Today I had my second lesson with my adult class, and so far, I’m really liking it. It is a lot of work making up lessons without a book to follow, but it’s so nice to teach a class how I want. And while I’m sure my lessons are far from perfect, it’s nice to feel like I’m making them the best that I can. It’s not like I’m not trying my best in school; it’s just very different working with partners. Most teachers don’t go into the teaching profession because they like to let go of control.
Anyway, at the end of the lesson, one of the adults asked me if I could also teach English to some children. She said it would be about 5 or so children, ages 7-11. It took all of my energy to not hurl myself onto her with a giant hug. I could barely contain my excitement at the prospect of teaching elementary kids seeing as this is something I have wanted to do for a really long time.
But the most difficult thing was remembering how busy I already am and legitimately thinking I don’t have enough time (for the planning, not the actually lesson). Do you know how hard it is to say “no” to a dream opportunity? It’s so hard that I actually didn’t say no. I told them I would try it for a week and see how it goes. I’m pretty sure I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I can keep this. I’m not sure how I will balance everything, but I think having something like this on my plate will add a great deal of sanity to this absent-minded volunteer.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The 4 Times I Almost Cried During PST
So far, I have not cried, which I think is a big accomplishment. I thought there would be at least one break down by now. However, I did have my weak moments when I almost cried. And the surprising thing is that for all but one time, I almost cried over something I didn’t think would make me cry.
1. It was during the first week of Practice School (7 weeks into my time here in Moldova) when I was teaching by myself. I had been working until 11:30 every night for 3 nights now, and I was not yet feeling particularly proud of my lessons. It was 6:00 and I had at least 5 hours of work ahead of me. I was walking my 40-minute walk home and feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work we have to do and what is expected of us. I was starting to cry as I was walking, but I still had 10 minutes before I got home and no sunglasses. I did not want everyone in my neighborhood to see me cry as I walked into my host family’s home.
2. My host family was having a masă. I was noticing my host mom and sister interacting, and they reminded me of my mom and me. I was suddenly overwhelmed with missing my mom, which grew into me missing my family and friends. I started to get teary-eyed, but there were 15 people around me and I did not feel like explaining why the American is crying when everyone was being very hospitable.
3. It was 3 days before I was leaving Cojușna. I was walking home when one of the neighbor kids has said hello to me. I had recently learned her name, Mihaela (Cute story: she always says hello to me, and her cuteness stands out compared to the others. One day, she said “hello, Maggie” to me and I said hello back. Her brother was with her and tried to tell her how to say “my name is Mihaela” in English, but she just ended up saying “hello Mihaela” instead. It was very cute. I understood well enough, and now I knew her name). It was very dark, and I could barely make out shapes. But when Mihaela said hello to me, I could easily tell it was her. She giggled when I said “hello, Mihaela”, and I could hear her talking about me once I left. All the sudden I realized that I would not be seeing her or any of the neighborhood kids any more. It took me 2 months to make friends with them, and I walk through a neighborhood everyday. In Criuleni, my house is practically on the main road. I was very upset at the thought of not making friends with neighborhood kids. But I was almost home, and I didn’t want to explain to my host family why I showed up in tears. So I held the tears back.
4. It was the last night in Cojușna, and I was spending it with Holly, Jim, Matt, Lauren, and Cassie at the Cojușna winery. On our way out, I said something about how I was going to miss them. And then it hit me that I was going to be the only American in a 30 kilometer radius, and that I was going to see these guys for several months. My eyes started to water, but Cassie demanded that I stopped because she would start to cry as well. So I did.
1. It was during the first week of Practice School (7 weeks into my time here in Moldova) when I was teaching by myself. I had been working until 11:30 every night for 3 nights now, and I was not yet feeling particularly proud of my lessons. It was 6:00 and I had at least 5 hours of work ahead of me. I was walking my 40-minute walk home and feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work we have to do and what is expected of us. I was starting to cry as I was walking, but I still had 10 minutes before I got home and no sunglasses. I did not want everyone in my neighborhood to see me cry as I walked into my host family’s home.
2. My host family was having a masă. I was noticing my host mom and sister interacting, and they reminded me of my mom and me. I was suddenly overwhelmed with missing my mom, which grew into me missing my family and friends. I started to get teary-eyed, but there were 15 people around me and I did not feel like explaining why the American is crying when everyone was being very hospitable.
3. It was 3 days before I was leaving Cojușna. I was walking home when one of the neighbor kids has said hello to me. I had recently learned her name, Mihaela (Cute story: she always says hello to me, and her cuteness stands out compared to the others. One day, she said “hello, Maggie” to me and I said hello back. Her brother was with her and tried to tell her how to say “my name is Mihaela” in English, but she just ended up saying “hello Mihaela” instead. It was very cute. I understood well enough, and now I knew her name). It was very dark, and I could barely make out shapes. But when Mihaela said hello to me, I could easily tell it was her. She giggled when I said “hello, Mihaela”, and I could hear her talking about me once I left. All the sudden I realized that I would not be seeing her or any of the neighborhood kids any more. It took me 2 months to make friends with them, and I walk through a neighborhood everyday. In Criuleni, my house is practically on the main road. I was very upset at the thought of not making friends with neighborhood kids. But I was almost home, and I didn’t want to explain to my host family why I showed up in tears. So I held the tears back.
4. It was the last night in Cojușna, and I was spending it with Holly, Jim, Matt, Lauren, and Cassie at the Cojușna winery. On our way out, I said something about how I was going to miss them. And then it hit me that I was going to be the only American in a 30 kilometer radius, and that I was going to see these guys for several months. My eyes started to water, but Cassie demanded that I stopped because she would start to cry as well. So I did.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Neighborhood Kids
Everyday on my way home, there is a group of kids ranging from the ages of 3 or 4 to about 13ish, hanging out together outside a house about 300 feet from my driveway. It usually is the same kids, and there is always at least 6 of them there. They seem to be there everyday on my way home between 4 and 6 o’clock, as well as anytime on the weekend.
About three weeks ago, a few of them started saying hello to me every time I walked passed them. And about a week later, one of the kids asked in English what my name was. I could tell the only English he knows are simple greetings, so I talked clearly and slowly. I told him my name and asked for his. He told me his name was Victor, and we told each other good-bye.
A couple days later, one of the girls stopped me to ask me my name. We told each other our names, and I continued home. She was the last kid of that group to ask me my name.
Somewhere in the last week, all the kids have learned my name. Now, every time I pass them, they say, “el-LOH Meg-GEE”. And they never seem to say it all at once. They each have to individually say hello to me. Unfortunately, I don’t know but two of their names, and I don’t think any of them know more than a couple words in English. But I say hello back in response to each of them with a smile and they all blush. The kids just think they are laughing at the American, but it’s a nice little ritual that I have come to appreciate since it gives me a smile at the end of any day. It can make my long and strenuous day feel a little lighter.
About three weeks ago, a few of them started saying hello to me every time I walked passed them. And about a week later, one of the kids asked in English what my name was. I could tell the only English he knows are simple greetings, so I talked clearly and slowly. I told him my name and asked for his. He told me his name was Victor, and we told each other good-bye.
A couple days later, one of the girls stopped me to ask me my name. We told each other our names, and I continued home. She was the last kid of that group to ask me my name.
Somewhere in the last week, all the kids have learned my name. Now, every time I pass them, they say, “el-LOH Meg-GEE”. And they never seem to say it all at once. They each have to individually say hello to me. Unfortunately, I don’t know but two of their names, and I don’t think any of them know more than a couple words in English. But I say hello back in response to each of them with a smile and they all blush. The kids just think they are laughing at the American, but it’s a nice little ritual that I have come to appreciate since it gives me a smile at the end of any day. It can make my long and strenuous day feel a little lighter.
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