CHILDREN!

Well, since this is the number one reason I am here I suppose I should talk about my teaching experience thus far. These are my adorable students: Igor, Dasha, Barbara (really Viera or something like that...I don't know where she got Barbara but it makes me laugh because it is so American and that is what she said for us to call her), and Maria. They are my Elementary kids which means they are learning to read and spell and write. It is so cute to hear them discuss things in their limited vocabulary. Often they get so excited about elaborating on a subject that they understand so well with Russian words but they don't know how to express all their thoughts in English. I just have to sit and watch them try so hard to find the words and usually they never do. They ask, "Please I can speak Russian?" in hopes that one of the other students will know the English word for the Russian word they tell them but that is strictly prohibited. I have to give them strikes (not physical ones of course) when they speak in their native tongue. It really does help them learn more quickly and efficiently. I have this group every Tuesday and Thursday for three hours straight. It really amazes me how well behaved they are. We do have a "snack" time which is everyone's favorite time...including mine. Presents are very custom here and so the kids bring me snacks too. As horrible as some of the food is, Ukraine definitely has a golden selection of treats. In America you are the lucky kid if your mom packed you a Little Debbies snack in your lunch. Here, they bring like four packages of delicious chocolate covered cookies and yummy fruit juices. I love it! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I rotate every 30 minutes with the three other ILP teachers because there are four "Primary-level" groups. Each group is at a different level and my home group is at Basic Reading 2. This means they are being prepared for "Elementary" (the level I teach Tuesdays and Thursdays). They, too, are just adorable (the whole no smile thing is part of the culture. I promise I don't scare or torture them, which is kinda what the depressed expressions suggest): Sophia, Herman, Marina, Nastia, and Dasha. This is a different Dasha (obviously) and I often get quite tongue-tied what with the 3 Sashas and 1 Masha there at the same time as well. They have all been very patient with me, seeing that half the time I just make things up as I go. This has been very frustrating, actually, because we didn't get the week of training here like we were supposed to. I arrived Tuesday night and started teaching Thursday. They have a big binder full of curriculum pamphlets which would have been nice to have before actually being expected to teach. However, we are figuring it out and I really like my assignments. I feel like the teaching I get to do has much more purpose, as opposed to the other teachers I am with. It is hard to explain the differences but in the end all of it is equally important...but I get to teach content. The primary level teachers' purpose is to get the kids to mimic what they say and it just seems monotonous...like I said though, that is one of the important step in the program. Anyway, I am very grateful I have this responsibility to fulfill while I am here. It is overwhelming and stressful right now but I know it will be rewarding for everyone. The kids keep me entertained and laughing, so really I could't ask for a better stress-inflictor (if that makes sense).