Once I used the phrase 'of course' when I was speaking to my students and they asked me to explain what it meant. Now, one 3rd grade boy has decided it is his new favorite English phrase, or so I have inferred from his frequent employment of the phrase.
"Are you finished with your snack?" I'll ask him.
"Yes, of course."
Later, "Do you have your homework?"
"I have the homework, of course."
The students wrote about their favorite school subject and I get a paper that says, 'P.E. is my favorite subject. Of course.' I knew who wrote that one right away. It's so funny what the students pick up. But it also reminds me to be very deliberate with whatever I say in class!
A trip to Stockholm from Gdansk costs about $20 round trip so I decided that this would be an excellent destination for my first trip outside of the Poland in Europe (of course). But more about this trip later.
The day before I left for Stockholm was the school Christmas party. I was told that the Christmas party was quite the shindig, so I was excited to see how the Poles celebrated and to eat all the traditional foods. I was teaching the entire day, but I brought a fancy dress in my backpack, changed into some not-so-practical-for-teaching shoes, and did a quick transformation at the school as everyone was arriving for the party. My boss arrived looking beautiful in a floor-length dress and her husband was decked out in a fancy suit, so I immediately knew they weren't kidding about the party being a formal occaision. The main room in the school was transformed into a dining room for the night, and it was absolutely beautiful! Formalities were completed, important school members introduced, and then dinner was served. Except 'dinner' doesn't quite do justice to the incredible meal that was served. The Polish people celebrate Christmas with twelve traditional dishes, and the tradition is that you must eat each dish, otherwise you run the risk of having bad luck for the year! Well, trying all of the food was by no means a problem for me! The main course was wild boar, hunted by the school director himself. This was accompanied by pierogis, salads, meats and cheeses, potatoes, beets, soups, chestnuts, Silesian dumplings known as kluski, and more that I can't even remember! And dessert (of course) of gingerbread, apple pie, and chocolate! If it sounds like a huge meal, be assured that it was!
During the meal, the school director collected money for a children's charity, and did a raffle for prizes if you donated. I won an adorable fox mug that I'm pretty sure was made for me and... a giant bottle of whiskey. My boss told me, "Jenny, everyone likes you, but now that you have whiskey they like you even more!" I had no idea what to do with a giant bottle of whiskey though, so I offered to trade with a Polish co-worker. He agreed, but only if I did it in Polish (luckily he was willing to teach me the Polish way to trade, I guess the whiskey was good motivation)! Maybe if I get more whiskey I can get myself a Polish tutor!
It was pretty late by the time we finished eating and partying. A coworker drove me home (which was greatly appreciated considering my not-so-practical-for-teaching shoes) and I attempted to pack for Sweden while fighting off the urge to sleep off the giant meal. But the entire Christmas party was really lovely and so exemplary of the wonderful hospitality and generosity of all the Polish people I've met and spent time with. I am reminded again how lucky I am to have found such a great school to work at for my first job abroad!
