Sunday, September 26, 2010
Peace Corps Karma
A day after I wrote telling you of my Peace Corps woes (losing my watch and my wallet being stolen)...both were returned to me!! Someone found my watch on the bus the first day and gave it back to me and the little boys returned my wallet with both debit cards. That's a little Peace Corps Karma for ya!
Update!
Everything is going famously here in KStan! I love my host family and continue to experience days in what we call the "honeymoon" phase. There have been some casualties in my travels: I lost my watch that Elizabeth gave me on the first day and yesterday my wallet was stolen by small children. Ego took a big hit there. But life goes on and I am lucky enough to have a supportive family that will mostly clean up that mess for me!! Thanks mom and Kait!
Other than that, I am teaching 3-5 classes a week and running an English club with one other American. Teaching comes easily to me and I really enjoy it, though lesson planning is not so fun. Learning Kazakh is also going better and I am getting more comfortable speaking with people.
I want to hear what is going on there. I find myself thinking often of the Center, the Partnership, the gang (Phil, Ben, Holly, Kyle, and others-that's you), and the family!
More later,
Jennie
Other than that, I am teaching 3-5 classes a week and running an English club with one other American. Teaching comes easily to me and I really enjoy it, though lesson planning is not so fun. Learning Kazakh is also going better and I am getting more comfortable speaking with people.
I want to hear what is going on there. I find myself thinking often of the Center, the Partnership, the gang (Phil, Ben, Holly, Kyle, and others-that's you), and the family!
More later,
Jennie
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sorry I haven't updated my status! I have been so busy and having so much fun that I neglected to write anything on this blog. Here are some higlights and one favor to ask!!!
My host family is AWESOME! I have a mom, a dad, a 21 year old sister and a 25 year old brother in the house and then a brother in the city (Almaty). The daughter speaks perfect English and my mom is an English teacher at the school I am working in! It is awesome because I get to ask a million questions and understand things well. It is a little hard to speak Kazakh because English is so easy, but since I can't speak Kazakh anyway, it isn't a problem. I talk with a lot of people, especially kids on the street, like in India, but can't get much farther than basic introductions which is frustrating. I am working on it though...and I think they like me because I just smile at them a lot...?!
We start teaching one class next week. So far we have been learning how to teach and how to speak. Language lessons have been a struggle, but we are working to improve. I am studying out of class and trying to read a childrens book, so hopefully that will help! The kids love us and mock us a lot too. We played volleyball with them for an hour and a half today and help them with English as they help us with Kazakh. It was great!
Now for the favor...Part of our training is conducting English Clubs. We are in a group of 3 volunteers and have about 20 kids at our club which is held twice a week for one hour. So far we have taught them the hokie pokie, head shoulders knees and toes, how to make paper airplanes, and how to make friendship bracelets. These are going really well and I am having a ton of fun with the kids!!! We could use some help with ideas though, so if you have any activities, please let me know! We will add in the English vocab, etc...any ideas will help! If you have any- email me at jennie.vader@gmail.com
Sending lots of love,
Jennie
PS: My address is: (Don't send anything after Sept. 30th...my address will change)
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 257
Almaty 050022
Kazakhstan
Attn: Jennie Vader
My host family is AWESOME! I have a mom, a dad, a 21 year old sister and a 25 year old brother in the house and then a brother in the city (Almaty). The daughter speaks perfect English and my mom is an English teacher at the school I am working in! It is awesome because I get to ask a million questions and understand things well. It is a little hard to speak Kazakh because English is so easy, but since I can't speak Kazakh anyway, it isn't a problem. I talk with a lot of people, especially kids on the street, like in India, but can't get much farther than basic introductions which is frustrating. I am working on it though...and I think they like me because I just smile at them a lot...?!
We start teaching one class next week. So far we have been learning how to teach and how to speak. Language lessons have been a struggle, but we are working to improve. I am studying out of class and trying to read a childrens book, so hopefully that will help! The kids love us and mock us a lot too. We played volleyball with them for an hour and a half today and help them with English as they help us with Kazakh. It was great!
Now for the favor...Part of our training is conducting English Clubs. We are in a group of 3 volunteers and have about 20 kids at our club which is held twice a week for one hour. So far we have taught them the hokie pokie, head shoulders knees and toes, how to make paper airplanes, and how to make friendship bracelets. These are going really well and I am having a ton of fun with the kids!!! We could use some help with ideas though, so if you have any activities, please let me know! We will add in the English vocab, etc...any ideas will help! If you have any- email me at jennie.vader@gmail.com
Sending lots of love,
Jennie
PS: My address is: (Don't send anything after Sept. 30th...my address will change)
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 257
Almaty 050022
Kazakhstan
Attn: Jennie Vader
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