Are you satisified with living in the 21st Century?
Seriously. Think about it. And then think about it with all of the things that the past thought we would have it the 21st Century. Flying space stations. Inflatable clothes. Flux capacitors powered by plutonium.
Still, we are not left empty-handed. What do we have? Google. And for the most part, it provides the simple, computer-ignorant human being with the newest technology that is appropriate for them. And I am SO THANKFUL. Because of google, I can talk to my family for free from Slovenia (note: A different country than Slovakia). And because of google, I can laugh forever when they call me back and I don't answer. Why? Because google voice transcribes messages. Sometimes they do a fine job... although, usually not. For example, this is the Christmas message that I got from my family:
Boulder Creek. Love, Chris and I, Thank you for the wonderful deals, on the waters. You were just that we've part. Thank you so much. Absolutely makers minutes without you being there we were sure thinking about Jeff to what to do it off. Well, I hope you're enjoying your stay day and thanks again for everything. You really need Christmas. So hope you're having a good 10. Love you, love you, and pie.
Boom boom boom. Love, your super-nova girl.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Once a Princess, Always a Princess
There are days when I really should be focused on all of the things that I have to do, and I should absolutely not be writing blog posts.
There are days when I need to lighten up and focus more on what is actually important.
I'm pretty positive that today is one of the former days, but I'm going to pretend like writing this post is life-changing. If it changes your life, whoever you are, please tell me so I can justify all future entries.
______________________
Let me tell you where I am with school. To be honest, I've had a bit of a rough time lately. Some of the complications are derived by the fact that my job is a bit nebulous still- and it doesn't help that the FBI takes every bit of 8 weeks to process criminal record checks...
So I have been making it through the day just doing what I think that I should do. I'm not like the typical Slovene teachers. Obviously. I am an American- I was trained in a totally different system and was raised in the Heartland. I AM different, plus I am young and like to smile... a somewhat-difficult disposition to gain ultimate respect sometimes.
Additionally, there are times when I do not know the where to put the border between how I should act and how I want to act. Don't get the wrong idea- I understand the things that are really unacceptable, however there is a fairly large 'gray' in teaching. And then there is the small but NOT-insignificant fact that I'm teaching some really young kids this year in addition to the older ones. Now, I haven't had much experience babysitting in my adult life and don't really know all that there is to know about 5th graders. I've learned quickly, however, that they really like me. When they see me in the hall, they gasp, sometimes drop their folders, and wave with both hands. ''UČITELJICA!'' they call me. It's adorable. And anything that I tell them is pretty much considered gold. This is the reason that they start each class by chanting 'English, English, ENGLISH!' with fists in the air (hey, we were learning the parts of the body- what a better way than to teach them how to make a fist?). This is also the reason that they do the Michael Scott 'slow' run every time I ask them to slowly line up by the door. However, sometimes they start things with cues that I didn't even mean to give.
Last Friday, we were reading together. The Princess and The Pea. I made a big mistake:
I told them, just to make conversation, that we have this big dance at the end of high school in America, and the school decides that one person should be a queen, and one should be king, and they're crowned. Obviously, I thought that this would impress them, however, I didn't realize that they would change their excited-hallway-yells. Now, whenever I enter a hall for the lower grades, I will hear an excited gasp or a fake trumpet blow. ''Your Majesty!'' they call me. Though this is hilarious, it's possibly NOT helping some of the more-stressful relationships around.
There are days when I need to lighten up and focus more on what is actually important.
I'm pretty positive that today is one of the former days, but I'm going to pretend like writing this post is life-changing. If it changes your life, whoever you are, please tell me so I can justify all future entries.
______________________
Let me tell you where I am with school. To be honest, I've had a bit of a rough time lately. Some of the complications are derived by the fact that my job is a bit nebulous still- and it doesn't help that the FBI takes every bit of 8 weeks to process criminal record checks...
So I have been making it through the day just doing what I think that I should do. I'm not like the typical Slovene teachers. Obviously. I am an American- I was trained in a totally different system and was raised in the Heartland. I AM different, plus I am young and like to smile... a somewhat-difficult disposition to gain ultimate respect sometimes.
Additionally, there are times when I do not know the where to put the border between how I should act and how I want to act. Don't get the wrong idea- I understand the things that are really unacceptable, however there is a fairly large 'gray' in teaching. And then there is the small but NOT-insignificant fact that I'm teaching some really young kids this year in addition to the older ones. Now, I haven't had much experience babysitting in my adult life and don't really know all that there is to know about 5th graders. I've learned quickly, however, that they really like me. When they see me in the hall, they gasp, sometimes drop their folders, and wave with both hands. ''UČITELJICA!'' they call me. It's adorable. And anything that I tell them is pretty much considered gold. This is the reason that they start each class by chanting 'English, English, ENGLISH!' with fists in the air (hey, we were learning the parts of the body- what a better way than to teach them how to make a fist?). This is also the reason that they do the Michael Scott 'slow' run every time I ask them to slowly line up by the door. However, sometimes they start things with cues that I didn't even mean to give.
Last Friday, we were reading together. The Princess and The Pea. I made a big mistake:
I told them, just to make conversation, that we have this big dance at the end of high school in America, and the school decides that one person should be a queen, and one should be king, and they're crowned. Obviously, I thought that this would impress them, however, I didn't realize that they would change their excited-hallway-yells. Now, whenever I enter a hall for the lower grades, I will hear an excited gasp or a fake trumpet blow. ''Your Majesty!'' they call me. Though this is hilarious, it's possibly NOT helping some of the more-stressful relationships around.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Because I don't think that they're ''ready'' for postering.
I need a creative outlet- itak. In the past, that has taken many forms- in high school, it was theater. Writing and directing plays... being the reject understudy in just about every single play that MHS performed. And, of course, later my creativity took a spin for the better/worse (you decide) when I decided to perform my own comedy act.
The stranger creations of my creativity led to many adventures, a police-call (mum, don't worry, it was all a big misunderstanding), and skills to leave things secretly... like posters, muffins, or Rick Astley music videos.
I can't give up on my creativity here. In fact, it is being called on with even more vigor as I find myself in a place where I am not understood 100% of the time. However, my former methods are often lost. The Rick-roll becomes infinitely less funny when you have to explain who Rick Astley is, why it's funny, and how you aren't trying to imply anything with the song choice (and when Graham is not your victim).
So I've turned to my journal- it's a new one that I bought here. Dark green, gridlined paper. A little piece of elastic to hold my pen. I love it. It's something different than my former journals- it not only holds thoughts, ideas, prayers, reflection, Slovene notes and ticket-stubs, but holds the outbursts of creativity that come when I am sitting in the same class for the 4th hour in a row.
I've been writing a lot more, but not just journal entries- stories about characters that I've met or dream up- often that are completely fictional and hopefully capture something bigger. Some truth that is more real. I promised some kids from Perry that I'd write a book some day, so maybe I'll squeeze that in, somewhere in between teaching kids, playing sports, and tutoring.
Love you all. Miss you like whoa.
The stranger creations of my creativity led to many adventures, a police-call (mum, don't worry, it was all a big misunderstanding), and skills to leave things secretly... like posters, muffins, or Rick Astley music videos.
I can't give up on my creativity here. In fact, it is being called on with even more vigor as I find myself in a place where I am not understood 100% of the time. However, my former methods are often lost. The Rick-roll becomes infinitely less funny when you have to explain who Rick Astley is, why it's funny, and how you aren't trying to imply anything with the song choice (and when Graham is not your victim).
So I've turned to my journal- it's a new one that I bought here. Dark green, gridlined paper. A little piece of elastic to hold my pen. I love it. It's something different than my former journals- it not only holds thoughts, ideas, prayers, reflection, Slovene notes and ticket-stubs, but holds the outbursts of creativity that come when I am sitting in the same class for the 4th hour in a row.
I've been writing a lot more, but not just journal entries- stories about characters that I've met or dream up- often that are completely fictional and hopefully capture something bigger. Some truth that is more real. I promised some kids from Perry that I'd write a book some day, so maybe I'll squeeze that in, somewhere in between teaching kids, playing sports, and tutoring.
Love you all. Miss you like whoa.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Hvalezni dan
When I was little, homesickness manifested itself in me as a physical pain in my stomach. Whenever I would go places with new friends I would have to go back home to my mom, and only then would the pain subside and I would be able to enjoy again. This went on long enough to drive my mom insane: She told me next time my stomach hurt, I needed to remember that I was probably just homesick and try to push through it. Shortly after this conversation, I was invited to go to the pool with Lindsy Cusic. Promptly, I told Lindsy and her mom that I was ill and needed to go home. My mum was pretty frustrated (and legitimately so- I think that this went on for quite a while). She was in the middle of telling me how much I needed to get over this silly homesickness when I actually threw up all over my room.
I cannot say that I haven't had my fair share of being homesick since I have arrived here. Ok- maybe it doesn't look the same as it did when I was a child, but I have had those moments of longing for you people, and I am sure they are not over. Sometimes I even physically hurt. I suppose to a certain degree homesickness can also mean loneliness or boredom. I (probably more than most) have this incredible ability of remembering only nice, positive things, and thus looking back to my life in Lawrence seems full of excitement and activity. More and more I feel that homesickness has a bigger role in my life, as I meet more people that I do not want to let go of, and thus more people that I will miss in some way when something reminds me of them and space or time or death or life prevents us from being together. And of course I still feel the most basic form of homesickness- where I want my mum to hug me and tell me I am ok.
Homesickness is not a daily struggle here. No, as I grow up and continue to love traveling and meeting new people, this homesickness becomes more of a regular part of me. Not necessarily a pain, but a beautiful longing. And, of course, I have people here also that I would miss if I wasn't here. And yesterday, we had Thanksgiving together.
Sort of?
It was a mash-up Moving in, half-birthday, Pumpkin day, Thanksgiving. My amazing friend Sara and I went on a mission to find all of the pumpkins that we could on Friday. 2 weeks ago she suggested we 'just ask' the bars if we could have their pumpkins. They said no... 2 weeks ago. This Friday we walked back and forth through Radovljica, carrying 3 large pumpkins home (as in, they let us this week, not we stole 4 pumpkins). In the spirit of Pumpkin day, we had Pumpkin Rolls, Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted Pumpkin and Wasserman Squares. Pero brought Pumpkin Ham ('Really?!' 'no'). And we ate together.
It was lovely.
I realized about half-way through dinner that this was my first Thanksgiving. True, we didn't have turkey, we didn't have stuffing, but I did make sweet potato french fries and there were some mashed things... all in all, very successful. However, the thing that made it the most successful was that it was a table of people that I am thankful for. A table of people that I am a little homesick for when I am away.
Hey- maybe some day we can all do it together?
I cannot say that I haven't had my fair share of being homesick since I have arrived here. Ok- maybe it doesn't look the same as it did when I was a child, but I have had those moments of longing for you people, and I am sure they are not over. Sometimes I even physically hurt. I suppose to a certain degree homesickness can also mean loneliness or boredom. I (probably more than most) have this incredible ability of remembering only nice, positive things, and thus looking back to my life in Lawrence seems full of excitement and activity. More and more I feel that homesickness has a bigger role in my life, as I meet more people that I do not want to let go of, and thus more people that I will miss in some way when something reminds me of them and space or time or death or life prevents us from being together. And of course I still feel the most basic form of homesickness- where I want my mum to hug me and tell me I am ok.
Homesickness is not a daily struggle here. No, as I grow up and continue to love traveling and meeting new people, this homesickness becomes more of a regular part of me. Not necessarily a pain, but a beautiful longing. And, of course, I have people here also that I would miss if I wasn't here. And yesterday, we had Thanksgiving together.
Sort of?
It was a mash-up Moving in, half-birthday, Pumpkin day, Thanksgiving. My amazing friend Sara and I went on a mission to find all of the pumpkins that we could on Friday. 2 weeks ago she suggested we 'just ask' the bars if we could have their pumpkins. They said no... 2 weeks ago. This Friday we walked back and forth through Radovljica, carrying 3 large pumpkins home (as in, they let us this week, not we stole 4 pumpkins). In the spirit of Pumpkin day, we had Pumpkin Rolls, Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted Pumpkin and Wasserman Squares. Pero brought Pumpkin Ham ('Really?!' 'no'). And we ate together.
It was lovely.
I realized about half-way through dinner that this was my first Thanksgiving. True, we didn't have turkey, we didn't have stuffing, but I did make sweet potato french fries and there were some mashed things... all in all, very successful. However, the thing that made it the most successful was that it was a table of people that I am thankful for. A table of people that I am a little homesick for when I am away.
Hey- maybe some day we can all do it together?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Pub Music
Last night I went to the hip local pub here in Radovljica. I've been a few times, and I must say- I love it. Something about it reminds me more of home than the other bars... probably the fact that you can purchase beer that is not Union or Laško (the two National, sub-par beers... no offense sLOVEnia).
I went with my new and amazing friend Sara- a few weeks ago I got up the courage to ask the baker, Sara, if she wanted to hang out (Still working on the courage to ask the butcher, though I feel like we're not as close as we used to be... yes. I am also still working on locating a candlestick maker. Especially because I would really like to purchase a candle, but have no idea where to do so in this country). She said, in fact, that she had thought of me that morning and wanted to invite me to grab a drink. I am so so thankful for her. Last week was NOT the best week at work, but it was truly amazing to get done with work and have a friend to call, go for a walk with, and go eat cake.
Anyway, last night we went to see the super popular band who often plays at the pub. I was personally invited (a-hem, via facebook), because I know the guitarist. Sara also knows them because the accordion player is apparently a famous model.
I love this country where you can be a super popular, famous model, and wear shit like this at the same time.
I went with my new and amazing friend Sara- a few weeks ago I got up the courage to ask the baker, Sara, if she wanted to hang out (Still working on the courage to ask the butcher, though I feel like we're not as close as we used to be... yes. I am also still working on locating a candlestick maker. Especially because I would really like to purchase a candle, but have no idea where to do so in this country). She said, in fact, that she had thought of me that morning and wanted to invite me to grab a drink. I am so so thankful for her. Last week was NOT the best week at work, but it was truly amazing to get done with work and have a friend to call, go for a walk with, and go eat cake.
Anyway, last night we went to see the super popular band who often plays at the pub. I was personally invited (a-hem, via facebook), because I know the guitarist. Sara also knows them because the accordion player is apparently a famous model.
I love this country where you can be a super popular, famous model, and wear shit like this at the same time.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I like high-fives, but this is almost out of control
The last 2 weeks I have been playing volleyball with a group of teachers at my school and their sons. They might be old- I really have no ability to tell with these Slovenes:
'A sta tudi učetelja?' (Are you teachers too?)
'Eh, ne. Jaz sem devetnajst' (Eh, no. I'm 17 years old).
However, old or not, I certainly am not the most fit and agile person there. Miha, who is probably about 55 years older than me can still dive, plus he sets to that sweet spot every single time. Love playing with him- hate playing against him.
Yesterday was a pretty bad day- I have some conflicts with the staff that I am working with and I am struggling to find the balance between doing what I want to do, and being respectful/submissive. I definitely definitely understand that I am new and naive ... I also understand that I am a teacher too who is good with kids and can bring a new perspective. I will find the balance. I hope- otherwise, I am lovin' it here.
I think that there are many things in my character that really help me to 'fit' into the European life-style... I'm not really fashion consciousness (''Nicole, what are you wearing?'' -Lynn... almost everyday). I don't feel that it is important to shower everyday (or every other day). I like bread. However, some things that I love are taken to such extremes that I cannot handle it. Ok- yeah, I love pizza, but I don't want to eat an entire pizza at one sitting. Yes, I would do many things for high fives, but really?
I would say that our volleyball games here look like this:
65% volley
10% ball-retrieval/dead-time
25% high fives
Every. Single. Serve.
Don't get me wrong, I like being enthusiastic and positive- I enjoy congratulating my teammates, but there has got to be a limit. We have exceeded it. However, I suppose all of the high fives contributed to my lighter spirits. Though it could have been some of the other funny things that happened:
1. My coworker Boris (55 year old volleyball MACHINE) apparently always sweats into a perfect heart on his shirt.
2. There was a point when I didn't understand the new 'plan' for success that my huddled team was whispering about. Until Frenk motioned that I should flash the other team because ''še si mlada'' (Don't worry mom, dad, or minister- it was just a joke. Though one that will probably make me avert eye-contact with Frenk until Christmas).
3. I realized the irony of being on a really good team of ex-Yugoslavs which is not called 'Hammer and Sickle', and how they could destroy our young Lawrence Parks & Rec team.
'A sta tudi učetelja?' (Are you teachers too?)
'Eh, ne. Jaz sem devetnajst' (Eh, no. I'm 17 years old).
However, old or not, I certainly am not the most fit and agile person there. Miha, who is probably about 55 years older than me can still dive, plus he sets to that sweet spot every single time. Love playing with him- hate playing against him.
Yesterday was a pretty bad day- I have some conflicts with the staff that I am working with and I am struggling to find the balance between doing what I want to do, and being respectful/submissive. I definitely definitely understand that I am new and naive ... I also understand that I am a teacher too who is good with kids and can bring a new perspective. I will find the balance. I hope- otherwise, I am lovin' it here.
I think that there are many things in my character that really help me to 'fit' into the European life-style... I'm not really fashion consciousness (''Nicole, what are you wearing?'' -Lynn... almost everyday). I don't feel that it is important to shower everyday (or every other day). I like bread. However, some things that I love are taken to such extremes that I cannot handle it. Ok- yeah, I love pizza, but I don't want to eat an entire pizza at one sitting. Yes, I would do many things for high fives, but really?
I would say that our volleyball games here look like this:
65% volley
10% ball-retrieval/dead-time
25% high fives
Every. Single. Serve.
Don't get me wrong, I like being enthusiastic and positive- I enjoy congratulating my teammates, but there has got to be a limit. We have exceeded it. However, I suppose all of the high fives contributed to my lighter spirits. Though it could have been some of the other funny things that happened:
1. My coworker Boris (55 year old volleyball MACHINE) apparently always sweats into a perfect heart on his shirt.
2. There was a point when I didn't understand the new 'plan' for success that my huddled team was whispering about. Until Frenk motioned that I should flash the other team because ''še si mlada'' (Don't worry mom, dad, or minister- it was just a joke. Though one that will probably make me avert eye-contact with Frenk until Christmas).
3. I realized the irony of being on a really good team of ex-Yugoslavs which is not called 'Hammer and Sickle', and how they could destroy our young Lawrence Parks & Rec team.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Two Truths and A Lie
Do you remember the game two truths and a lie? I feel like anyone who went to Church Youth Group or any sort of religious activity right after the turn of the century probably had to come up with 3 factoids about their self- two that were true, and one that was a lie. The group then guesses which is false, everyone knows a bit more about each other, and it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
This week in predura (voluntary pre-lesson), students are going to have to figure out which of the stories below are false:
1. SKI LIFT DANGER
Now, being a young girl from Kansas where things like hills do not exist (at least not in their true form... we have been known to take a grič and call it a mountain), I have not had years and years to refine my skiing abilities. However, that does not mean I haven't tried.
When I was in primary school, I went skiing with my family a few times. Silver Creek- a place where Kansas wives and children thrive. Not too big, cute. A good place to try a 'blue' hill without dying. I loved it. And our fairly regular trips there helped me to acquire some fairly decent (though still lacking) skills. I leaped at the opportunity to take a ski trip with my best friend at the time and her church youth group. We weren't going to my familiar Silver Creek, but to Winter Park. Jessica hadn't been skiing before, but I promised her that it would be ok. It had to be. Right?
Wrong. Jessica was 100% terrified. We spent the entire time on the Bunny Hill, often being passed by 6-year-olds skiing with their little sisters. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed myself very much. While Jessica was cautiously moving down the hill, I was swerving, jumping, singing, dancing... I did it all. And I had her wonderful company as we would meet at the bottom and ride the lift up together.
Now, if you haven't ridden a ski lift before, let me tell you what goes down. You cautiously wait for the people in front of you to be seated and moving on. Then you hurry to stand on the line where the chair will swing around and pick you up (and you must be careful to not fall, because it could end very badly for you. I.e. you could get knocked down from behind, then turn to see what hit you, and find that the chair is swinging back around, quickly heading toward your face. And the embarrassment might continue as you take off your broken sunglasses to see that adolescent heart-throb, Kyle Taylor, has witnessed the whole spectacle from behind). You then ride up to the mountain with your ski tips pointed up so that you don't get them stuck in the snow or else terrible things could happen.
As you might guess, I got stuck in the snow. But that's not the end of the story:
This slow moving bunny-slope lift was very big and had seats for 4 people on every chair. Therefore, often strangers rode up the lift with you. In our case, a young man (who was probably 3 or 4 years older than us at the time) joined our chair. Jess and I introduce ourselves and began chatting before the lift had begun to rise. Suddenly I lurch from my seat. Turns out, I wasn't paying attention to my ski tips and when they got lodged in the snow they began to pull me from my comfy seat in between Jessica and this stranger. In the moment, my ability to think clearly had vanished. I must do something! I must stop from falling off the chair!!
Impulsively, I clutch onto the nearest thing to me... the older boy to my left. One second he's sitting and not speaking to these two giggly girls on the ski lift, the next second I'm hugging him as hard as I can.
Something had to give- it was either going to be me or my ski. I clutched onto this surprised stranger and prayed that it would be my ski.
SNAP!
Relief.
I hoisted my unbalanced body back onto the seat. One ski down, but at least my person remained in tact.
All in all, I made it to the top. My ski too- they stopped the lift and the people in the next chair kindly carried it up for me. Getting off the lift played out much smoother in my mind than at the top of the hill. I leaned on Jessica to keep from falling over, but just ended up bringing her down with me. Again, they had to stop the lift because of me, but this time my new stranger escaped. I looked up from my cold spot on the ground to wave him goodbye, but saw that he was already skiing away as fast as humanly possible.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. A VERY MAGICAL DAY
We all know that Disney World is the place where dreams come true. I mean, the theme park is called the Magic Kingdom, for crying out loud. The only place that could be more magical, of course, is Lawrence, Kansas.
Well, when I was in the 11th grade, I had the opportunity to return to Disney World, and truly, one of my dreams did come true: I rode on a float in the Magical Disney Parade THROUGH Cinderella's Castle, on a cushy seat near my Prince Aladdin.
Let me start from the beginning: My high school had a music group called Sugar 'n Spice. Girls that auditioned for and made this show-choir performed in sparkley blue dresses: Singing and dancing at the same time. I auditioned for and made this choir (NOT because I have a lovely singing voice or the ability to sing on tune. No, I made this choir because I was known for being especially smiley in high school and had a very cheerful stage presence). You've seen the show Glee? The choir was basically that- only with half the drama and a fourth of the talent.
Despite our lack-of-extreme-talent, we were invited to come and perform at Disney World's 'Magic Music Days' on Tomorrow World Stage (remember the BeWitched, 5 Concert of 1998? Yep. Same stage.). However, we didn't just fly to Disney World, perform, and fly home... no no no my friends. We spent 5 days together in the Magic Kingdom.
Of course every high school choir looked forward to this trip for the whole year. It's probably 50% of the reason most of us joined show choir in the first place. I had a countdown for the trip that started in August, 7 months before we flew. All of my friends that were going got together every Sunday to watch a Disney Movie, and since all of us girls loved Aladdin, we watched him at least once a month. We joked and giggled about how we would meet him at Disney World and he would ditch Princess Jasmine and fall in love with us.
Finally, mid-March, all of our practicing and Disney-movie-watching paid off and we boarded the plane for Florida. Now, I'd been to Disney World before, as a kid with my family, but trust me: Standing in front of Cinderella's Castle when you're 17 and with your closest friends is just as magical as when you're 5 and still think that Mickey Mouse is real. It was a sight to behold- but only for a second. We quickly scattered in every direction, running to the coolest rides with the plan to meet up at 4 pm to watch the Disney Parade as a group of Manhattan High School choirs.
It was an adventure-filled morning: Tower of Terror, Jurassic Park, Rockin' Roller-coaster... we were running so fast from line to line that we didn't even realize how hungry or tired we were. Before we even ate lunch it was time to meet for the parade. I had no idea that my idea was just about to get even more ridiculous and magical.
The Parade Horns began to sound before we found out place among our school mates, but we joined the choir group before Cinderella's Carriage went past. Then we heard 'Arabian Nights' from Aladdin and all of us girls began to giggle. When Aladdin's float came into view, the most amazing thing happened. It slowed and stopped before my school-mates. What was happening?! We were definitely not a part of the show, and the streets were packed with other people, not just our group. Why did Aladdin stop here?!
Well, we knew that we were at the theme park during 'Magic Music Days', but what we did not know was that we were also there during 'Become A Disney Princess' week. Each of the Disney heroes selected someone from the crowd to ride on the float and be a prince or princess. Guess who Aladdin chose?
Yep, yours truly.
The scene was not quite as magical as you might imagine. I was super confused as to what was going on that I jumped onto Chris Coffey's back for a better view. Aladdin happened to glance in my direction as I emerged above the crowd. He laughed, pointed at me, and beckoned for me to come closer. I think that I stopped breathing. He waved me toward him.
you're kidding- you want me to come closer?
He did.
I was selected to be a Disney Princess for a day. It didn't mean anything TOO exciting. I didn't really marry Aladdin, and I didn't have servants or anything, but I wore a tiara and rode on the float. I got to invite one friend to a 'royal' dinner and we got free fast-passes to cut in front of everyone waiting in line for the rides.
What was the best part of it all? Aladdin kissed my hand and signed my backpack with a note that said:
'Nicole- You will always be a princess to me. Follow your dreams' -Aladdin
I have the backpack hanging on the wall at my parent's house. As for the hand he kissed? Let's just say I haven't washed it since.
Ok, just kidding, but I'll never forget that moment for my entire life- of this I am sure.
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER-ALL
I believe that most of you know I used to train taekwondo. It started as a bit of a joke- I wanted to secretly learn so that I could have someone from my class pretend to mug me in the city center sometime... then I would rip open my jacket to reveal my dobok and, of course, taekwondo the fool that tried to steal my bag. I had it all planned- my friends would think I was soooo cool, and let's be honest: I would be.
Well, there were 2 problems with my Master Plan:
1. I have a big mouth and ended up accidentally telling all of my friends that I was in taekwondo
2. I feel in love with the sport. I loved everything from learning diligence, to the hard-core people that lived & breathed taekwondo- it became my passion.
So for 2 years I trained taekwondo. I didn't have too many friends there- taekwondo was a part of my life, not my whole life like most of my peers there. However, I had one co-color belt who appeared to have the same taekwondo approach as me. We were always partners and always laughed togheter.
Still there were two minor... hickups with having a real friendship. First, I could NOT remember his name. I asked him so many times in the first few weeks that I just had to stop asking him... I was too embarrassed to continue. I tried to cover it up. You know how it is:
''Hey Nicole!''
''Ahhh, HEYY!''
Still, I felt like the worst person in the world each time he called me by name.
The second problem? Well, I don't know if you've ever been in a situation where everyone around you wears the same thing in the same color every day, but it renders it nearly impossible to recognize any of those people out in public. I imagine there are a few professions where this could be a problem: Construction, clowns. Those elves at Santa's Station in the mall. There were several times that I saw this guy after I got sick and had to leave taekwondo, but it always took me a long time to realize where I knew him from. He would honk at me or yell my name... once I even ran into him at the supermarket:
''Hey Nicole! How are you? I'd hug you, but I've got these sacks...''
''Ohhh, yeah. Nice to see you. So, um. How are you?''
Now, keep in mind, not only could I not place this guy, but I also couldn't remember his name. It seemed impossible to figure out BOTH where I knew him from and also what his name was WITHOUT making him feel bad that I didn't know him. You know, I think that it honestly was impossible... at least in Lawrence, KS.
Good thing I like to travel.
In 2007, my friend Jessica and I backpacked through Europe. In 5 weeks we went to 6 different countries, met tons of new people, and experienced a whole bunch of new things. However, not everyone that we met was new...
One sleepy Thursday evening in Vienna we were sitting at our hostel- resting and checking the internet.
''Hey Nicole!!''
I turned to look at Jessica. She was puzzled. It didn't sound like her voice anyway. I turned in the direction of the voice, and who do I see? The guy, whose name I don't remember that I know from something at some time.
''Nicole! It's Sean! From taekwondo!''
Ding ding ding.
Sean from taekwondo. 2 years of taekwondo and many more years of running into each other in the city of Lawrence, and finally the mystery is solved. In Vienna, Austria.
Now I know what to do when I cannot remember someone's name. Just purchase a plane ticket and assume that the unbelievable will happen again. After-all, crazier things have been known to occur in my life.
This week in predura (voluntary pre-lesson), students are going to have to figure out which of the stories below are false:
1. SKI LIFT DANGER
Now, being a young girl from Kansas where things like hills do not exist (at least not in their true form... we have been known to take a grič and call it a mountain), I have not had years and years to refine my skiing abilities. However, that does not mean I haven't tried.
When I was in primary school, I went skiing with my family a few times. Silver Creek- a place where Kansas wives and children thrive. Not too big, cute. A good place to try a 'blue' hill without dying. I loved it. And our fairly regular trips there helped me to acquire some fairly decent (though still lacking) skills. I leaped at the opportunity to take a ski trip with my best friend at the time and her church youth group. We weren't going to my familiar Silver Creek, but to Winter Park. Jessica hadn't been skiing before, but I promised her that it would be ok. It had to be. Right?
Wrong. Jessica was 100% terrified. We spent the entire time on the Bunny Hill, often being passed by 6-year-olds skiing with their little sisters. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed myself very much. While Jessica was cautiously moving down the hill, I was swerving, jumping, singing, dancing... I did it all. And I had her wonderful company as we would meet at the bottom and ride the lift up together.
Now, if you haven't ridden a ski lift before, let me tell you what goes down. You cautiously wait for the people in front of you to be seated and moving on. Then you hurry to stand on the line where the chair will swing around and pick you up (and you must be careful to not fall, because it could end very badly for you. I.e. you could get knocked down from behind, then turn to see what hit you, and find that the chair is swinging back around, quickly heading toward your face. And the embarrassment might continue as you take off your broken sunglasses to see that adolescent heart-throb, Kyle Taylor, has witnessed the whole spectacle from behind). You then ride up to the mountain with your ski tips pointed up so that you don't get them stuck in the snow or else terrible things could happen.
As you might guess, I got stuck in the snow. But that's not the end of the story:
This slow moving bunny-slope lift was very big and had seats for 4 people on every chair. Therefore, often strangers rode up the lift with you. In our case, a young man (who was probably 3 or 4 years older than us at the time) joined our chair. Jess and I introduce ourselves and began chatting before the lift had begun to rise. Suddenly I lurch from my seat. Turns out, I wasn't paying attention to my ski tips and when they got lodged in the snow they began to pull me from my comfy seat in between Jessica and this stranger. In the moment, my ability to think clearly had vanished. I must do something! I must stop from falling off the chair!!
Impulsively, I clutch onto the nearest thing to me... the older boy to my left. One second he's sitting and not speaking to these two giggly girls on the ski lift, the next second I'm hugging him as hard as I can.
Something had to give- it was either going to be me or my ski. I clutched onto this surprised stranger and prayed that it would be my ski.
SNAP!
Relief.
I hoisted my unbalanced body back onto the seat. One ski down, but at least my person remained in tact.
All in all, I made it to the top. My ski too- they stopped the lift and the people in the next chair kindly carried it up for me. Getting off the lift played out much smoother in my mind than at the top of the hill. I leaned on Jessica to keep from falling over, but just ended up bringing her down with me. Again, they had to stop the lift because of me, but this time my new stranger escaped. I looked up from my cold spot on the ground to wave him goodbye, but saw that he was already skiing away as fast as humanly possible.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. A VERY MAGICAL DAY
We all know that Disney World is the place where dreams come true. I mean, the theme park is called the Magic Kingdom, for crying out loud. The only place that could be more magical, of course, is Lawrence, Kansas.
Well, when I was in the 11th grade, I had the opportunity to return to Disney World, and truly, one of my dreams did come true: I rode on a float in the Magical Disney Parade THROUGH Cinderella's Castle, on a cushy seat near my Prince Aladdin.
Let me start from the beginning: My high school had a music group called Sugar 'n Spice. Girls that auditioned for and made this show-choir performed in sparkley blue dresses: Singing and dancing at the same time. I auditioned for and made this choir (NOT because I have a lovely singing voice or the ability to sing on tune. No, I made this choir because I was known for being especially smiley in high school and had a very cheerful stage presence). You've seen the show Glee? The choir was basically that- only with half the drama and a fourth of the talent.
Despite our lack-of-extreme-talent, we were invited to come and perform at Disney World's 'Magic Music Days' on Tomorrow World Stage (remember the BeWitched, 5 Concert of 1998? Yep. Same stage.). However, we didn't just fly to Disney World, perform, and fly home... no no no my friends. We spent 5 days together in the Magic Kingdom.
Of course every high school choir looked forward to this trip for the whole year. It's probably 50% of the reason most of us joined show choir in the first place. I had a countdown for the trip that started in August, 7 months before we flew. All of my friends that were going got together every Sunday to watch a Disney Movie, and since all of us girls loved Aladdin, we watched him at least once a month. We joked and giggled about how we would meet him at Disney World and he would ditch Princess Jasmine and fall in love with us.
Finally, mid-March, all of our practicing and Disney-movie-watching paid off and we boarded the plane for Florida. Now, I'd been to Disney World before, as a kid with my family, but trust me: Standing in front of Cinderella's Castle when you're 17 and with your closest friends is just as magical as when you're 5 and still think that Mickey Mouse is real. It was a sight to behold- but only for a second. We quickly scattered in every direction, running to the coolest rides with the plan to meet up at 4 pm to watch the Disney Parade as a group of Manhattan High School choirs.
It was an adventure-filled morning: Tower of Terror, Jurassic Park, Rockin' Roller-coaster... we were running so fast from line to line that we didn't even realize how hungry or tired we were. Before we even ate lunch it was time to meet for the parade. I had no idea that my idea was just about to get even more ridiculous and magical.
The Parade Horns began to sound before we found out place among our school mates, but we joined the choir group before Cinderella's Carriage went past. Then we heard 'Arabian Nights' from Aladdin and all of us girls began to giggle. When Aladdin's float came into view, the most amazing thing happened. It slowed and stopped before my school-mates. What was happening?! We were definitely not a part of the show, and the streets were packed with other people, not just our group. Why did Aladdin stop here?!
Well, we knew that we were at the theme park during 'Magic Music Days', but what we did not know was that we were also there during 'Become A Disney Princess' week. Each of the Disney heroes selected someone from the crowd to ride on the float and be a prince or princess. Guess who Aladdin chose?
Yep, yours truly.
The scene was not quite as magical as you might imagine. I was super confused as to what was going on that I jumped onto Chris Coffey's back for a better view. Aladdin happened to glance in my direction as I emerged above the crowd. He laughed, pointed at me, and beckoned for me to come closer. I think that I stopped breathing. He waved me toward him.
you're kidding- you want me to come closer?
He did.
I was selected to be a Disney Princess for a day. It didn't mean anything TOO exciting. I didn't really marry Aladdin, and I didn't have servants or anything, but I wore a tiara and rode on the float. I got to invite one friend to a 'royal' dinner and we got free fast-passes to cut in front of everyone waiting in line for the rides.
What was the best part of it all? Aladdin kissed my hand and signed my backpack with a note that said:
'Nicole- You will always be a princess to me. Follow your dreams' -Aladdin
I have the backpack hanging on the wall at my parent's house. As for the hand he kissed? Let's just say I haven't washed it since.
Ok, just kidding, but I'll never forget that moment for my entire life- of this I am sure.
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER-ALL
I believe that most of you know I used to train taekwondo. It started as a bit of a joke- I wanted to secretly learn so that I could have someone from my class pretend to mug me in the city center sometime... then I would rip open my jacket to reveal my dobok and, of course, taekwondo the fool that tried to steal my bag. I had it all planned- my friends would think I was soooo cool, and let's be honest: I would be.
Well, there were 2 problems with my Master Plan:
1. I have a big mouth and ended up accidentally telling all of my friends that I was in taekwondo
2. I feel in love with the sport. I loved everything from learning diligence, to the hard-core people that lived & breathed taekwondo- it became my passion.
So for 2 years I trained taekwondo. I didn't have too many friends there- taekwondo was a part of my life, not my whole life like most of my peers there. However, I had one co-color belt who appeared to have the same taekwondo approach as me. We were always partners and always laughed togheter.
Still there were two minor... hickups with having a real friendship. First, I could NOT remember his name. I asked him so many times in the first few weeks that I just had to stop asking him... I was too embarrassed to continue. I tried to cover it up. You know how it is:
''Hey Nicole!''
''Ahhh, HEYY!''
Still, I felt like the worst person in the world each time he called me by name.
The second problem? Well, I don't know if you've ever been in a situation where everyone around you wears the same thing in the same color every day, but it renders it nearly impossible to recognize any of those people out in public. I imagine there are a few professions where this could be a problem: Construction, clowns. Those elves at Santa's Station in the mall. There were several times that I saw this guy after I got sick and had to leave taekwondo, but it always took me a long time to realize where I knew him from. He would honk at me or yell my name... once I even ran into him at the supermarket:
''Hey Nicole! How are you? I'd hug you, but I've got these sacks...''
''Ohhh, yeah. Nice to see you. So, um. How are you?''
Now, keep in mind, not only could I not place this guy, but I also couldn't remember his name. It seemed impossible to figure out BOTH where I knew him from and also what his name was WITHOUT making him feel bad that I didn't know him. You know, I think that it honestly was impossible... at least in Lawrence, KS.
Good thing I like to travel.
In 2007, my friend Jessica and I backpacked through Europe. In 5 weeks we went to 6 different countries, met tons of new people, and experienced a whole bunch of new things. However, not everyone that we met was new...
One sleepy Thursday evening in Vienna we were sitting at our hostel- resting and checking the internet.
''Hey Nicole!!''
I turned to look at Jessica. She was puzzled. It didn't sound like her voice anyway. I turned in the direction of the voice, and who do I see? The guy, whose name I don't remember that I know from something at some time.
''Nicole! It's Sean! From taekwondo!''
Ding ding ding.
Sean from taekwondo. 2 years of taekwondo and many more years of running into each other in the city of Lawrence, and finally the mystery is solved. In Vienna, Austria.
Now I know what to do when I cannot remember someone's name. Just purchase a plane ticket and assume that the unbelievable will happen again. After-all, crazier things have been known to occur in my life.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Hey, Looks Like I Contributed To The Greater Scientific Community!
http://www.garlicmustard.org/populations.html
Check it out! This interactive map shows populations of Garlic Mustard which were collected between 2009 and 2011. If you look at the populations in Slovenia, you will see things like this:
NSCER1
Updated Apr 12
Name: NSCER1
Last sampled:6/24/2009
Coordinates
Lat Long Alt
45.78 14.39 561
Habitat
Roadside
Analysis
You know what NSCER1 stands for?
Collector: Nicole Schmidt
Location: Cerknica, Slovenia
Sample number: 1
I didn't spend the whole time in Slovenia riding my bike and hanging out with Slovenes after all.
Monday, October 31, 2011
The New Crib
This, friends, is my new house.
I moved in with the help of 11 13-year-olds. My friends offered to help me, but I couldn't turn down the eager pleas that I let students from my predura. We discussed it last Monday before school. Here's what I got all day long:
Ms. Nicole, I am so sorry I wasn't there this morning, can I still-
You want to help me move?
Yes! Can I?
We ate American pancakes, hung out, and then I eventually had to ask them to leave so I could get settled... but it's kind of beautiful, eh? And I have PLENTY of places to sleep, so... please, please feel free to come and stay with me. I will take good care of you.
I think this is beautiful. Notice the picture of Graham... I didn't forget you! (Thanks, Nikki)
Living room + place for everyone that I know here (excluding my students, who are not invited) to sleep.
And finally, my kitchen, complete with some of the most wonderful people in the world, who came as my first visitors.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
POČITNICE!!!
Well kids, we did it- we made it to the first facation. I now have a whole week off to rest and read and enjoy my freedom. How did I kick it off? Well... let me tell you how we ALL kicked it off at school on Friday.
7:10, Voluntary Predura. Students are in no way required to come to this class. Do they? Absolutely. Out of their own free will... and if I try to cancel, what happens?
''Mrs. Nicole! Come on!''
Sometimes I would like to sleep in, but I'd hate to make them suffer the horrible injustice of not having school. Before school.
8:00, 7th grade English class. Nothing special. Read William Tell and fielded the amazing questions that my dear student Miss P asked me whenever the was a quiet moment in class.
''So tell me, in America, are all of the cops always like this?'' (She stands with her fingers out in front of her mimicking a gun).
They're just regular cops, dear.
''Do Americans really cry all of the time, over everything???''
Only my mother when she gets an emotional card on Christmas... love you ma!
''Is it hard to get jobs in America? As an actress??''
Hmm... there was that one time that I wrote a letter to Disney asking about auditions for the next Disney Channel Original Movie
''What's your favorite movie?''
''Book?''
''Band?''
''Superhero??''
''Character in Harry Potter??'' Ron, btw
And my personal favorite from yesterday:
''Miss Nicole, I have a question for you'' duh ...''I'm writing a book. It will be 800 pages, but I'm on page 5. When I finish, can I give it to you?''
8:45-9. Break- usual conversation club- Jaša.
9-9:45, Free period. Look up info on genetic engineering for the 9th graders. I'm, oddly enough, being distracted by the loud pop-music in the hall. Decide to get some peace in the teacher's room and have my snack, which is apparently where the principal and her staff meet for the principal's meeting:
''Uhhh, sorry. Um, oprosti! -Te! Oprostite!''
stares.
''So... zato to je... uh sestan- ja. Vredu. Jaz bom šla... uživajte'' (so... so this is... uh... meetin- OK. I'll just go... enjoy)
9:45-10:05, Snack. Half-sandwich with bologna and pickles, + watching my 8th graders climb up the stairs as slowly as possible. Jaša and Žana arrive to inform me that they spent math punching in the same key on Jaša's calculator 3000 times, Jaša at speeds of up to 700x per minute. Visited by Jernej and Miha who acted up in class yesterday...
JERNEJ: I'm sorry.
MIHA: Oprostite
Jernej hits Miha upside the head
JERNEJ: V angleščini! (In English!)
MIHA: Sorry.
10:05-10:55, 9th grade. Here I quickly realize that genetic engineering is wayy too advanced. Ah, what do we do? Think quickly, teacher. Ok- make them decide if we should or should not create clones. Explain what a clone is. How does it work? Show a video of Dolly the Sheep on the internet. What do you think? Where is the line?
Explain. good.
Comment on the strange music in the hall. check. Seriously, what is going on?
Tell them about genetically engineered food in America. no, we don't all eat McDonal's all of the time.
FOCUS! Ignore the bizarre music in the hall. no wait, don't. WHAT IS THAT?
Bell rings. dismissed.
11-11:45- 7th graders again. Oh, ok. Take them to the presentation of... musicians? (No, Miss P, not everyone in America
has a brother and a sister) These are not your typical musicians though- they are little kids wearing tight pants and high hells singing to songs about breaking up. Why doesn't ANYONE else think this is strange???
ME: That presentation today was... interesting. Was that typical?
GOSPA R: Yes, sometimes the music school gives a preview.
ME: Oh yeah, great. But do they always dress like that and sing such... mature songs?
GOSPA R: Ok, Nicole. I just listen to the music.
11:50-end, 5th Grade. They're crazy today. First of all, because they love me. One of them has left a glitter tattoo on my desk as a gift (it says 'Good' in blue rhinestones). Secondly, they are crazy because it's the last period before break. They need to move or we will have no concentration. Ok, no problem. New game.
Here's what we're going to do... The vocabulary that we just learned? I am going to call out what I want you to get, and you run to your backpacks and bring it to me! Ready??? (YEAH!!!) Ok, bring me your... Folder!
(25 folders and excited kids meet me at the front).
Good! Ok... bring me your... eraser!
(25 excited kids run to the front. 24 erasers run toward me and one pair of...)
Neja, those are scissors. Let's... let's play Simon Says instead.
7:10, Voluntary Predura. Students are in no way required to come to this class. Do they? Absolutely. Out of their own free will... and if I try to cancel, what happens?
''Mrs. Nicole! Come on!''
Sometimes I would like to sleep in, but I'd hate to make them suffer the horrible injustice of not having school. Before school.
8:00, 7th grade English class. Nothing special. Read William Tell and fielded the amazing questions that my dear student Miss P asked me whenever the was a quiet moment in class.
''So tell me, in America, are all of the cops always like this?'' (She stands with her fingers out in front of her mimicking a gun).
They're just regular cops, dear.
''Do Americans really cry all of the time, over everything???''
Only my mother when she gets an emotional card on Christmas... love you ma!
''Is it hard to get jobs in America? As an actress??''
Hmm... there was that one time that I wrote a letter to Disney asking about auditions for the next Disney Channel Original Movie
''What's your favorite movie?''
''Book?''
''Band?''
''Superhero??''
''Character in Harry Potter??'' Ron, btw
And my personal favorite from yesterday:
''Miss Nicole, I have a question for you'' duh ...''I'm writing a book. It will be 800 pages, but I'm on page 5. When I finish, can I give it to you?''
8:45-9. Break- usual conversation club- Jaša.
9-9:45, Free period. Look up info on genetic engineering for the 9th graders. I'm, oddly enough, being distracted by the loud pop-music in the hall. Decide to get some peace in the teacher's room and have my snack, which is apparently where the principal and her staff meet for the principal's meeting:
''Uhhh, sorry. Um, oprosti! -Te! Oprostite!''
stares.
''So... zato to je... uh sestan- ja. Vredu. Jaz bom šla... uživajte'' (so... so this is... uh... meetin- OK. I'll just go... enjoy)
9:45-10:05, Snack. Half-sandwich with bologna and pickles, + watching my 8th graders climb up the stairs as slowly as possible. Jaša and Žana arrive to inform me that they spent math punching in the same key on Jaša's calculator 3000 times, Jaša at speeds of up to 700x per minute. Visited by Jernej and Miha who acted up in class yesterday...
JERNEJ: I'm sorry.
MIHA: Oprostite
Jernej hits Miha upside the head
JERNEJ: V angleščini! (In English!)
MIHA: Sorry.
10:05-10:55, 9th grade. Here I quickly realize that genetic engineering is wayy too advanced. Ah, what do we do? Think quickly, teacher. Ok- make them decide if we should or should not create clones. Explain what a clone is. How does it work? Show a video of Dolly the Sheep on the internet. What do you think? Where is the line?
Explain. good.
Comment on the strange music in the hall. check. Seriously, what is going on?
Tell them about genetically engineered food in America. no, we don't all eat McDonal's all of the time.
FOCUS! Ignore the bizarre music in the hall. no wait, don't. WHAT IS THAT?
Bell rings. dismissed.
11-11:45- 7th graders again. Oh, ok. Take them to the presentation of... musicians? (No, Miss P, not everyone in America
has a brother and a sister) These are not your typical musicians though- they are little kids wearing tight pants and high hells singing to songs about breaking up. Why doesn't ANYONE else think this is strange???
ME: That presentation today was... interesting. Was that typical?
GOSPA R: Yes, sometimes the music school gives a preview.
ME: Oh yeah, great. But do they always dress like that and sing such... mature songs?
GOSPA R: Ok, Nicole. I just listen to the music.
11:50-end, 5th Grade. They're crazy today. First of all, because they love me. One of them has left a glitter tattoo on my desk as a gift (it says 'Good' in blue rhinestones). Secondly, they are crazy because it's the last period before break. They need to move or we will have no concentration. Ok, no problem. New game.
Here's what we're going to do... The vocabulary that we just learned? I am going to call out what I want you to get, and you run to your backpacks and bring it to me! Ready??? (YEAH!!!) Ok, bring me your... Folder!
(25 folders and excited kids meet me at the front).
Good! Ok... bring me your... eraser!
(25 excited kids run to the front. 24 erasers run toward me and one pair of...)
Neja, those are scissors. Let's... let's play Simon Says instead.
Monday, October 17, 2011
A Wonderful Field Trip... A Very Strange Tradition
One thing that is definitely, definitely true is that field trips are better in Slovenia. So far, I have been to hike Stol (2236 meters), a group of my students spent a week at the seaside, another spent a week at camp, and a third spent a week in London, in addition to traveling around Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. I've learned that when people say ''Miss Nicole, we were wondering if you'd like to go on --------'' to immediately say 'YES.'
Last Friday I was asked to go on an 8 hour field trip to visit some sights that were important to the Sočka fronta in WWI (Yugoslavia's Western Border). I said yes (because I'm not crazy) and had a great and interesting day. We visited some historical sights, a WWI museum, and
went hiking in a canyon.
However, my favorite part of the day was eating lunch on
the Soča River.
Because I'm the 'cool American', I was invited to eat with a group of 9th grade girls (and boys. I choose the girls). During the lunch, one of the girls asked another if she'd be getting married today. Ok- strange question (especially since people get married very late here).
I decided to just let it go. What I did not realize was that it is a tradition on fieldtrips for 2 of the students to get married. What? Yeah, I know. When I was in the 9th grade, I would have died if one of my teachers tried to marry me off to Tyler Warner. BUT, Ines and Denis took it well. Here's what happened...
We were eating lunch when the conductor of the boat stood up and told some jokes about men and women (which miggggght have been a little inappropriate for young ears I'M JUST SAYING. Then he asked Denis to come up and say some words, and then forced him to propose to Ines. Of course, she said yes (she didn't have a choice), then they had to kiss each other, everyone shook their hands, and we left the boat. They left the boat in each others arms as we threw leaves over them.
ME: Mrs. Resman, is this a normal custom here in Slovenia??
MRS. RESMAN: Of course not. We usually throw rice.
Last Friday I was asked to go on an 8 hour field trip to visit some sights that were important to the Sočka fronta in WWI (Yugoslavia's Western Border). I said yes (because I'm not crazy) and had a great and interesting day. We visited some historical sights, a WWI museum, and
went hiking in a canyon. However, my favorite part of the day was eating lunch on
the Soča River. Because I'm the 'cool American', I was invited to eat with a group of 9th grade girls (and boys. I choose the girls). During the lunch, one of the girls asked another if she'd be getting married today. Ok- strange question (especially since people get married very late here).
I decided to just let it go. What I did not realize was that it is a tradition on fieldtrips for 2 of the students to get married. What? Yeah, I know. When I was in the 9th grade, I would have died if one of my teachers tried to marry me off to Tyler Warner. BUT, Ines and Denis took it well. Here's what happened...
We were eating lunch when the conductor of the boat stood up and told some jokes about men and women (which miggggght have been a little inappropriate for young ears I'M JUST SAYING. Then he asked Denis to come up and say some words, and then forced him to propose to Ines. Of course, she said yes (she didn't have a choice), then they had to kiss each other, everyone shook their hands, and we left the boat. They left the boat in each others arms as we threw leaves over them.
ME: Mrs. Resman, is this a normal custom here in Slovenia??
MRS. RESMAN: Of course not. We usually throw rice.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Still born to teach innercity kids...
In the past year I have started to email correspond with a whole bunch of former students- it's kind of what I live for, so I don't mind if it takes a bit of time... nothing brightens my day like hearing from some long-lost kid :)
Anyway, the emails that are definitely the most entertaining come from Eisenhower Middle School-- here is a thread:
Hi Shantel! It's great! I'm starting a science club after school, so that is really exciting and going really well. How is everything going there?
Same I am in a play at school I am a back up dancer.
Oh that's great! What is the play?
I cant remember but I wish you could be there.
So much love... I might just feel like the queen of the world- she doesn't even remember the name of the show, but she wants to invite her former student teacher. Delighted.
Anyway, the emails that are definitely the most entertaining come from Eisenhower Middle School-- here is a thread:
Hi Shantel! It's great! I'm starting a science club after school, so that is really exciting and going really well. How is everything going there?
Same I am in a play at school I am a back up dancer.
Oh that's great! What is the play?
I cant remember but I wish you could be there.
So much love... I might just feel like the queen of the world- she doesn't even remember the name of the show, but she wants to invite her former student teacher. Delighted.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I couldn't believe the size of her...
Faithful readers-
First of all, I do apologize for the delay in updates- I have received several angry emails demanding new posts, so I am sacrificing a perfectly good Wednesday night to sit in bed and write.*
TEACHING IS GOING SO WELL. I love it. This has been a particularly fun week because I have gotten to spend more and more time interacting with the students. Additionally, I teach two lessons before school on Mondays and Fridays. It's practice for the 8th grade English competition and around 8 kids usually show up. I have a considerable amount of freedom in how I teach them, and I have been designing lessons based on how they have done on their practice exams. In last weeks' practice exam, students were given the following list to include in an essay:
1. What kind of a student you are
2. What kind of a student you'd like to be
3. What a typical student is like
In general, they failed miserably. 3 students turned in the assignment, and of those three, not a single one had answered all of the questions. The best response that I got was 'I-m a normal student, i-m kinda awesome. I'm in the 8th grade. Sometimes I get bured in school. I wud like to be a smart student.' (obviously, they got points for stating that they are awesome. Mostly because I have definitely given the same response at several times in my life).
Based on their lack-of-completion/fail, I decided to organize an activity where I gave students 7 partial sentences, and gave them the mission to write a creative story including at least 5 completed sentences. They thrived. Sentences included:
In rained for...
I couldn't believe the size of her...
It was a cold, dark, windy...
boys have cooties, at least that's what my
I heard, but I didn't believe
If ANYONE would be brave enough to write a story and email it to me, that would be awesome. I would love for my students to read what you have written! Here are some excerpts from my students' best:
#1It was a cold, dark, windz night. Ther ewas a fridge called Biffz. When I woke up, I came to the fridge and took some milk and started drinking. It was grey. Then I took some ham, it was also grez. I didn-t know what happened... there were too many things grey. (Story goes on to tell about a mysterious woman coming in, waving her arms over the fridge and putting everything back to its normal color).
#2...the girls couldn't believe the size of her cookie. They thought it was made of paper, but it was made of snow because it was winter. They went into the kitchen. It was cold, dark, and windy in the fridge. Girls thought the electricity was down, but no. That fridge had gone mad. The boys looked up ''Cookie Jar Goes Wrong'' on the internet...
#3- Starts out as a ghost story, like everything she has written thus far: ...Something creeked: We were scared. Very scared. And then in the next moment a woman appeared in front of us. She was very scary. We screamed. But not because we were so scared, but because we couldn't believe the size of her ears! She was like an elephant...
Maybe those segments do not make any sense to you. I could already be blinded by getting to know these kids and understanding what they mean. However, hopefully they provided some substance to better imagine my life over here.
In two weeks, we will finish with this particular before-school-lesson, but I think that I am going to ask the principal if I can continue to host a creative writing workshop. Thoughts? I think that I'm alright at creative writing... I guess it's between that or a tutorial on how to Rick Roll.
'Till next time, homies. With love, Nika
*Ok, truthfully, I just received one email about the blog. Thanks dad. Hope this suffices. And I have absolutely no energy to move from this very comfortable spot where I am eating garden fresh strawberries and chocolate and drinking piping hot mint tea.
First of all, I do apologize for the delay in updates- I have received several angry emails demanding new posts, so I am sacrificing a perfectly good Wednesday night to sit in bed and write.*
TEACHING IS GOING SO WELL. I love it. This has been a particularly fun week because I have gotten to spend more and more time interacting with the students. Additionally, I teach two lessons before school on Mondays and Fridays. It's practice for the 8th grade English competition and around 8 kids usually show up. I have a considerable amount of freedom in how I teach them, and I have been designing lessons based on how they have done on their practice exams. In last weeks' practice exam, students were given the following list to include in an essay:
1. What kind of a student you are
2. What kind of a student you'd like to be
3. What a typical student is like
In general, they failed miserably. 3 students turned in the assignment, and of those three, not a single one had answered all of the questions. The best response that I got was 'I-m a normal student, i-m kinda awesome. I'm in the 8th grade. Sometimes I get bured in school. I wud like to be a smart student.' (obviously, they got points for stating that they are awesome. Mostly because I have definitely given the same response at several times in my life).
Based on their lack-of-completion/fail, I decided to organize an activity where I gave students 7 partial sentences, and gave them the mission to write a creative story including at least 5 completed sentences. They thrived. Sentences included:
In rained for...
I couldn't believe the size of her...
It was a cold, dark, windy...
boys have cooties, at least that's what my
I heard, but I didn't believe
If ANYONE would be brave enough to write a story and email it to me, that would be awesome. I would love for my students to read what you have written! Here are some excerpts from my students' best:
#1It was a cold, dark, windz night. Ther ewas a fridge called Biffz. When I woke up, I came to the fridge and took some milk and started drinking. It was grey. Then I took some ham, it was also grez. I didn-t know what happened... there were too many things grey. (Story goes on to tell about a mysterious woman coming in, waving her arms over the fridge and putting everything back to its normal color).
#2...the girls couldn't believe the size of her cookie. They thought it was made of paper, but it was made of snow because it was winter. They went into the kitchen. It was cold, dark, and windy in the fridge. Girls thought the electricity was down, but no. That fridge had gone mad. The boys looked up ''Cookie Jar Goes Wrong'' on the internet...
#3- Starts out as a ghost story, like everything she has written thus far: ...Something creeked: We were scared. Very scared. And then in the next moment a woman appeared in front of us. She was very scary. We screamed. But not because we were so scared, but because we couldn't believe the size of her ears! She was like an elephant...
Maybe those segments do not make any sense to you. I could already be blinded by getting to know these kids and understanding what they mean. However, hopefully they provided some substance to better imagine my life over here.
In two weeks, we will finish with this particular before-school-lesson, but I think that I am going to ask the principal if I can continue to host a creative writing workshop. Thoughts? I think that I'm alright at creative writing... I guess it's between that or a tutorial on how to Rick Roll.
'Till next time, homies. With love, Nika
*Ok, truthfully, I just received one email about the blog. Thanks dad. Hope this suffices. And I have absolutely no energy to move from this very comfortable spot where I am eating garden fresh strawberries and chocolate and drinking piping hot mint tea.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Animal Keychains
Today I went hiking (in the wonderfully beautiful Alps) with my new friends. Since I'm super hip and cool and mature, my friends are often older than me. In this case, my friends are 75 and 50.
They (Jože and Marjana) are members of the Radovljica hiking club (which, by the way, also has a new American member- jaz), so they were super prepared to go with all of the right gear: Those awesome shirts that sweat just magically disappears from, hiking pants that fit better than my new, super practical hiking-sort-pants (2 in one), hiking sticks, etc. However, things that I did not expect to see on on their professional hiking packs were animal keychains. I'm not kidding. They're huge here, and I do not really understand why. Young people, old people, college boys, everyone has these keychains. I went on a date (don't worry people, nothing serious... sort of just happened) with a 25 year old boy who had a tigger keychain on his keys. When I made fun of him about it, he did not get the joke. Then I realized it's not just him- it's everyone.
Basically, I am asking that you immediately send me keychains so I don't have to be left out. I mean, If you can't beat up, join em?
They (Jože and Marjana) are members of the Radovljica hiking club (which, by the way, also has a new American member- jaz), so they were super prepared to go with all of the right gear: Those awesome shirts that sweat just magically disappears from, hiking pants that fit better than my new, super practical hiking-sort-pants (2 in one), hiking sticks, etc. However, things that I did not expect to see on on their professional hiking packs were animal keychains. I'm not kidding. They're huge here, and I do not really understand why. Young people, old people, college boys, everyone has these keychains. I went on a date (don't worry people, nothing serious... sort of just happened) with a 25 year old boy who had a tigger keychain on his keys. When I made fun of him about it, he did not get the joke. Then I realized it's not just him- it's everyone.
Basically, I am asking that you immediately send me keychains so I don't have to be left out. I mean, If you can't beat up, join em?
Monday, September 12, 2011
Observing Americans Observe Slovenia
BACK AT SCHOOL- But Mondays are all the same, right?
Wrong.
Today our school was visited by 35 retired Americans, which apparently happens about once a month. These Americans are on a tour through Slovenia and Croatia, and they stop through a few schools as well. I would imagine that the tour company has chosen our school because of A. It's proximity to Bled (ridiculously beautiful place a 10 minute bikeride away) B. It's neat history (Radovljica was the home of actor and educator Anton Tomaž Linhard, an important player in Slovene history), and C. The wide variety of students that attend (i.e. it's before the decision of Grammar School or Technical School or some other high school). We were prepared for them.
I am not quite sure what the Americans did as soon as they arrived (you know, I have to teach every once and a while), but after a bit they were taken to the auditorium where the ridiculously talented kids showed them a bit of what they can do. There was a performance on a traditional Slovene harp-like instrument, a baton number with 3 Gold Medal Winners from some Central European competition, of course my student that was a finalist in Slovenia's Got Talent (oh yeah, and also the winner of the Euro Championship 3 years ago. When he was 11). Then there were a few song performances, and a group of 1st graders demonstrated traditional Slovene dances. What was the most well received by the Americans? The Slovenes did a play without words, they only said 'blablahblah' and those retirees ATE IT UP. It was sort of cute, but really? A 14 year old just replicated Michael Jackson with perfection. What did the Americans do after the performance? They stood up, linked arms, and sang 'Proud to be An American' together.
ok, just kidding. whew.
All in all, strange day. But I'm havin a blast.
Keep it real,
N
Wrong.
Today our school was visited by 35 retired Americans, which apparently happens about once a month. These Americans are on a tour through Slovenia and Croatia, and they stop through a few schools as well. I would imagine that the tour company has chosen our school because of A. It's proximity to Bled (ridiculously beautiful place a 10 minute bikeride away) B. It's neat history (Radovljica was the home of actor and educator Anton Tomaž Linhard, an important player in Slovene history), and C. The wide variety of students that attend (i.e. it's before the decision of Grammar School or Technical School or some other high school). We were prepared for them.
I am not quite sure what the Americans did as soon as they arrived (you know, I have to teach every once and a while), but after a bit they were taken to the auditorium where the ridiculously talented kids showed them a bit of what they can do. There was a performance on a traditional Slovene harp-like instrument, a baton number with 3 Gold Medal Winners from some Central European competition, of course my student that was a finalist in Slovenia's Got Talent (oh yeah, and also the winner of the Euro Championship 3 years ago. When he was 11). Then there were a few song performances, and a group of 1st graders demonstrated traditional Slovene dances. What was the most well received by the Americans? The Slovenes did a play without words, they only said 'blablahblah' and those retirees ATE IT UP. It was sort of cute, but really? A 14 year old just replicated Michael Jackson with perfection. What did the Americans do after the performance? They stood up, linked arms, and sang 'Proud to be An American' together.
ok, just kidding. whew.
All in all, strange day. But I'm havin a blast.
Keep it real,
N
Sunday, September 11, 2011
That punk student sure can dance
Word plays.
Ahhh the joys of teaching in your second language. I had my first unfortunate encounter with a student last week. For the most part, the kids are adorable. They come up to me in the hall with these wide eyes and I know that they are contemplating if they should speak to me in English or in Slovene. I've gotten quite a few timid 'Hello's, and a couple of 'How are you?'s. I've also gotten my fair share of 'A bo?' Which literally means 'Will it?'.
'Ja, mislim, da bo'.
One little punk, however, decided to talk back to me. The teacher that I work with left the room during a pretest and the students immediately started talking. I, not wanting to reveal my growing knowledge of Slovene grammar, told the students that I expected them to be quiet during the test. In English. This kid looks right at me, and then repeats, also in English, exactly what I said. Then they continued talking.
After a few seconds of my death stare, I cleared my throat and said again, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthis time in Slovene: Students, listen up. It is necessary that everyone is quiet until the tests are finished. Do you understand?
Silence. It was beautiful. Thank you Marta Greenberg for being the best darn lektorica in the world. I will forever cherish that moment in my mind.
You may wonder what happened in the end: I had a conversation in the hall with the student (whom I actually like very much and think is very delightful), told my co-teacher about it, and then heard a little more about this student. Apparently he's famous... I guess Slovenia does have Talent, and I guess KCK is not the only place where I can pick up a few moves.
Ahhh the joys of teaching in your second language. I had my first unfortunate encounter with a student last week. For the most part, the kids are adorable. They come up to me in the hall with these wide eyes and I know that they are contemplating if they should speak to me in English or in Slovene. I've gotten quite a few timid 'Hello's, and a couple of 'How are you?'s. I've also gotten my fair share of 'A bo?' Which literally means 'Will it?'.
'Ja, mislim, da bo'.
One little punk, however, decided to talk back to me. The teacher that I work with left the room during a pretest and the students immediately started talking. I, not wanting to reveal my growing knowledge of Slovene grammar, told the students that I expected them to be quiet during the test. In English. This kid looks right at me, and then repeats, also in English, exactly what I said. Then they continued talking.
After a few seconds of my death stare, I cleared my throat and said again, http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthis time in Slovene: Students, listen up. It is necessary that everyone is quiet until the tests are finished. Do you understand?
Silence. It was beautiful. Thank you Marta Greenberg for being the best darn lektorica in the world. I will forever cherish that moment in my mind.
You may wonder what happened in the end: I had a conversation in the hall with the student (whom I actually like very much and think is very delightful), told my co-teacher about it, and then heard a little more about this student. Apparently he's famous... I guess Slovenia does have Talent, and I guess KCK is not the only place where I can pick up a few moves.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Another First Day of School…
…Perhaps it could be safely said that was a little bit different than the others*. Not entirely- I had to keep in mind that I am back in an Elementary School (goes through Grade 9 here). However, some differences were slightly more bizarre than others. This was my experience:
8:00 Grades 2-9 go to their homeroom classes. Grade 1 watches the most ridiculous socialism-era-influenced teacher-performance of the first day of school that I have ever seen. I did not really have a place to go, so I wandered around the library and dreamed about the days where I could find Science Fiction/Fantasy books in English.
9:00ish Passing period. The kids, of course, are animals. It’s here, though, that I notice for the first time that students are not wearing shoes. They are wearing house slippers. Why, I ask another teacher? Because it’s healthier. Healthier than the alternative… of going barefoot?
9:15ish Resuming first period. I walk in with my co-teacher, Jana. Everyone immediately stands up when she walks into the room. Every single student looks suspicious, but they are silent and standing in respect. Yes, I will demand this for the rest of my life. But not just in school.
10:00 Snack. I like this in school snack time. I assume that the kiddos have brought granola bars or something. Not quite. The 3 “classroom helpers” for the week go down to the cafeteria to retrieve the snack. What’s on the menu today? Milk, rolls, tea and roasted red peppers. Huh? Oh right, I forgot- nothing helps you focus for the rest of the day like roasted red peppers in olive oil, eating for a snack during my class.
11:00 Dismissal. Where did the kids go? I don’t know, but they went real fast.
PUMPED for day 2.
*An important footnote: I am only including my public education days here in my opinion of “normal first days”. Clearly, I have had some very interesting first days in the KU Cadaver labs, where we begin on Day 1 to skin dean human beings. This is a bit…awkward. For example, a student or two will usually pass out while I try to maintain order and bring in a little sunshine at the same time. I would say that I’ve had many failed first days (Spring 2009 really wasn’t ready for the choreographed dance to “If You Want Blood”, nor the video that you can watch in the 2009 Blog post entitled "First Day of Class... who says I'm not intimidating?"), and also many successes (Spring 2010 ATE UP the cadaver-appropriate rendition of “It’s Rainin’ Men”, performed on the auto-harp).
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
25 meetings and I am no closer to understanding
Today was a lovely day. I came back to Radovljica yesterday via Škoflja Loka where I made a friend and drank Czech beer on tap (!!!), because I had an important meeting to discuss how school will work tomorrow. What did we do at our meeting? EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE AT EVERY OTHER MEETING. We drank coffee outside and chit-chatted. Huh? Tomorrow I start teaching the youth of Slovenia and I really do not even know when school starts.
Wish me luck? Ima need it.
Wish me luck? Ima need it.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sometimes It's Just Nice To Start Your Day By Jumping Out of a Window
Friends throughout the world:
Živjo! Hope that you're enjoying whatever you're doing right now... I can safely say that I am, though I've had a fair share of complications already- and it is just the beginning.
For those of you who do not yet know, I am living in Radovljica, Slovenia- 7 km from the gorgeous Lake Bled, 10 from Vintgar Canyon (a.k.a. 100 waterfalls...). Unfortunately, I could not afford a spot in the castle, but am living instead with a woman and her daughter near the center. We're communicating well- my Slovene has improved tremendously(!!) but still find myself needing a bit of time alone for sanity in general. HOWEVER, I am a bit bummed that she is gone at the moment- not because I do not have plenty to do, but because the key that she gave me for the front door was actually a copy of the key to our apartment, and therefore I can only come in and leave by climbing through the window that is a half story above the ground. The neighbors have noticed.
love love.
Živjo! Hope that you're enjoying whatever you're doing right now... I can safely say that I am, though I've had a fair share of complications already- and it is just the beginning.
For those of you who do not yet know, I am living in Radovljica, Slovenia- 7 km from the gorgeous Lake Bled, 10 from Vintgar Canyon (a.k.a. 100 waterfalls...). Unfortunately, I could not afford a spot in the castle, but am living instead with a woman and her daughter near the center. We're communicating well- my Slovene has improved tremendously(!!) but still find myself needing a bit of time alone for sanity in general. HOWEVER, I am a bit bummed that she is gone at the moment- not because I do not have plenty to do, but because the key that she gave me for the front door was actually a copy of the key to our apartment, and therefore I can only come in and leave by climbing through the window that is a half story above the ground. The neighbors have noticed.
love love.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Bad idea
Those giant Milka Bars? They are not good for people with little self-control around delicious chocoately things.
noted.
noted.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
All's Well That Ends Well
...let's just hope this ends well, eh?
Today has been quite a day.
(written Tuesday, Aug 23rd)
_________________________________________________
Oh my, had my first battle with bureaucracy on Tuesday... thought for a moment that I might be deported, but surely if they didn't kick out Sam Greenberg, they will not kick ME out...
So what happened, eh? I arrive to Slovenia 2 weeks ago. It's been a bit chaotic- afterall I have made a few friends in the past 2 years that I love very dearly and have been eager to visit in addition to the pseudo-family. Plus I had to relax on the seaside, make new friends, explore nature, and form a crush on a charming young Slovenec... these things take energy... (don't worry, potential suitors- the crush is dissipating)
In the midst of all of exhausting wonder, I received a phone call. This phone call, in fact, came at the perfect time to destroy my ecstasy at purchasing a bike (which, btw is BEAUTIFUL. I will attach a picture soon- it's a men's Hybrid, blue and silver... perhaps would prefer a woman's bike, but the price was unbeatable). I couldn't make out everything in the phone call, only things like:
''Your work permit was rejected''
''We have to get these things Apostilled''
''We can't pay you until October''
''You might have to go to Washington''
Huh? Are you serious? I sent all of the documents, along with multiple clarifying emails.
Luckily, I am the most blessed woman in the world and have people taking care of me at every corner. So thankful, dear parents- mom, thank you for your incredible organization that allows me to know exactly where documents are even from 7 time zones away, Oče- thank you for being a knight in shining armor and letting this Apostille issue eat up your morning at work (and then afternoon? Evening?) without a single complaint, for taking everything to the post office, and for making photocopies to send to me (remember! Do not unstaple!!!).
I think it's all going to be ok. At least, that is what people keep reminding me. Fighting against the typical-nicole-panic-state, trying to keep calm and carry on...
Love you all.
-Nika
ps. I promise- future posts will be more entertaining.
Today has been quite a day.
(written Tuesday, Aug 23rd)
_________________________________________________
Oh my, had my first battle with bureaucracy on Tuesday... thought for a moment that I might be deported, but surely if they didn't kick out Sam Greenberg, they will not kick ME out...
So what happened, eh? I arrive to Slovenia 2 weeks ago. It's been a bit chaotic- afterall I have made a few friends in the past 2 years that I love very dearly and have been eager to visit in addition to the pseudo-family. Plus I had to relax on the seaside, make new friends, explore nature, and form a crush on a charming young Slovenec... these things take energy... (don't worry, potential suitors- the crush is dissipating)
In the midst of all of exhausting wonder, I received a phone call. This phone call, in fact, came at the perfect time to destroy my ecstasy at purchasing a bike (which, btw is BEAUTIFUL. I will attach a picture soon- it's a men's Hybrid, blue and silver... perhaps would prefer a woman's bike, but the price was unbeatable). I couldn't make out everything in the phone call, only things like:
''Your work permit was rejected''
''We have to get these things Apostilled''
''We can't pay you until October''
''You might have to go to Washington''
Huh? Are you serious? I sent all of the documents, along with multiple clarifying emails.
Luckily, I am the most blessed woman in the world and have people taking care of me at every corner. So thankful, dear parents- mom, thank you for your incredible organization that allows me to know exactly where documents are even from 7 time zones away, Oče- thank you for being a knight in shining armor and letting this Apostille issue eat up your morning at work (and then afternoon? Evening?) without a single complaint, for taking everything to the post office, and for making photocopies to send to me (remember! Do not unstaple!!!).
I think it's all going to be ok. At least, that is what people keep reminding me. Fighting against the typical-nicole-panic-state, trying to keep calm and carry on...
Love you all.
-Nika
ps. I promise- future posts will be more entertaining.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Why hello hour 39 of traveling.
My watch says 7:47am. It's 11:47pm in Kansas. 6:47 in Slovenija. 1:47am in Nova Scotia. I am in Helsinki. Why? I don't know... I'm too tired to remember anything- I have not gotten a good night's sleep since Sunday. Is it Thursday? Thursday.
Apparently I can only sleep at really inconvenient times on this trip (while I am waiting in line for the bathrooms, while they're serving meals on flights, moments after my tea was delivered to my table in Manchester). Give me a solid chuck of time in a relatively-quiet airport after a full-energy fight just to stay awake on the airport shuttle bus, and I will defeat all odds and stay up throughout the night.
Still, I am safe. In 5 hours or so I will be at my somewhat-new home... and I cannot wait explore that place and figure out what that means. I'll probably let you know.
Apparently I can only sleep at really inconvenient times on this trip (while I am waiting in line for the bathrooms, while they're serving meals on flights, moments after my tea was delivered to my table in Manchester). Give me a solid chuck of time in a relatively-quiet airport after a full-energy fight just to stay awake on the airport shuttle bus, and I will defeat all odds and stay up throughout the night.
Still, I am safe. In 5 hours or so I will be at my somewhat-new home... and I cannot wait explore that place and figure out what that means. I'll probably let you know.
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