One Foot Out the Door

Hey all!

 

This is the first real chance I've had to sit down and write an update (halfway through eating dinner/cooking, there's still something in the oven to come).Living alone is harder than it looks!

 

Anyway, while I've finally got time to do an update it isn't as much of one as I'd like. Mum and I had a ball running around Europe. I'll tell you more about that in another post. A more long winded post. probably on Sunday.

 

So, arrived safely in Poland. Wandered around Warsaw for a day and then got picked up the next day by my boss and her husband. Mragowo is a small town. Not that many people, and very quiet! I had about a week to settle in and get to know my way around (read: learn my way around the supermarket and how to get to the school). Mum was here with me until recently so I didn't really have to worry about cooking or anything.

 

I think I prefered thesettling in process in China. Then at least I knew I was in a different county and that I couldn't read the language if my life depended on it. Here, some of the stuff is familiar enough that my brain tries to trick itself that it can actually read stuff... either that or it tries to shut down from a long string of consonants that my mind keeps trying to tell me REALLY shouldn't go together.

 

I haven't really started learning the language yet. I can say hello, tea (the drink), and mosquito (how's THAT for a random word!?). I'm getting much better at shopping though and I'm succesfully feeding myself cooked meals (not including the frozen pizza I had the other night).

 

I managed to go into a restaurant with Mum and between phrasebooks, miming, dictionaries, and my use of 'Tea' (Herbata) we were able to get a very nice meal.

 

Oh, and it's cold! Okay, mostly, during the day, but the central heating got turned on about two weeks ago. I've decided I like central heating. 'Tis lovely and waaaaarm! (and if I'm complaining about the cold now just give me another couple of months! LOL!)

 

My students are mostly okay. I've got one teenager I'd love to strangle, one class that's often like pulling teeth, and I adore the rest of my classes. I've got a group of Pre-Ints, a group of Intermediates, a group of Upper-Ints, 3 classes of kids at varying levels, and a class I'm supposed to be preparing to take the CPE exam.... ACK!!!! I'm also going to pick up three private classes. It's keeping me busy.

 

I've managed to get out and explore a city other than Mragowo, too. Went and ran around Olsztyn for a weekend a couple of weeks back. Had fun!

Later!