Happy Slovak Constitution Day!

Sorry for the long delay in writing, I have finally gotten my computer hooked up to the Internet here in Tisovec!

If I could sum up these last two weeks in one word, it would definitely be "carrying." This whole moving to Bratislava with one suitcase and moving into a new apartment without the aid of a car (we were gifted a bunch of stuff from the previous teachers which has to be moved back to our apartments, or a ten minute walk) has definitely made my arm muscles significantly stronger. (Or at least I can think that…)

The first week I was here, I participated in orientation at the Evangelicke Theologika in Bratislava. Along with ten other new teachers, we had a crash course in teaching English Language Learners and the Slovak language. I spent most of my days sitting in a warm classroom fighting off jetlag with cups of coffee and some wafer chocolate bars called Horalky. The evenings we explored Bratislava. It was so exciting to meet of these amazing people brought together to teach in Slovakia!

The Slovak school system is a bit different than the average school back in the States. Mandated by the state, Slovak school curriculum is the same across the country. Basically, this means that what 2nd year students are learning in Bratislava is the same as what students are learning in Tisovec. This standard curriculum comes in handy when the graduating class has to take their Maturitas. The Maturita is a comprehensive oral and written exam that each student takes for the completion of his or her education. I believe it also counts for their entrance exam for University. Most Slovak schools are a set four-year program. However, the bilingual schools are five years as the year one (13/14 year olds) consists of a rigorous English program. (Most students do have prior knowledge of English before the enter EGT). This means that the fifth year students graduate when they are 20/21. (Ya.. There is no way my students are going to know how old I am.) Also, the schedules are different. Instead of taking seven classes, the students take sixteen or so. This means that they don’t have the same schedule everyday or even the same classes every day. So, some classes might only meet once a week! I think it creates a very varied and not boring schedule!

Back to what I have been up to. Last Friday (26 August), the ELCA teachers split our ways and headed to our respective schools. In Tisovec, I am here with two other ELCA teachers and one other American TOEFL teacher. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday consisted of moving, learning that nothing is open on weekends in Tisovec, exploring my new home, setting up/cleaning my apartment and meeting my colleagues. I think that I need to make flash cards for all the new people I met these past two weeks!

Tuesday and Wednesday the EGT staff went on our annual retreat. Which just happens to be at a Spa in C^îs, located close to the Hungarian border. While the Slovak teachers were sitting in lectures, we Americans enjoyed the pool, the countryside, the super soft beds, each other's company, and the free food. (I got my butt kicked in bowling though... It was quite embarrassing actually. Who knew that I bowl better with my left hand than my right!)

Now I am back at home, enjoying the National Holiday by writing my syllabi, blogging, and enjoying the cool weather. Tomorrow we hit the grind again with meetings and the like. And on Sunday is the first official day of school!

Wish me luck!

P.S. I was going to upload some pictures I took over the past week, but the internet is too slow and I don't want to wait any longer. You'll just have to wait till next time for pictures.