January 26, 2013
Okay, I love this country, and I love its people, and I love the program... yeah...
Today I got to meet Dima's (our native coordinators') grandmother. She's super nice, I wish I knew enough Russian/Lithuanian to communicate with her though.
Then I got to see how they make a cake-like dessert, I forget what it's called. My batteries in my camera are all dead now, but my camera is also full of pictures and videos about making this spikey, hollow cake, so it's worth it. I will post the pictures another day, it's nearly midnight here.
Then I visited the hill of crosses. At 5 pm. It was dark and incredibly awesome, but then we heard a woman's voice speak quietly from somewhere even though there was nobody there, and Dima got spooked and we left. I couldn't take pictures, but it would've been too dark for that anyway. It really was amazing though, I never would've expected so many crosses, and just when you think you've seen them all, you reach the top of the hill and see more paths you can explore. I'm so going back.
Then I went to a genuine Lithuanian food restaurant, and got to try some zeppiline(sp?). It's so good, I have yet to meet a food here I don't like.
Now I sleep, tomorrow perhaps I write more.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Busy Busy Busy
January 23, 2013
Ugh, between being sick and being behind in my lesson planning, I haven't been getting much else done. I'll write a quick word in here before I forget though.
Lesson planning is ugh. You don't even hardly use your lesson plans anyway, so I have trouble seeing the point. But it is mandatory, and it is mandatory the Thursday before you start teaching the next week. (kill me now).
I think something must be wrong with my computer, it likes to tell me I clicked on something when I did not. It's not bad, it's just annoying. Hopefully it doesn't tell me I hit delete on this post again, that's already happened to me once.
I swear I'm going to look like Cousin It by the time I get back home - I knew I should have brought a lint roller or twelve. Oh well, at least I have shampoo and conditioner here, as well as body wash.
I think something is wrong with their water though, even getting clean, my hair is more damaged over here.
I have been having some trouble with being left behind alot. I hardly blame the other girls, why would they want to slow down for me when they are in Lithuania? When will that happen again? Let's just say it's fine by me unless it's getting dark, and until they get mad at me for it, I am officially hoarding one pair of our 'shared' keys so I don't end up locked out.
I wish I felt like I could do more out here, like exploring and such. For now, I am teaching.
And y'no, all whining and pouty humor aside, there's nothing better I could be doing out here than that.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Ugh, between being sick and being behind in my lesson planning, I haven't been getting much else done. I'll write a quick word in here before I forget though.
Lesson planning is ugh. You don't even hardly use your lesson plans anyway, so I have trouble seeing the point. But it is mandatory, and it is mandatory the Thursday before you start teaching the next week. (kill me now).
I think something must be wrong with my computer, it likes to tell me I clicked on something when I did not. It's not bad, it's just annoying. Hopefully it doesn't tell me I hit delete on this post again, that's already happened to me once.
I swear I'm going to look like Cousin It by the time I get back home - I knew I should have brought a lint roller or twelve. Oh well, at least I have shampoo and conditioner here, as well as body wash.
I think something is wrong with their water though, even getting clean, my hair is more damaged over here.
I have been having some trouble with being left behind alot. I hardly blame the other girls, why would they want to slow down for me when they are in Lithuania? When will that happen again? Let's just say it's fine by me unless it's getting dark, and until they get mad at me for it, I am officially hoarding one pair of our 'shared' keys so I don't end up locked out.
I wish I felt like I could do more out here, like exploring and such. For now, I am teaching.
And y'no, all whining and pouty humor aside, there's nothing better I could be doing out here than that.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Children Without English
January 15, 2013
I love these kids, teaching them is a real challenge though. I don't have enough time to plan the lessons every day, so I basically find my number of materials, keep energetic, and improvise the entire time. It's really stressful.
I feel like I should blog more, since it's been a few days, but I need sleep. Who needs sleep? I need sleep!
I have some really really sweet kids, but it's hard to keep them involved sometimes, the groups are too diverse. My first few groups know too much, and I struggle to figure out what to teach them. My last group knows hardly any English at all, and I struggle to teach them to speak up.
My first lesson was kitchen, and it went pretty well (when it wasn't chaotic). The kids all went away from that lesson thinking I'm crazy for "listening to bread and butter."
Today I taught the kids to play Follow the Leader. It was a lot more involved, and the kids learned really well, but I'm worn out. I can only jump in place for so long before my cane becomes more a necessity than just merely nice to have.
Oh well, I'll get the hang of this eventually.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
I love these kids, teaching them is a real challenge though. I don't have enough time to plan the lessons every day, so I basically find my number of materials, keep energetic, and improvise the entire time. It's really stressful.
I feel like I should blog more, since it's been a few days, but I need sleep. Who needs sleep? I need sleep!
I have some really really sweet kids, but it's hard to keep them involved sometimes, the groups are too diverse. My first few groups know too much, and I struggle to figure out what to teach them. My last group knows hardly any English at all, and I struggle to teach them to speak up.
My first lesson was kitchen, and it went pretty well (when it wasn't chaotic). The kids all went away from that lesson thinking I'm crazy for "listening to bread and butter."
Today I taught the kids to play Follow the Leader. It was a lot more involved, and the kids learned really well, but I'm worn out. I can only jump in place for so long before my cane becomes more a necessity than just merely nice to have.
Oh well, I'll get the hang of this eventually.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Planning Without A Clue
January 12, 2013
I don't know if it's just me or what, but the milk here is super delicious. I think it's like, 2.5% or something, and it's the sweetest milk I have ever tasted.
So today I got a feel for what my schedule will be like for the lesson schedules for the school. I'm excited. For the next two weeks I get to teach Games and Kitchen to little children who know oh so much better than I do about how the program works. I highly doubt I'll get much teaching done in the beginning, more likely I'll end up disciplining all day. But it'll be worth it in the end if it means they listen to me when I call for order.
I also had my first Lithuanian conversation today. This lady stopped me on the street to ask me something, but I had no clue. "Sorry, I'm American. I don't know Lithuanian. Me No Speake You Language." Okay, maybe I didn't say exactly that, but I don't know how else to respond. Poor lady just looked lost too, I hope she was able to find the answer to what her question was.
I swear I went through half a box of Kleenex today. Yes, the Kleenex boxes are the same size here as they are at home. I seriously hope I haven't gotten sick, that would be so not cool.
I've been falling behind my group when we travel to places like school and market now. I'm not too concerned about it, since I'm pretty sure I won't be getting lost at this point (it's all very straightforward) but it is a little frustrating to know that I can't just skip up to join them, and even speeding enough to keep them in sight is exhausting and somewhat dangerous with all this ice.
I get to go to church tomorrow, I'm so excited! We're going to the Lithuanian speaking ward that starts at 2 pm. Killer thing is, I would love to attend both sessions: Russian and Lithuanian, but the Russian session starts at 10 am and I've heard it's in a different building. Plus none of the other girls are crazy enough to come with me to both sessions, and I'm pretty sure my native coordinator would discourage it greatly because he's seen me during my tougher, less flexible days.
My native coordinator has two girls, ages 5 and 6. They are the most adorable things in the world, I can't wait to have class with them.
I'll keep this post short, it's getting cold fast and while there are other things I could talk about, I think it's better I burrow under my covers and recover from this cold.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
I don't know if it's just me or what, but the milk here is super delicious. I think it's like, 2.5% or something, and it's the sweetest milk I have ever tasted.
So today I got a feel for what my schedule will be like for the lesson schedules for the school. I'm excited. For the next two weeks I get to teach Games and Kitchen to little children who know oh so much better than I do about how the program works. I highly doubt I'll get much teaching done in the beginning, more likely I'll end up disciplining all day. But it'll be worth it in the end if it means they listen to me when I call for order.
I also had my first Lithuanian conversation today. This lady stopped me on the street to ask me something, but I had no clue. "Sorry, I'm American. I don't know Lithuanian. Me No Speake You Language." Okay, maybe I didn't say exactly that, but I don't know how else to respond. Poor lady just looked lost too, I hope she was able to find the answer to what her question was.
I swear I went through half a box of Kleenex today. Yes, the Kleenex boxes are the same size here as they are at home. I seriously hope I haven't gotten sick, that would be so not cool.
I've been falling behind my group when we travel to places like school and market now. I'm not too concerned about it, since I'm pretty sure I won't be getting lost at this point (it's all very straightforward) but it is a little frustrating to know that I can't just skip up to join them, and even speeding enough to keep them in sight is exhausting and somewhat dangerous with all this ice.
I get to go to church tomorrow, I'm so excited! We're going to the Lithuanian speaking ward that starts at 2 pm. Killer thing is, I would love to attend both sessions: Russian and Lithuanian, but the Russian session starts at 10 am and I've heard it's in a different building. Plus none of the other girls are crazy enough to come with me to both sessions, and I'm pretty sure my native coordinator would discourage it greatly because he's seen me during my tougher, less flexible days.
My native coordinator has two girls, ages 5 and 6. They are the most adorable things in the world, I can't wait to have class with them.
I'll keep this post short, it's getting cold fast and while there are other things I could talk about, I think it's better I burrow under my covers and recover from this cold.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Day Without Frustration
January 11, 2012
Wow, my computer charges really fast when I plug it into 240 voltage outlets. Ha ha ha...
I'm settled now and I know where I'll be teaching, I just have a few more things I need to figure out with my fellow teachers, and then I'll be totally ready and comfortable with the idea of teaching the cute little kids... I say that now, but I'm still in my 'I love it here' mode as well, and I've heard that it only lasts for a very short time before you start to really freak out and want to go home. So we'll see how I'm feeling after my first week of teaching!
The food here is amazing, I don't think I've ever had such simple and delicious dishes before. It definitely beats all the processed food back home, sorry America. I had a rice and carrot dish with little bits of meat in it (no, I didn't ask what meat it was. It was delicious, that's all I need know) and they gave us two bowls of it, and it was so good we finished it quickly amongst ourselves. We also had a wonderful pumpkin porridge dish with our breakfast, I have yet to find a food that I just can't stand.
It's interesting, because here they have a very large lunch, and a very small, very late dinner. We're having dinner at 8 tonight, so I need to be ready to go in about half an hour for that. It seems really backwards to me, because at home we try to wait until everybody can be home to eat our biggest meal together, and that usually ends up being dinner at 5 or 6. I'm sure that if I hadn't eaten earlier, I would have had trouble waiting this long for our 'late night snack.'
Apparently the people who provide our meals love taking pictures with us, so I should have photo evidence I was here really soon.
People really don't smile here. It's weird.
I got a chance to visit the market today to buy some Kleenex and sponges, and it's so cute! They have enough things there that I'm not worried about running out of supplies any time soon, although I did not see hand sanitizer when I went. But maybe I missed it, everything is in Lithuanian after all.
Our head teacher, Dima, is really cool and nice. He is quick to explain everything he knows about Lithuanian culture and customs to us, and has been very helpful in teaching us minor Lithuanian phrases and greetings. He apparently grew up in Russia, and has family in both Russia and Lithuania, so he speaks both languages relatively well. He is more comfortable with his Russian, and has promised to give us language classes in Russian while we're here. I'm still hoping to pick up some conversational Lithuanian while I'm here as well.
Well, I need to get changed into some not pajama pants so I can be ready for dinner-snack. I'll write again soon.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Wow, my computer charges really fast when I plug it into 240 voltage outlets. Ha ha ha...
I'm settled now and I know where I'll be teaching, I just have a few more things I need to figure out with my fellow teachers, and then I'll be totally ready and comfortable with the idea of teaching the cute little kids... I say that now, but I'm still in my 'I love it here' mode as well, and I've heard that it only lasts for a very short time before you start to really freak out and want to go home. So we'll see how I'm feeling after my first week of teaching!
The food here is amazing, I don't think I've ever had such simple and delicious dishes before. It definitely beats all the processed food back home, sorry America. I had a rice and carrot dish with little bits of meat in it (no, I didn't ask what meat it was. It was delicious, that's all I need know) and they gave us two bowls of it, and it was so good we finished it quickly amongst ourselves. We also had a wonderful pumpkin porridge dish with our breakfast, I have yet to find a food that I just can't stand.
It's interesting, because here they have a very large lunch, and a very small, very late dinner. We're having dinner at 8 tonight, so I need to be ready to go in about half an hour for that. It seems really backwards to me, because at home we try to wait until everybody can be home to eat our biggest meal together, and that usually ends up being dinner at 5 or 6. I'm sure that if I hadn't eaten earlier, I would have had trouble waiting this long for our 'late night snack.'
Apparently the people who provide our meals love taking pictures with us, so I should have photo evidence I was here really soon.
People really don't smile here. It's weird.
I got a chance to visit the market today to buy some Kleenex and sponges, and it's so cute! They have enough things there that I'm not worried about running out of supplies any time soon, although I did not see hand sanitizer when I went. But maybe I missed it, everything is in Lithuanian after all.
Our head teacher, Dima, is really cool and nice. He is quick to explain everything he knows about Lithuanian culture and customs to us, and has been very helpful in teaching us minor Lithuanian phrases and greetings. He apparently grew up in Russia, and has family in both Russia and Lithuania, so he speaks both languages relatively well. He is more comfortable with his Russian, and has promised to give us language classes in Russian while we're here. I'm still hoping to pick up some conversational Lithuanian while I'm here as well.
Well, I need to get changed into some not pajama pants so I can be ready for dinner-snack. I'll write again soon.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Travel Without Rest
January 10, 2013
I had such a mix of feelings coming on the planes over here, it's not even funny. I did get nervous at intervals (secretly I wonder what must be wrong with me that no panic has set in yet). I also got excited, and elated, and hyper but tired with headaches that were pure bliss. I'm pretty sure that's what jetlag feels like, because nothing else seems to fit.
I also had a major hard time with keeping up with my group at times, but that was mostly because I was used to sitting on the plane, and then suddenly I would have trouble shifting gears to get moving again. I am going to be so sore and tired tomorrow, I'm certain of it.
I'm in the apartment with three really awesome girls, I have the feeling that this roomate thing is going to go great. I'm sure we'll have qualms, as everybody does, but they're likely to be minimal and not the 'teacher coming home drunk at midnight alone' scenarios. Mostly I worry that I'll be the one that needs to have a talking to, that's how nice and put together these girls are.
I did have trouble in my suitcase; my shampoo bottle broke and spilled everywhere. It was so nasty, normally I would just call the affected items unusable and cry as I tossed them away; but there are things that I definitely need to try to save, so I will be washing all said items that I think I can salvage tomorrow.
I'm glad I brought the paper I did, I'm a tiny bit worried that I might have been the only one to bring some for out school.
I took a crack at my Lithuanian Book of Mormon today. I feel pretty good about it, some words I'm sure I can grow to recognize in time. For now I'm on verse four of the first chapter of First Nephi. I didn't want to push it too far, as I don't want to overstress my brain into not remembering what I read in the first place. Plus, my back hurts from a lack of proper sleep and staying up what feels like too late.
Lithuanian food is awesome. I've only had these perogi things and chocolate and cookies so far, but it's so good. I already love this country.
Apparently you can't flush the toilet paper here though. It's weird, not overly gross though. I fear we may not have much in the way of hot water...
Our native coordinator is super nice, but he has a really thick accent, and I can't tell what he's trying to ask or tell me half the time.
One big bonus is I have a few more days to prepare before meeting the kids. I'll need the rest after that trip, you have no idea.
The apartment's really nice, I pulled off a door handle by accident though. It's cool, it's just because the doorknobs aren't nailed or screwed into the doorframes, so you need to be delacate. It slides back on when it's taken off too, no harm done.
I want to write more, but I'm seriously aching for sleep. It's already 9:15 pm over here in Vilnius, and I was tired already at 5 pm.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
I had such a mix of feelings coming on the planes over here, it's not even funny. I did get nervous at intervals (secretly I wonder what must be wrong with me that no panic has set in yet). I also got excited, and elated, and hyper but tired with headaches that were pure bliss. I'm pretty sure that's what jetlag feels like, because nothing else seems to fit.
I also had a major hard time with keeping up with my group at times, but that was mostly because I was used to sitting on the plane, and then suddenly I would have trouble shifting gears to get moving again. I am going to be so sore and tired tomorrow, I'm certain of it.
I'm in the apartment with three really awesome girls, I have the feeling that this roomate thing is going to go great. I'm sure we'll have qualms, as everybody does, but they're likely to be minimal and not the 'teacher coming home drunk at midnight alone' scenarios. Mostly I worry that I'll be the one that needs to have a talking to, that's how nice and put together these girls are.
I did have trouble in my suitcase; my shampoo bottle broke and spilled everywhere. It was so nasty, normally I would just call the affected items unusable and cry as I tossed them away; but there are things that I definitely need to try to save, so I will be washing all said items that I think I can salvage tomorrow.
I'm glad I brought the paper I did, I'm a tiny bit worried that I might have been the only one to bring some for out school.
I took a crack at my Lithuanian Book of Mormon today. I feel pretty good about it, some words I'm sure I can grow to recognize in time. For now I'm on verse four of the first chapter of First Nephi. I didn't want to push it too far, as I don't want to overstress my brain into not remembering what I read in the first place. Plus, my back hurts from a lack of proper sleep and staying up what feels like too late.
Lithuanian food is awesome. I've only had these perogi things and chocolate and cookies so far, but it's so good. I already love this country.
Apparently you can't flush the toilet paper here though. It's weird, not overly gross though. I fear we may not have much in the way of hot water...
Our native coordinator is super nice, but he has a really thick accent, and I can't tell what he's trying to ask or tell me half the time.
One big bonus is I have a few more days to prepare before meeting the kids. I'll need the rest after that trip, you have no idea.
The apartment's really nice, I pulled off a door handle by accident though. It's cool, it's just because the doorknobs aren't nailed or screwed into the doorframes, so you need to be delacate. It slides back on when it's taken off too, no harm done.
I want to write more, but I'm seriously aching for sleep. It's already 9:15 pm over here in Vilnius, and I was tired already at 5 pm.
Elizabeth (Zabe)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thoughts Without Experience
January 8, 2013
Starting this blog was more of a last-minute decision than anything, but I became intruigued with the idea, so here we are.
It's a day before the plane takes off to drop me off to the other side of the Antarctic. Luckily, I am both excited and determined, and I know that those elements, when combined with faith, bring me to my full potential in any situation. I am also very much aware of the fact that I am totally unprepared for this leap. Ha ha ha. Oh well, it's much, MUCH too late to back out now, so I guess I'm finally going to grow up.
Okay, maybe that's dramatic, but it feels like I'm banning myself from Neverland a little bit. I have responsibilities with this program. I have children to teach! Culture shock to meet and vanquish! Cities and perhaps countries to explore and only four months to keep the adrenaline going! My back aches just thinking about it.
But yes, I leave from Salt Lake International Airport tomorrow just after noon, and my first stop will be Chicago! Er... Chicago Illinois? One of those, they didn't specify in my Itinirary. I suspect the latter because the Itinirary lists city names, like Frankfurt (Germany- that's easy!) and Vilnius (Lithuania, exactly the city where I'm set up to teach.) But the layover is only a short 45 minutes, so regardless of Chicago/Illinois confusion, I won't really have the time to stop and admire anything there. I'll save that for the trip home, assuming my camera isn't full of sights. Hee hee hee.
I think the layover in Germany is a bit longer, but I can't remember. I did remember my fruit snacks though! And a couple granola bars to boot! That was a gift from my mommee: "Here have some granola bars we couldn't finish on the car ride over here from Littleton, Colorado to Logan, Utah. They've only been sitting on the counter for two weeks, they're not stale..."
All sarcasm aside though, I'm really grateful to her for thinking of those. I love those Kashi granola bars, they're so filling!
It's only 6:40? Wow, and here I was preparing to close with a thought about needing to go to bed so I can wake up early tomorrow, bluh bluh... Guess that excuse is invalid. I could use the one about my back hurting though, I really should've seen a chiropractor before now... Oh well.
My hope is to update this periodically throughout my adventuring and to be honest and straightforward about my thoughts and beliefs throughout the trip. It'd be so cool to see if I grow up at all in this journey, y'no?
Blog Newbie Elizabeth (Zabe)
Starting this blog was more of a last-minute decision than anything, but I became intruigued with the idea, so here we are.
It's a day before the plane takes off to drop me off to the other side of the Antarctic. Luckily, I am both excited and determined, and I know that those elements, when combined with faith, bring me to my full potential in any situation. I am also very much aware of the fact that I am totally unprepared for this leap. Ha ha ha. Oh well, it's much, MUCH too late to back out now, so I guess I'm finally going to grow up.
Okay, maybe that's dramatic, but it feels like I'm banning myself from Neverland a little bit. I have responsibilities with this program. I have children to teach! Culture shock to meet and vanquish! Cities and perhaps countries to explore and only four months to keep the adrenaline going! My back aches just thinking about it.
But yes, I leave from Salt Lake International Airport tomorrow just after noon, and my first stop will be Chicago! Er... Chicago Illinois? One of those, they didn't specify in my Itinirary. I suspect the latter because the Itinirary lists city names, like Frankfurt (Germany- that's easy!) and Vilnius (Lithuania, exactly the city where I'm set up to teach.) But the layover is only a short 45 minutes, so regardless of Chicago/Illinois confusion, I won't really have the time to stop and admire anything there. I'll save that for the trip home, assuming my camera isn't full of sights. Hee hee hee.
I think the layover in Germany is a bit longer, but I can't remember. I did remember my fruit snacks though! And a couple granola bars to boot! That was a gift from my mommee: "Here have some granola bars we couldn't finish on the car ride over here from Littleton, Colorado to Logan, Utah. They've only been sitting on the counter for two weeks, they're not stale..."
All sarcasm aside though, I'm really grateful to her for thinking of those. I love those Kashi granola bars, they're so filling!
It's only 6:40? Wow, and here I was preparing to close with a thought about needing to go to bed so I can wake up early tomorrow, bluh bluh... Guess that excuse is invalid. I could use the one about my back hurting though, I really should've seen a chiropractor before now... Oh well.
My hope is to update this periodically throughout my adventuring and to be honest and straightforward about my thoughts and beliefs throughout the trip. It'd be so cool to see if I grow up at all in this journey, y'no?
Blog Newbie Elizabeth (Zabe)
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