Today...
Per usual, I have been remiss in my blogging. I don’t know why it’s so hard to sit down and write some words, but there never seems to be the time. I'm forcing myself to take the time for update. Sorry, no pictures at this time. I have yet to upload my latest batch of pics, so they will come later!
It is once again, a beautiful, blue sky, sunny day in Drobeta Turnu Severin. This evening I am sitting in an outdoor cafe having a dinner of chicken and salad. The breeze is just a little chilly, but not enough to worry me. Life goes on all around me. The trees are blooming in a beautiful light green and flowers peak through the dirt. Couples walk their babies and toddlers. Friends walk arm in arm. A little boy kicks a soccer ball with his father. Teenagers roller skate, ride their bikes, skateboard and enjoy being out of school for the day. Two old women sit on a park bench and talk. A group of six old men slowly walk down the street with their hands clasped behind their backs...I love that. The Romanian language surrounds me...sometimes I listen and try to understand, but mostly I just let it permeate my brain (learning through osmosis, right?!) As always, there is Romanian rock music being (loudly) sent through the cafe speakers...the only disruption to this lovely evening.
Today I had five classes: 2nd grade, 8th grade, 4th grade, 6th grade and another 8th grade. The second graders learned about clothing items and colored and cut out paper dolls. They are all so smart and, of course, love anything they can color! The fourth graders are preparing for their big end of year English test, so today we practiced answering questions such as: “Tell me about yourself/your family,” “Tell me about your town/country,” “Talk about your favorite holiday/birthday party.” They are supposed to be able to talk for at least 30 seconds or more about these issues. It’s hard, but they work hard and want to learn. They are a joy to work with! 6th graders learned all about idioms using the word “time” today. “In the nick of time.” “Time on my hands.” “It’s just a matter of time.” And my favorite, “A whale of a time!” This is a pretty advanced group, so it was easy to role play with them and have them use the terms correctly. I bounced an eraser off one boys head until he could catch it, “in the nick of time.” Ha! Fun stuff!! My 8th graders at each school are also quite advanced. At school #3 they had biographies due. I always make them read aloud anything they write and these were fabulous! Stephen Hawking, Beethoven, Thomas Edison, Coco Channel, to name a few. So proud of these kids - I have really seen improvements over the years! My other 8th grade class at school #14 recently made a list of “American” things they wanted to learn/talk about over the next two months. Last week it was 9-11 & Terrorism. Today was all about the FBI. Tomorrow it’s the CIA! They are my most advanced class - all are fluent in English, so it’s fun to pick interesting topics to teach them. Next week we’re going to watch the documentary “Super Size Me” as they wanted to understand the fast food culture in America. We are all excited about their upcoming “prom” in May! They are having it early so I can attend before I leave! How nice is that?!
After school I met with a teacher from another school (whom I met while doing some trainings for local teachers) who wanted help with an upcoming inspection she is having. We worked on 4 lesson plans together while sitting at a cafe sipping coffee. She told me she had not been "out" since her son was born - almost 4 years ago! I think she really enjoyed just being out and about more than the help I gave her! She promised to me to her school to meet with her students next week.
After completing dinner I headed home to work on tomorrow’s lessons and to finish creating a presentation on “Active Learning in the Classroom.” I was asked by Peace Corps to go to Timișoara (about 4 hours away) and give a presentation to a group of about 30 teachers. The Romanian PC Director and PC Program Director will be picking me up tomorrow and will be at the presentation with me...no pressure there.
So...that’s a somewhat typical day for me. Normally I don’t eat out at cafe’s, but since I was already there and it was soooooo beautiful, I couldn’t resist. On a usual evening I would cook for myself and just work away in my bedroom. But, since I’ve started packing up, the bedroom is now full of boxes and junk, so, not the best environment for working.
If you can believe it...I only have 8 weeks left here! And, it’s amazing how much crap I have accumulated over the past two years. For those of you who know me well, this should not be a complete surprise as I am a bit of a ‘keeper’ (note, I did not say hoarder!) I now have to decide what to keep here for my move next year, what to donate away, what to bring home for the summer, and what to just toss. It’s hard work as I feel compelled to keep everything. Slow process, for sure!
I am excited to be coming home. I can’t wait to see Mom’s new house and just hang out with her (although it sounds like she is busier than ever, so maybe there won’t be too much hanging around!) Rumor has it she now has a HUGE garden in her back yard, so there will be plenty of work to do! It will be wonderful to see Meg and Julie (especially Julie whom I haven’t seen since I left) and all the nieces and nephews! Stephen will be home before I leave again, so that will be special as well. Catching up with my friends will be fun - lots to do in a short time. One thing I am not looking forward to is going through all my belongings. UGH!!! Again, deciding what to give away (or maybe sell!), what to store away for future use and what to just get rid of. When you really have no idea what you may be doing, or where you will be living in the long-term future, this is not an easy task.
If the job in București goes well-if I like it and they like me, I may stay here. If not, I may find another international teaching job. My short term plan is to find an online Masters of Education (focusing on English as a Second Language) program. I’ve been out of the education game for a long time and need to brush up my techniques, etc. I’m not so sure about teaching back in the US, so for the time being I will continue the international gig. I also plan to apply for the Peace Corps role of Director of Training and Programming. This is a long shot as there are not many annual openings, but it would be great to work for this wonderful organization.
So, there are my thoughts. Now, here’s a quick update on the last month or so. Spent 10 days traveling with, you guessed it, Lindsey and Kelly. We went to Brașov and Sibiu continuing on to our groups Close of Service conference, also in Sibiu. This was a time to reflect and say goodbye to each other as well as learn about all the Administrative issues with leaving post. Remember, this is a government organization, so some paperwork needs to be done! After the conference about 15 volunteers came down with horrible head colds, so I spent the next week in bed feeling horrible! Then it was spring break! I headed north east to the far reaches of Romania to visit Kelly in Focuri and Grant in Vladen. Both are small villages. Kelly is really at the end of nowhere..it was an adventure. I rode caruța’s and milked my first cow! After spending 2 nights with Kelly and her Gazda (host) we headed to Grants. Grant cooked up a storm for about 12 people one night and then a handful of volunteers stayed, visited, ate more and watched movies. A pretty typical PC get together! My trip home from Grant’s took a LONG time. I left his village at 10:30 in the morning and arrived back to my apartment at around 4:00 am. Traveling by train across the country is not the fasted way to go, but I actually find it rather pleasant. It was worth the long trip to have time with special friends.
Next Day...
So, tonight I had dinner in Serbia...no big deal. You know...just hopped over to Serbia for a bite to eat! ;) As I mentioned the Peace Corps Director, Sheila, and Program Director, Mirela, came to my town to take me into Timișoara for the training I am doing tomorrow, so we decided it would be fun to cross the Iron Gates and get a stamp in our passports! We sat on the terrace of a lovely restaurant right on the Danube River and had a wonderful meal. It was another perfect day and as we ate we watched the sun set behind the hills of Serbia. Not a bad way to spend the evening.
Next Day...
Today we drove 5 hours into Timișoara. We took the long, but beautiful, route along the Danube and it was worth it. Amazing scenery along the way! As part of Peace Corps Romania’s legacy project, I was asked to create and present a training to teachers on “Active Learning in the Classroom. It was held at American Corners and there were about 20+ people in attendance. I got some good feedback about the training and was actually asked to come back and do it for another group of people in May. Nice! After the training we sat in the Piața, enjoying the sunny, warm day. After a drink we headed down to the Bega River and had another nice meal outside. Tomorrow I head back home to celebrate Drobeta Turnu Severin Days...a weekend of community celebration! Life is good!
Hopefully I will get one more post in before I leave, but if I don’t, I want to again thank all of you at home for your constant support of my little adventure. It is so good to know that I have so much family and so many friends who care for me. Mulțumesc frumos!!!
Barbara :)
