Recently, I was able to see several amazing monasteries. The most impressive by far was the Pechorskiy Monastery. I was absolutely beautiful! The building were like something out of a fairy-tail, the domes are painted a rich blue color and have brilliant stars painted on to them to represent the heavens. Everywhere you look there were gorgeous icons (painted or mosaics representations of divine figures and saints).We woman also had to wear make shift skirts and a shall over our head, while in all the monasteries. It looked funny, but those are the rules! So this week and last I had the opportunity to attend some Classes at the University and complete my second week of teaching and visit another school. I am having such a good time. I wake up everyday and don't dread going to school for a change. The classes I attended at the university were the history of the region class and the technology class. They were very interesting. The classes at this university are very different from those at NC State. I noticed they focus much more on the “human aspect” of learning, whereas the classes at state focus much more on the technology aspect of the teaching profession.
The hardest part about traveling is leaving home. I miss being home in my own house with my own bed. Most of all I miss my boyfriend. I think if I had been able to bring Jon with me I would have been much easier not to miss home. Also, I miss my cat. Leza is just not as cuddly as Cheerio. I need my kitty-luvins!
I have had the first week of teaching kids at the Humanitarian Lyceum or school Twenty-Three. The first day I was very nervous because I found out that I would be teaching upper-class student. The highest grade or “form” in Russia is the eleventh and I had an eleventh and two tenth form classes. This is obviously out of my ages range and I didn't want to teach high school because I don't yet feel like I am that much older than those students and I am afraid they won't take me seriously This week I participated in the 2nd annual International Students Conference. The theme this year was “World Languages. Language and Cultural Identity in the Modern World.” I was to give a presentation in front of both the American and Russian Students. My presentation was on “The Benefits of A Globalized Perspective in the Classroom” I wrote a paper and made a Prezi for the presentation.
So this week I was unable to connect to the wireless internet in my host, Olga's, house. It made me realize just how much I depend on its availability. I was trying to write a paper and I couldn't track down more sources because of the lack of internet. Also, because I was in a foreign country it was not like I could just go to the library …. because everything would be in RUSSIAN!
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AuthorMy name is Brittany Jones. I am working toward my degree in Middle Grades Education. During April, I will be taking an adventure to Russia to gain a new perspective on teaching and learning. Archives |