Lesson #1

Afternoon folks. I'm about halfway through my day at school, and I'm on lunch now. I thought I'd write a quick update and tell you about teaching my first lesson.

I taught the last section of a 4-part class. The others did the introduction, the reading exercise, the grammar, and then I did the listening exercise. I felt very comfortable, and I think things went well. There wasn't enough time to do everything (wow, I sound like a real teacher!), but I managed to "edit" fairly effectively. For example, we did only 2 of 6 sentences during one exercise to save a bit of time. One student came in really late today, so it was hard to determine what I should ask her, but I wasn't sure she was really following what was happening. I think I handled it alright; next time, I would make sure to take a minute while the others were busy and just catch her up a bit more. I also think I make have spoken in slightly too low of a grading... sort of like I was talking to jr highers instead of adults. I need to watch out for that.

Afterwards, one of my peers told me that I did a great job, and was really a natural. Ego boost! I said that it's all in the genes (thanks mum and dad) and the childhood (playing school in the basement). We do our feedback group with our tutors next, and I'm very interested to hear what he has to say. :) I think I might be an Ok teacher. I definitely use the skills I gained in both my degree and with volunteering with the seniors here, so I feel I've got a bit of an advantage.

I'm still on top of things, and I don't have to teach tomorrow, so I can focus on getting a few other things done. However, since I don't teach tomorrow, I teach 3 times next week... it'll be crazy getting ready!! :D I love it, I do!

Off I go for a bite to eat. I"ll likely write another post tonight, while I'm waiting for Megan (teacher from Chicago) to wrap up her class.

Love you all. Thanks for the emails, and please keep writing!

Love,
Elizabeth

Second Post for the Day

Ahoy hoy!

Well, I'm still at school (yay for 12 hr days), but I've mostly wrapped up what I have to do. I did my lesson in plan in pencil, so I could adjust it... and now I can't photocopy it so it'll show up, and I have to give a copy to my tutor. Aargh! I guess I'll check with him tomorrow about what to do. I really don't want to have to redo it... it takes forever.

Today was (is?) looong. I had to be here at 8:55 to meet my students. I'm working with the high level group for the first two weeks, and they're practically fluent. It's quite easy visiting with them... I imagine the transition to the low level group will be quite a shock to the system. Today, we got some information from them, and then observed while our tutors taught the first class.

Have I explained what a tutor is yet? They're like our instructors. My tutor's name is David, and he's actually the course director. He's the one who will observe my first two weeks of teaching, and give me all the constructive criticism and such.

Anyhoo, after we did our class, we had a 15 minute break. Then we did our introduction to our Unknown Language Journal. We spend 4 hours learning an unknown language in order to understand a) how our learners feel, and b) to see how you run an immersion class when no one understands a word you're saying. We have to do an extensive written assignment on the experience, so it took awhile to explain.

Then, we started our unknown language. I'm learning Gaelic! It's really difficult, because our teacher doesn't speak any English to us at all. But that's how I'll be wherever I teach, since I don't speak any other language. It's challenging, but really fun, since our whole class really gets along well.

Then... we did our peer teaching, where I taught the rainstorm game. It went well, but I was a bit short for the time (I had left over minutes) but at least I didn't go over. Some of my classmates didn't prep at all, and just tried to "wing it." A few got away with it, but others you could really tell... :)

After that (I told you it was a long day...) we did our "feedback group" about our morning class. We just talk about what went well, and what could be improved, and then David gave us our lesson assignments for tomorrow. I have to teach for 25 minutes at the end of tomorrow's lesson. I get to do the listening tape... I HATED those in French class.

We had 32 seconds to grab some lunch (it was 4 PM), and then my group met up to talk about our students, so we could do an assignment on our first impressions. I spent this evening doing that assignment, making notes on my Unknown Language Journal, writing my lesson plan, getting my materials together for a lesson plan.... It never stops! Mum, dad... I have so much more respect for you as teachers now! And it's only day 2.

I'm absolutely pooped. I don't know how I'm going to keep up with everything! One nice thing is that the teacher from Chicago (she's one of my flatmates) told me that I have a nice "teacher's voice." Mum, dad, thank you for 22 years of "teacher's voice" lectures. :D

No funny stories today. Lucy and I are sitting here trying to think of one to entertain you, but no such luck. Perhaps tomorrow... check back then.

I've noticed my posts are being posted Canadian time, so I think I'll change that to Czech time.

I love you! Keep writing.

Love,
Elizabeth

Jumping Right In

Hello lovely readers! I imagine you thought I was dead; a whole day without a post! Turns out that they weren't kidding when they said this course will be labour-intensive; I'll not have much free time.

First, the house. It is not so much a house as a flat... it's one floor of a house that we have to ourselves. It is very 1970's, all orange and brown. There are 4 bedrooms, one shared and 3 single. Then there are 4 bathrooms. One with a sink and shower (but no toilet), one with a sink, shower/bath and toilet, one with just a toilet (no sink... you think they'd have arranged this one and the first one a little better...), and another with toilet, sink and shower. Very odd, all those bathrooms. Our "kitchen" is two small fridges, a camping hot plate with two burners, and a table. No chairs, no stove, no SINK. We have to do our dishes and wash our produce in the bathroom. Very odd.

My room is quite large and sunny; I really like it. The bed is comfy, and I have a desk/table and a couch. It's orange and brown, but actually pretty nice. The door locks with an old-fashioned key, like all the bedrooms. I've also got a door onto the balcony, along with 2 of the other rooms. It's kind of neat.

The flatmates are a super group. Lucy is from the Isle of Wight (I'm not sure I spelled that right). She's very tall and slim, and knows how to surf. She's been travelling for quite a while, and is very friendly. We've already visited lots, and I think we'll really get to be friends. Fenalda is from Brazil, but has also travelled all over. She's a bit older, and is very cute and funny. She has so much energy! Alex is the only boy (I don't think that bothers him much...) and he's also from England, and has also been travelling round. He's half English, half Russian, and he's kind of quiet, but really nice. He's very knowledgeable about things, and can understand Czech, so he's definitely nice to have around. Megan is from Chicago (she teaches the equivalent of English 101 at a 2 year college), and this is her first big trip overseas, like me! She and I have lots in common, and I'm really enjoying getting to know her. All in all, it's a great group, and we're all getting along.

The first day of class was a bit overwhelming. You just jump right in! We talked about the course overview, and did a bit of observation, and then went to the pub. Ah, the pub. Life is very pub-focused here. It's nice though, because I got to sit and get know some of the other students (there are 12 of all together, 6 male, 6 female) that I don't live with. Today, I met the students that I'll teach tomorrow. Tomorrow! The third day of the course, and I have to teach a 25 minute lesson. My tutor made it very clear exactly what I had to teach, but I still have to get myself organized, and make sure I know what I'm doing. It's a bit overwhelming.

Later today I have to teach my classmates how to do something. The idea is that we spend 6 minutes (yes 6. Not 5. Not 7. 6.) teaching, just so that the tutors can observe us and our strength weaknesses before they unleash us on unsuspecting Czech students. I'm going to teach the rain game, you know, the one where a group snaps its fingers/stomps its feet/etc. to make it sounds like a rainstorm. I think it should go alright... I practiced a few times last night, and I think it should go smoothly.

This is already a very long post, so I'll end it here. If you're curious about anything in specific, email me, and I'll fill you in!! More tomorrow, or maybe later today if I can get the time.

I love you all. Keep writing to me!

Love,
Elizabeth

Good morning, good morning...

Aloha, all! (Dobry den is getting a bit boring, no?)

Yesterday was a rough day. Very, very lonely. :( And I was very tired, because of not sleeping the night before. The only thing that cheered me up was seeing a reminder of home on the metro... Mormons! They looked EXACTLY like they do in Edmonton: white shirts, backpacks, black slide-into-the-pocket name tags, and ties tied too short. I wouldn't be surprised to find that they were North Americans here on their missions. But it still made me smile.

I spend a lot of time here smiling, or laughing to myself. I went to the Tesco (it's like a superer version of a super wal-mart), and they have instant noodles with an... interesting brand name. How about a little "Grunt" for dinner? I almost died in the soup aisle. I'm surprised I wasn't asked to leave. Also of note, for any of you who have ever had the misery of cashiering, they get to sit here. In little office chairs. They actually looked comfortable! :)

This whole Tesco business was very confusing. I sort of knew that it was supposed to have groceries. I looked on all 5 floors. Perfume, clothes, suits, stationery, computers, home furnishings... no food. Finally I asked. They keep a whole grocery store in the basement! It's amazing! You can buy EVERYTHING at this place. wowzah.

I woke up this morning feeling much less homesick, but still grumpy. Sightseeing by myself is getting boring, and the only thing I really wanted to do today is to MOVE INTO THE HOUSE. But I can't do that until 5pm. :( I was going to stay at the hotel til 10, but there was nothing to do there, so at 8, I headed into central Prague. I had no idea what I wanted to do. Nothing is open at that time, and there were no tourists around. I decided to wander (I do that a lot here). I sort of ran into the Charles' Bridge, a major tourist attraction. I got to walk the length of it, admiring the view, and the gorgeous statues that line it, with very few other people. It was so enjoyable! What a great way to start the morning.

Then I wandered off (and just so we're clear, when I say wander, I mean wander. I just randomly turn up and down streets.) and managed to wander myself right in front of the astronomical clock. You should google that for pictures, because it's so neat. I was just in time to watch the hour change, so I got to see the apostles pop out the windows, and watch the skeleton ring the bell. Very cool!!

Now I'm off to eat lunch on a patio somewhere, and while (wile?) away the afternoon. Then, at around 4, I'll head to back to the hotel (I left my luggage there), and then cab it to the house. I'll let you all know what the house is like tomorrow.

Love you all, keep writing to me!

Love,
Elizabeth

Day two... and the jetlag sets in

Dobry den! I'm sitting in the most gorgeous little internet cafe that I found totally by accident. I didn't feel like transferring on the metro, so to avoid that, and to tire myself out, I decided to walk the extra distance to the school. The school, you say? But didn't our intrepid pilgrim find the school yesterday? Well yes, I did, but it took me forever, and I'm not really sure that I actually know where it is. So i'm going to go again today, just to make sure I really know how to get there.

Anyhoo, this cafe is lovely. It's an old building (actually, from now on, assume things are old here. almost everything is) that's very tall. The English computers are one the second floor, which is actually just a small platform, maybe the size of my living room at home. I had to climb a steep and winding staircase to get up here; very cool. It's also much more reasonable than the hotel... but I guess that's what one would assume.

I'm feeling pretty tired at 9:22 this morning.... I was wiped out at about 10 last night, and crawled into bed. I didn't fall asleep til after midnight, though, and then was wide awake at 2. Amber, thankyouthankyouthankyou for the CDs. I got through the middle of the night by listening to episodes 6-10 of the LOTR. I actually thought about going out to the road to the payphone and phoning someone just to pass the time... but I don't have a phonecard, and the hotel shops were closed. Imagine that. Closed. At 2am. Loss of good business. ;)

So I got up at 6, and cleaned up, and wandered down for the hotel breakfast. It was very good... plenty of fresh fruit. Also plenty of things that were jellied. Kind of like headcheese. But with vegetables... I contemplated stealing a piece to photograph, because it's impossible to describe how bizarre this stuff was, but I thought that it might be hard to explain to the occasionally crabby hotel staff. Trust me though... it did not look like something I'd wake up, roll over, stretch, and think "oh boy! time for jellied stew for breakfast!"

I met some nice Norweigans yesterday, and we visited for quite a bit. The woman is a stay at home mum of two boys, 2 and 3 yrs old. Her boyfriend works 12-16 hour days, so they both needed a break. They chose Prague because it was a flight deal... $100 USD roundtrip each. WOW. Imagine wanting to go somewhere cheap... Vancouver? Nah. Toronto? Done that. Prague? Yeah, let's just go to Prague. :D We chatted til a man came out, and started to play the beautiful grand piano.

At least it LOOKED like a grand piano... big, wooden, fancy... turns out it was some kind of synthesizer. It was really, really awful. Very "cheap lounge" music! Also, very loud. I headed into the restaurant to escape. I could still hear him, but at least it wasn't so bad. And I escaped just in time, because the pianist began to wail, I mean sing, along with his synthesizing. Sitting across from me in the restaurant was an elderly man with an accordion, having a beer. When the synthesizer man began to play "Blueberry Hill," and wail along in terrible English, the accordion man looked like he was about to vomit, and started to play the "aloha" song on the accordion. (You know... aloha-lay, aloha-lee, da dum du da da da da, da dum da da da dee...) It sounds like it should have been awful, but he was great! He moved on to some rousing polkas, and then a little gospel (GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH...) The british at the table next to me kept trying to sing along, so he kept changing what he was playing. Absolutely fabulous! hahahahhahah... it was great! :D

I quite liked the accordion man. I hope to hear him again.

Girls, as I wrap this up, I want to ask you a favor. I have a seen a new fashion style, and I think we should emulate it. Nylons are very "in" in Prague. Not just nylons, but knee-highs. And I have seen the epitome of fashionableness while on the metro.... Picture this:

A middle aged woman, wearing a tidy blouse. Pretty, well cut, not loud. Then, stylish capri pants, very nice. Almost exactly an inch below wear the capris stop, the knee highs start. But not just any knee highs... *fishnet* knee highs. Flesh colored. I almost wept at the beauty of this creature of fashion. Hilary and Kathie, I think your legs would look especially good in this style. Please get started on this right away, so that when I return, all good Canadian woman will have caught on.

Enough for now. I might hit up the internet later today, which will be first in the morning for you guys, so that I can chat with a few of you.

Love you all.

Write to me!!

Love,
Elizabeth

Day One in Prague

Excuse while I check my traveller's guide...

Oh yes,

Dobry den.

Good afternoon from beautiful Prague, and one tired traveller who's made it to suppertime on her first day on her own without actually crying yet. Yes! Score one for the good guys.

I slept late this morning, which was nice, because I don't feel jetlagged at all. *touch wood* I decided my priorities were to find an internet cafe (needed the address of my school), find my school, and find my house that I'm moving into on Sunday. The hotel shuttles you to the metro station, and I knew from my guidebook that I wanted an all day metro pass, so I managed that just fine. The metro is really easy to sort out here, so I think I'll stick with it whenever possible. I made it to one of the central stops, headed up the stairs, and... WOW.

The first thing to greet my eyes? du du du du du... I'm lovin' it. Yup. McDonalds. Got past that, and discovered that this city is beautiful. Even the graffiti covered buildings are beautiful. I just wandered around, staring upwards for quite awhile. I found an internet cafe, and got my addresses, and headed off to find them.

I wandered for a good 2 minutes before I realized that in Prague, maps are necessary. Nothing is numbered. Everything is names. Like an entire city of the Centennial neighborhood. Not so good for me. I got a map. Next problem. I have lost any sense of direction I might once have had. I cannot for the life of me figure out basic N, S, E, W. As you might guess, I took a while to find my school! But find it I did, and it's in this nice little courtyard; I'll take pictures. Then, Dana from the school highlighted my map to show me where the house is. It's right out in the burbs, but is near a metro station. I masterly took the metro (just reminding you that I'm competent at something) to the last stop, and set out to find my house. In the wrong direction. Ok. Figured it out pretty quickly, turned around, and found the house.

Now I can a) ride the metro, b) get to school, c) move to the house on Sunday. Sweet! I rule! It's a bit lonely, because I haven't yet d) made any friends, but I'm going to go sit in the hotel garden and read, and then have dinner in the restaurant, and maybe I'll someone there.

I should probably go and do something that doesn't cost 3 krowns/minute. Talk to you later.

Write me!

Love,
Elizabeth

The Pilgrim has Arrived

'allo all!

I've arrived in Prague. It was grey and disgusting when the plane landed (I wasn't even sure there was land under all the clouds and turbulence). I felt grey and disgusting, because a) I smelled really bad, and b) I couldn't figure out how to use the payphone to call a cab... or where to find a cab... or just generally how to get out the airport and to my hotel. Eventually, I got an airport mini bus that cost 960 krowns. It's as expensive in english as it sounds in czech. But I made it! And my hotel is really nice. I slept for 12 hours last night, and woke up to a beautiful, sunny morning.

I figured out the metro, bought a hotdog off a cart, and managed to find an internet cafe. Not bad, eh? Now I have to go and find my house (I move in on Sunday) and the school, and I'll be set.

So far, things are good. I must look like a local, because I was asked to do a survey... in Czech. I had to turn that particular opportunity down. ;) I've discovered that if you just stand in front of the hotel desk and wait for someone to acknowledge you (like we do in Canada), you will be ignored forever. So you gotta step up. I'm working on that. It still takes longer for me to get help than anyone else!!

Not much else has happened. I'll fill you in on what happens finding the school and house later on.

I love you all! Write to me!!

hi from Copenhagen

Hello all! Here I am in Copenhagen, typing quickly because everything in Denmark is very expensive. I accidentally bought dinner for 16 euros... and I was in a sort of cafeteria! I was very shocked, but it was too late by then to change it, so I tried to get 24 dollars of enjoyment out of my chicken. :)

They did not want to let me onto the airplane in Edmonton. Mum had just left, thinking I was set to go, and all of a sudden the ticket lady starts saying that I need a visa. Nonsense! I managed to stay very calm, and after checking with another woman, checking two different computer programs, and asking me what I knew about the Czech Republic, they decided it was safe for me to leave with just my passport. Phew!

The first two flights were uneventful. I sat next to pleasant women both times. We chatted a bit, but mostly did our own thing. Amber, the Lord of the Rings CDs are amazing. I just finished episode 3. Hils, I did borrow your book, it got me through the Chicago layover. Now if I can just survive this one... ;)

I got off the plane from Chicago and had the nerve to ask someone which gate my flight to Prague would leave from. The woman looked at my ticket, and said, as if I was somehow in control of this, 'you're far too early. Check again 45 minutes before your flight leaves.' I realize that other countries do things differently, but I have to admit I was a bit shocked that an international airport only knows what gates its flights leave from 45 minutes in advance!!´

I'm feeling very icky, so I thought I'd buy a tshirt here and change (I forgot a change of clothes in my carry on... good thing I spotted my suitcase out the window, so I know it's at least in Europe!), but the cheapest was a 10 dollar wal+mart type plain tank that they want 25 dollars for. Stinky it is then, at least til Prague and a shower.

Well, I'd better go and wander around some more. Maybe I'll go into the Hermes store and see how they treat smelly Canadians... and who knows, maybe my gate will be up. After all, it is only 2 hrs til my flight... :D

Love you all! Write to me!

Getting Ready

I wasn't particularly planning on posting in this blog until I had actually left for Europe, but then I figured maybe I wanted to check that it was working before I was on my own without my computer-gifted friends to help me out!

The past couple weeks have been crazy! Trying to pack as much as possible into boxes to be stored, working at Safeway, cleaning, trying to tie up loose ends (immunizations, anyone?), and I still have to do a mystery shopping assignment. o.O Very busy. But I'm getting more and more excited to leave... and I'm also excited for the going away party. I've been checking the weather website obsessively, and I think that it's going to be a hot, sunny day... perfect for a picnic! I can't believe the number of people that have said they will come. Hilary and I may have to do some baking to back up the cake I ordered.

Hilary found a song that I think describes how I feel about going away for so long. It's called Seasons of Love and it's from the musical Rent.

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets
in midnights, in cups of coffee
in inches, in miles
in laughter, in strife

In - five hundrder twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love.

It's intimidating and exciting to be going away on a trip that's so long I think I can safely call it a journey, and I like how this song (full lyrics here) describes what the important moments are going to be.

Enough. This is a long enough testing out post, and I have five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred errands to run this morning.

Catch you later!

-Elizabeth

P.S. I just want to check and make certain I know how to post pictures on here. So, for your viewing pleasure, here is an image for your viewing pleasure.