On Wednesday, we went to a collective farm to dig up carrots for our school cafeteria. Apparently, the students work in the fields quite a bit in September to allow the school heavily discounted veggies. Each student was assigned a three meter plot to gather carrots. I walked parallel to the row of students, helping each one along the way. It was an especially good time for my 5th grade students to practice speaking English with me - without having the pressure of a lesson situation. I finished the field trip by eating lunch with my students, having a throwing contest, playing tag, and finally taking home some carrots and green onions. Here are some pictures from our day:
On Thursday, 6th through 11th graders traveled about 20 kilometers outside town to a sanitorium, which is sort of like a "resort"...basically a place for people to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In the middle of a forest with small lake, we hiked into the forest and set up camp. Each class brought a ton of food and cooked on an open fire. We had competitions, played soccer, and explored the forest. The teachers are great planners - one of the competitions involved each class preparing a meal for the teachers, so we had all our food provided by the classes... worked out well for us! Not only did I enjoy the time with my students, but I also loved being so deep in the forest - so relaxing and reminded me of home :(
Here are some pictures I took throughout the day:
One of the first tasks each class began working on was marking off their "Class Territory" with string - I was constantly having to search for string before walking into the students' camp or I would have taken the string to the face! Here are some 6th graders marking off their campsite:
"What are you doing?" I asked the students when I saw them clearing the leaves from the paths. "It will be our stadium," one student replied with a smile. Sure enough, this later became the place for soccer games!
11th graders preparing for the feast!
Vlad, one of my 6th grade students:
Nazaar and me posing...
Timur, Vlad, and Zhenya (they don't look happy in this picture, but they really were having a good time!)
With Nazaar and Zhenya, both 6th grade students.
I have many pictures with my 6th grade students - this is the class I am probably closest with. Last semester, I had an English club for 6th grade only and I usually had between 15-20 students attend three days each week. We would play games, talk about our lives, watch movies, play soccer - and certainly practice English! This was also the grade I conducted my demonstrative lesson for Peace Corps staff two weeks ago, they're a great bunch of kids!
Here's Yana, a 6th grade student, gathering decorations to hang from the territory string.
With Vadim and Aloyna, two 6th grade students.
Striking a pose with Vadim and Kolya...
With Inna, an 11th grade student:
My 8th grade girls!
With Inna and Nastia, both 8th grade students.
Dasha and her father, Arkan preparing the delicious meal! Later on our physical education teacher, Yura, was encouraging me to date Arkan...ummm, I think that would be slightly awkward to date a student's father. Just a guess, though.
Zhenya, one of my trouble-making 9th grade boys, chopping firewood. Love this kid!
With Sasha, who is now in 9th grade! Just this past week, Sasha and I spent nearly 30 hours working on her application for the FLEX program (Future Leaders Exchange Program). This program would allow Sasha to study for one academic year at a high school in the states. The application was exhausting, but I sure have high hopes for her. I'll keep you updated!
With Dasha, another 9th grade student. Can you see us through the smoke from the fire?
Now this is a picnic! Food for the 10th grade (plus, they're barbequeing potatoes, buckwheat, and pork)!
10th grade girls:
Not only do they create a fence from string, but they also made a door from string. Here is Diana and Masha, two girls from my 10th grade class.
Another one of my 10th grade students, Vadim, cooking up some delicious potatoes!
That's right, bring on the food to the teachers, students!
8th grade girls:
Yum! Yep, I cooked it all!
With Dasha:
Later in the afternoon, students started to get tired from eating and running all over the place! Here are some of my 7th grade boys taking a break:
With some 6th grade students - yeah, that's my Dima giving me the bunny ears! There's a joke among volunteers any student with the name "Dima" usually equals a trouble-maker, and he's living up to his name in this photo!
Stas and Zhenya, two of my 9th grade students:
Some of my 6th grade students built an awesome fort!
The fort even has a guard, pictured below with Vadim and Dima.
And we had to take pictures of us inside the fort (I even had to take my shoes off to go inside because they had placed blankets on the ground to lay on)...
And the self-proclaimed Director of the fort-construction: Igor
Vlad peeking out from inside the fort:
We were hiding in the bushes trying to scare some of the older students with animal sounds...I'm sure you can guess, they weren't scared...
Vlad and Vlad, both from my 9th grade class - both have a great sense of humor!
Playing cards with my 9th grade students: Dasha, Ania, Vlad, and Vlad. We started out playing Durak (a popular Ukrainian card game), but the boys soon wanted to learn poker. Another day, another day, boys...
These two trips with my students were so refreshing - it was great to spend time with them outside school. I'm looking forward to this next school year taking off, but I already have the sense that it will be over before I know it (and I don't like this). Looking forward to more fun times with my students, afterall, this is the reason I'm here.
Sending love your way,
Nat
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