I had my first Serbian kiss the other day. Don't get too excited. This is G rated. I was walking to school the other day when I heard someone call out my name. I turned and saw a professor that I conducted interviews with when I first arrived. I was so excited to see her, that I ran over to her intending to give her a hug. We ended up doing the three cheek Serbian kiss, which was totally fun! I think Americans need to do more cheek kissing, at the very least. I was so focused on the cheek kiss that I missed the first couple of sentences that she said. Ending result: she is going to come and sit-in on some of my classes this week.
On a different note, Serbian class is still dragging along. Some of the students have started to discuss the lack of value in some of the teachers' methods. I find it tasteless for a teacher to skip over students just because they are at a lower skill level. This is very common here and people are trying to change it. In a way, it is great that I am taking this course. I know what my students are going/went through, I know what needs to change and I am inspired to write an article about it. I thought I had nothing to offer, but now I see there is so much that I can do. An announcement for a large Language Teacher's Conference just went out, so I am looking at what idea to submit and present on at the end of May. Got any ideas?
If anybody over there is paying attention, I would like the dollar to get a little stronger please. It is killing me over here. My rent has gone up $100 without ever increasing in price. I know it will get stronger the day before I officially pack my bags and leave this country. So is my life and how it is influenced by the economy. And I thought I wouldn't ever use those ECON classes that I took at UWEC.
The weather has been nice lately, I guess. I don't know what the norm is here. One student told me that this year they only had two seasons, winter and summer. We kind of skipped over the fall and went right to winter for a while. We are in the high 50's and sometimes get in the low 60's. The wind and rain combo don't help anything. Today I woke up with sun coming in my window and I felt like I was in a parallel universe.
I have decided to host Thanksgiving dinner at my place this year. All are welcome! I am expecting around 20 people from my Serbian class as well as from the American Corner. Of all 20 people, only 2 will be Americans, so I am looking forward to teaching them about the holiday as well as just siting around eating good food and having a good time. I can get most of the ingredients at the Embassy, praise be. We will have all the traditional Weiler fixings, minus the homemade stuffing and gravy. If you saw the size of my kitchen and all 2 pots that I have to cook with, you would understand why. And since they don't know what it should taste like, Stove Top will be good enough...for now. Maybe next year I will venture into that dangerous area. One of my friends, Ana, asked what time they should come over to hang the turkey. Bless her heart! I think I will tell her to come over the day before to help me string it up and then give her the honors of plucking and de-beaking it. I'll take pictures. (For all you who are wondering, I am cooking a frozen bird.)
Lastly, I thought you should all know that the Packers have twice made international news, thanks to the fantastic workings of one Brett Favre. Way to go Pack!
Happy Halloween tomorrow! I hope you all get some healthy candy, brush your teeth and be responsible. Talk to you soon. Slang class on Thursday. Should be interesting.
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3 comments:
Hey you big turkey!
I'm sitting here typing while 20 children are takng a social studies test that will determine how intelligent they are and how effective I am as a teacher. This is the last of all the tests this week and I am somewhat disheartened by the lack of effort the kids are putting in these tests. I know they know more than what the tests will show but since there is no instant feedback, no standing over them to make them recheck their work, no opportunity for redirection, they will not shine as brightly as they could. I'm disappointed in the structure because a test is not the only measure of their intelligence but I'm also disappointed in them as they appear to care very little about doing their best just for themselves!
Ah well. I need more info on the Serbian kiss. I could introduce it here. I get lots of hugs which are questionable as far as 'touching' students go. Do you peck alternate cheeks each time...literally lips on skin or is it just a kissing smack sound and that's good enough?
Dan Deffner told me the kids should be able to access this site as of yesterday so,.... get ready!
It's been a beautiful crisp fall here and hopefully will stay this way for a while.
Lots of love... Stay healthy.
PS...Do you have Amanda Witucki's blog? It's very interesting as well.
Hey Jaime,
The sixth graders are looking at your blog and would like to be a part of it. As of now, they would need to get an IGoogle account and I'd have to set that up with the administrators. See you soon? Hear from you sooner...Love, Aunt Linda AKA Mrs. Ellenbecker
and the sixth graders!!!
Hey Aunt Linda,
Bring on the students! It will inspire me to write more. When no one comments, I don't think anyone is reading at all. It will be refreshing.
There are many types of Serbian kisses, from what I've seen. The traditional, I've been told, is three kisses, alternating cheeks, with cheek to cheek contact and a kissing sound as well. Very fun. I've also seen the double kiss which is also alternating cheeks with some kissing sounds. The single kiss is usually on the lips with a kissing noise and I've mainly seen it between girlfriends, or girl and guy friends.
Teachers and students don't do the kissing greeting. It is way to informal a thing. And I feel most students don't care for their teachers so that ends that. Maybe I will try and get a shot of it on film and post it on YouTube. It is a great cultural experience!
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