May 26, 2010

Thought for the Day: "When in doubt, don’t."

Audrey: starts today’s report: Margaret (Gosia) and I did have one small class of 5 students who are in need of some extra coaching in English and it went well. Then it was off to the GYM….by now crowded with smiling Mums and some smaller children. Well the SHOW was terrific and I learned the children, who take dance lessons every Wednesday, have been preparing for this day since last September……their efforts showed as class after class,in lovely costumes, sang, danced and read poetry for their Mothers…..what a tribute and how special for me to be there on such an occasion.

A combined class---grades 4, 5 and 6---at Zelkow---was great with lots of conversation and some questions about Canada and my family. The class gave me a very nice thank you gift in the form of a class photo with the words, “Thank you for helping us!”

Jim’s day began early and ended late – with a sprinkling of meals and Spoleczna classes mixed into the middle. In a word, Jim’s day at school was “satisfying”. The story creations dealing with “Disasters” were expertly read aloud and the exercise of passing “Rumors” – Jim would secretly tell the first student about a rumor and that student would secretly tell another student (in Polish) their recollection of what was said – and on and on until the last student in the chain would tell Jim what his/her version of the original rumor – in English. Each student was given the opportunity to be the final link in the chain producing a lot of laughter and successful endings to each rumor started.

Jim’s afternoon session with the two ladies, Aneta and Joanna, was equally satisfying. Topics of discussion were troublesome TH sounds and ING endings to English words and late-night television addiction. The discussion turned to the difficulties in learning both English and the native language, Polish. It would be remiss to avoid thanking Georgianna for her assistance in this session. Her knowledge of both languages was invaluable.

Mary Martin went to Strzala School with Dorota where they enjoyed the Mother’s Day/Father’s Day presentation which the elementary classes had prepared, with mothers as their guests. The songs, poems, and dances showed the talents of the children and the warmth of their affection for mothers as each child gave his/her mother a flower. On the return trip, Mary Martin got photos of a stork atop her nest, and photos of a farmer plowing his field by a one-horse power “engine” – his horse. Poland has been full of lovely surprises.