Yesterday, I worked a FOURTEEN HOUR day.

It was long.

And the last three hours were devoted to parent-teacher conferences. Sounds like fun, huh?

They actually went quite well. 18 out of my 19 students' parents showed up. I was only expecting 17, though.

Here are some differences between PT conferences in the US, versus here, in the big K:

1. In the US, parents pretty much want to hear how wonderful their child is. They don't care about the other kids, really. Here, they want you to compare their child to everyone else's and they want you to tell them their child is better than everyone else's.
2. In the US, parents don't want their 7 year old to have to do homework. And I agree with them because then, I have to grade it! In the big K, they want me to bog their 7 year old CHILD down with homework so that they don't have to interact with them when they are home.
3. In the US, parents understand that reading at home will help their child in pretty much every other aspect of school. In the big K, they look at me like I'm crazy.
4. In the US, some parents don't want their child "confined to learn a certain way." In the big K, they want me to use this special paper that they apparently use in the ex-Soviet schools that has a diagonal line so that their letters slant JUST RIGHT. I quote, "Students should not be using this plain lined paper (notebook paper) for writing until they are in University. They need more structure." The father even offered to buy these notebooks with the diagonal lines for all of Year 3. So, not only does he want his son to write in it, he thinks everyone else should write in it, too. I said no.
5. In the US, the parents shake my hand when they come in my classroom. In the big K, there are no smiles, no handshakes, just a simple "Zrastveetche" (hello) and they sit. It's a little awkward to get started.
6. In the US, parents want to get their kid picked up right after school to rush to soccer, dance lessons, gymnastics, or whatever extra activity they have signed up for. And it's not unusual for them to pick them up early, in order to get to these things on time, which I don't agree with, but whatever. In the big K, they want their kid to stay at the school as long as possible, so their drivers usually don't pick them up until about 5:30, even if they are done at 3:30. It is sad. But mostly annoying because I am expected to baby-sit them because they "cannot be unattended."

I realize I'm not just talking about conferences now. Now, it's more of a comparison of schools. Oh well. Deal with it.

7. In the US, when it's winter time, the kids MIGHT bring in snowboots to change into when they go out to play. In the big K, the kids ALWAYS change into their "outdoor shoes" before they go out, even if they're going to be on dry ground. It takes a long time and is unnecessary, in my opinion. I appreciate that US kids aren't afraid to get dirty.

8. I had two parents last night complain to me that their child doesn't like it when I mark things wrong in their workbooks. This makes sense, as my non-English speakers REFUSE to answer a question during my lessons if they are absolutely positive that it is the right answer. I like that US students are comfortable with taking a chance and making mistakes. It seems so much more real-life.

9. In the US, it is funny when you see a mullet. In the big K, most little boys have mullets and are proud of them. MULLET ALERT!!!

10. In the US, kids sport most of their clothes from Target, Wal-Mart, and any other store where clothes are relatively cheap, as they grow out of them quickly or dirty them to oblivion. In the big K, two of my boy students wear Prada dress shoes with their uniform, one of my girls wears a Burberry coat, three boys wear ridiculously nice leather jackets outside to recess, and 3 of my girls wear diamond studs in their ears. I'm 95% sure they are real. Let me clarify: these are the richest of the rich kids in this city. It's still disturbing.

11. In the big K, the kids pronounce my name "Mrs. Br-r-r-uce" - the "r" is ALWAYS rolled. It makes me laugh every time I hear it.

12. In the big K, they write their numbers funny. The 1's look like 7's and the 7's look like F's. It takes concentration when marking their Maths notebooks.

Anyway, that's all for now. But now, you know some of the differences, big and small, from what I'm used to!

25 Random Facts About Me...

My Aunt Steph tagged me on Facebook for this, so I thought I'd post it on here, too.



Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. If I could live during any other time period, I would love to live during the 1700's or 1800's. It has always fascinated me. I absolutely LOVE walking through historical homes, like Mount Vernon and Monticello and imagining what it was like. Stephen and I are watching the John Adams miniseries right now and (I think) it is really well done. I think I would've made a good Abigail Adams.


2. The end of my nose pops. Yes, it sure does. If you push in just the right spot, you can feel it pop! No, it doesn't hurt.


3. I hate jello. I mean really hate it. It makes me gag, just thinking about it. Ugh.


4. I don't make the bed in the morning (usually because my husband is still in it), but I have to make it before I get in it at night.


5. I would like to take private tennis lessons. I grew up playing tennis in the summers and I'm helping with tennis after school two days a week, but I am not good. I want to be good at it. And I think to have a tennis player's fit body would be neat-o.


6. On that note, I also think it'd be fun to pick up the violin again and be really good. I would play at church and for weddings, if anyone wanted me to.


7. Most of you know this, since most of you are family members, but I used to be a cheerleader in high school. Captain, actually! G-O-O-O-O-O-O EAGLES!


8. I cannot wait to be a mom. I know, I know...surprise, surprise. But seriously.


9. I really like to cook. I look forward to the day when I have a nice, big, gourmet kitchen with lots of gadgets and appliances and space to work on. I want to learn to make really complicated things. And I want to be the mom who makes the world's best chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.


10. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love my Huzz. I love him more and more each day. It makes me emotional, just typing about it.


11. I think it'd be neat if a lot of people read this blog. But I don't really expect it because it's not that thrilling, is it? Haha!


12. I most despise waking up in the morning. Especially when it's dark outside. I don't mind it when I can sleep as long as I'd like and then slowly emerge from the bed and leisurely make Huzz and I some pancakes. THAT is the way to wake up!


13. I wish I saw my cousins more. I grew up with them, but we don't see each other as much anymore, since we became adults and have our own lives to be busy with. I miss them.


14. I like Creamy Roobois tea. I am not much of a tea drinker. I like coffee much more, but when we moved here, coffee became a thing of the past. I discovered Creamy Roobois tea and it is delightful. I highly recommend it. It's herbal, decaffeinated, and good for you. And it doesn't need any sugar, honey, or milk to taste nice. It's from South Africa.


15. I have 181 friends on Facebook. I think it's so great to reconnect with people you haven't in so many years. I am friends with some people that I went to kindergarten with, but haven't seen them since!


16. I have 29 cousins.


17. I have been this height since I was twelve years old.


18. I don't wear heels. I hate them. They make me angry. The only heels I will agree to wear are my Nine West boots. Well, mine aren't exactly like those, but they're about the same heel height. Mine are square toed, so they don't pinch, and the leather has stretched to my feet, so they fit just perfectly. I love them.


19. I am laid back, but I worry a lot. I worry when things are up in the air. I know this is an area He is working on in me to trust Him more. But it's hard!


20. I never had braces or a retainer and I don't have any cavities still. Knock on wood.


21. I have never eaten so many tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beets, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots in my life until we moved to the big K. Those are just about the only veggies you can get here.


22. I had seven bridesmaids in our wedding! It was a large and in charge wedding party! And it was SO MUCH FUN.


23. I wasn't in a sorority in college, but I did live in a house with 6 other girls. There were some pretty fun times! One of my favorite memories is the time we threw a HUGE party with a keg...of root beer. We had so many random people showing up, asking where the keg was. Imagine their surprise when they realized what it was!


24. My hair is naturally pretty curly. People tell me all the time how jealous they are, but what they don't understand is that it's not Julia Roberts-type curly. It's more like Richard Simmons-type curly. Just kidding. It's not that bad. But it's straight in the front and super curly in the back! It's like a mullet, in the curly sense.


25. We are moving like it's going out of style! We are moving to our third apartment in 7 months on Saturday.

I'm supposed to tag TWENTY-FIVE people, but I don't know that many people in the blog world, so I'll tag all that I know.

I tag: Alexis, Jessie, Emily, Kate, Becky, Diane, Brie, Heather, Jennifer, Angie, Megan, Melanie, Amy, Becky K, Josie, Cowboy

Skiing, Shashlik, and a Bruise...

This weekend, we finally decided to go skiing. There is a small ski resort only 30 minutes from our house. The teachers have been going for several weeks, every Saturday, but this was our first time going.
At the top of the mountain, look at the view!

They had 3 lifts open - all 2 chair lifts. They were painfully slow, so by the time you got to the top, you were F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G.

I had to take these pictures FAST because my fingers felt like they were going to fall off. Here is Stephen, all ready to go!

And my self-portrait. Isn't it lovely?

Nick (Woody's friend who is visiting), Anthony (Ant), and Robby (Woody)

We all met up for lunch at the outdoor cafe and had really tasty Shashlik. (Meat kabob) We had lamb shashlik and frites (fries).

I quit by lunch time because the slopes were SO ICY!!! I had taken a couple of good diggers and my hip was hurting. I decided I'd go to the indoor cafe and have some hot chocolate (beer) while the rest skiied for a while longer. I went inside and there were three empty tables, so I sat down at one and waited about 10 minutes for someone to ask me what I wanted. Eventually, the waitress came over and said I couldn't sit there. There's no point in me asking why because I wouldn't understand what she said. I'm pretty sure it was just because I was alone. And because people are really rude here. So, I went back outside, where it was F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G, but at least the sun was shining, and waited for Stephen.

This is what I looked at for an hour and a half.

And this.

And this! They were giving hot air balloon rides, but the the balloon was tied down, so it just went up and down, up and down, all day long.

I took some other pictures, but they didn't really turn out, since it was too cold to take my gloves off to take the pictures, my glove is in most of the pictures.

Eventually, Stephen did show up, along with some other teachers. By then, it was about 3:00 and everyone was exhausted. Skiing on ice is just too much work, in my opinion! We sat inside and had some beers before the bus left at 5:15.

When we left the cafe, I kind of had the feeling I needed to tinkle, but I figured I could wait until we got home. I was advised to wait, as the bathrooms left much to be desired. Think squatty potties that haven't been cleaned in who knows how long.

Well, by the time we got only halfway down the mountain, I thought I was going to pee my pants. I have never had to go so badly in my life. There's this skating rink halfway down the mountain that my friend said we could run in there to the bathroom. So, I jumped off the bus and ran to the gate, but another mean lady said "Niet!" She pointed to the trees.

Yes, I peed behind a tree. Oh, sweet relief.

But honestly, I would rather do it there than in a stinky squatty potty.

And later that night, as I was putting on my pajamas, I noticed a HUGE bruise on my hip. It is dark purple right now...almost black. Very pretty.

We decided we're not going back skiing until they get some more snow.

A-Towns...

So, Stephen's on his way to Astana today, for business. Just a day trip and he'll be back late tonight, thank goodness.

The last time Stephen went away on business, he went to Aktobe and Aktau, which are oil cities in the western part of the big K. He was supposed to get back late at night then, too, and was supposed to be home by 2:00 am. I had gone to bed and found myself waking up at 2:30 am, in a cold sweat.

I was freaking out. Where was he? I called his cell phone. No answer.

It was the first time I have ever felt like I had an actual panic attack. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't stop crying. I was so worried, I didn't know what to do. I actually ran around the house, calling for Huzz and checking every room, just to be sure he wasn't home.

Once I gained some sense, I cracked open the Big Book and read some comforting words. I sent up big P's for a long time, in the bed.

When I heard the car pull up around 3:00, I ran down the stairs and greeted Huzz at the door, sobbing uncontrollably, and so relieved. He hadn't answered his cell because he had to turn it off for the flight and at the time, we had to put a pin # in to get it back on and he couldn't remember what it was. Needless to say, we figured out how to disable that setting!

Let's just hope all of this does not happen again tonight. His plane is due back in at 11:30, so he should be home around 12:30, as he has no luggage, since it's a day trip.

Last night, we were talking about how this will be his fourth A-city he's been to in the big K. Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, and now Astana.

I'm noticing a trend, as 7 of my 19 students have names that start with "A".

I have a big 'ol headache today that I woke up with and I have to teach tennis after school to twenty 8-year-olds. Oh, the joys.

Has Anyone Seen the Piece with Weird Colors?...

Look what kept us busy for the better part of while we stayed with Stephen's parents?
It's a 1,000 piece puzzle! The last piece found its place on the last night we were in Colorado. Rarely have I seen a puzzle from start to finish. Pretty cool.