The teaching begins

What do I say?  What do I say to these 65 teachers that have lost 5,000 of their colleagues throughout the country?  What do I say to these teachers whose base salary has been cut by as much as 35 percent?  How do I say thank you for taking the time to learn, to participate in professional development even though there is no real incentive - no incentive except that you are teachers through and through.  When their utility bills average 200 dollars a month and their salaries average 400-600 dollars how do you say that what we are bringing to you is so important?

I will go in their tomorrow and I will thank them for their service - their dedication - their commitment to the next generation - the generation that may be able to break out of the ennui - that persistent feeling that nothing will ever get better.  In this country where the best and the brightest are leaving, these teachers are staying and trying to make whatever inroads they can. 

Tonight Erin and I had dinner with one of our sponsors and her family.  Her wish for her daughter was that she would grow up and leave and come to America.  I can see this in her future - I can not see the future for Romania.  The dinner was light and relaxed and yet, underneath, in the subtle things said, there was despair, despair that we are here now to provide a service, but despair that we can go home - home to America.

Wish us luck.  Day one is about to begin.  ksf

Here At Last

Erin and I have arrived safely in Bucharest - mostly shell-shocked and sleep deprived but here.  The city is interesting and has some unusual buildings.  I will try to post pictures later.  It's 4:30 here so around 9:30 am your time.  We head to Bacau in the morning at 8.  It's a four hour train ride - but we'll probably manage to sleep a little then too.  More later.  Kathy

Gay Paree

Good Morning - Erin and I are safely in Charles DeGaulle Airport - raining here but still Paris.  We have one more two wait then a two hour flight to Bucharest.  Flight wasn't awful I I got moved to the front and at the bulkhead so had lots of leg room - in fact, enough to sleep soundly on the floor in front of me - oh did I mention the empty seat next to me.  Priceless.  I hope all is well on the other side of the world.  We managed to have only a few delays due to the authhorities looking for suspicious packages.  Be well and we will check in later from Romania. 

The Game is Afoot....

Hi All,

It's Friday morning around 7 am.  I am almost packed.  Erin is in Orlando readying for her flight through JFK.  I am in the final stages of packing - weather in Romania just may reach the 60's about midweek - so packing is even more problematic.  But what the heck, if I don't have it, and need it, I'll get it there.  Always a good solution.

We reviewed our agenda for each day on Wed. and went over the protocols of visiting with attaches and ambassadors should such a need arise.  I didn't know that was all part of it, but okay I'll at least know who he is and a little something about him.  So, I'll sign in again when I'm headed off.  The game is indeed "afoot" as Holmes would say.

7 Days and Counting

Erin and I met to finalize the course and how we will proceed each day - lunch at Sage was icing on the cake.  She put together the strategy pack and I think the teachers will be very happy with it.  It connects the "dots" pretty nicely.

The organizers of this project want us to visit the University and talk to future teachers - something I am more than happy to do and to see a couple of high schools and a middle school - something else I that I think will be wonderful.  Can't wait to get pictures and comments from our counterparts!

Found at this morning that the folks in Bacau think that there will be 60-70 teachers.  I think we are going to need mics. 

Now if the French would forego their strike until after we have to fly through it would be perfect.  More tomorrow.  ksf

10 Days and Counting

Well, we're down to 10 days before the trip.  I've put together literacy strategy packets and sent them off to Erin to make them look professional.  That never was my strong suit.  I'm madly putting together the powerpoint for the opening day presentation. 

Now, if I could be sure of the weather - I'd know what to wear.  Bacau is in the northern part of the country so probably cold and hopefully not rainy.  I hear we will be business casual - but it's seriously winter - and I can't stand to have cold feet - what shoes go with business casual (think heavy socks and you have a REALLY pretty picture I'm sure).

More later and if anyone knows how to avoid the "fashion police" please let me know.  Cheerios, Kath

Planning the Romanian Trip

Hi All,

Erin Crowe and I are now in the final stages of planning for our trip to Romania to work with English Language teachers there.  We will have 5 working days in Bacau, Romania.  We plan on using The Giver, by Lois Lowry as the focal point of our teaching.  Erin works for Florida Law Related Education and was a student in my Literacy Across the Content Areas course in 2008. 

It has been exciting catching up with her and working out this trip together.  It will be a lot of fun teaching with her too.  Right now it looks like there may be as many as 80 teachers signing up for our course - Teaching English through Democratic Values. 

We plan on posting this blog every day and pictures when possible, so stay turned everyone.  Best, Kathy