Catching Up

For a while there it seemed there wasn't anything interesting to blog about, but now I can't seem to keep up with everything - HA!!  Saturday we slept a little later, but then got up and did some skyping.  We also made a trip to TESCO (our version of Wal-Mart) and found a set of computer speakers to use in our classroom - using more of the money from our church back home.  We also picked up a few groceries while we were there.  (It was pretty cold, so we took the local bus out and back since TESCO is a little farther away.)  Then in the late afternoon and evening, it was more skyping, some laundry, and baking a batch of cookies with ingredients sent from Iowa.  

Sunday was a good day!  First off, at church, Zuzka came and sat with us, and she offered to translate the sermon for us.  We changed pews a couple of times to find the best place to NOT disturb others, and it was great to understand the message from the pastor!  (Jan, a nice young man at church, had tried translating a couple of times before, but people who didn't realize what was happening "shushed" him sternly each time, so he stopped.)  Well, this week, during the announcements the pastor thanked Zuzka for translating so that we could understand along with the rest of the congregation --- how cool is that?!?  We are really trying not to be a distraction to others, but it's nice to understand.    :-)  

After church we were invited to Erik and Jana Jusko's flat for Sunday dinner.  (Erik was in pics from the ball, teaches P.E. & computers with us, plays basketball with Tim, and both of them play volleyball on Friday nights.)  Erik and their two darling kids picked us up at 11:00, and we went sledding while poor Jana was home cooking!!  :-(   

Tim with Erik, Miška and Ričko

It was snowing most of the time, as you can see from the flakes in the picture!   We all took turns sledding down the hill with the kids -- it was such fun!!    :-)

Miška, age 2, and Riško, age 4,  (pronounced "Meesh-ka" and "Reesh-ko")  were absolutely adorable!!  They had a ball sledding down the hill over and over again, racing us, their Dad, and one another.  There were a few crashes and wipe-outs, but lots of laughter!  

One of the few times Miška wasn't smiling!!  

Before going inside their flat, we went on a walk to see Podbreziny, the part of town where they live. It is a community within itself, with grocery stores and other shops, a nice park area, & a hockey rink.

We brought Miška a "Winnie the Pooh" stuffed animal and story book, which she loved.   :-)
In Slovak, he is Macko Puf  ("Mahtzko Poof")   We also took some cookies I'd made for them!  

Jana made a delicious dinner, which we enjoyed so much!  It was fun just hanging out together with their family and such darling kiddos!!  Sunday evening I worked on some grades, we skyped some more, and we headed to bed early because of our Monday.......

..... when the alarm was set for 5:00 a.m. - UGH!!  We had to be at the bus station at 5:50 to take the charter bus for the English Olympics.  It was COLD and windy out, and the bus didn't arrive until after 6:00, so we were really glad when we finally climbed aboard!  I had brought along breakfast to eat on the bus, with a thermos of hot tea --- nice!!  The bus picked up more teachers and students at several stops in towns on the way to Čadca, where the bilingual school hosted the competition.  We met two British teachers from other schools, and the four of us served as interlocutors, reading aloud the listening sections of the test, and doing the role-plays with the students.  It was an interesting day, and one of our students placed 3rd in his division.    :-)

 English Olympics at the bilingual school in Čadca - in the mountains north of Žilina.  
(This is Zuzka, our student --- we didn't get a photo of Katka, the head of our English department, and Alex, the other student from our school, who were also with us all day.)  

When we got back, Katka came over to our flat until it was time for her bus.  It was fun relaxing with her over a cup of tea.  Then we went over to volleyball at school.  It felt good to get some exercise after sitting on a bus for over 4 hours total today.  It seemed like a LONG day after being gone for nearly 12 hours.   :-)   

So, now we're all caught up on the blog!    Whew!!