Schools out for summer....

So my last day of school was on friday. I worked hard all week for our big finale. The kids put on a big program for all the parents. It went really well, considering I was the sound and tech person. So many problems could have occurred, but thankfully my only problem was forgetting the Albanian word for stop. But the kids did great, and were absolutely adorable. When I pressed play for each groups theme song, I realized how much I love these kids. Its like it all just occurred to me in one moment. They came down the aisle of the church waving there small skinny arms and smiling from ear to ear. Memories of meeting each kid, and having special bonding moments with them over the past months flooded my mind.

With the youngest group I use to sit in there room for about ten minutes everyday when there teacher would go buy the food for the day. At that time my Albanian was bare minimal, and my only option for entertainment was to make funny faces and noises. Thankfully for 3 and 4 year olds this is never a bad option. We immediately hit it off, and I was no longer just plain Emily, to them I was "EMILYA, EMILYA".

The middle group was a little harder for me to attach myself, I only saw them for about 5 seconds eveyday. But about a month ago they all decided to start saying "No" to me. I guess this was the only english word they knew but I would ask them something and they would jump up and down shouting "No" "No" "No". This might sound depressing but it wasnt. While they were saying "No" they were smiling and laughing. It just became a game to them, and its weird how after this game came about, I oddly saw them a lot more. Wierd hu?

But the third group, the oldest of the clan was my favorite. I taught them english every wednesday, and we quickly became best friends. Teaching english to kids who know absolutely zero english was a little challenging at first, but somehow we did it. During the program on friday, they sang all of the songs I taught them and Said different english phrases. They did such a good job.

This kids name is Emiliano. From the beginning when I first started working at the kindergarten there teacher told them to greet me every morning by saying "Good Morning" in english. Some kids really struggled with it, but Emiliano caught on right from the start. He even became so quick with it every morning when he would pass by the kichen he would say "Mornin" just like he had lived in America his while life. It always made me laugh, and here you can see from the picture with his fohawk he is one cool kid.

I was really sad as I left, thinking about just how hard it was at the beginning when I did not know how to communicate to now when everything actually seemed easy. I will probably be back there in September for two weeks before I leave, but It wont be like this past year. That kindergarten is where I found my passion here. It was so strange not having to get up early and go the past few pays. Funny how when things round up you really only see the good. Well at least that is how it is for me. Right now when I look back I think about how much I love this place and how much it has taught me. I am thankful for that.

My internet has been out for a week. So right now I am at Elkes where I use to live, buming off her internet. Elke is in Germany, so it is only me and here husbands parents here. It reminds me of my first few days here in Lushnje. Before I started working at the kindergarden. I would spend my days roaming around the house, and taking Albanian lessons from Elke's father in law. Except there is a big difference now. Now I can actually talk with them, now when they speak to me , and I know what they are saying. It does not just seem like jiberoush. I like that! Olga the grandmother of the house is fixing me a turkish coffee (she knows I love them) and I am happily reuniting with the world of internet. When you dont have internet for so long it does strange things to a person. This I would not suggest. ha ha.

I am working on getting my english class ready for july. I am going to start a new class at my church in Lushnje. It will be twice a week, for young girls. I hope it goes well, I am a tad nervous since I will not have a translator but I think I can do it.

I hope all of you are enjoying the greatness of summer!