening! |
So, now it’s December! Grades are due this week and then we just have one more week until holiday. I’ve been doing lots of Christmas’y lessons with the kids. Today I taught my 7th graders “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!” They loved it! Of course, I had to state that it’s not necessarily the Christmas song you’d want to sing while caroling!!
I will be spending Christmas with Flori and her family in the mountains. We leave Christmas day and will be there for 3 or 4 days. I’m grateful that I have something to do as I will miss being at home with Mom and the rest of my family. I have NEVER been gone for Christmas...not once in my 47 years. It will be so strange to be away...but I survived Thanksgiving, so I’m sure I can do this too! I bought a scraggly little fake tree yesterday...12Ron outside Carrefour. I put it up and tonight I’ll make some bows to put on it. I also have a little Charlie Brown tree that my cousin Emilie sent me...so no worries...I’m in the holiday spirit! Heck, I've been listening to holiday music for, like, two months now!!
A very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays to all of you. May this season and the next year bring some peace into our world.
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