It takes a village...

So you know the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”? Well the same goes for a Peace Corps Volunteer. I have been given food, students bring me wood from the school, and parents come to fix my broken water heater (which is kind of important for my personal hygiene....today it was 25 degrees fahrenheit when I woke up!!!  No way I would have showered if it was that cold). Oh yeah, about that broken water heater that decided to mess with my electricity....So a student of mine and his father show up on a Sunday afternoon. I'm in sweatpants, no makeup, and my hair is all crazy because I took a shower (a cold shower mind you) in the morning and let my hair air dry, and the place it a mess, thanks in most part to my psycho cat. So after a few awkward words, we manage to understand each other with the word “boiler”. Thank goodness its the same in both languages. So they go into the bathroom to check out the problem, then they have to find where it plugs in....coincidentally its in my bedroom. And what's in my bedroom? My drying laundry. And on that clothesrack? Yep, my bras. I didn't get there in time to hide any incriminating evidence. How embarrassing. Oh well, at least I don't really teach that student.

Other than that embarrassing moment, things have been pretty great! I am really enjoying teaching...for the most part. Sometimes its difficult working with the other two English teachers who are not my counterpart....she's pretty awesome :) FINALLY this week we've started splitting classes. It has taken longer than expected because of the language, obviously. These students have only had English for maximum four years and are not used to full on English all of the time. And my Hungarian is just as dismal as that first day of class....but I'm starting to understand more! So that's exciting. My trouble classes in the past had been 5^th and 6^th, neither of which I split with my counterpart. So I was very anxious to get them split, because they are a challenge. Well I taught my half of those classes this week, and I have to say I love those kids! They were excited to have class with me, which made me happy to teach them, and they were surprisingly attentive. Phew!! Maybe this won't be as impossible as I thought. The real challenge comes next week, when I split the classes I share with a third teacher, who is by far, the most uncooperative. Teaching with her has been rough, to put it mildly. Wait, no, what I get to do with her hardly qualifies as teaching. Whatever it was, it was rough. So next week, the kids are being thrown to the wolves....errr, me. We'll see how it goes!

One of the most fun things I've gotten to do with my students has been choosing English names. Their Hungarian names have proven impossible for me to pick up, so they get English names for me to keep track of. All of the trends make me laugh. The older kids pick names like Rihanna, Michael Jackson, James Bond, Kesha, and Jack Sparrow. The younger kids all picked names like Harry, Selena, Vanessa, and Miley....and they all thought it was hilarious when I named the celebrity they idolize. They all had fun with it though, and that's always a bonus.

This week, I started after school classes with 1st-4^th grades. It has been a lot of fun! I love working with little kids, and they are extra cute. So far the little 2^nd graders hold a special place in my heart. We sang and sang and sang those ABCs. It was adorable. Although, I have had a bit of a sore throat in the mornings....hmm maybe too much singing.

Well, that's about it....I lead a pretty boring life....hahahahaha.

Until next time! 

Boo's sitting in her favorite spot in front of the window.