Today was filled with blood, awkward X-rays and accompaniment. In the morning, two other teachers and myself met our translator and friend Peter, and he took us to the doctor’s office to get our blood drawn. All new teachers have to go through this, so the government knows we aren’t bringing over any diseases. If …
Monthly Archive: August 2012
Aug 28
Discovering Textile House
It’s nice to know that no matter where I go, I can always manage to shop. Or is it? My mom would probably argue no. Today, after another work day at the school, I went with one of my roommates to a second-hand clothing store called Textile House. It’s sort of like Plato’s Closet in …
Aug 27
Vienna done under a day and 25 Euros
It is possible to do a day in Vienna for just 21 Euros. From Bratislava, anyway. Saturday, another new teacher and I set out to do Vienna in a day. We walked to the bus stop near our building, and after a couple wrong stops, made it to where we thought the train station was. …
Aug 24
From Slivovitz to foreign grocery shopping
I have now consumed fried cheese twice and gone through training for how to correctly (and respectfully) say “no” to Slovak Slivovitz. Slivovitz is strong alcohol that’s often called “plum brandy,” but it is made with all different types of flavors. And, according to the true-and-false question that I was given on the subject, the …
Aug 21
Getting to know Bratislava … and the classroom
This week, my mind is flooded with memories of when I was in high school and all the ornery and sometimes ridiculous stunts my friends and I pulled on some of our teachers. And how karma may now have a chance to get back at me for them. We began new teacher orientation Monday, and …
Aug 18
Hello from Bratislava
I made it safely to Bratislava, and thankfully, so did my two checked bags. Here are some tidbits from the last couple days: 1) While waiting to board my plane from JFK to Dusseldorf, a girl began speaking to me in what I thought was German. I couldn’t understand a word she said, so I …
Aug 17
Vacuum travel bags … Why didn’t I think of that?
Thank the Lord for whoever invented the plastic travel bags that (with the help of a vacuum) enable you to fit a lot more in your suitcase with a lot less stress. I filled about six of these bags with clothes and other necessities (maybe some “necessities”), and then watched as all the extra air …
Aug 08
The final countdown
My days in America are numbered. On Friday, Aug. 17, I’ll begin a three-flight journey plus a short train ride to Bratislava, Slovakia, to teach Intro to English Lit and English classes at a bilingual Lutheran high school. My volunteer teaching contract is for 10 months through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I will teach two …
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