I played soccer and volleyball with my students today during the breaks. It was SO fun. The kids are great when they're out of the classroom. Also, when I don't take this whole "teaching" thing seriously, it makes my life a lot easier.
When one of my dreaded/horrible/wild/crazy/savage seventh graders tried to crash my fifth grade class today I made it a game.
He had one side of the door, trying to open it. I had the other side, trying to close it. We were pulling and tugging, trying to out-do the other.
First I tried tickling him to make him let go. That didn't work.
Then I said, "Хе! Какво е това?!" (more or less - "hey, what's that?") and pointed down the hall. That didn't work either - more than likely due to poor Bulgarian.
Finally, I said, "Alright. Fine. We're studying for a test. Take a seat." Worked like a charm.
When my fourth graders were tired of repeating verbs (laziest class ever!!!) I started saying the verbs in weird voices/loud voices/quiet voices/deep voices/etc. and they thought it was FANTASTIC. No problem with repetition exercises today. Boom.
We also took our sixth graders on a field-trip to the local church for absolutely no reason. I had nothing to do with that. But I went. It was nice.
Anyway, that was my day. Full of games, laughter, and very little English. Bravo za men.
-Age
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Verb "To Jog With a Yo-Yo"
My counterpart is the epitome of a girl. A Bulgarian girl. She's teeny-tiny, so petite that I'm pretty sure she doesn't have the same organs that I do - she's definitely missing some. Not only that, but it's obvious that she's never played a sport in her life and any type of strenuous activity is a completely foreign concept to her.
Sometimes, while teaching English, we mime things and the students have to guess which verbs we're acting out. She can handle verbs like read, write, and walk. But the time I saw her act out "playing basketball" may have been the funniest thing that's ever happened to me...in Bulgaria...in that classroom. Whatever, it was funny.
She hops around, does this strange thing with her hands, then makes this half-hearted effort to, I think, shoot the ball.
She's so uncoordinated that, even though the ball doesn't actually exist, I'm pretty sure she dropped it. And then missed the basket completely.
The students stare at her in wide-eyed confusion until a brave student ventures, "Riding a horse?"
Nope, but good try.
"Jogging with a yo-yo?"
So close.
-Age
Sometimes, while teaching English, we mime things and the students have to guess which verbs we're acting out. She can handle verbs like read, write, and walk. But the time I saw her act out "playing basketball" may have been the funniest thing that's ever happened to me...in Bulgaria...in that classroom. Whatever, it was funny.
She hops around, does this strange thing with her hands, then makes this half-hearted effort to, I think, shoot the ball.
She's so uncoordinated that, even though the ball doesn't actually exist, I'm pretty sure she dropped it. And then missed the basket completely.
The students stare at her in wide-eyed confusion until a brave student ventures, "Riding a horse?"
Nope, but good try.
"Jogging with a yo-yo?"
So close.
-Age
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Mysterious Little, Pink Heart
I’m gonna get a little narcissistic for a moment and talk about me. That’s what this thing’s for, right? So, at the top of this blog there’s this cute little map of the world and all these adorable little hearts that show from what area of the globe people have visited my site – yet another example of my narcissistic tendencies. This map fascinates me. I’m always looking at it, searching for new hearts, making sure old hearts are still there, representing the people who I imagine to be incredibly interesting, affluent, and/or possibly trapped in a location that, tragically, cannot support their genius and have come to my blog for entertainment.
I know exactly who some of these hearts represent. The one in Alaska is my Aunt, Jill. The one’s all over So-Cal are my friends and family. The one in Hedley, Texas is my friend and fellow blogger, Colleen. The one’s in Bulgaria are other PCV’s like myself who also have very interesting and entertaining blogs showcasing the goings-on of this place. Though, for the most, part, I have no idea who most of those hearts represent.
I love that.
It allows me to over-romanticize the fact that we are all connected. That people, all over the world, share common threads that bind us together and prove that we work better as a team than as competitors. People from all over the world who are drawn to peace and the promotion of friendship beyond borders connect through the web and through blogs like mine. It’s kinda great, is what it is. Kinda, f***ing great.
There is one heart, however, that has baffled me for months. I’ve been dying to comment, to ask, to scream, “Who are you!?!?”
Do you see it? It’s that lone little heart, off the coast of Africa, in the ocean, all alone, by itself, and single.
When you put your cursor on it, it says, “Unknown.”
UNKNOWN?!?!
Doesn’t that drive you crazy?!
It drives me friggin’ crazy.
So, I click on the map and I’m taken to a website that gives me more map options. When I put my cursor on it now, it shows not only the names of each place, but the flag of it’s country as well. This little, lonely heart has a flag I didn’t recognize (despite the fact that I’ve been living in a seriously foreign country for almost a year now, I’m still not very cultured) so I googled it. The flag is for the European Union.
Yet another mystery. What the h-word?
So now my mind has created all these wild fantasies regarding this heart and what it could possibly represent. At first I thought it was an island that is simply unmarked and some seriously crazy stuff is happening not unlike that show LOST that everyone used to watch before it got so crazy and confusing that we all had to stop.
But, no, why would it have the EU flag?
It must be a top-secret, underwater station for spies to meet and…do spy stuff. Or a submarine that never moves, or…or…?
Yeah, my imagination only goes that far. But I really want to know. Who are you? What’s the deal? What is this place and how do you get internet access?
TELL ME!
I realize that the desperation in my all capital letters gives you a bit of an advantage over me. You may be thinking to yourself, you mysterious heart you, that you can keep this information from me and hold all the power in our relationship. However, I’ll strike you a deal. You tell me who and what you are and I’ll, in exchange, offer you one question of your own that I promise to answer in all truthfulness. Or a banana. Or I’ll give you a banana. I’ll mail it right to you (if you have an address – if not, I’ll save it for you and you can come get it).
That’s your choice: question or banana.
Choose wisely.
-Age
I know exactly who some of these hearts represent. The one in Alaska is my Aunt, Jill. The one’s all over So-Cal are my friends and family. The one in Hedley, Texas is my friend and fellow blogger, Colleen. The one’s in Bulgaria are other PCV’s like myself who also have very interesting and entertaining blogs showcasing the goings-on of this place. Though, for the most, part, I have no idea who most of those hearts represent.
I love that.
It allows me to over-romanticize the fact that we are all connected. That people, all over the world, share common threads that bind us together and prove that we work better as a team than as competitors. People from all over the world who are drawn to peace and the promotion of friendship beyond borders connect through the web and through blogs like mine. It’s kinda great, is what it is. Kinda, f***ing great.
There is one heart, however, that has baffled me for months. I’ve been dying to comment, to ask, to scream, “Who are you!?!?”
Do you see it? It’s that lone little heart, off the coast of Africa, in the ocean, all alone, by itself, and single.
When you put your cursor on it, it says, “Unknown.”
UNKNOWN?!?!
Doesn’t that drive you crazy?!
It drives me friggin’ crazy.
So, I click on the map and I’m taken to a website that gives me more map options. When I put my cursor on it now, it shows not only the names of each place, but the flag of it’s country as well. This little, lonely heart has a flag I didn’t recognize (despite the fact that I’ve been living in a seriously foreign country for almost a year now, I’m still not very cultured) so I googled it. The flag is for the European Union.
Yet another mystery. What the h-word?
So now my mind has created all these wild fantasies regarding this heart and what it could possibly represent. At first I thought it was an island that is simply unmarked and some seriously crazy stuff is happening not unlike that show LOST that everyone used to watch before it got so crazy and confusing that we all had to stop.
But, no, why would it have the EU flag?
It must be a top-secret, underwater station for spies to meet and…do spy stuff. Or a submarine that never moves, or…or…?
Yeah, my imagination only goes that far. But I really want to know. Who are you? What’s the deal? What is this place and how do you get internet access?
TELL ME!
I realize that the desperation in my all capital letters gives you a bit of an advantage over me. You may be thinking to yourself, you mysterious heart you, that you can keep this information from me and hold all the power in our relationship. However, I’ll strike you a deal. You tell me who and what you are and I’ll, in exchange, offer you one question of your own that I promise to answer in all truthfulness. Or a banana. Or I’ll give you a banana. I’ll mail it right to you (if you have an address – if not, I’ll save it for you and you can come get it).
That’s your choice: question or banana.
Choose wisely.
-Age
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Island Living
My Greek vacation was exactly what I needed. It was relaxing, beautiful, full of history and beaches, and topped-off with the two coolest girls I know. Perfect. The highlights would be...
Seeing the Acropolis:
Eating and drinking delicious things:
Hanging out with "The Funny People":
Exploring the prettiest place I've ever seen (which is saying a lot cuz I'm from So-Cal and that place is full of amazing sights):
And, finally, lying on the beach. An activity I missed this past summer for the first time in, I'd say, 20 years. Felt darn good:
I've been back to school for a week now and, at first, wanted to shoot myself or get on a plane back home (post-vacation depression amplified by the fact that my work is in a foreign country and there aren't many people in my village who get how hard this is for me sometimes). But, after a few days, just like I knew it would, the routine of my pre-vacation life returned and I'm back in the swing of things - which isn't a phrase I'm particularly drawn to as swings tend to make me nausous, for reals.
Yesterday, my counterpart, three awesome students, and I went to Sofia for the First Annual Bulgarian National Spelling Bee. My students did so well (one of them even made it to the finals!!!) and we celebrated with McDonalds and a fun walk around the center of Sofia.
I'm currently in the process of writing a project in order for my school to receive the funding for a new English classroom/Resource room and it's already daunting and full of unnecessary drama. I expected nothing less so I'm ready for the challenge. It would be my dream come true if the women at my school could come together as a team and realize that this particular strategy not only works better all-around and saves time but keeps the volunteer from wanting to rip her hair out and run away.
I'll keep on dreaming.
Also, because I'm a Secondary Coordinator for the International Writing Olympics, I've just received the winning essays from each participating country in order to judge them and choose those which I feel are the best of the best. So far the essays have been pretty great and I have a feeling that Bulgaria is going to do really well. We had some truly amazing essays written by some brilliant Bulgarians. While reading some of them, I forgot completely that English was their second language. It's moments like those that give hope and encouragement to the future of Bulgaria and knowledge that our work here, with these students, really does mean something.
Anyway, enough of that sentimental глупости. I'm getting more and more excited about my upcoming trip to the States. I can't wait to see my friends and family! It's going to be the relief I need at the end of a trying school year. That's all. Take care - love and kisses from The Bulge.
-Age
Seeing the Acropolis:
Eating and drinking delicious things:
Hanging out with "The Funny People":
Exploring the prettiest place I've ever seen (which is saying a lot cuz I'm from So-Cal and that place is full of amazing sights):
And, finally, lying on the beach. An activity I missed this past summer for the first time in, I'd say, 20 years. Felt darn good:
I've been back to school for a week now and, at first, wanted to shoot myself or get on a plane back home (post-vacation depression amplified by the fact that my work is in a foreign country and there aren't many people in my village who get how hard this is for me sometimes). But, after a few days, just like I knew it would, the routine of my pre-vacation life returned and I'm back in the swing of things - which isn't a phrase I'm particularly drawn to as swings tend to make me nausous, for reals.
Yesterday, my counterpart, three awesome students, and I went to Sofia for the First Annual Bulgarian National Spelling Bee. My students did so well (one of them even made it to the finals!!!) and we celebrated with McDonalds and a fun walk around the center of Sofia.
pre-SB cram session
I'm currently in the process of writing a project in order for my school to receive the funding for a new English classroom/Resource room and it's already daunting and full of unnecessary drama. I expected nothing less so I'm ready for the challenge. It would be my dream come true if the women at my school could come together as a team and realize that this particular strategy not only works better all-around and saves time but keeps the volunteer from wanting to rip her hair out and run away.
I'll keep on dreaming.
Also, because I'm a Secondary Coordinator for the International Writing Olympics, I've just received the winning essays from each participating country in order to judge them and choose those which I feel are the best of the best. So far the essays have been pretty great and I have a feeling that Bulgaria is going to do really well. We had some truly amazing essays written by some brilliant Bulgarians. While reading some of them, I forgot completely that English was their second language. It's moments like those that give hope and encouragement to the future of Bulgaria and knowledge that our work here, with these students, really does mean something.
Anyway, enough of that sentimental глупости. I'm getting more and more excited about my upcoming trip to the States. I can't wait to see my friends and family! It's going to be the relief I need at the end of a trying school year. That's all. Take care - love and kisses from The Bulge.
-Age
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