5 Weeks in to School Already??

Third post of the day! When I get motivated, I really go all out.

I thought, in addition to the story and video I've posted today, that it might be nice to just give a general update since the last blog I posted was pre-school starting.

So! I'm heading into my 6th week of school, which feels pretty crazy to admit. Time has definitely been passing quickly and I have a feeling I'll wake up in a few days and it'll be time for winter break.

A low-down on school life: I am teaching 18 lessons per week across grades 2-11 with my two co-teachers. At the beginning, I wasn't convinced that the younger grades would be a good fit for me but it turns out I really love teaching them. I'm gearing up to begin three clubs this week, God-willing! I've planned for an American Film Club, an English Conversation Club, and an English Baccalaureate Preparation Club. I've been really excited to get clubs started because it'll be a chance to get to know my students a bit better outside of the classroom. Teaching has it's ups and downs and I am still settling in to understanding how everything works but all of the other teachers and the administration has been really helpful in making me feel at home.

I've also recently begun tutoring a couple of kids twice a week at their grandmother's house here in my village. I've really enjoyed that so far and am thankful that their mother approached me at a birthday party (pictured below!) a few weeks ago! We do exercises and explanations for an hour and then I'm always offered tea and some kind of snack paired with a little conversation in Romanian before Cristina takes me home.

This past Friday we celebrated Ziua Profesorilor at my school! This is "Teacher's Day" and is a huge deal in Moldova. The 12th grade created a path out of rose petals, put balloons up on all of the windows, hung complimentary adjectives from the ceiling, and gave each teacher a leaf with a compliment on it to wear all day (mine said "the most friendly!) along with an invitation to a performance at 12pm that day. Classes were shortened to 25 minutes each, though I only teach upper students on Fridays and they were all practicing for the performance. The students spoke, sang, and danced beautifully during their performance and really paid tribute to the teachers they obviously respect. I'm always so proud to see them perform.

Other than teaching, I've been enjoying my village views and trying to help out around the house and garden when I can. I love to help and learn how to do things but I also feel like a hassle sometimes and don't want to cause more trouble than the help is worth! I love to go on walks and need to take advantage of it now because the days are getting shorter and colder already. Yesterday was a great Saturday because I was able to help my host family in the garden with winter prep; picking weeds, moving the flower pots from our porch, and sweeping. Then I ate one of my favorite dishes here that includes (and here's a true shocker if you know me well) whole cooked bell peppers in a sauce. I can never remember what it's called and I don't know how it's made (yet!) but it's like my Moldovan comfort food. My host brother knows that once it's made, I only eat it for meals until it's all gone. My host mom will ask if I want borscht for dinner and he'll answer for me that no, I want the peppers. I find it very funny that he's taken that task upon himself.

Above you'll see a variety of pictures from my daily life! I'll give some short descriptions starting with the upper left corner: The first is from yesterday's yard work session with my bunica in the background; then is our dog, whose name I cannot spell; then a baby cow I met on my walk yesterday; then the view from outside of my school including a lovely woman who was sitting just enjoying the sunset; our neighbors haystacks and some seasonally appropriate pumpkins; freshly baked bread made by my bunica; my friend Emma who lives in my raion center who came to visit me and my village for a few hours one Saturday; a kitten who followed me after school one day; my backyard; same kitty; my host grandfather picking our grapes; a nice little selfie because my outfit was very well down that day; Emma, Paige, and me finding our way to our consolidation point! Paige also lives in my raion center - I'm very lucky to have them so close all the way up here in the north.

That's all for now! I hope you guys will continue to follow along with me :)

Much love,

Marian

P.S. I love getting emails and hearing about your lives! Additionally, if you're a letter writing person and want to correspond that way, I would love to have a few penpals now that I've figured out my mailing address! Just let me know :)