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The Odyssey of a Seahawk: |
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The Odyssey of a Seahawk: |
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The First Week of School (or, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!") |
25 August 1999
A very anticlimactic day. Attended the faculty meeting, that was
like every other faculty meeting I attended. I was anticipating
something completely different, exciting, new! Of course I could
not understand a word of what was being said, but it was exactly
like every other faculty meeting I have ever attended! The end
result was that I felt very comfortable.
Similarities: faculty sign in sheet, although the meeting started
at 8:30, some folks were there at 7, some at 8:40 . . . The
deputy principal read from a newsletter, no one was listening,
and then I heard the word " Internet," and I knew why
everyone's eyes were glazed over--it was the portion of the
meeting about technology!! I could tell what was being said
without understanding the language. Everyone appeared bored stiff
when administrative issues were being discussed--I saw Avon
catalogues being passed out, people were talking amongst
themselves, and the faculty appeared half there. Even though I
don't know the Slovak word for "holiday," I knew when
the administration began talking about vacation. Everyone quit
talking, picked up his or her pen, and began to listen
attentively. There were grumbles and someone made a remark that
merited scowls from some, appreciative laughter from others, and
eye rolling from the rest. Sound familiar?
Differences: the meeting lasted ONE HOUR and then the day was
OVER. Have to be back tomorrow at 9.
There are 41 people on staff: 34 women and 8 men. I met the
department chair today and was introduced to the faculty towards
the end of the meeting.
Spent the rest of the day walking around town, going into little
shops, generally enjoying one of the last of my summer days. Oh
yes, I also briefly thought of my colleagues in Hilton Head who
would be in meetings until 3 in the afternoon!
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26 August 1999 Second day of school. We were required to be there from 9 to noon. Our English department meeting lasted from 9:15 to exactly 9:45!!! Meetings like this I can definitely handle! As we were required to be there until noon, one of my new colleagues, Barbora, showed me around the school. I think Barbora is the newest member of the English department staff, so of course, she gets the job of being my mentor. I am beginning to see how things are the same all over, give the new guy the job no one else wants! Also, I guess because she is the youngest person in the department, newly married, with no children. The other women are all have families. We were not with the faculty, just our department, and everyone (all seven women in my department) asked me lots of questions, we looked at the Hilton Head High School Yearbook, and they discussed a possible new development in the schools next year. Apparently, the birth rate is way down in this country, as people cannot |
afford to have children, so they are thinking of combining schools. That is, what is now a high school (grammar school, they call it, or gymnázium), would become a mixed school, with students from our fourth grade through our twelfth grade. Again, just like it would be in the US, some teachers throughout the faculty were not happy with this possibility. A couple of teachers said they would quit if that happened. I could hear some people on our faculty saying that if this were proposed at HHHS. The teachers were very nice, they all gave me their phone numbers, and I felt very comfortable with them. Which is more than I can say about the first day of school with students. I absolutely cannot believe that everyone will be ready on time. After the meeting, everyone leaves, it does not seem like anyone goes to their classrooms to work. I have absolutely NO IDEA what to expect next week when the students arrive!!
Barbora took me to the school canteen and I bought my lunches for the month. How sweet is this? I might not ever have to cook again! In Slovakia, and I guess in other European countries, the main meal of the day is at noontime. So there is a canteen next to the school that most of the students and teachers (from about four schools in this part of town) use for lunch. You get soup, a choice of two entrees and a drink. Then, when you get home, you have a yogurt, or a sandwich, not a heavy meal (makes perfect sense). I got tickets for the month of September, 20 lunches, for 358Sk, that's only 18Sk per meal (45 cents)!!
Today Barbora also asked me if I wanted to go to the "fitness center" with her and her husband this evening. I readily accepted. The husband and wife who own the fitness center were both body builders used to travel and compete with the likes of Arnold Schwartzenegger. The wife, Zuzana Korinkova, is a world-famous, award winning bodybuilder. Barbora also invited me to her flat this afternoon and I went over to see it and have a chat. Stayed for a couple of hours and had a nice talk about everything. She loves the cinema also, so she proclaimed that we were to be cinema partners this year. I found out there will be another American here, Josh, who works for some church organization in the states and he does some anti-drug campaign, he was here last year, and the teachers and students really like him, so that will be good. They were telling me today that there are five Americans here, and someone is going to set it up that I meet them. I absolutely cannot believe that everyone will be ready on time. After the meeting, everyone leaves, it does not seem like anyone goes to his or her classroom to work.
| Had my first battle with a Slovak appliance. There is
a little catch to using the washing machine in the
flat--literally. One must close the clothes bin, which
operates much like a wheel with a rubber hook. As this is
the second time I have used the washing machine, I forgot
to attach the hook to close the bin. Needless to say, I
panicked ten minutes later when it occurred to me that I
had forgotten to do this. I spent the next 20 minutes
carefully extracting clothing from inside and under the
wheel, so that I could restart the wash and the clothes
would remain in the bin. This involved putting my arm in
up to the elbow and using kitchen utensils to extract
clothing that escaped out of the opening of the bin where
I originally should have hooked the latch. Thus, the bin
was stuck and could not revolve. Of course, this was the
load in which I decided to wash my jacket. Perseverance
and dumb luck won in the end, and I came out of this only
mildly worse for wear. There is a note now on the cover
of the washing machine that reads "Have you locked
me?" I'm sure after this we will get along just
fine. I am definitely NOT advertising for Yahoo.com, but their Yahoo! Messenger is the greatest invention since sliced bread (which, by the way is difficult to find here, as most bread is sold in fresh, unwrapped loaves!! It is wonderful!)! Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, I am able to talk with my parents, friends, and relatives in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and New York whenever I want via the microphones on our computers. Granted, there is a six hour time difference between us, but it works out really well. It has actually been quite lonely here before school started, as I am not really able to talk to anyone and have spent my days wandering around the city alone. I really look forward to talking with my parents at night--and not making an international phone call to do it!! |
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27 August 1999
The Slovak version of a FEMA representative came here
today--probably from the "Ministry of Civil Security."
I guess this is in response to the earthquakes in Turkey, but he
talked about what we should do if there is an earthquake, or the
city is bombed, or the dam is bombed or breaks (the Vah River
dam--it is HUGE!). Apparently, we would have 36 minutes to get
out of the way of a wall of water 9 meters high if this were to
happen. Most of Zilina (the city, not the housing estate where I
live) would be under water. We are also on some earthquake fault,
but the emergency guy said it would only measure about a 4 on the
Richter scale (I'm not sure, is that big or little? he didn't
think it sounded like a big deal, "Only pictures moving on
the walls."). Apparently, there is also a chemical plant
here and he discussed accidents. (Wito, what is N3?)
The teacher who sporadically translated for me said that they had
never had this sort of presentation before and she had been there
12 years. Jana gets hurricanes, I get earthquakes and bombs! He
looked like the Slovak version of Kurt Russell, so I didn't mind
the presentation! didn't mind. I saw LOTS of Avon catalogues
being passed around!! Again, just like our faculty meetings!! And
he only spoke for an hour!
Random thought: "mrkva" is Slovak for carrot. Thursday is Stvrtok (although it is pronounced as "Shtvrtok"). There are sooo many consonants stuck together in this language. Pat, I'll take a vowel for $200.00.
I looked over the English textbooks today. The English books are from the "Headway" series, a British textbook series, and they look very much like a French or Spanish textbook. Pictures, conversations, vocabulary, and exercises. Although, reading through the book, they do not seem to think very highly of Americans!! In one dialogue exercise, the American tourists who are trying to "do" seven countries in Europe in twelve days ("Americans Do It Faster." is the title of the exercise!) "I can't wait to see the painting of 'David' by Michaelangelo!" says the wife. In the section on etiquette around the world, I discovered that Americans eat their fast food hamburgers with both hands and will not talk until they have eaten the meal (Instruction to students: "You shouldn't try to have a conversation until it is eaten.")!!!! I can't wait to read the book more thoroughly!
Barbora took me shoe shopping (I need a pair of shoes for the gym) and she helped me get a 90 day bus pass (for $14!!). The Slovaks have a custom with shoes, and it makes perfect sense! Whenever you enter your own or someone else's home, the first thing you do is take your shoes off. People have their own slippers that they wear around the house, and usually have slippers for guests. Even school or work, if you have your own classroom or don't have very far to walk, like in the same building, you take your shoes off and put on slippers (Birkenstocks or something). The same with they gym and the swimming pool--off with the shoes, on with the "gym (or pool)-only" shoes. OK, two minutes ago with the shoes.
Went to dinner at Jana's home tonight. She is a translator, a colleague of Emil's. She was very nice and hospitable. It had been her name day the day before. Slovaks have a GREAT custom of celebrating Name Days in addition to Birthdays. Each day has a name associated with it (I am guessing it is a saint's name!). Julia is May 22 (I already checked!). Today is Silvia, tomorrow Augustin. Birthdays are private occasions, but on name days you get presents and good wishes from friends, colleagues, and family. So the flowers I brought to Jana were for her name day, too, she told me! Again, she made me feel quite comfortable. I have a feeling I am really going to like it here.
30 August 1999
Another day one hour meeting day. I think everyone is anxious to
make the most of their last days, as everyone split as soon as
the meeting was over. It is my job to keep the bulletin board
that used to be Jana's, but no one could find the key to the
cabinet today, so I guess I will wait until tomorrow. The Hilton
Head Chamber of Commerce gave me lots of material, and I
collected tons of stuff on the Island before I left, so I hope to
have a really informative bulletin board. If they can find the
key . . .
31 August 1999
Another short meeting. Students come to school Thursday, as we
have tomorrow off (a Catholic holy day, also a state holiday!),
but it is more of an administrative day for them, so classes
don't really start until Friday. And I don't have students until
Monday!
Have finally made myself at home--brought my own coffee mug and put my Cal Ripkin, Jr. milk ad and HHI postcard under the glass at my desk in the faculty room. Meetings are held here, and it is VERY different from our library meeting space. Each teacher has an assigned place at one of two long tables. At each assigned place is a desk drawer for your things, and there you remain!
I found out what my schedule is. I have fifteen different classes per week, and five of these classes are 90 minutes, so I teach 21 hours per week. I am completely befuddled by this schedule, but my department colleagues tell me not to worry, it will become apparent when classes start. I hope so!!
After the meeting today, the director provided lunch for the teachers in the canteen. After lunch, the staff returned to the faculty room, we sat at our places at the tables, and enjoyed the wine that was on the tables! What a great way to start the school year!!
I would have stayed after school to work on the bulletin board today, and the students arrive on Thursday, but no one could find the key to the cabinet again, and the dept. head said not to worry about it, "if it's done in two weeks, that is fine!!!" Very different mindset here . . .
1 September 1999
State holiday today--I was wrong, not a religious holiday. The
constitution of the Slovak Republic was ratified on this date in
1992. It was a lovely day for a nice long bike ride through the
town and outlying villages..
2 September 1999
I went to go to school today, but had no classes. It was
basically a homeroom day. Students (and staff) listened to a
radio address from the Minister of Education. Again, out with a
Avon catalogues and magazines!!! It was pretty fascinating to me
that students all over the country (an area about the size of
West Virginia) were in their classrooms with their homeroom
teachers, listening to the Minister of Education speak over the
radio. Someone translated sporadically, responsibilities as
students, yadda yadda yadda . . .
School let out at 11:30. Is this really happening????
3 September 1999
Today was a modified schedule, and I had no classes. I went in
though, and finally got the key to the cabinet for the Hilton
Head/South Carolina bulletin board. Stayed at school for a while,
and then did more exploring in town. Big Friday night plans--read
a book!!!
the Tatramat!!!
