So, tomorrow is the first teacher training that I will ever give in Kazakhstan that doesn’t have “music” in the title. I can’t believe it… there may be some creditability to my being an English teacher after all… I mean, we’ll see after the training.. of course, I’m totally going to use music in between writing activities. That is also the title of my session.. “Teaching English Through Writing.”
I’m sure my Mom would be proud after sitting in the kitchen with my for HOURS on Gaymont Court waiting for me to write the word witch and sandwich over and over again because I couldn’t remember which one had a “t.” Also, throughout high school and college when I would ask my Mom to edit all of my papers just to make sure they sounded OK. And now… I’m trying to teach through writing? It just seems strange to me… but, truth is, I love using writing projects in my classes, I mean hey… it’s not ME writing… lol.
In other news, yesterday was my first cardio dance class at Murager, actually EVER. When I taught fitness classes at CNU cardio dance certainly wasn’t anything I was interested in… but woah, yesterday was totally awesome. So as with anything in Kazakhstan, you never know who is going to show up. There was an advertisement (kind of blunt) in Russian that said “Aerobics for everyone!” And I didn’t advertise at all… and we changed the day at the last minute.. so there are a lot of issues. BUT excuses aside, I did have two teachers… and 8 of my 6th/7th graders. Now, when I was planning my dances, I wasn’t planning on shaking it with 6th and 7th graders I was thinking teachers + 10th/11th grade.
So I was waiting for aerobics to start and I saw my 6th & 7th graders who were waiting for Chorus to start… and they were confused as to why I was walking to the gym. They had actually MISSED choir because we had it earlier in the day and now it was aerobics time… so they begged me to let them stay and participate… THEY WERE IN THEIR SCHOOL UNIFORMS PEOPLE (TWO IN HEELS!!!!). My counterpart said, “Well, why not? Let them try.”
The two teachers that came where total rock stars (my counterpart included)… the 6th and 7th graders were exhausted by the end. EX-HAUSTED. It was awesome. I have to advertise better. I really think the older girls will enjoy it! :)
Afterwards, I walked 15 minutes to the bus stop and waited there for about 20 before my bus came. I was actually really exhausted. I was so happy when an old babushka stood up and a man told me to sit in her place… then, I patiently waited while at every stop people got on and off and kept telling myself “young, young, young, young” because in Kazakhstan if a person is old you must give up your seat for him/her. Thank God everyone was young. I was able to sit most of the way home. 
Nick is doing pretty great with school right now! He even had some pep in his voice yesterday when describing future plans at his college. He has had some pretty funny things happen recently that I always follow with “you should blog about that!” But, he never does. I’ll try to remember some next time and fill you… if he doesn’t beat me to it!
Hope all of you at home are well. We think about you often and love you very much. We also received our first package in the mail yesterday!!! It was from my Grandparents. It was perfectly filled with all of the things we love from America. Thank you much!!!!
I am excited that it is already February and I can’t WAIT for March (it’s when the newbies come!!!)!
