Wednesday

Things I learned:

• Today was my first day of class and it was extremely hard.  I just got home from class and I'm not sure how I feel about all of this.  Picture being the teacher of six six-year-olds that are rowdy and don't want to do what you are telling them to do.  Now add in that they can't speak English.  It's just hard.  Plus I have to teach the same lesson six times to six different groups.  Tomorrow I will be teaching the same lesson six times and then another lesson twice.
• Rule number one is no one speaks Russian in the class.
• We will be able to "bribe" them with candy or rewards, but we haven't started that system yet.
• It was so exhausting, three kids cried today because they were frustrated too!
• Haven't been anywhere besides home and school yet.
• To get back and forth from home and school I walk and take a bus.  I know how to get to school and home now; I'm going to start doing that alone tomorrow.
• There are lots of people around, so I feel safe during the day.  It's weird at night, though.
• Host family is amazing!
• The food is great.  They put dill on everything, so that's weird, but I just brush it off and it's not too bad.
• I eat two meals at home, one at the school.  We had pizza the first day, oatmeal for breakfast, "Blini" for lunch (which was freaking awesome) and then something kind of like meatloaf, which is also awesome!
• I don't have jet lag
• I have to draw everything I'm teaching the kids, which is no good
• My host brother has already asked for more American food a few times
• Everything I say they are supposed to repeat and later on if I ask them what some is, they are supposed to be able to answer correctly.
• I have to do crafts with every lesson
• Food to send:  Brownie mix, Junior Mints, taco seasoning, marshmallows, peanut butter, cookie mixes

This is Bonnie, the hairless cat!  She doesn't like me because I wouldn't let it eat my banana!