Yesterday was the big day!!!
I arrived at school and of course everything was absolutely CRAZY. I thought to myself… crap. But, then I just waited around… helped two of the boys with their pre-Flex interview (which consisted of asking them random questions until they couldn’t answer any more)… set up the decorations for our concerts and then BAM! it was time.
But wait, before I get ahead of myself. My school has a HUGE Kazakh Language Competition/Really really really important concert today (Thursday) that the students have been preparing for all week, which means that they have NOT been preparing for our English week. LAME, but this is Kazakhstan (Hilary likes to say that and some how it just fits here). So.. I arrived at school with the hall in a COMPLETE MESS. Costumes everywhere, students everywhere, even some boys “pretend” fighting and thought… o.m.g. this is why I DO NOT teach older kids.
We set up our decorations in the midst of their rehearsal and the zavuch (who is like the assistant principal) STORMED out because the Kazakh rehearsal was going SO BAD. He was pissed… and this is a man who ALWAYS smiles. :/
Anyway, our 5th graders came for their concert and totally rocked the whole house! Their poems were totally rock star and their songs were alright. 
The turkey tango was SUPER cute, but just WAY WAY too many kids. About 45 = Too many. The last song was the most fun. Actually, 5A to be exact, was the most fun. Their teacher, Gulzhan, was the one that went with me to Counterpart Conference and she is incredible. Her students prepared not only poems and the Turkey Tango, but also prepared a dance to “Barbie Girl” and “The Baby Song” <— I don’t know the actual title, but it’s by Justin Beiber?
I know what you’re thinking… what do these songs have to do with Thanksgiving… or even Autumn… BUT with a little creativity… anything can be about Thanksgiving/Autumn. They 5th graders rocked out and by the end we had the whole auditorium dancing and singing the chorus of the “Baby Song.” That same zavuch that was in a sour mood earlier, totally had a HUGE smile on his face.
Then, it was time for 6th grade. Again, this Kazakh group wanted to rehearse and they were telling us to start earlier so that they could rehearse… but I was like… WOAH. We told our kids ONE TIME so we can’t just randomly START at another!! But, again, this is Kazakhstan. The reason some students weren’t there was because they had gone home or to the cafe because they had no class before and they were told to be back at 3pm (our concert was supposed to be at 3:15).
Anyway, we started 15 minutes early (instead of 45, which is what they wanted) and a few students didn’t get to perform, but all in all it was also a great concert. I recorded their version of “One Day” and I will attach the video, but you have to remember that these kids are from a combination of 6 classes and this was the absolute FIRST time they got to sing this song together. Literally, AT the concert. This would never ever happen in America. I feel like the students would get to rehearse together AT LEAST once and if they hadn’t the chance… the director would say SOMETHING about it. Not so in Kazakhstan… totally normal. But, they’d never seen ANYTHING like yesterday before.
So much so that the same zavuch, who was now in a happier mood asked if my students would perform at their Kazakh Concert (today). It means a little more work… I have to go in at 8 instead of at 3, but worth it. So. Totally. Worth it. The kids were SO excited and you could just see on their faces and this was cool.
Also… ONE MORE NIGHT AT SITE. ONE AT PEACE CORPS LOUNGE and then BAM! We’re on a PLANE TO AMERICA! Holy. Crap. I feel like it was like a few weeks ago when I was calling Mom at 3 o’clock in the morning because I just couldn’t do this… but now, wow. Nick and I have both come so far and it is really amazing. I’m super excited to see family at the airport, I mean, SUPER SUPER excited, but I have to admit I am also really really really excited to see friends that have kept in touch this whole time.
Family will always be by your side and supportive, but I didn’t realize how awesome my friends were until we made the journey over here and then they were still right behind us, supporting us through emails, random school supplies, facebook posts, skype… it’s just been great and I can’t wait to see them.
Well, that’s all for now, gotta get ready for the last day at school.
Here’s the link to my kiddos’ video. 
