How do you explain homesickness?
A few random tidbits.
First, community service. I just started my second placement for CS. Most people will only get one, but my second ESL, did not start until this past Wednesday, so I needed to be doing something in the meantime. Now I'll be helping out at an ESL class four days a week, and chilling with my Kindergarteners on Friday.
ESL, thus far, has been interesting. It was a bit overwhelming at first, because we just showed up at the classroom, and with almost no instructions we (we being me, Mac, and Sarah) were sent off to groups to go over questions. Wednesday I had Jaclyn, from Mexico, Luba from the Ukraine, another Luba from Russia, and a woman whose name I don't think I can properly spell, but it sounds like "Ee-ah", from Laos. It was hard at times, because I had a set of questions, things like "How many people are in your family?" or "How many people in your family are married?" and "What is a funeral like in your country?" We really got tied up on the funeral, my two Luba's just couldn't understand it, and I totally ran out of ways to explain a funeral, or death. I had a whiteboard, where I could draw pictures if necessary, but it just felt too weird drawing a dead person. My favorite was definitely "ee-ah", she was very nice and actually interesting to talk to. she understood the questions pretty well, which meant I got to learn things about customs in Laos and whatnot. I think that'll be the best part about ESL, getting to learn about the nations these people come from.
The next day, I was just with two, Luba from Russia (who I like much more than the Ukrainian, and Constantine, also from Russia. I liked having the small group, it meant less time between a person getting to speak, although we still ran into pitfalls. Referring to the title, one question was, "Are you homesick?" and I could not explain it...poor Constantine saw sick and was thinking it might be some physical ailment. It was also a little odd working with Constantine, because he was pretty young--early twenties, at the most, I'd say. most everyone else is much older than me, so it feels strange to be working with someone so close to my age.
I do feel bad about leaving my kindergarteners, though. I really enjoy spending time with them, and it makes me sad that I'll only see them once a week now.
on another school related note, went to our first home football game last night. That was actually a ton of fun; I think part of it has to do with being seniors. Prep has been our home for the past four years, so it's really like this is our football team, and it's just so much easier to cheer and get in the game. and it helps when we win :) I can't wait for the next one. downside was that I had to pick up icky trash afterwards; the debate team got $150 in return for some of us picking up after the game. yech.
First, community service. I just started my second placement for CS. Most people will only get one, but my second ESL, did not start until this past Wednesday, so I needed to be doing something in the meantime. Now I'll be helping out at an ESL class four days a week, and chilling with my Kindergarteners on Friday.
ESL, thus far, has been interesting. It was a bit overwhelming at first, because we just showed up at the classroom, and with almost no instructions we (we being me, Mac, and Sarah) were sent off to groups to go over questions. Wednesday I had Jaclyn, from Mexico, Luba from the Ukraine, another Luba from Russia, and a woman whose name I don't think I can properly spell, but it sounds like "Ee-ah", from Laos. It was hard at times, because I had a set of questions, things like "How many people are in your family?" or "How many people in your family are married?" and "What is a funeral like in your country?" We really got tied up on the funeral, my two Luba's just couldn't understand it, and I totally ran out of ways to explain a funeral, or death. I had a whiteboard, where I could draw pictures if necessary, but it just felt too weird drawing a dead person. My favorite was definitely "ee-ah", she was very nice and actually interesting to talk to. she understood the questions pretty well, which meant I got to learn things about customs in Laos and whatnot. I think that'll be the best part about ESL, getting to learn about the nations these people come from.
The next day, I was just with two, Luba from Russia (who I like much more than the Ukrainian, and Constantine, also from Russia. I liked having the small group, it meant less time between a person getting to speak, although we still ran into pitfalls. Referring to the title, one question was, "Are you homesick?" and I could not explain it...poor Constantine saw sick and was thinking it might be some physical ailment. It was also a little odd working with Constantine, because he was pretty young--early twenties, at the most, I'd say. most everyone else is much older than me, so it feels strange to be working with someone so close to my age.
I do feel bad about leaving my kindergarteners, though. I really enjoy spending time with them, and it makes me sad that I'll only see them once a week now.
on another school related note, went to our first home football game last night. That was actually a ton of fun; I think part of it has to do with being seniors. Prep has been our home for the past four years, so it's really like this is our football team, and it's just so much easier to cheer and get in the game. and it helps when we win :) I can't wait for the next one. downside was that I had to pick up icky trash afterwards; the debate team got $150 in return for some of us picking up after the game. yech.