Fall has definitely made its appearance here in Moscow. The weather has gotten much more chilly, wet, and windy! The sun doesn't stay out very long and that is if it even decides to enlighten us with its sunshine. Quite a bit has happened since my last entry so I will try my best to wrap it all up as much as I can.
My class is doing a wonderful job so far this year. We played games to get to know each other, we have had a lot of class discussions, we have done a lot of art projects, learning centers, and a lot of work! All of my students play very well together and they include everyone in. My one Russian speaking child is still very quiet but she is grasping the English language already. It brings a smile to my face when she says something new on her own, each day! One day I was sitting at my desk after school and little Polina ran into my room and stopped in her tracks, starred at me, and pointed to her shoes and said-"My shoes go in the box, yes?" I just smiled and said, "Yes Polina." What she was informing me about was, here in Russia we have 'inside shoes' and 'outside shoes'. She was still in her inside shoes and needed to put them away in her 'box' in order to go home. I was a very proud teacher. Since then she has picked up on her colors and letters A-D, along with a few other phrases. We are definitely getting there together! Each student brings something new into our class everyday and we learn from each other every time.
We had our very first field trip to, Kolomenskoye Park this past Friday. The Kindergarten and first grade class went together. We had 5 parents between the two classes as well as both of the teachers. This park was HUGE, consisted of very old churches and buildings, a lot of history, an apple orchard, gardens, and much more! We walked around the park for a number of hours, checking out all of the cool things there was to see there. We also took the children to the apple orchard and picked apples! That was so much fun and my first time! :) After our field trip we made it back to the school in time for dismissal. After our school day on this particular Friday we held a 5K as well as a family picnic. So many had signed up for the 5K and then after that we had an all school picnic. All the families came and we enjoyed the fellowship with one another as well as all the yummy food each family brought. It was one the most amazing pot lucks I have ever had!
Also a very exciting thing has happened for me. My roommate Natalie and I, moved into our new apartment. A place that we can officially call home! The whole story behind this is definitely a truly blessing from God. So if you get the chance sometime, ask me about it. We met with the landlord on Wednesday to get our keys and make the exchange. On Thursday, the wonderful Hutchinson's, and the Hange's helped up move all of our things in and get somewhat situated! I was so thankful to have them help us make this happen. Well we are in and have been unpacking and getting everything in our apartment to feel more like home. And on the mega plus side, I only have to walk 12 minutes to get to work!! Praise the Lord!
God is truly working in my life each and every day that I am here in Moscow. I was beginning to have a hard time with being so far away from everyone back home, the time difference was really starting to settle in, and I was really starting to feel lonely. Now, not saying that I ever hated this place, or that I wont have any of these feelings over the next 9.5 months, but I am adjusting much better now that I have my own place. I am able to be free and feel so much more comfortable where I am. I still miss everyone back home tremendously and wish there wasn't 8 time zones between us, but I know God is in control and He has shown me that He will provide all of my needs. I am so thankful for this opportunity I have sitting at my feet and I am going to embrace it with everything I have!
My class is doing a wonderful job so far this year. We played games to get to know each other, we have had a lot of class discussions, we have done a lot of art projects, learning centers, and a lot of work! All of my students play very well together and they include everyone in. My one Russian speaking child is still very quiet but she is grasping the English language already. It brings a smile to my face when she says something new on her own, each day! One day I was sitting at my desk after school and little Polina ran into my room and stopped in her tracks, starred at me, and pointed to her shoes and said-"My shoes go in the box, yes?" I just smiled and said, "Yes Polina." What she was informing me about was, here in Russia we have 'inside shoes' and 'outside shoes'. She was still in her inside shoes and needed to put them away in her 'box' in order to go home. I was a very proud teacher. Since then she has picked up on her colors and letters A-D, along with a few other phrases. We are definitely getting there together! Each student brings something new into our class everyday and we learn from each other every time.
We had our very first field trip to, Kolomenskoye Park this past Friday. The Kindergarten and first grade class went together. We had 5 parents between the two classes as well as both of the teachers. This park was HUGE, consisted of very old churches and buildings, a lot of history, an apple orchard, gardens, and much more! We walked around the park for a number of hours, checking out all of the cool things there was to see there. We also took the children to the apple orchard and picked apples! That was so much fun and my first time! :) After our field trip we made it back to the school in time for dismissal. After our school day on this particular Friday we held a 5K as well as a family picnic. So many had signed up for the 5K and then after that we had an all school picnic. All the families came and we enjoyed the fellowship with one another as well as all the yummy food each family brought. It was one the most amazing pot lucks I have ever had!
Also a very exciting thing has happened for me. My roommate Natalie and I, moved into our new apartment. A place that we can officially call home! The whole story behind this is definitely a truly blessing from God. So if you get the chance sometime, ask me about it. We met with the landlord on Wednesday to get our keys and make the exchange. On Thursday, the wonderful Hutchinson's, and the Hange's helped up move all of our things in and get somewhat situated! I was so thankful to have them help us make this happen. Well we are in and have been unpacking and getting everything in our apartment to feel more like home. And on the mega plus side, I only have to walk 12 minutes to get to work!! Praise the Lord!
God is truly working in my life each and every day that I am here in Moscow. I was beginning to have a hard time with being so far away from everyone back home, the time difference was really starting to settle in, and I was really starting to feel lonely. Now, not saying that I ever hated this place, or that I wont have any of these feelings over the next 9.5 months, but I am adjusting much better now that I have my own place. I am able to be free and feel so much more comfortable where I am. I still miss everyone back home tremendously and wish there wasn't 8 time zones between us, but I know God is in control and He has shown me that He will provide all of my needs. I am so thankful for this opportunity I have sitting at my feet and I am going to embrace it with everything I have!
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