The past few days have been, plain and simple, emotionally draining.
Training in Krakow ended, longest two weeks of my life, although, a very informative two weeks. Last Friday I had to pack up my things from my shower-curtainless bathroom and move to my new apartment in Bielsko-Biala (where I am happy to say I not only have a 'shower curtain' but my shower - or incubator as I prefer to call it - actually has an amazon rain forest setting along with high powered jets. Yes, all in my shower). My apartment is livable, the location, slightly less desirable, but Bielsko itself is by far the best city I could have been placed in - so I'm so thankful for that. I have gone out and taken some pictures, but I have yet to actually go out and 'get lost' in the city. I have Friday off (it's like they knew that St. Patty's day is my favorite holiday and I would need a breather) so I am planning on wandering around and I definitely plan on getting lost. There is a statue of Martin Luther that I am rather keen to hunt down, I can't explain why.
Alright, enough of that. Now on to the good stuff - teaching. First off, I am a teacher. I have to write it because I don't actually believe it, but it seems more likely to be true if I read it. Every day I go into the classroom and I write my name on the board. Not because it is actually helpful to the students, but because I am a teacher, and that is what you do! My first class, on Monday, was great. The students were talkative and funny and I really enjoyed it. I then had a class right after, and it was downright terrible. It was like pulling teeth to get the students to talk (which is the main method of teaching used here). In the end, I decided to (possibly) abuse my teacher rights and have them not only do a dictation exercise but also a spelling test (two things that the students here hate). I suppose that I should probably try to focus more on being liked, but I just couldn't help but use (note: not abuse) my power that day. Other than that, my classes have been reasonable. I had a class yesterday and one older man really stuck out. He has been to Alaska, so instead of always trying to pronounce his name (which is virtually impossible for me) I just call him 'Alaska' (creative, I know), but he is quite possibly already one of my favorites; he doesn't know it but I have adopted him as my surrogate Grandpa. I taught a group of teenagers today, enough said. I basically couldln't get them to shut-up. Only problem, they were talking in Polish (beyond frustrating, especially when the only phrases I understand are 'Excuse Me, Thank You, and One Beer Please'). Apparantly I have another group of teenagers tomorrow - Lordy!
Oh, this should really be mentioned. Went out last weekend with the roommates and some of the other teachers from the school (all of whom are fantastic) and woudln't you know, we ended up at some grunge, headbanging club. We walked in to a DJ playing Polish metal (have I mentioned that Polish is not the most attractive language, now imagine it being sung (screamed)along with a heavy metal band). Needless to say, it was an excruciating night for me. I spent half of it trying not to step on the broken glass all over the floor and the other half trying not to be sucked into the mosh pitt! Grunge, so not my thing (however, it was an experience, and memories were made that I will not soon forget, and at the end of the day, that is what is important).
So far teaching has been bearable. I think that the head teacher is going to observe me tomorrow, so I really should make sure I am extra prepared (na, I'd rather sleep in). I will be hiking the mountains this Sunday, I'm ready to get my active on (heaven's knows I need it after my diet of paczki's and perogies the last three weeks). Oh, and I already found my favorite cafe in Bielsko that serves mead, and there are huge wooden swings in the restaurant to sit on - that's right, swings! Mead and swings, basic necessities in anyone's life.
Well, it is officially St. Patty's Day. My roommate just asked me if I would like some "Tea? No thanks, I'll have a beer!"
(which really does bring us back to 'doe')
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