PLC Day ii

We showed the visitors around the school and had a service together.  Then lunch with the Grade 2 students.  Went hat shopping, but you can check that out in the previous post.  The Grade 1 students checked into the hotel this afternoon.  We had a big dinner to kick things off with some of our school officials and "big potatoes" (their version of "big cheese").  That was followed by an ice breaker/get to know you activity.  Not too much else today. The real fun starts tomorrow.

Random fact:  One of the things I enjoy about hotels here is the floor rug in the elevator.  They tell you what day of the week it is.

How many carts can fit on one truck bed?  I'm guessing they could add some more, but I don't want to be that driver on a steep winding downhill because I'm sure by weight it is overloaded as is. 

New hat

It has been quite cold here lately so I have finally broken out my winter hat to help keep my head and ears warm.  It is a navy blue knit hat that is more sporty than fashionable and fits snugly on my head.  Last night we had dinner with the Grade 2 students and the American team.  I was looking at a hat one of the girls at our table had and that turned into a conversation about how they thought I should get a hat.  Knowing that the girl I sat next to enjoys shopping, I suggested that she could take me hat shopping sometime.  She suggested tomorrow after our lunch (also with the Grade 2 students and Americans).  I was a little surprised because I was thinking about sometime after break (like in March), but seeing how much she really wanted to do it and knowing I had a little free time I agreed.

We poled some people at dinner and at again at lunch today and the overwhelming majority said I should get a red hat... go figure, it's the favorite color over here, I guess it's good I like red too and it goes well with my black jacket.  After lunch we set out for what the Americans call the "International Market" although it is more accurately translated "Market City" which it really is and there's really nothing "international" about it.  We weaved through the maze of shops and booths, from one building to the next, checking out the different options.  I don't know how many different hats I tried on; it seemed the shop keepers kept suggesting ones that I would rather not be caught dead in and at least my friend agreed.  We ended up going back to the first shop we stopped at to buy a simple one... no bling and no bows... haha. 

I not only have a new red hat, but more importantly I spent some time with one of our students, who can be a tough cookie to crack, doing something that she really enjoyed and also giving her the opportunity to help me.  I passed by her later that day on my way up to school and I was wearing my new hat, she had a huge grin on her face.  I hope this opens the door some to get to know her a little more.

PLC Day i

Before you ask, PLC is abbreviation of our winter English camp, PL is our city's initials and the C stands for Connection, which happens to be a very apt description of what it is.

During the PLC we (all the staff, students, and visiting American team) stay together in a hotel.  This morning we heading out to the nearby hotel (a different one than what we had been planning on up until about two weeks ago) and started getting things ready.  We hung names signs on the doors of each room our group is staying in and put together info packets for everyone.  Things went very smoothly and we even had some extra time to spare before Chris and the American team arrived.  Their trip went smoothly as well.

It was great to see some more familiar faces as they came off the bus.  We helped them get settled in and then the staff snuck out to grab lunch and then returned in time for our orientation meeting.  The orientation meeting was followed by dinner with the Grade 2 students. 

So far so good!  We have a great team here and I'm ready to get this thing started.  I'm also looking forward to being able to room with my good friend, who is our office manager, this week.  I'm hoping to capitalize and have some good conversations during our time together. 

Second Quarter... check

This year, we ended 2nd Quarter on Wednesday Jan. 5, giving ourselves some "margin" between the end of the quarter and beginning of our winter English camp.  For those that gave finals this week, it gives us some time to finish grading, as well as little down time, before jumping right in to the camp.  We have still had a meeting or two to make sure we are clear about the schedule and when we need to be participating or responsible for certain things.  All of our students are still around and two of the team members for the camp are here already, so not to make it sound like all work and no play, there have definitely been some times to hang out, play a game, or watch a movie.

The camp is for our Grade 1 students and the impact is has on them is amazing.  Chris is off picking up the rest of the team of Americans who are coming in to assist with the camp and bring them here; they will arrive tomorrow!  The Grade 2 students, while free to go home as soon as classes were over, have stuck around because on Saturday and Sunday they have the opportunity to have dinner and lunch with the whole team, a large majority were here last year for their English camp and its a really great time for the to catch up.  Not only are the students excited, but we teachers are as well.  There are 21 other Americans coming in and their presence is sort of like a breath of fresh air which helps bring new life.  Even though, I have only met most of them once or twice last year, but I feel like I know them much better than the amount of time I have spent with them would indicate.

Well, the fun begins tomorrow, but I still have a little bit of grading left to finish so that's it for now.

New Year's

As with most holidays, this one takes on a much different form over here.  In America, many people gather in each others houses or public meeting places to count down and ring in the new year.  First off, none of us pay for cable or satellite because is only one English channel and certainly no images from Times Square because the new year comes thirteen hours before it arrives on the East Coast.  If we had cable, there might be a small chance of watching celebrations in the capital or possibly some other nearby country.  As it is, in the city, the new year came and went as any other normal night out here; not much thought is given to the fact that the western, or solar, calendar starts another year except with the fact that it is now time to start writing "2011."  The real fun around here will be for lunar new year in about a month. 

Our little group made due though, anyone who was interested started the evening with a game of Settlers of Catan, followed by a movie, and then in lieu of watching "the ball" drop, we held buckeyes (small balls of peanut butter dipped in chocolate) above our heads and counted down incrementally lowering them into our mouths precisely at the stroke of twelve.  Which is at least tasty if nothing else.  :)