I Wanna Go Home
I woke up from a dream this past week and found myself repeating those words. Can't remember the dream, but the dialogue was vivid. Yesterday I braved the masses to do some grocery shopping at Tesco, which we all agree remains just as scary as it was last August. This time, however, I had to fight off a NUN (for God's sake!) to get a shopping basket. We exchanged unholy looks and I silently repeated my litany, "I wanna go home, I wanna go home..."
My Flag Day soiree was a hit, and I hauled out leftovers the next day so it was an extended celebration. Many folks asked what was the orange cheese. Um...cheddar? I'm glad I was able to do this last week, as things seem to be getting more and more hectic. Grades are due; mine are almost finished. I am also trying to do something with the results of my fitness testing so the students can take something home, and this is taking some time to complete. I am comparing the students against the standards used for the Presidential Fitness Challenge we use at Lab. There is no form of fitness assesssment here, and as the students are very competitive, this actually was a surprising success. Strong fitness results, however, don't seem to be necessarily reflected in the gym. This is probably due to the perceptions that the p.e. lesson is not the arena for vigorous activity, it lacks importance in the school day, and girls participate differently than boys.
At school, it's becoming a list of "last time for..." as in last time for my swimming classes, where we have been swimming in near darkness because no one turns on the lights around here. Last time to use the toilet where the paper holder is under lock and key. Last time to see the pool personnel who spoke no english and were delightful to work with. Last time with Jozko to team teach, which I really enjoyed. He gets Sona back next year, which I'm sure HE'LL really enjoy.
Meanwhile we're all trying to get in some final social connections before everyone leaves. We had dinner with Fulbrighter Andy and wife Chris, and Chuck and his spouse Susan last Sunday before they headed back home. I retrieved the floor scale that had been making the rounds between Chuck, Kathy and then Andy in order to weigh suitcases. If that scale could talk... And everytime someone leaves, there is an exchange of leftover groceries and books that get left behind. I'm making deviled eggs right now to take to a BBQ at my principal's chata. Husband Peter and middle son John and girlfriend Martina will be there as well as some of our english-speaking faculty, so it will be a fun time. Hanka and Peter go to their 100-year old place almost every week-end, and John uses it as party central when they don't. I didn't pay attention to the size of my eggs while at Tesco. (Too busy fighting off Sister Mary Elephant!) Anyway, they will be maybe a mouthful, as they are about as big as robin's eggs. I'll also bring something tomorrow to our church pot luck, a good-by lunch for those who are soon leaving.
Tonight after the BBQ Eva and I will go to "The Scorpions" concert, outside at the football field. Hopefully I won't be the oldest one there. Rock you like a hurricane... or is it rock ME, I can never remember. Not a huge fan, but it'll be a good time.
The last week of school involves all sorts of trips. Zuzka heads to England with the 6th graders the day before I go on the Expedition with the 8th graders. So this Thursday evening we'll go see a Russian Folk Music/Dance performance at Incheba, an events arena I've not been to. By the time she returns from her trip, I will have already left for Spain, so this will be a nice evening for the two of us. I've seen a lot of Slovakia and learned much thanks to her, so Dakujem, Zuzka!
Chuck mailed a few boxes for me from Heinburg, Austria before he left. I have also mailed some from Slovakia where it is more expensive. Fulbright had shipped two boxes of books and files for me last summer, but we're on our own to get them back. I've given two large bags of clothing to Zuzka's cousin, and many of the others have done similarly. This week-end I'm going to try some practice packing to see what my suitcases can actually hold. Unless it's really important, if it doesn't fit, it doesn't go!
Last week at school I managed to lose my keys, probably outside across the street where I was timing the mile run. First Jakob helped me, and then later Zabco and I repeated the search. The course is around a small lake and one lap is 1000 meters. As we were walking, Zabco told me that in 1978 a plane crashed in this very lake, killing 40 people. There had been some reported difficulty, but the Russian plane had been denied landing in both Brno and Vienna. There was never one word said about this incident, so even though it happened, it "never happened", but now you know. Makes you wonder what else you DON'T .
Later on while in the office, Zabco asked did I know about Google Earth? We put in the information and finally zeroed in on 105th Street in Chicago. Then we traveled ALL THE WAY back to Bratislava; such a long way. I wanna go home...
My Flag Day soiree was a hit, and I hauled out leftovers the next day so it was an extended celebration. Many folks asked what was the orange cheese. Um...cheddar? I'm glad I was able to do this last week, as things seem to be getting more and more hectic. Grades are due; mine are almost finished. I am also trying to do something with the results of my fitness testing so the students can take something home, and this is taking some time to complete. I am comparing the students against the standards used for the Presidential Fitness Challenge we use at Lab. There is no form of fitness assesssment here, and as the students are very competitive, this actually was a surprising success. Strong fitness results, however, don't seem to be necessarily reflected in the gym. This is probably due to the perceptions that the p.e. lesson is not the arena for vigorous activity, it lacks importance in the school day, and girls participate differently than boys.
At school, it's becoming a list of "last time for..." as in last time for my swimming classes, where we have been swimming in near darkness because no one turns on the lights around here. Last time to use the toilet where the paper holder is under lock and key. Last time to see the pool personnel who spoke no english and were delightful to work with. Last time with Jozko to team teach, which I really enjoyed. He gets Sona back next year, which I'm sure HE'LL really enjoy.
Meanwhile we're all trying to get in some final social connections before everyone leaves. We had dinner with Fulbrighter Andy and wife Chris, and Chuck and his spouse Susan last Sunday before they headed back home. I retrieved the floor scale that had been making the rounds between Chuck, Kathy and then Andy in order to weigh suitcases. If that scale could talk... And everytime someone leaves, there is an exchange of leftover groceries and books that get left behind. I'm making deviled eggs right now to take to a BBQ at my principal's chata. Husband Peter and middle son John and girlfriend Martina will be there as well as some of our english-speaking faculty, so it will be a fun time. Hanka and Peter go to their 100-year old place almost every week-end, and John uses it as party central when they don't. I didn't pay attention to the size of my eggs while at Tesco. (Too busy fighting off Sister Mary Elephant!) Anyway, they will be maybe a mouthful, as they are about as big as robin's eggs. I'll also bring something tomorrow to our church pot luck, a good-by lunch for those who are soon leaving.
Tonight after the BBQ Eva and I will go to "The Scorpions" concert, outside at the football field. Hopefully I won't be the oldest one there. Rock you like a hurricane... or is it rock ME, I can never remember. Not a huge fan, but it'll be a good time.
The last week of school involves all sorts of trips. Zuzka heads to England with the 6th graders the day before I go on the Expedition with the 8th graders. So this Thursday evening we'll go see a Russian Folk Music/Dance performance at Incheba, an events arena I've not been to. By the time she returns from her trip, I will have already left for Spain, so this will be a nice evening for the two of us. I've seen a lot of Slovakia and learned much thanks to her, so Dakujem, Zuzka!
Chuck mailed a few boxes for me from Heinburg, Austria before he left. I have also mailed some from Slovakia where it is more expensive. Fulbright had shipped two boxes of books and files for me last summer, but we're on our own to get them back. I've given two large bags of clothing to Zuzka's cousin, and many of the others have done similarly. This week-end I'm going to try some practice packing to see what my suitcases can actually hold. Unless it's really important, if it doesn't fit, it doesn't go!
Last week at school I managed to lose my keys, probably outside across the street where I was timing the mile run. First Jakob helped me, and then later Zabco and I repeated the search. The course is around a small lake and one lap is 1000 meters. As we were walking, Zabco told me that in 1978 a plane crashed in this very lake, killing 40 people. There had been some reported difficulty, but the Russian plane had been denied landing in both Brno and Vienna. There was never one word said about this incident, so even though it happened, it "never happened", but now you know. Makes you wonder what else you DON'T .
Later on while in the office, Zabco asked did I know about Google Earth? We put in the information and finally zeroed in on 105th Street in Chicago. Then we traveled ALL THE WAY back to Bratislava; such a long way. I wanna go home...
posted by Joan Vande Velde @ 11:23 PM
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