Hello all. I am teaching in Pusztaederics, Hungary, a small town of about 200. Most residents are senior citizens, although there are a few young people. Basically all of my students are beginners. I teach three classes: one for teens (most are from the neighboring villages and their grandparents live in Pusztaederics), one for young children, and one for adults ( most are 40-50 women with no prior English knowledge). In total, I have approximately 25 students.
My classes are going pretty well. Charades, water balloons, and Go Fish with various vocabulary words have been the most popular activities. I am staying with the mayor's family. The eldest daughter, who lives in Budapest and speaks English pretty well, was here for the first bit of time and was able to help me adjust.They are a very generous, kind family. I have been to Balaton, Pécs, and bowling in Zalaegerszeg many times.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
A few words on traveling...
(posted by Zsofi Budai)
I know I'm several weeks late with posting this (sorry!), but I just rediscovered the website for planning trips to, from, or within Slovakia. Here it is:
www.cp.sk
It has both train and bus schedules. All you need to do is type in your city of departure, your destination, and the date and time you want to travel. The tricky thing is that it is all in Slovak (unless I missed the English version somewhere) but it would do you good to learn a few words of the language anyway... Or just ask your host family for help!
And don't forget the website for train travel to, from, or within Hungary:
www.elvira.hu
Now, I know that most of you are eager to see the region (and each other) in your free time, but remember that you need to spend at least one weekend with your host family!!! I was about to turn Janelle, your wonderful program director and Felsőpatony's super amazing English teacher, into an anti-role model for this, since I wanted to see her so badly I almost asked her if she could skip her plans with her host family this weekend. Not a good idea! I resisted the temptation to ask (and I'm sure Janelle would have wisely turned me down anyway). You only have one more weekend left in your village, but before you make plans to go anywhere, double-check with your host family to see if they have anything planned for you. And if you already left your village (without your host family) this weekend (the one that's just come to a close on Sunday evening) well, then, that means you shouldn't be making plans to leave again, unless your host family has already assured you three times that they have absolutely nothing in store for you this coming weekend and would actually prefer that you left and gave them some time alone.
Of course, since all of you are super amazing volunteers yourselves (completely dedicated to your villages, students, and host families!), I know that I really don't even need to post this reminder.
I know I'm several weeks late with posting this (sorry!), but I just rediscovered the website for planning trips to, from, or within Slovakia. Here it is:
www.cp.sk
It has both train and bus schedules. All you need to do is type in your city of departure, your destination, and the date and time you want to travel. The tricky thing is that it is all in Slovak (unless I missed the English version somewhere) but it would do you good to learn a few words of the language anyway... Or just ask your host family for help!
And don't forget the website for train travel to, from, or within Hungary:
www.elvira.hu
Now, I know that most of you are eager to see the region (and each other) in your free time, but remember that you need to spend at least one weekend with your host family!!! I was about to turn Janelle, your wonderful program director and Felsőpatony's super amazing English teacher, into an anti-role model for this, since I wanted to see her so badly I almost asked her if she could skip her plans with her host family this weekend. Not a good idea! I resisted the temptation to ask (and I'm sure Janelle would have wisely turned me down anyway). You only have one more weekend left in your village, but before you make plans to go anywhere, double-check with your host family to see if they have anything planned for you. And if you already left your village (without your host family) this weekend (the one that's just come to a close on Sunday evening) well, then, that means you shouldn't be making plans to leave again, unless your host family has already assured you three times that they have absolutely nothing in store for you this coming weekend and would actually prefer that you left and gave them some time alone.
Of course, since all of you are super amazing volunteers yourselves (completely dedicated to your villages, students, and host families!), I know that I really don't even need to post this reminder.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
no facebook, no problem
hilites from our fabulous midpoint break
hungarian grand reunion!
dining with the family
the power table
the kids table
the night was off to a great start
wedding photo!
this picture is like, so la
holland taking it like the lady she is
and this is when the trouble started
lights out for collar as he pays his respects to this fine hungarian pioneer
and there he is the next morning, good as new
btw that tour of fort was really to get a good photoshoot in
surprises around every corner
looking down at the river danube, although you cant tell by all the yellow grass
work it girl
this is when we realized we had lost the rest of the group
gorgeous tour guide
i found a puppy in the middle of a bowling alley
dont worry, they havent lost their shirts, they just put them in the freezer
tom collar says bon voyage
well be recreating this all soon, dont worry
hungarian grand reunion!
dining with the family
the power table
the kids table
the night was off to a great start
wedding photo!
this picture is like, so la
holland taking it like the lady she is
and this is when the trouble started
lights out for collar as he pays his respects to this fine hungarian pioneer
and there he is the next morning, good as new
btw that tour of fort was really to get a good photoshoot in
surprises around every corner
looking down at the river danube, although you cant tell by all the yellow grass
work it girl
this is when we realized we had lost the rest of the group
gorgeous tour guide
i found a puppy in the middle of a bowling alley
dont worry, they havent lost their shirts, they just put them in the freezer
tom collar says bon voyage
well be recreating this all soon, dont worry
your fearless leader ís now a teacher
Hey dudes, new slovak phone totally rad, brah!
inside slovakia 0908 392 874
outside slovakia 00421 908 392 874
text it. now i can stop getting threatening emails from my parents about the phone bill.
Anyway, Felsopatony is wonderful. Its a small village of about 1800 people and this is the first year LE has been here in a while - thus my classes are pretty small, only about 25 students total. One class is for intermediate children and the second is a mix of grammas and smarty pants teenagers who somehow managed to become fluent in English. Its pretty sweet. Today we threw water balloons and tomorrow Im making the adults play hatchi patchi. Feedback has been really positive and so everyday i get one or two new students. Guys, Im really not surprised. I am preeeeetty much the greatest teacher ever.
water balloons for educational purposes
My host family is also great. I live in the mayors house, which has an identical floor plan to the house I where I lived in Udvard over a year ago.. weird huh! Ive got a sweet bedroom full of Green Day posters because my host sister is in London au pairing for the summer.
My host brother is super sweet and the cutest thing ever. Just imagine Balazs at age 16. He translates my life for me and escorts me to school. Then in the evenings we go to the bigger town to play pool and drink becherovka and zlaty bazant with his friends.
My parents cant understand why i refuse to drink and smoke in front of them. I keep trying to explain to them that in the states theres a sense of inpropriety for teachers to do things like that, and so my host brother said give me your hand. He put an unopened pack of marlboro lights in it and told me to go home and smoke them all. WHAT A SWEETHEART! Last night we went to bed with the soothing flavors of fernet and tonic in our tummies. Life is good.
Ive met a lot of people so far.. I think I have exchanged phone numbers with every single person who even remotely speaks English in a 25 km radius.
I think I might jump in a lake right now. Enjoy the rest of your day!
inside slovakia 0908 392 874
outside slovakia 00421 908 392 874
text it. now i can stop getting threatening emails from my parents about the phone bill.
Anyway, Felsopatony is wonderful. Its a small village of about 1800 people and this is the first year LE has been here in a while - thus my classes are pretty small, only about 25 students total. One class is for intermediate children and the second is a mix of grammas and smarty pants teenagers who somehow managed to become fluent in English. Its pretty sweet. Today we threw water balloons and tomorrow Im making the adults play hatchi patchi. Feedback has been really positive and so everyday i get one or two new students. Guys, Im really not surprised. I am preeeeetty much the greatest teacher ever.
water balloons for educational purposes
My host family is also great. I live in the mayors house, which has an identical floor plan to the house I where I lived in Udvard over a year ago.. weird huh! Ive got a sweet bedroom full of Green Day posters because my host sister is in London au pairing for the summer.
My host brother is super sweet and the cutest thing ever. Just imagine Balazs at age 16. He translates my life for me and escorts me to school. Then in the evenings we go to the bigger town to play pool and drink becherovka and zlaty bazant with his friends.
My parents cant understand why i refuse to drink and smoke in front of them. I keep trying to explain to them that in the states theres a sense of inpropriety for teachers to do things like that, and so my host brother said give me your hand. He put an unopened pack of marlboro lights in it and told me to go home and smoke them all. WHAT A SWEETHEART! Last night we went to bed with the soothing flavors of fernet and tonic in our tummies. Life is good.
Ive met a lot of people so far.. I think I have exchanged phone numbers with every single person who even remotely speaks English in a 25 km radius.
I think I might jump in a lake right now. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Shelley Potter plays catch up
I was in a small village in south eastern Hungary called Dusnok. It has a total of 2800 residents, 1 elementary school, and 1 pub. It's a pretty chill place where everyone seems to know each other and the families that live there now have been there for generations. The oldest people in the village speak a dialect of Croat...not sure when they migrated from Croatia, but they feel slightly superior in their ability to speak the language. I lived with a very large family, 1 mom, 1 dad, 1 brother, and 5 sisters! I felt like I was part of the Brady Bunch! Unfortunately the only person who spoke any English was the father, and that was minimal. Still I had fun with them. We had ping-pong tournaments in the basement most nights, hung out in the garden in the evenings while the father played the guitar and the family sang old folk songs, and all 9 of us would hop into an old rickety canoe and paddle around the village river. It was good times had by all. My classes changed both in size and number throughout the 3 weeks. First I had 4 classes, then 5, then back down to 4. I started out having 20 children 9 and under in my beginner class, then the second week the number jumped up to 33 (and I prayed for Jolene to come!), and then the number was back down to about 17 the last week. So in total I taught anywhere from 50-70 students during my stay there. Hatchi-patchi was my friend! In the evenings many of my adult students would invite me to their homes, stuff my belly, and pick my brain. I got pretty close to a few of my students. On the weekends different students would volunteer to take me to neighboring towns for sightseeing, and I was even able to attend the famous fish soup festival in Baja. I have never seen so many people in one place in my life! I could smell the smoke from the fires while I was still on the bus, and I swear every one from Hungary showed up with at least 2 cousins. The night was full of soup, beer, and dancing and then ended with an impressive show of fire works. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Dusnok...my students were very bright and enthusiastic which made the classes fun and I found the people very generous and welcoming. I'm sure the next volunteer will enjoy teaching here as much as I have.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Greetings from Danny Holland, Blog writing pro
Holland-Hammers-Halimba 2007
Best way to arrive in a small Hungarian village that has never seen an English person before?? ANSWER: by jumping off a train after you have fallen asleep and missed your stop...(thanks AT and Gretchen for throwing my bags off!!)...
Despite this slightly unusual arrival I found the people of Halimba welcomed me into their homes and hearts, never missing an opportunity to feed me or give me palinka, of course to prevent them thinking me rude I ALWAYS had to accept their generous gifts...
Teaching was happening 4 times a day, in the morning and then also the afternoon, had 1 starter kids, 1 elementary, 1 intermediate and also 1 starter adults... found the starter adults the most difficult but found that after a few days we all got on alot better..
on the weekends we would visit lake Balaton and drink local wine (and of course Palinka!)...
I was living with the Mayor and he had a wife and one son who was 21 and a daughter who was 18 and a model.... and dont get started on that collar!
So all in all I had a great time, managed to drink wwaaaaayy to much, and taught some of the craziest Hungarian kids that exist on this planet... Danny Holland
Best way to arrive in a small Hungarian village that has never seen an English person before?? ANSWER: by jumping off a train after you have fallen asleep and missed your stop...(thanks AT and Gretchen for throwing my bags off!!)...
Despite this slightly unusual arrival I found the people of Halimba welcomed me into their homes and hearts, never missing an opportunity to feed me or give me palinka, of course to prevent them thinking me rude I ALWAYS had to accept their generous gifts...
Teaching was happening 4 times a day, in the morning and then also the afternoon, had 1 starter kids, 1 elementary, 1 intermediate and also 1 starter adults... found the starter adults the most difficult but found that after a few days we all got on alot better..
on the weekends we would visit lake Balaton and drink local wine (and of course Palinka!)...
I was living with the Mayor and he had a wife and one son who was 21 and a daughter who was 18 and a model.... and dont get started on that collar!
So all in all I had a great time, managed to drink wwaaaaayy to much, and taught some of the craziest Hungarian kids that exist on this planet... Danny Holland
Thursday, July 19, 2007
AT did it.. SO CAN YOU
Welcome to Alsonemesapati, HU! A relatively quaint village in the Zala county, Apati (as it is fondly referred to by locals) is actually the most picturesque place I have seen in Hungary. Although about 500 people live in the town itself, nearly 80% of them commute to work in the nearby city of Zalaegerszeg. Teaching close to 100 people, I feel as if I've met the entire town! I start each day teaching a group of the cutest 4-6 year olds I have ever seen in my life. Although they speak about as much Hungarian as they do English, teaching these Kindergarteners has been the highlight of my days. Somewhere between 1st and 2nd grade, one tends to forget that "Duck Duck Goose" kicks ass! My second class is comprised of students from 7-19 years old. This is by far the most difficult of my classes, because I can rarely find a game/activity that everyone in the class enjoys. Buying everyone ice cream however seems to have struck accord. My last class of the day is the adult class. I don't think it's possible for a 19 year old University student to grab the attention of 20 forty year olds in any other setting. Being treated as an adult by so many whom I see as my elders has been one of the most life changing experiences. Truthfully, there wasn't anyone in Alsonemesapati who spoke English before I came here, but I've enjoyed every challenge that I faced here. In a place where every sentence gets a little bit lost in translation, I find myself crying when I say goodbye to each person I've met. I'm so glad that I was able to live in this town, and I am extremely excited at the prospect of teaching in another part of Hungary!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Francesca Mazzola RULES
Greetings from Csallóközaranyos (Zlatná na Ostrove) (SK)! As I write
this little blurb am I just starting to realize how much I am going to
miss all of the people who have so kindly taken me in these past few
weeks. Csallóközaranyos, or Aranyos as it is commonly called by the
people here, is a quaint little village of about three thousand
people. I teach about fourty of them in four one hour classes a day.
The little kids, who are all boys, are between the ages of nine to
tweleve, and they are absolutely adorable. They seem to have an
endless amount of energy and are constantly drawing me pictures or
making me crafts so that I can decorate my dorm room--they decided
that my dorm room lacked decoration after seeing photos. My second
class, however, is composed of only girls between the ages of fifteen
and nineteen. This class includes a beautiful model who just qualified
for an international modeling tournament in Budapest next month. My
final two classes are in the evening and those are composed of people
between twenty to forty years olds. Overall, I was incredibly
impressed with the level of English in this village. All of my
students had a very solid foundation in English. My host sister even
went to England to study and work for about three months! I've had an
absolutely amazing experience here and will be sad to leave. Though, I
can't wait to see you all this weekend. Take care!
this little blurb am I just starting to realize how much I am going to
miss all of the people who have so kindly taken me in these past few
weeks. Csallóközaranyos, or Aranyos as it is commonly called by the
people here, is a quaint little village of about three thousand
people. I teach about fourty of them in four one hour classes a day.
The little kids, who are all boys, are between the ages of nine to
tweleve, and they are absolutely adorable. They seem to have an
endless amount of energy and are constantly drawing me pictures or
making me crafts so that I can decorate my dorm room--they decided
that my dorm room lacked decoration after seeing photos. My second
class, however, is composed of only girls between the ages of fifteen
and nineteen. This class includes a beautiful model who just qualified
for an international modeling tournament in Budapest next month. My
final two classes are in the evening and those are composed of people
between twenty to forty years olds. Overall, I was incredibly
impressed with the level of English in this village. All of my
students had a very solid foundation in English. My host sister even
went to England to study and work for about three months! I've had an
absolutely amazing experience here and will be sad to leave. Though, I
can't wait to see you all this weekend. Take care!
I now love Jae Chang more than you
Village: I know it says on the spreadsheet that I'm currently in Abasar, but Abasar has recently split up into two villages: Abasar, and Pálosvörösmart. There are about 650 people in Pálosvörösmart and the village has public transportation. My host sisters and I take the bus out to Gyongyos or Eger to go shopping or just walk around and eat about two or three times a week.
Classes: I have 4 one hour classes from monday to friday: my first class is comprised of 5-7 year olds who speak no english whatsoever, so we make origami and i teach them the english words for the paper creations. my second class is with students from the ages of 8-11, who speak little english but know enough so that i can teach them a good amount of vocabulary and some conversational english. my third class (my favorite) is with high school students who are pretty much fluent- so we just talk about America, and they love learning idioms. we watched about half of seaon 8 of Friends because my host sister has the series from seaon 1 to 10 in Hungarian and English.. so I played seaon 8 on English audio and put on English subtitles and i made worksheets that highlighted certain phrases they would not understand ("top-notch", "mother may I!") One of the students mother attended the class one day and we watched an episode where one of the characters talked about a diaphragm.. and the mother asked me to explain what it was. I handed her a dictionary. =) Anyway, my last class, is a night class in which i have students who are in their mid twenties, and they are at the same level as the high school students so they like to practice speaking English (mostly about America and the show House (?)) People in my village seem to be obsessed with American shows such as Friends, House, Grey's Anatomy, Third Watch, etc, etc..and they've rubbed off on me and I am now very much into these shows as well.
Host Family& Free time: There are 4 daughters in my host family at the ages of 15, 17, 19 and 22 who are all rather fluent in English. On weekends, my host family takes me to nearby villages where they hold festivals, or to museums, castles, and whereever else they think I might enjoy. They're simply amazing and have made my stay in Pálosvörösmart so enjoyable- it'll be very hard to say goodbye to them. My host family has 2 dogs, 2 parrots, 2 cats, 3 adorable kittens and 1 guinea pig. My host mother loves to cook (and is AMAZING at it) and I thank her very much for it..well, not so much for the extra pounds but..i'll deal with that later.
anyway- i am loving it here in Pálosvörösmart and I hope next year's volunteers will get a chance to experience the incredible time that i'm having here. see you all soon.
Classes: I have 4 one hour classes from monday to friday: my first class is comprised of 5-7 year olds who speak no english whatsoever, so we make origami and i teach them the english words for the paper creations. my second class is with students from the ages of 8-11, who speak little english but know enough so that i can teach them a good amount of vocabulary and some conversational english. my third class (my favorite) is with high school students who are pretty much fluent- so we just talk about America, and they love learning idioms. we watched about half of seaon 8 of Friends because my host sister has the series from seaon 1 to 10 in Hungarian and English.. so I played seaon 8 on English audio and put on English subtitles and i made worksheets that highlighted certain phrases they would not understand ("top-notch", "mother may I!") One of the students mother attended the class one day and we watched an episode where one of the characters talked about a diaphragm.. and the mother asked me to explain what it was. I handed her a dictionary. =) Anyway, my last class, is a night class in which i have students who are in their mid twenties, and they are at the same level as the high school students so they like to practice speaking English (mostly about America and the show House (?)) People in my village seem to be obsessed with American shows such as Friends, House, Grey's Anatomy, Third Watch, etc, etc..and they've rubbed off on me and I am now very much into these shows as well.
Host Family& Free time: There are 4 daughters in my host family at the ages of 15, 17, 19 and 22 who are all rather fluent in English. On weekends, my host family takes me to nearby villages where they hold festivals, or to museums, castles, and whereever else they think I might enjoy. They're simply amazing and have made my stay in Pálosvörösmart so enjoyable- it'll be very hard to say goodbye to them. My host family has 2 dogs, 2 parrots, 2 cats, 3 adorable kittens and 1 guinea pig. My host mother loves to cook (and is AMAZING at it) and I thank her very much for it..well, not so much for the extra pounds but..i'll deal with that later.
anyway- i am loving it here in Pálosvörösmart and I hope next year's volunteers will get a chance to experience the incredible time that i'm having here. see you all soon.
Elizabeth Myer says What Up
Hello from Nyarasd, SK! It has been a really exciting 3 weeks, and I cannot believe how fast it has gone by. Nyarasd is small village, —about 3,000 inhabitants—but what they lack in size, they compensate for in generosity, kindness, and warmth. My students are all wonderful. I teach 5 one-hour classes, which was difficult at first, but now feels natural. Most of my students do not speak any English, but they are all very enthusiastic and responsive. In the evening, I teach an adult class, and they are tons of fun. They also shower me with gifts and baked goods, and constantly invite me on trips and over for dinner.
My host family is also amazing. They do not speak any English at all, but they have three daughters that speak very well. They are all adults, and they live abroad, but one of them is visiting this week from Prague, and another was here last week from Austria, so I have pretty much always had a translator! My host family has a huge house with a pool and tons of animals...3 dogs and a cat that has three 4 wk old kittens! Plus they have chickens and rabbits, turkeys, etc. I havent even seen their whole backyard—its massive! I also have my own house...no kidding! It’s an enormous room with a kitchen and bathroom, and it is bigger than the apartment I shared with a roommate last year!
Anyway, Nyarasd is wonderful...Slovakia is wonderful...
Also, everyone here calls me Bözsika…which I think is cute, but Zofi tells me is actually dreadful.
My host family is also amazing. They do not speak any English at all, but they have three daughters that speak very well. They are all adults, and they live abroad, but one of them is visiting this week from Prague, and another was here last week from Austria, so I have pretty much always had a translator! My host family has a huge house with a pool and tons of animals...3 dogs and a cat that has three 4 wk old kittens! Plus they have chickens and rabbits, turkeys, etc. I havent even seen their whole backyard—its massive! I also have my own house...no kidding! It’s an enormous room with a kitchen and bathroom, and it is bigger than the apartment I shared with a roommate last year!
Anyway, Nyarasd is wonderful...Slovakia is wonderful...
Also, everyone here calls me Bözsika…which I think is cute, but Zofi tells me is actually dreadful.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Teaching IDEA
I cant believe I forgot to mention - a really popular method for saying goodbye to your villages is staging a performance on your last day. Teach the little kids songs and have them present their artwork to friends and family. The village loves it and its a great culmination of all your hard work.
Heres an example from China:
But feel free to put a little more umph into it..
Heres an example from China:
But feel free to put a little more umph into it..
Sylvan Hoover follows directions, then goes above and beyond
Deter, SK
How, could you assign me to this place? They've put me up in this huge apartment w/ a living room, kitchen, my own bathroom, and the odd interior room which has only a single ceiling light but is otherwise empty. I'm not sure if I'm ever going to want to leave. Maybe I'll just become one of 'those volunteers' and settle down with a nice slovak girl ;-)
I am having a wonderful time. The people are amazingly friendly, the scenery is spectacular, and I really couldn't be more pleased about where I was placed.
About 500 people:
My host, the mayor, has held the position since the end of the Cold War. Bullhorn's are located around the village that provideannouncements twice a day and traditional hungarian music in the afternoon. The village lies at the end of a 3km dead-end road, so traffic is light.The village is a bit isolated, and public transit is really not an option. But, there are regular trips to a larger town about 45 minutes away in peoples' cars, so if I need something from the town I can normally find someone who's leaving soon and bum a ride.I now haunt city hall. I live in city hall. I teach in city hall. I eat in city hall. There is a small apartment in city hall where I sleep. There is a preschool in the building, w/ the most quiet kids I've ever not heard (I'm told their teacher is very strict), and so I eat from their kitchen. Meals are filling. Major ag here is pork, so for the first 3 days B,L,&D was all pork. Then mysteriously that stopped, and now everything is fried. For dinner this evening I had fried bacon ball (like meat balls but made pretty much entirely of bacon) and breaded fried cheese balls. Other meals have included jelly doughnuts for lunch, and these incredible jelly filled dumplings covered in chocolate, also for lunch. The village has gotten EU funds for improvements, so the facilities are very nice.
Students: 71 students in total of which 59 of them are at the absolute starter level, 10 are high school students (so they can understand simple phrases), and 2 students have taken university-level English and are at a developed conversation level. Those 2 students account for 100% of the village that I hold conversations in English with. The students are very enthusiatic. The adults seem to be the most excited, and that is the class I have an Englishspeakerpresent.
The classes: I have 6-7 one hour classes per day. The first four run from 9-13, and consist of all the non-adult classes. I have one high-school class, one 'kid' class - ages 7-10, with maybe 20 word english vocabs, and two youth classes. The youth classes are split because half of them come by bus from neighboring villages, while the other half are local (and the third half already speaks fluent english). They have maybe 40 word English vocabularies, and the girls are obsessedwith Tokio Hotel, which I had never heard of till I got here (personally, not my thing). Sometimes I hold an extra class in the afternoon relating to less useful material, i.e. 4th of july, PB&J, smoothies. My hosts are very accommodating, so class materials are ample.
Out & about: Around the village there is great hiking. They are trying to promote the area as a hunting destination. Evenings here are very lax. The pub closes early, and most folks go to sleeprelatively early and wake early. Weekends are filled w/ visiting festivals in neighboring villages, and camping/graduation/bonfire parties organized by recent university graduates from surrounding villages. Folks who've been to my classes, and now know basic greeting conversations, have taught others, so when I walk about town I always have a number of conversations that all play out in identical manners. Ittruly is a exciting to be conversing w/ folks in English who a couples weeks ago knew barely an English phrase.
Deter is incredible. You must send future volunteers.
How, could you assign me to this place? They've put me up in this huge apartment w/ a living room, kitchen, my own bathroom, and the odd interior room which has only a single ceiling light but is otherwise empty. I'm not sure if I'm ever going to want to leave. Maybe I'll just become one of 'those volunteers' and settle down with a nice slovak girl ;-)
I am having a wonderful time. The people are amazingly friendly, the scenery is spectacular, and I really couldn't be more pleased about where I was placed.
About 500 people:
My host, the mayor, has held the position since the end of the Cold War. Bullhorn's are located around the village that provideannouncements twice a day and traditional hungarian music in the afternoon. The village lies at the end of a 3km dead-end road, so traffic is light.The village is a bit isolated, and public transit is really not an option. But, there are regular trips to a larger town about 45 minutes away in peoples' cars, so if I need something from the town I can normally find someone who's leaving soon and bum a ride.I now haunt city hall. I live in city hall. I teach in city hall. I eat in city hall. There is a small apartment in city hall where I sleep. There is a preschool in the building, w/ the most quiet kids I've ever not heard (I'm told their teacher is very strict), and so I eat from their kitchen. Meals are filling. Major ag here is pork, so for the first 3 days B,L,&D was all pork. Then mysteriously that stopped, and now everything is fried. For dinner this evening I had fried bacon ball (like meat balls but made pretty much entirely of bacon) and breaded fried cheese balls. Other meals have included jelly doughnuts for lunch, and these incredible jelly filled dumplings covered in chocolate, also for lunch. The village has gotten EU funds for improvements, so the facilities are very nice.
Students: 71 students in total of which 59 of them are at the absolute starter level, 10 are high school students (so they can understand simple phrases), and 2 students have taken university-level English and are at a developed conversation level. Those 2 students account for 100% of the village that I hold conversations in English with. The students are very enthusiatic. The adults seem to be the most excited, and that is the class I have an Englishspeakerpresent.
The classes: I have 6-7 one hour classes per day. The first four run from 9-13, and consist of all the non-adult classes. I have one high-school class, one 'kid' class - ages 7-10, with maybe 20 word english vocabs, and two youth classes. The youth classes are split because half of them come by bus from neighboring villages, while the other half are local (and the third half already speaks fluent english). They have maybe 40 word English vocabularies, and the girls are obsessedwith Tokio Hotel, which I had never heard of till I got here (personally, not my thing). Sometimes I hold an extra class in the afternoon relating to less useful material, i.e. 4th of july, PB&J, smoothies. My hosts are very accommodating, so class materials are ample.
Out & about: Around the village there is great hiking. They are trying to promote the area as a hunting destination. Evenings here are very lax. The pub closes early, and most folks go to sleeprelatively early and wake early. Weekends are filled w/ visiting festivals in neighboring villages, and camping/graduation/bonfire parties organized by recent university graduates from surrounding villages. Folks who've been to my classes, and now know basic greeting conversations, have taught others, so when I walk about town I always have a number of conversations that all play out in identical manners. Ittruly is a exciting to be conversing w/ folks in English who a couples weeks ago knew barely an English phrase.
Deter is incredible. You must send future volunteers.
Big Whats UP from Matt Patterson in Madar
Madar is a village of 1040 people. I have between 25-30 students from 6-18 years old, which I have broken up into two classes. I also have 7 adult students in a night class. All of the kids seem happy with the classes, and I have had few discipline issues. All of my students are absolute beginners, but they are learning quickly. My host family is amazing. My mother speaks no english, but has so much energy it is incredible. My father can read english and is working on his speaking. My older brother is basically fluent in English, and the younger is just starting.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Midpoint Break in Komárno, Slovakia – Arrivals and Departures
(posted by Zsofi Budai)
Continuing with the LE tradition, CEVP will hold midpoint break in Komárno, Slovakia, this year. Please read the following few lines to learn some important info about arrivals and departures.
First, you should know that the Hungarian name for the city (which is mostly ethnically Hungarian) is Komárom, and Komárno is the Slovak name. This is not to be confused with the Hungarian city called Komárom that is actually across the Danube (the border between Slovakia and Hungary). Hungarians in Slovakia refer to both cities as Komárom, but if they mention the name they are most likely talking about Komárno (SK).
If you are currently teaching in SLOVAKIA, your host family will drive you to the hostel in Komárno on Friday, July 20, between 4:00 and 6:00 PM (they should have already arranged this with Imre).
If you are currently teaching in HUNGARY, you should take a train to midpoint break. Your host family will help you figure out which one to take (and you can always look it up on www.elvira.hu) – they already know about midpoint break, but you should remind them in advance anyway. You should plan to arrive on Friday, July 20, in the late afternoon or evening. The tricky part is that the train you take should go to Komárom (HU), NOT Komárno (SK), since the latter is way easier to reach from Hungary and also much less expensive to travel to. If you let us know in advance (i.e., a few days before you travel) when your train is to arrive there, someone will go and meet you at the station. That would most likely be Janelle, Balazs, Zsofi, or me (I know that none of you have met me, but you should know what I look like from the country background guides and my introductory blog post). The hostel is pretty easy to reach from there – we just need to walk across the bridge into Slovakia. However, the bridge is quite long and all, so it’s a fair amount of walking. I hope everyone heeded Janelle’s advice and packed lightly! Otherwise, it is possible to take a cab if absolutely necessary.
As for the hostel – it’s the same one we stayed in last year, and it is actually a HUGE step up from Martos (but I love Martos). It is called DANUBIUS, and it is located on the Dunarakpart (Dunajske nabrezie in Slovak). That just means it’s right by the river. If you’re coming over the bridge from Hungary, you’ll need to turn left once you get into Slovakia (but someone will be with you to help you navigate).
We have a bunch of activities planned for Friday night and Saturday (including dinner/lunch with the incredible Imre!). Balázs and Zsofi are both from Komárno, and they know the city inside and out.
On Sunday, you will all travel to your second session villages.
If you are going to teach in SLOVAKIA, your host family will pick you up at the hostel on Sunday morning around 11:00 or 12:00.
If you are going to teach in HUNGARY (this is always more complicated), you’ll need to walk (or take a cab, if you must) across the river to the train station in Komárom (HU) and go from there. We’ll have everything arranged with the host families by then so you know exactly where you’ll need to go when.
See you in Komárno!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Greetings From Sarah F, Tallos, SK
I´m teaching here in Tallos/Tomashivoko. The town has about 1600 people, with lots of other villages nearby. The nearest village, Vasakey, is sending some students to my classes, too. In total I have about 40-45 students. I have around 12 younger students - under the age of 10- over 20 between 11 and 15, and about 10 adults students, from 18 to much older, most of whom speal some English. My classes are going well. The students are fun, and the peple in the village are very nice. From what I understand this is there first time having a LE volunteer. I´ve been having lunch with various students and their families, as well as going on afternoon bike rides, walks,or car trips. My host family, the Kossars, are wonderful. They have 3 children, and are welcoming, kind, and exceptionally good cooks!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Some ideas for teaching (part 2)
Spanish classes are going super well. Its so funny being on this side of the classroom because after last year, Im super conscious of everything my teacher is doing. For example, she never ever ever just translates a word into English. She explains it in Spanish using different words and as much drama as possible. The other day, a lesson plan of hers didnt pan out so she said it aside and just had a long conversation with us. It started out with what are you doing tonight and just kept going - with her help, of course, asking very guiding question sto steer the conversation.
An activity I liked was to practice future tense. It was called I´m Going on a Trip. I worked with this French asshole and one of my new Dutch girlfriends. We said we were going to Pamplona tomorrow, and this is what we would do before our trip, this is what we woul do during, this is what we would bring, etc... Another good trip activity about going on trips is where you go around a circle stating all the things you would bring in alphabetical order - An apple, a banana, a cat.. The list gets longer and longer, but you have to name everything everyone else has said, then add your own until you get to Z.
Also, a really good way to get little kids quiet is to yell. Really! Start with a loud HEY and have them repeat it. Then give a slightly quieter hey, then quieter, then quieter until youre at a whisper, and then theyre whispering, and then theyre silent. They love it, too.
Miss you guys. See you our Komarno extravaganza in two weeks!
An activity I liked was to practice future tense. It was called I´m Going on a Trip. I worked with this French asshole and one of my new Dutch girlfriends. We said we were going to Pamplona tomorrow, and this is what we would do before our trip, this is what we woul do during, this is what we would bring, etc... Another good trip activity about going on trips is where you go around a circle stating all the things you would bring in alphabetical order - An apple, a banana, a cat.. The list gets longer and longer, but you have to name everything everyone else has said, then add your own until you get to Z.
Also, a really good way to get little kids quiet is to yell. Really! Start with a loud HEY and have them repeat it. Then give a slightly quieter hey, then quieter, then quieter until youre at a whisper, and then theyre whispering, and then theyre silent. They love it, too.
Miss you guys. See you our Komarno extravaganza in two weeks!
Some ideas for teaching (part 1)
(posted by Zsofi Budai)
I hope all of you had a wonderful first week teaching in your villages! If not, let Janelle and/or me know about any problems that arose – we’ll do our best to solve them.
In the meantime, here are some ideas/lesson plans that really worked for me when I was an LE volunteer (I taught in Slovakia – yes, only in Slovakia – in both 2004 and 2005). Feel free to add your own to share with every one. You should be able to post comments anonymously, but if for some reason you can’t, do let us know!
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (BEGINNERS)
Ice Cream
I had several classes of elementary school-aged children, all of whom were more or less beginners, and they LOVED what I called the “ice cream lesson.” I spent part of a class period teaching them ice cream related vocabulary, including phrases such as “I would like X scoops of Y and Z flavor.” I went over all of the flavors (you can draw the corresponding fruit on the board so that they understand what it is) and had the kids practice ordering ice cream from one another.
The next day, I took the kids over to the local ice cream shop (which was actually one town over) and promised to pay for their ice cream if they ordered in English (I first had them say everything in English, then point to the flavors so the lady behind the counter actually understood). It worked perfectly! It didn’t cost me very much either, since ice cream in rural HU or SK is very cheap, as I’m sure all of you know by now.
Songs
I’m sure most of you have done or are planning to do this already, but kids really love learning fun, catchy songs in English (like Bingo), especially if they involve movement. You could choreograph a dance to the song as a class, with each person getting one line of the song to make up steps to.
FOR TEENAGERS/YOUNG ADULTS (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED)
Song lyrics
I got this idea from my high school Spanish class – I picked a song, wrote out the lyrics, and cut out random words. (If I wanted to make it easier, I wrote all of the words out on top; if I wanted to make it harder, I didn’t give my students the words at all.) I actually had access to a printer and copier in the mayor’s office so I typed up the lyrics and distributed them to my class, but you could just write everything on the board and have your students copy it into their notebooks. Then we listened to the song in class (several times); once the students got most of the missing words, we went over the meanings of those they didn’t know. This activity was actually pretty hard for most people, so make sure you pick a song in which the singer enunciates well and doesn’t swallow his/her words.
Lesson in slang
This was hard for me because I don’t use much slang in my everyday conversations, but teenagers love learning the latest American (or British) slang. Spend part of a lesson teaching them vocabulary, illustrating how to use it, and then having the students come up with their own sentences. Just stay away from anything raunchy, because that’s the point at which you’ll lose the class’ attention. Also, my students loved learning about regional expressions, so teach them something about the way in which people in your hometown speak. At the end of the class period, have your students teach you a few slang expressions in Hungarian or Slovak!
FOR ADULTS (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED)
Scattegories
This certainly works with more advanced teenagers as well, but I found that I only really had success with it in my advanced adults’ class. If you don’t know how this works, let me explain: you come up with 6-8 categories (like country name, city name, animal, move title, etc.) and then have someone stop you as you recite the alphabet in your head. Whatever letter you stop at is the one that everyone has to use as the first letter in all the things they come up with in their categories. After a set amount of time (like one minute), you stop everyone and go over the answers. If people didn’t put down anything or if they wrote an answer identical to one of their classmates’,
Lesson in politics
Everyone likes learning more about the US (or Britain, whatever the case may be) but more often than not your students’ understanding of American politics will be, well, misinformed. Use this opportunity (with the presidential election coming up next year) to teach them about how the American government works. First, go over a list of political vocabulary to make sure your students are able to discuss this topic, then give a mini-lesson on American politics (complete with pictures of key people and places, if possible). Afterwards, have a discussion with your students about the government in their home country (HU or SK) – I find it fascinating to learn about what people think of Gyurcsány (HU) or Fico (SK).
I hope all of you had a wonderful first week teaching in your villages! If not, let Janelle and/or me know about any problems that arose – we’ll do our best to solve them.
In the meantime, here are some ideas/lesson plans that really worked for me when I was an LE volunteer (I taught in Slovakia – yes, only in Slovakia – in both 2004 and 2005). Feel free to add your own to share with every one. You should be able to post comments anonymously, but if for some reason you can’t, do let us know!
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (BEGINNERS)
Ice Cream
I had several classes of elementary school-aged children, all of whom were more or less beginners, and they LOVED what I called the “ice cream lesson.” I spent part of a class period teaching them ice cream related vocabulary, including phrases such as “I would like X scoops of Y and Z flavor.” I went over all of the flavors (you can draw the corresponding fruit on the board so that they understand what it is) and had the kids practice ordering ice cream from one another.
The next day, I took the kids over to the local ice cream shop (which was actually one town over) and promised to pay for their ice cream if they ordered in English (I first had them say everything in English, then point to the flavors so the lady behind the counter actually understood). It worked perfectly! It didn’t cost me very much either, since ice cream in rural HU or SK is very cheap, as I’m sure all of you know by now.
Songs
I’m sure most of you have done or are planning to do this already, but kids really love learning fun, catchy songs in English (like Bingo), especially if they involve movement. You could choreograph a dance to the song as a class, with each person getting one line of the song to make up steps to.
FOR TEENAGERS/YOUNG ADULTS (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED)
Song lyrics
I got this idea from my high school Spanish class – I picked a song, wrote out the lyrics, and cut out random words. (If I wanted to make it easier, I wrote all of the words out on top; if I wanted to make it harder, I didn’t give my students the words at all.) I actually had access to a printer and copier in the mayor’s office so I typed up the lyrics and distributed them to my class, but you could just write everything on the board and have your students copy it into their notebooks. Then we listened to the song in class (several times); once the students got most of the missing words, we went over the meanings of those they didn’t know. This activity was actually pretty hard for most people, so make sure you pick a song in which the singer enunciates well and doesn’t swallow his/her words.
Lesson in slang
This was hard for me because I don’t use much slang in my everyday conversations, but teenagers love learning the latest American (or British) slang. Spend part of a lesson teaching them vocabulary, illustrating how to use it, and then having the students come up with their own sentences. Just stay away from anything raunchy, because that’s the point at which you’ll lose the class’ attention. Also, my students loved learning about regional expressions, so teach them something about the way in which people in your hometown speak. At the end of the class period, have your students teach you a few slang expressions in Hungarian or Slovak!
FOR ADULTS (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED)
Scattegories
This certainly works with more advanced teenagers as well, but I found that I only really had success with it in my advanced adults’ class. If you don’t know how this works, let me explain: you come up with 6-8 categories (like country name, city name, animal, move title, etc.) and then have someone stop you as you recite the alphabet in your head. Whatever letter you stop at is the one that everyone has to use as the first letter in all the things they come up with in their categories. After a set amount of time (like one minute), you stop everyone and go over the answers. If people didn’t put down anything or if they wrote an answer identical to one of their classmates’,
Lesson in politics
Everyone likes learning more about the US (or Britain, whatever the case may be) but more often than not your students’ understanding of American politics will be, well, misinformed. Use this opportunity (with the presidential election coming up next year) to teach them about how the American government works. First, go over a list of political vocabulary to make sure your students are able to discuss this topic, then give a mini-lesson on American politics (complete with pictures of key people and places, if possible). Afterwards, have a discussion with your students about the government in their home country (HU or SK) – I find it fascinating to learn about what people think of Gyurcsány (HU) or Fico (SK).
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Lets Keep in Touch
Hey guys -
This may come as a bit of a shock but... someday, I won´t be your program director anymore. Its tragic, I know, but all that means is that one of you will take my place. Its an amazing position that requires a lot of work over the course of the year - reading application after application, holding interviews, communicating with Country Coordinators, matching volunteers with villages - but it´s all so worthwhile. In order to make it easy on you, lets keep a little paper trail of villages thta wasnt available to me this year. Send me a little blurb about your village - its name, how many students, what theyre like, what your host family is like, etc. Ill post it on the blog and we can all keep track of each other.
BTW Although Budapest will always be my favorite, Spain is an amazing place. Im sure well all have stories to share when we see each other.
This may come as a bit of a shock but... someday, I won´t be your program director anymore. Its tragic, I know, but all that means is that one of you will take my place. Its an amazing position that requires a lot of work over the course of the year - reading application after application, holding interviews, communicating with Country Coordinators, matching volunteers with villages - but it´s all so worthwhile. In order to make it easy on you, lets keep a little paper trail of villages thta wasnt available to me this year. Send me a little blurb about your village - its name, how many students, what theyre like, what your host family is like, etc. Ill post it on the blog and we can all keep track of each other.
BTW Although Budapest will always be my favorite, Spain is an amazing place. Im sure well all have stories to share when we see each other.
Monday, July 2, 2007
On calling me
Hi guys -
When calling me, I noticed that numbers only show up as private if I dont already have your number. If you have a cell, please email me the number asap. Texts are also better because Im being blocked from checking my voicemail, although Ive texted Sylvan and Sophie a couple of times unsuccessfully (or else youre just avoiding me).
Thanks for letting me know youre having a great time! Keep up with my adventures via my silly internet diary..www.livejournal.com/~jr_robot..ive been keeping it since i was 16 zears old.. shame..
Oh yeah, and facebook, of course. the pictures are gonna be sweeeeeet
When calling me, I noticed that numbers only show up as private if I dont already have your number. If you have a cell, please email me the number asap. Texts are also better because Im being blocked from checking my voicemail, although Ive texted Sylvan and Sophie a couple of times unsuccessfully (or else youre just avoiding me).
Thanks for letting me know youre having a great time! Keep up with my adventures via my silly internet diary..www.livejournal.com/~jr_robot..ive been keeping it since i was 16 zears old.. shame..
Oh yeah, and facebook, of course. the pictures are gonna be sweeeeeet
Sunday, July 1, 2007
orientation was a BLAST
I miss you guys and hope to hear from you as soon as possible! And see those photos up on facebook, too. For now, here are detailed instructions on that thank you card Ilona and I described at orientation.
Dear Volunteer,
Learning Enterprises operates solely on the generous support of donations and grants. We don't require you, the volunteers, to pay program fees. We don't receive funds from the villages where we teach. The host families who welcome LE volunteers do so without any financial compensation.
Each year, LE's mission is fueled by the dedication of its staff and the donations of its generous sponsors. As an incentive, we have the Village Sponsorship Project (VSP), where donors get information about the programs they are helping operate. Through these fundraising projects, over 200 people donated to LE this year, and we need your help to follow through with VSP.
Each volunteer will be required to complete three tasks:
Emailing 5 photos
Mailing 1 postcard
Mailing 3 letters (2 from students & 1 from a class)
Please print out the following pages and bring it with you to remind you what you have to do! Your PD will discuss it with you again at orientation. Please try to send all four things by the end of July so we can get them to donors before the summer’s end. Feel free to be creative!
Thank you for your help and making this summer a success!
Docendo discimus~
Teach, that you may learn
Email 5 photos to lephotos2007@gmail.com with the subject:
, ,
Some Ideas:
You with your class
You doing something with your host family
Your village
The students
Please send the a post card, a class thank you notes, and student thank you notes (described below) in a packet to:
Maureen Russo Chant
1325 18th Street, NW
Apt. # 1008
Washington, DC 20036
Send a postcards describing your experience and thanking the donor.
Sample:
Date
Dear Sponsor,
I write you from, , where I am currently serving as the English teacher for . When I am not teaching, I .
Thank you so much for making this possible. Both the students and I are very grateful.
Sincerely,
Have two of your classes design and write a thank you letter. Write the letter on the board and have one student with good handwriting copy it to paper. Have all the students sign it. Make it pretty! One idea is to have each one draw something and write the English word for it on the cover. This is a great lesson plan!
Sample:
Dear Sponsor,
We are from, . We are learning English this summer. Our teacher’s name is . Our favorite part of the class is <_______>. Thank you for helping us learn English.
From,
Have individual students write a thank you notes we only require two, but if you end up with extras feel free to send them along anyways!
Sample:
Dear Sponsor,
My name is. I am years old. I live in , . I like to . When I grow up I want to be a . Thank you for helping me learn English!
From,
Dear Volunteer,
Learning Enterprises operates solely on the generous support of donations and grants. We don't require you, the volunteers, to pay program fees. We don't receive funds from the villages where we teach. The host families who welcome LE volunteers do so without any financial compensation.
Each year, LE's mission is fueled by the dedication of its staff and the donations of its generous sponsors. As an incentive, we have the Village Sponsorship Project (VSP), where donors get information about the programs they are helping operate. Through these fundraising projects, over 200 people donated to LE this year, and we need your help to follow through with VSP.
Each volunteer will be required to complete three tasks:
Emailing 5 photos
Mailing 1 postcard
Mailing 3 letters (2 from students & 1 from a class)
Please print out the following pages and bring it with you to remind you what you have to do! Your PD will discuss it with you again at orientation. Please try to send all four things by the end of July so we can get them to donors before the summer’s end. Feel free to be creative!
Thank you for your help and making this summer a success!
Docendo discimus~
Teach, that you may learn
Email 5 photos to lephotos2007@gmail.com with the subject:
Some Ideas:
You with your class
You doing something with your host family
Your village
The students
Please send the a post card, a class thank you notes, and student thank you notes (described below) in a packet to:
Maureen Russo Chant
1325 18th Street, NW
Apt. # 1008
Washington, DC 20036
Send a postcards describing your experience and thanking the donor.
Sample:
Date
Dear Sponsor,
I write you from
Thank you so much for making this possible. Both the students and I are very grateful.
Sincerely,
Have two of your classes design and write a thank you letter. Write the letter on the board and have one student with good handwriting copy it to paper. Have all the students sign it. Make it pretty! One idea is to have each one draw something and write the English word for it on the cover. This is a great lesson plan!
Sample:
Dear Sponsor,
We are from
From,
Have individual students write a thank you notes we only require two, but if you end up with extras feel free to send them along anyways!
Sample:
Dear Sponsor,
My name is
From,
Monday, June 25, 2007
It's finally here!
So I'm heading out in about 10 hours, guys. I can hardly believe it. Before we go though, let's go down the checklist. Do you have:
Your hungarian/english phrasebook?
Your teaching manual?
Your insurance info?
Several photocopies of your passport?
A credit card in case of emergencies?
Also, some handy emergency contact info:
For Parents In the event of an emergency, all parents should
contact Brian Conway (412-719-1621), who will be diligently waiting by the phone ALL summer, he swears to god.
For you -
Janelle Zara
Janellezara@gmail.com
001 240 593 7497
I'll be checking my email like a maniac and I JUST activated my International Phone Service. Let's keep in mind that it's $.99 a minute and limit our chats to dire emergencies, please? I'll be happy to talk about what you had for lunch via our friend, gmail chat.
Balazs Csemy
Csbazsika@yahoo.com
from hungary: 0630 485 6338
from outside of hungary: +36 30 485 6338
Your best friend and mine, Balazs insists you don't interrupt the flow of his summer game with senseless calls. Emergencies only, please.
Imre Andruskó
(Slovakia Country Coordinator)
Selye János Magyar Tannyelvű Gimnázium
Ulica biskupa Királya 5
94501 Komárno
Slovakia
jarnipot@gymhskn.edu.sk
kancelaria.andrusko@gmail.com
+421-035-7731313 (work – Selye János high school)
Out of the three of us, Imre is the MOST too cool to talk to you. He's a very busy member of Slovak Parliament, and he also does not speak English. However, if you get in a jam that Balazs or myself can absolutely not get you out of, he's willing to help any way he can.
European phone number for Zsofi should be available soon. She'll also be providing contact info for her father, who lives in Szeged, HU and loves to help out.
SEE YOU SO SOOON
When I wake up, I'll be in London.
Your hungarian/english phrasebook?
Your teaching manual?
Your insurance info?
Several photocopies of your passport?
A credit card in case of emergencies?
Also, some handy emergency contact info:
For Parents In the event of an emergency, all parents should
contact Brian Conway (412-719-1621), who will be diligently waiting by the phone ALL summer, he swears to god.
For you -
Janelle Zara
Janellezara@gmail.com
001 240 593 7497
I'll be checking my email like a maniac and I JUST activated my International Phone Service. Let's keep in mind that it's $.99 a minute and limit our chats to dire emergencies, please? I'll be happy to talk about what you had for lunch via our friend, gmail chat.
Balazs Csemy
Csbazsika@yahoo.com
from hungary: 0630 485 6338
from outside of hungary: +36 30 485 6338
Your best friend and mine, Balazs insists you don't interrupt the flow of his summer game with senseless calls. Emergencies only, please.
Imre Andruskó
(Slovakia Country Coordinator)
Selye János Magyar Tannyelvű Gimnázium
Ulica biskupa Királya 5
94501 Komárno
Slovakia
jarnipot@gymhskn.edu.sk
kancelaria.andrusko@gmail.com
+421-035-7731313 (work – Selye János high school)
Out of the three of us, Imre is the MOST too cool to talk to you. He's a very busy member of Slovak Parliament, and he also does not speak English. However, if you get in a jam that Balazs or myself can absolutely not get you out of, he's willing to help any way he can.
European phone number for Zsofi should be available soon. She'll also be providing contact info for her father, who lives in Szeged, HU and loves to help out.
SEE YOU SO SOOON
When I wake up, I'll be in London.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
LE traditions (part 1): Orientation in Budapest
(posted by Zsofi Budai)
CEVP orientation starts in less than a week, and I know that all of you must be super excited to travel to Budapest and finally meet each other! Once you arrive there, you will get to experience much of what dozens of volunteers have experienced in years past; namely, the CEVP (or what used to be EEVP – Eastern Europe Village Project) traditions. To give you an idea of what orientation is all about (besides learning how to teach, of course!), here’s a short list of the top CEVP traditions:
Staying at Martos hostel
This is a given for all of you, since Balázs has already made reservations and you’re expected to show up (and sleep) there. Martos is very convenient, location-wise, and also quite safe (the little old ladies at the front desk can be very menacing – no joke!). But once you see it, you’ll definitely be grateful for the fact that you don’t attend the nearby university and hence don’t have to live there year-round. It is a little run down, and the bathrooms and showers aren’t always the cleanest. But the atmosphere is great, and there is even a bar downstairs, which gets really hopping on Friday and Saturday nights.
(Picture: Martos hostel entrance)
Sightseeing with Balázs and Zsofi
Your two amazing tour guides (both from the city of Komárno, the midpoint break location) have been involved with LE for something like six years. They know and love the program (they have taught in various LE countries) and are excited to meet the newest group of volunteers. They know Budapest better than pretty much any one else (Balázs lives there currently) and speak perfect Hungarian; they will be more than happy to take you to its most amazing sites – the castle, Heroes’ Square, Parliament, the spas and baths – and hippest night clubs. Make sure you buy them a drink or a meal when you get a chance!
(Picture: Heroes’ Square on an overcast day – I’m currently traveling and don’t have any pictures of Balázs and Zsófi with me to post!)
Eating dinner at Fatál
Budapest is full of amazing restaurants, and Fatál is only one of them. Nonetheless, it has become an LE favorite (or the LE favorite) because its food truly serves as the best introduction any one could get to real Hungarian cuisine. The variety of soups, main courses, and desserts it offers are sure to satisfy your taste buds and stomach (the portions are quite generous). By the way, the name Fatál means “wooden plate” since many of the meals are actually served on old-fashioned wooden plates.
(Pictures: A chicken paprikás meal at Fatál – highly recommended!)
Margit sziget (Margaret Island) outing
Margit sziget is an island located in the middle of the Danube with a very colorful past – it was first a location for various monasteries and nunneries, and then it was turned into a harem when Hungary was under Turkish rule – that is now a popular summer hangout for the city’s residents. No cars are allowed on the island, and it is basically one huge park with various attractions such as restaurants, playgrounds, a zoo, a waterpark, and interesting historical ruins.
(Picture: The best way to get around Margit sziget is by renting what’s called a bringo hinto.)
Clubbing at Zöld Pardon and Rio
Zöld Pardon and Rio are seriously two of the best clubs that I have ever been to – there’s just no way to describe the electric atmosphere that characterizes them. Both are located on the Buda side of the Petöfi bridge, just a bit south of the hostel (and definitely within walking distance of it). They are massive outdoor clubs, with a number of bars, dance floors, and fountains (!) in each – plus some x-rated live entertainment if you’re lucky. The cover last year was 100 HUF (50 cents), but for some baffling reason bouncers asked for IDs, so be prepared.
(Picture: None because the bouncers wouldn’t let me take any…)
Climbing Gellért hill on Sunday morning to watch the sun rise over the city
Sunday morning will be your last in Budapest, and there is no better way to spend it than by climbing Gellert hill (which is near the hostel) with your volunteers at 4:00 AM to watch the sun rise over the city. It truly is a breath-taking sight, and entirely worth the sleep that you’ll lose on it.
(Picture: LE volunteers watching the sunrise over Budapest. The picture was taken by Laura Rosenbloom, a 2004 volunteer and currently the SEVP program director. I’m third from the right.)
CEVP orientation starts in less than a week, and I know that all of you must be super excited to travel to Budapest and finally meet each other! Once you arrive there, you will get to experience much of what dozens of volunteers have experienced in years past; namely, the CEVP (or what used to be EEVP – Eastern Europe Village Project) traditions. To give you an idea of what orientation is all about (besides learning how to teach, of course!), here’s a short list of the top CEVP traditions:
Staying at Martos hostel
This is a given for all of you, since Balázs has already made reservations and you’re expected to show up (and sleep) there. Martos is very convenient, location-wise, and also quite safe (the little old ladies at the front desk can be very menacing – no joke!). But once you see it, you’ll definitely be grateful for the fact that you don’t attend the nearby university and hence don’t have to live there year-round. It is a little run down, and the bathrooms and showers aren’t always the cleanest. But the atmosphere is great, and there is even a bar downstairs, which gets really hopping on Friday and Saturday nights.
(Picture: Martos hostel entrance)
Sightseeing with Balázs and Zsofi
Your two amazing tour guides (both from the city of Komárno, the midpoint break location) have been involved with LE for something like six years. They know and love the program (they have taught in various LE countries) and are excited to meet the newest group of volunteers. They know Budapest better than pretty much any one else (Balázs lives there currently) and speak perfect Hungarian; they will be more than happy to take you to its most amazing sites – the castle, Heroes’ Square, Parliament, the spas and baths – and hippest night clubs. Make sure you buy them a drink or a meal when you get a chance!
(Picture: Heroes’ Square on an overcast day – I’m currently traveling and don’t have any pictures of Balázs and Zsófi with me to post!)
Eating dinner at Fatál
Budapest is full of amazing restaurants, and Fatál is only one of them. Nonetheless, it has become an LE favorite (or the LE favorite) because its food truly serves as the best introduction any one could get to real Hungarian cuisine. The variety of soups, main courses, and desserts it offers are sure to satisfy your taste buds and stomach (the portions are quite generous). By the way, the name Fatál means “wooden plate” since many of the meals are actually served on old-fashioned wooden plates.
(Pictures: A chicken paprikás meal at Fatál – highly recommended!)
Margit sziget (Margaret Island) outing
Margit sziget is an island located in the middle of the Danube with a very colorful past – it was first a location for various monasteries and nunneries, and then it was turned into a harem when Hungary was under Turkish rule – that is now a popular summer hangout for the city’s residents. No cars are allowed on the island, and it is basically one huge park with various attractions such as restaurants, playgrounds, a zoo, a waterpark, and interesting historical ruins.
(Picture: The best way to get around Margit sziget is by renting what’s called a bringo hinto.)
Clubbing at Zöld Pardon and Rio
Zöld Pardon and Rio are seriously two of the best clubs that I have ever been to – there’s just no way to describe the electric atmosphere that characterizes them. Both are located on the Buda side of the Petöfi bridge, just a bit south of the hostel (and definitely within walking distance of it). They are massive outdoor clubs, with a number of bars, dance floors, and fountains (!) in each – plus some x-rated live entertainment if you’re lucky. The cover last year was 100 HUF (50 cents), but for some baffling reason bouncers asked for IDs, so be prepared.
(Picture: None because the bouncers wouldn’t let me take any…)
Climbing Gellért hill on Sunday morning to watch the sun rise over the city
Sunday morning will be your last in Budapest, and there is no better way to spend it than by climbing Gellert hill (which is near the hostel) with your volunteers at 4:00 AM to watch the sun rise over the city. It truly is a breath-taking sight, and entirely worth the sleep that you’ll lose on it.
(Picture: LE volunteers watching the sunrise over Budapest. The picture was taken by Laura Rosenbloom, a 2004 volunteer and currently the SEVP program director. I’m third from the right.)
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Another letter from balazs
Are you as excited as he is?
Hi everyone,
My name is Balazs Csemy, I am 21 years old. I have been working with LE the for the past 6-7 years, helping out with orientation and coordinating.
The past few years this introductory letter has been about three pages long filled with information. This year, however, Janelle, your program director has been exceptionally helpful and ready, and basically she has already communicated everything you will need in Europe. One thing I cannot emphasize enough - please bring your health cards with yourselves - and have health insurance!!!! (you should also bring along with your passport a driving licence or student card, that includes your birth date - some night clubs, pubs and bars require it - rarely though)
I will try my best for you guys to enjoy your time in Budapest. We will have complusory daily programs during daytime, and completely optional night events. we do not want to force anything, we really want you guys to enjoy your time here, so even the daily programs will be chosen by you, I will have a few things in mind and you will get the chance to decide.
I am gonna see you all soon, and I am really looking forward to get to know all of you. We will try and make your Budapest orientation a great time of your summer. It is a fantastic city with a lot to offer. Trust me, I know it, I live here. be open and interested and you cannot have a bad time....
ok I gotta run now, I am seeing you all soon.
love, Balazs
Hi everyone,
My name is Balazs Csemy, I am 21 years old. I have been working with LE the for the past 6-7 years, helping out with orientation and coordinating.
The past few years this introductory letter has been about three pages long filled with information. This year, however, Janelle, your program director has been exceptionally helpful and ready, and basically she has already communicated everything you will need in Europe. One thing I cannot emphasize enough - please bring your health cards with yourselves - and have health insurance!!!! (you should also bring along with your passport a driving licence or student card, that includes your birth date - some night clubs, pubs and bars require it - rarely though)
I will try my best for you guys to enjoy your time in Budapest. We will have complusory daily programs during daytime, and completely optional night events. we do not want to force anything, we really want you guys to enjoy your time here, so even the daily programs will be chosen by you, I will have a few things in mind and you will get the chance to decide.
I am gonna see you all soon, and I am really looking forward to get to know all of you. We will try and make your Budapest orientation a great time of your summer. It is a fantastic city with a lot to offer. Trust me, I know it, I live here. be open and interested and you cannot have a bad time....
ok I gotta run now, I am seeing you all soon.
love, Balazs
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
A few more words on what to pack and what to leave at home
(posted by Zsofi Budai)
If you haven’t read Janelle’s original entry on the subject, do so at .
Only two more weeks until orientation! Hopefully, you’ve already begun to think a bit about what you’ll want to bring (and what you’ll want to leave at home to lighten the load). Let me tell you, I always agonize over this more than I should, but I think I’ve finally mastered the art of packing for a summer with LE. Allow me to give you a few words of advice:
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
I know that Janelle has already reiterated this point, but we cannot stress it enough. Although that huge suitcase that you packed at home may seem easy to transport when you have a car that takes you from your house straight to the airport, you will hate yourself when you have to drag it across the border during midpoint break (from Komarno, Slovakia, to Komarom, Hungary) if you have to catch your train in the latter city. So leave it at home. Bring a large backpack and/or a duffel bag. If you insist on bringing a suitcase, make sure that it is small and relatively easy to lift, since you’ll be getting on and off trains when traveling.
Now, in terms of specific items you’ll need or won’t need (some of this will be repetitive, given Janelle’s earlier post):
Clothes
Personally, this is where I tend to run into trouble while packing. During my first summer of teaching (back in 2004), I really didn’t know what to expect, so I thought it was better to be over-prepared than under-prepared and brought clothes for almost every possible occasion I could think of. NOT a good strategy! The following is what I’ve learned, in terms of dressing for LE:
Orientation in Budapest
By day, you will be meeting with Janelle to go over LE rules, regulations, and teaching strategies and sightseeing around the city. By night, you will be going out to dinner, bars, and clubs. (The night stuff is all optional!!!) Since it will be late June, the weather will be warm and sunny, and you’ll need to dress comfortably for trekking around Budapest. Bring t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, skirts, capris, etc., as well as a pair of good shoes or sandals in which you can do a lot of walking (I’m a fan of flip-flops, but for some people they don’t offer enough support). Budapest is famous for its baths and spas, so bring a swimsuit as well. Also pack an umbrella (in case it rains, which it does occasionally), a sweatshirt or light jacket (in case it gets cold), pajamas, and flip-flops (for showering at the hostel). If you plan to participate in the nightlife, bring something to wear to the bars and clubs. You don’t need anything fancy, but you will need to dress a little better than you do for sightseeing.
Teaching sessions in your villages
You are under no obligation to dress professionally as a teacher. The same casual clothes that you packed for Budapest sightseeing will be fine. Actually, you can even go down a step from there and wear sweatpants to class like I did when I got really lazy… Also, as Janelle will tell you when discussing LE rules and regulations, hooking up with anyone in your village (especially with your students and/or members of your host family) is strictly forbidden, so you can leave all your super cute outfits at home, regardless of how much you’d like to look good in front of your host brother (or host sister) or that guy (or girl) in your evening adult class.
Nonetheless, bring at least one semi-formal outfit. Your host family may take you to or ask you to participate in a somewhat nice function – one of my host families took me to the theater, and the other asked me to come to my host parent’s 25th anniversary and host father’s 50th birthday party (both of which were huge celebrations). The next year, my host family took me to a wedding. Since I over-packed, I wore different outfits to all of these, but I really could have worn the same thing (or at least the same skirt). If you plan to go to church, remember that people do dress up. (Even if you’re not religious or if you’re a member of a religious group not represented in your village, it’s a great cultural experience to go to one of the local services or mass.)
Midpoint break in Komarno
See the above paragraph on Budapest. Same deal.
General items
◦ Learning Enterprises documents and teaching manual
Bring everything that Janelle e-mails to you and tells you is important.
◦ Guidebook
◦ English-Hungarian dictionary or phrasebook
Study it during your flight! You can also get an English-Slovak dictionary or phrasebook, but you won’t get nearly as much use out of it.
◦ Documents/passport/ticket
Make several sets of copies: at least one to leave at home, and at least one to carry with you (in a different bag or pocket from where you carry the originals).
◦ Towel
The best is a quick-dry towel that is available at camping and similar stores (I’ve also seen them at the Container Store). These towels cost much more than regular ones, but they are so worth it!
◦ Money: ATM card for regular use, cash for emergencies
How much money you spend is up to you. Don’t let others pressure you into buying expensive souvenirs or whatnot if you are on a tight budget. It is possible to get through orientation without spending more than you have to (for the hostel, meals, sightseeing, nightlife) and still have a great time. Remember, you will also need money for travel to and from your villages, and any traveling that you want to do before, during, or after the teaching sessions. You won’t need much while you are in your village – your host family will take care of meals, and there will be in general very few opportunities for shopping. It is easy to find ATMs in cities (like Budapest and Komarno) but your village is very unlikely to have them.
◦ Money belt (optional)
This is a great option for traveling. You can store your cash, credit/debit cards, and passport in it, and then strap it around your waist (under your shirt) so that potential thieves have to practically molest you in order to get to it. I bought my money belt at Target, so they’re easy to find.
◦ Camera
◦ Gifts for host families
See Janelle’s post about gifts here
http://lecentraleurope.blogspot.com/2007/06/questions-4.html
Since you don’t know the specific details about your host families (remember that you will have two!), don’t try to get something for each member. A general “gift for the family” is fine. As Janelle wrote, a gift should reflect something personal about you, i.e. something about your cultural/ethnic background (unless that cultural/ethnic background is Slovak or Hungarian, I guess), your hometown or state, or your university. I went to my local Minnesota souvenir shop (like the kind they have at airports) and bought some calendars and books with pictures from all over Minnesota, as well as some wild rice (a real Minnesota thing) and maple syrup candy. While at school, I also picked up a small book with pictures of Georgetown.
◦ Electronic voltage converter and plug (optional)
If you have anything electronic that you plan to bring, you will need at least a plug that lets you plug your appliances into European sockets. You can also get a voltage converter, but I haven’t needed one since everything that I have is actually dual voltage: travel hair dryer, straightening iron, laptop, iPod power adapter.
Hygiene/toiletries/medicine
◦ sample sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, deodorant, hairspray, toothpaste, etc.
You just need enough stuff to get through orientation, and then you can stock up either in Budapest or even in your village.
◦ hand sanitizer
I really can’t go without this in Eastern/Central Europe, especially not when traveling on dirty trains with dirty bathrooms that lack toilet paper, not to mention soap and paper towels.
◦ sunscreen
You can buy this in Budapest or in your village, but it is next to impossible to find sunscreen of an SPF higher than 30. If you have ultra-sensitive skin like I do, bring a big bottle of SPF 55 or 75 from home.
◦ mosquito repellant
Again, you can buy this there, but it’s good to bring a trusted brand from home.
◦ feminine products (for the ladies)
Yes, tampons with applicators are indeed impossible to find in Hungary and Slovakia. Otherwise, everything else you need you can get at a local convenience store.
◦ small first aid kit (include band aids, over the counter medicine, etc.)
◦ any prescription medications that you take
Don’t count on being able to fill your prescription in Europe.
Teaching materials
Since your primary obligation in your village will be to teach, you should make sure that you are prepared with teaching supplies. Stationary or office supply type stores in Budapest, Komarno, and other cities will have a lot of things you need, but it’s best to get stuff together while you’re still in the US. You can leave everything in your village(s) once you’re done teaching to lighten the load for traveling in August or your return trip home.
Janelle’s list is already quite comprehensive, so I won’t repeat it here. I got a lot of mileage out of the children’s books that I took, as well as out of the tapes/CDs of children’s songs that I had with me. Everyone likes to learn English-language songs, especially if they involve movement. (Your older/more advanced students may prefer to learn the lyrics to the latest pop or hip hop songs.)
If you haven’t read Janelle’s original entry on the subject, do so at .
Only two more weeks until orientation! Hopefully, you’ve already begun to think a bit about what you’ll want to bring (and what you’ll want to leave at home to lighten the load). Let me tell you, I always agonize over this more than I should, but I think I’ve finally mastered the art of packing for a summer with LE. Allow me to give you a few words of advice:
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
I know that Janelle has already reiterated this point, but we cannot stress it enough. Although that huge suitcase that you packed at home may seem easy to transport when you have a car that takes you from your house straight to the airport, you will hate yourself when you have to drag it across the border during midpoint break (from Komarno, Slovakia, to Komarom, Hungary) if you have to catch your train in the latter city. So leave it at home. Bring a large backpack and/or a duffel bag. If you insist on bringing a suitcase, make sure that it is small and relatively easy to lift, since you’ll be getting on and off trains when traveling.
Now, in terms of specific items you’ll need or won’t need (some of this will be repetitive, given Janelle’s earlier post):
Clothes
Personally, this is where I tend to run into trouble while packing. During my first summer of teaching (back in 2004), I really didn’t know what to expect, so I thought it was better to be over-prepared than under-prepared and brought clothes for almost every possible occasion I could think of. NOT a good strategy! The following is what I’ve learned, in terms of dressing for LE:
Orientation in Budapest
By day, you will be meeting with Janelle to go over LE rules, regulations, and teaching strategies and sightseeing around the city. By night, you will be going out to dinner, bars, and clubs. (The night stuff is all optional!!!) Since it will be late June, the weather will be warm and sunny, and you’ll need to dress comfortably for trekking around Budapest. Bring t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, skirts, capris, etc., as well as a pair of good shoes or sandals in which you can do a lot of walking (I’m a fan of flip-flops, but for some people they don’t offer enough support). Budapest is famous for its baths and spas, so bring a swimsuit as well. Also pack an umbrella (in case it rains, which it does occasionally), a sweatshirt or light jacket (in case it gets cold), pajamas, and flip-flops (for showering at the hostel). If you plan to participate in the nightlife, bring something to wear to the bars and clubs. You don’t need anything fancy, but you will need to dress a little better than you do for sightseeing.
Teaching sessions in your villages
You are under no obligation to dress professionally as a teacher. The same casual clothes that you packed for Budapest sightseeing will be fine. Actually, you can even go down a step from there and wear sweatpants to class like I did when I got really lazy… Also, as Janelle will tell you when discussing LE rules and regulations, hooking up with anyone in your village (especially with your students and/or members of your host family) is strictly forbidden, so you can leave all your super cute outfits at home, regardless of how much you’d like to look good in front of your host brother (or host sister) or that guy (or girl) in your evening adult class.
Nonetheless, bring at least one semi-formal outfit. Your host family may take you to or ask you to participate in a somewhat nice function – one of my host families took me to the theater, and the other asked me to come to my host parent’s 25th anniversary and host father’s 50th birthday party (both of which were huge celebrations). The next year, my host family took me to a wedding. Since I over-packed, I wore different outfits to all of these, but I really could have worn the same thing (or at least the same skirt). If you plan to go to church, remember that people do dress up. (Even if you’re not religious or if you’re a member of a religious group not represented in your village, it’s a great cultural experience to go to one of the local services or mass.)
Midpoint break in Komarno
See the above paragraph on Budapest. Same deal.
General items
◦ Learning Enterprises documents and teaching manual
Bring everything that Janelle e-mails to you and tells you is important.
◦ Guidebook
◦ English-Hungarian dictionary or phrasebook
Study it during your flight! You can also get an English-Slovak dictionary or phrasebook, but you won’t get nearly as much use out of it.
◦ Documents/passport/ticket
Make several sets of copies: at least one to leave at home, and at least one to carry with you (in a different bag or pocket from where you carry the originals).
◦ Towel
The best is a quick-dry towel that is available at camping and similar stores (I’ve also seen them at the Container Store). These towels cost much more than regular ones, but they are so worth it!
◦ Money: ATM card for regular use, cash for emergencies
How much money you spend is up to you. Don’t let others pressure you into buying expensive souvenirs or whatnot if you are on a tight budget. It is possible to get through orientation without spending more than you have to (for the hostel, meals, sightseeing, nightlife) and still have a great time. Remember, you will also need money for travel to and from your villages, and any traveling that you want to do before, during, or after the teaching sessions. You won’t need much while you are in your village – your host family will take care of meals, and there will be in general very few opportunities for shopping. It is easy to find ATMs in cities (like Budapest and Komarno) but your village is very unlikely to have them.
◦ Money belt (optional)
This is a great option for traveling. You can store your cash, credit/debit cards, and passport in it, and then strap it around your waist (under your shirt) so that potential thieves have to practically molest you in order to get to it. I bought my money belt at Target, so they’re easy to find.
◦ Camera
◦ Gifts for host families
See Janelle’s post about gifts here
http://lecentraleurope.blogspot.com/2007/06/questions-4.html
Since you don’t know the specific details about your host families (remember that you will have two!), don’t try to get something for each member. A general “gift for the family” is fine. As Janelle wrote, a gift should reflect something personal about you, i.e. something about your cultural/ethnic background (unless that cultural/ethnic background is Slovak or Hungarian, I guess), your hometown or state, or your university. I went to my local Minnesota souvenir shop (like the kind they have at airports) and bought some calendars and books with pictures from all over Minnesota, as well as some wild rice (a real Minnesota thing) and maple syrup candy. While at school, I also picked up a small book with pictures of Georgetown.
◦ Electronic voltage converter and plug (optional)
If you have anything electronic that you plan to bring, you will need at least a plug that lets you plug your appliances into European sockets. You can also get a voltage converter, but I haven’t needed one since everything that I have is actually dual voltage: travel hair dryer, straightening iron, laptop, iPod power adapter.
Hygiene/toiletries/medicine
◦ sample sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash/soap, deodorant, hairspray, toothpaste, etc.
You just need enough stuff to get through orientation, and then you can stock up either in Budapest or even in your village.
◦ hand sanitizer
I really can’t go without this in Eastern/Central Europe, especially not when traveling on dirty trains with dirty bathrooms that lack toilet paper, not to mention soap and paper towels.
◦ sunscreen
You can buy this in Budapest or in your village, but it is next to impossible to find sunscreen of an SPF higher than 30. If you have ultra-sensitive skin like I do, bring a big bottle of SPF 55 or 75 from home.
◦ mosquito repellant
Again, you can buy this there, but it’s good to bring a trusted brand from home.
◦ feminine products (for the ladies)
Yes, tampons with applicators are indeed impossible to find in Hungary and Slovakia. Otherwise, everything else you need you can get at a local convenience store.
◦ small first aid kit (include band aids, over the counter medicine, etc.)
◦ any prescription medications that you take
Don’t count on being able to fill your prescription in Europe.
Teaching materials
Since your primary obligation in your village will be to teach, you should make sure that you are prepared with teaching supplies. Stationary or office supply type stores in Budapest, Komarno, and other cities will have a lot of things you need, but it’s best to get stuff together while you’re still in the US. You can leave everything in your village(s) once you’re done teaching to lighten the load for traveling in August or your return trip home.
Janelle’s list is already quite comprehensive, so I won’t repeat it here. I got a lot of mileage out of the children’s books that I took, as well as out of the tapes/CDs of children’s songs that I had with me. Everyone likes to learn English-language songs, especially if they involve movement. (Your older/more advanced students may prefer to learn the lyrics to the latest pop or hip hop songs.)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
questions 4
I've been receiving a lot of questions about host families and what to get them. I just sent out a superhuge excel spreadsheet of family names and contact info, but unfortunately, we do not have the details of your living arrangements - I.E. brothers and sisters or their ages. Because we don't have super specific information, your gifts should be more generalized, but that doesn't mean they can't be good.
Ideally, a gift for your host family shares a little bit of your culture or who you are. Bring something that means something. Last year, I brought my host family some bamboo candlesticks from the Philippines because I'm Filipino. Yeah, they dug 'em. I also brought a bunch of family and friends pictures to share to pass the time with my host brother and sister (I didn't give them as gifts - we just sat around looking at them together and laughing about them). Your family will have a strong interest in you and what you like. Be creative.
Ideally, a gift for your host family shares a little bit of your culture or who you are. Bring something that means something. Last year, I brought my host family some bamboo candlesticks from the Philippines because I'm Filipino. Yeah, they dug 'em. I also brought a bunch of family and friends pictures to share to pass the time with my host brother and sister (I didn't give them as gifts - we just sat around looking at them together and laughing about them). Your family will have a strong interest in you and what you like. Be creative.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Introducing Zsofi
Sziasztok!
My name is Zsofi (I pronounce it “Sophie,” but you will learn how it is actually said once you get to Hungary) Budai, and I’m working with CEVP this year as the European Liaison. (You’ll soon find out that I’m actually Zsofi #2, as Zsofi #1 – introduced by Janelle in an earlier post – has been with LE longer than I have.) Since you have all looked at the website and read the Hungary and Slovakia country guides/addenda, I know that you are all familiar with my name and background.
I could use this entry to tell you a bit about myself, but I don’t want to bore you with all of the useless details…You’ll definitely have a chance to get to know me during mid-point break in Komarno (unfortunately, for the first time in four years, I won’t be able to make it to orientation). Suffice it to say that I was born in Hungary, grew up in Minnesota, and just graduated from Georgetown University. I volunteered with LE in 2004 and 2005; I returned last year as the European Liaison and continue to have that position. That’s just how much I love LE!
I’ll post periodically on this blog to answer questions and give advice. I’d be more that happy to answer questions by e-mail as well – don’t bother writing to my LE address since it doesn’t work anymore; contact me at zb (at) georgetown (dot) edu. I know Hungary and Slovakia inside and out!
Make sure to read this blog as well as the country guides/addenda! They will answer most of the questions that you have.
And now, a picture of me, in one of my favorite cities (Bratislava) engaged in one of my favorite activities (self-explanatory):
My name is Zsofi (I pronounce it “Sophie,” but you will learn how it is actually said once you get to Hungary) Budai, and I’m working with CEVP this year as the European Liaison. (You’ll soon find out that I’m actually Zsofi #2, as Zsofi #1 – introduced by Janelle in an earlier post – has been with LE longer than I have.) Since you have all looked at the website and read the Hungary and Slovakia country guides/addenda, I know that you are all familiar with my name and background.
I could use this entry to tell you a bit about myself, but I don’t want to bore you with all of the useless details…You’ll definitely have a chance to get to know me during mid-point break in Komarno (unfortunately, for the first time in four years, I won’t be able to make it to orientation). Suffice it to say that I was born in Hungary, grew up in Minnesota, and just graduated from Georgetown University. I volunteered with LE in 2004 and 2005; I returned last year as the European Liaison and continue to have that position. That’s just how much I love LE!
I’ll post periodically on this blog to answer questions and give advice. I’d be more that happy to answer questions by e-mail as well – don’t bother writing to my LE address since it doesn’t work anymore; contact me at zb (at) georgetown (dot) edu. I know Hungary and Slovakia inside and out!
Make sure to read this blog as well as the country guides/addenda! They will answer most of the questions that you have.
And now, a picture of me, in one of my favorite cities (Bratislava) engaged in one of my favorite activities (self-explanatory):
Questions 3
Volunteer asks: will my bank card work out there or should I take cash (what's the currency?)
Earlier in the blog we have the conversion rates listed:
$1 USD = 184 Hungarian Forints
£1 = 364 Hungarian Forints
Your ATM card will be your best friend. It's quick, it's easy, and it'll give you the most reasonable conversion rates (I once had a change stand in prague pull a 25% slice out of my coronat). ATMs are all over the place.
Also - don't bother with traveler's checks as they're very difficult to use. And bring a bit of cash with you to carry around just in case. Say, $100 just in case you get into a jam.
Earlier in the blog we have the conversion rates listed:
$1 USD = 184 Hungarian Forints
£1 = 364 Hungarian Forints
Your ATM card will be your best friend. It's quick, it's easy, and it'll give you the most reasonable conversion rates (I once had a change stand in prague pull a 25% slice out of my coronat). ATMs are all over the place.
Also - don't bother with traveler's checks as they're very difficult to use. And bring a bit of cash with you to carry around just in case. Say, $100 just in case you get into a jam.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
more questions
Volunteer asks: Are we going to have any idea what the age range of our students is going to be before we arrive?
Last year, in both villages, my students ranged from 4 to 40 with varying levels of English skills. Four year olds know little english and learn slowly, while 40 year olds know little english but learn pretty quickly. Older teenagers are pretty much fluent, while those good ol' 'tweens are my favorite - they know enough that they take really well to lessons, and they're novice enough that you have a lot more to offer them in terms of new information.
Last year, in both villages, my students ranged from 4 to 40 with varying levels of English skills. Four year olds know little english and learn slowly, while 40 year olds know little english but learn pretty quickly. Older teenagers are pretty much fluent, while those good ol' 'tweens are my favorite - they know enough that they take really well to lessons, and they're novice enough that you have a lot more to offer them in terms of new information.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Answering questions
Volunteer asks: Do I need to be making reservations at the hostel we're staying at in Budapest or is it all done by you guys? What about where we're staying during the midpoint break?
Please refer to the entry "The First Step is Getting Here." At the bottom it says Balazs has already taken care of the reservations from Thursday, June 28 to Sunday, July 1. It also lists the prices for each night. You're welcome to stay at the hostel if you arrive earlier. They'll have plenty of available rooms.
For midpoint break, our gracious host Imre, the member of Slovak Parliament who's generously devoted his time to coordinating our villages, will be putting us up in the Danubius Hotel of Komarno, SK, as well as covering our meals. He's a really great guy, and even though is English is limited, you'll really like meeting him. If you're coming from Slovakia, your host family will drive you there Friday after class, and if you're coming from Hungary, Balazs can pick you up at the train station.
Volunteer asks: Just wondering, when will we know our pairs for teaching?
You will only be teaching in pairs if you have been placed in a village with two teaching slots. That means only two villages - Dusnosk and Tazlar.
Volunteer asks: What time should I be at Martos on the 28th?
Look at the awesome arrival itinerary:
Thursday June 28
During the daylight hours, tour the city on your own and get to know each other. I’ll be sitting in the hostel lobby reading a book all day waiting to greet you.
6:30 p.m. – Meet in the hostel lobby.
7 p.m. – Dinner at Fatal. Official welcome and introductory toast. Icebreakers and getting to know each other galore.
9 p.m. – Swing by the hostel to freshen up and gather late arrivers. Explore Budapest nightlife.
PS I'd love to hear some feedback on the blog. Feel free to leave a comment.
Please refer to the entry "The First Step is Getting Here." At the bottom it says Balazs has already taken care of the reservations from Thursday, June 28 to Sunday, July 1. It also lists the prices for each night. You're welcome to stay at the hostel if you arrive earlier. They'll have plenty of available rooms.
For midpoint break, our gracious host Imre, the member of Slovak Parliament who's generously devoted his time to coordinating our villages, will be putting us up in the Danubius Hotel of Komarno, SK, as well as covering our meals. He's a really great guy, and even though is English is limited, you'll really like meeting him. If you're coming from Slovakia, your host family will drive you there Friday after class, and if you're coming from Hungary, Balazs can pick you up at the train station.
Volunteer asks: Just wondering, when will we know our pairs for teaching?
You will only be teaching in pairs if you have been placed in a village with two teaching slots. That means only two villages - Dusnosk and Tazlar.
Volunteer asks: What time should I be at Martos on the 28th?
Look at the awesome arrival itinerary:
Thursday June 28
During the daylight hours, tour the city on your own and get to know each other. I’ll be sitting in the hostel lobby reading a book all day waiting to greet you.
6:30 p.m. – Meet in the hostel lobby.
7 p.m. – Dinner at Fatal. Official welcome and introductory toast. Icebreakers and getting to know each other galore.
9 p.m. – Swing by the hostel to freshen up and gather late arrivers. Explore Budapest nightlife.
PS I'd love to hear some feedback on the blog. Feel free to leave a comment.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Words from Balazs
Don't forget your insurance cards and several copies of your passports. also, apparently he's pretty psyched on orientation:
first and foremost i think eveyone has to be introduced to the budapest nightlife as deeply as possible
then we can move onto the less fun stuff:::: just kidding: Parliament, Szechenyi Spa, tours around the City, Castle, MARKET!!!!, House of terror, Gellert mountain view of the sunrise, boat trip on the DAnube if ppl wish, Margaret Island, definitely, national theatre - the same place where the ludwig museum of contemporary art is....
obviously, volunteers will decide what they do and do not want to do... we will probably buy a three day pass so we can travel in budapest as much as we like. the price of the three day pass is 3100 Ft, however if there are ppl coming earlier I think there is a week pass for 3600 Ft, so it is worth buying that...i will check this out though...
Are you facebook friends yet? His name is Balazs Csemy, and hers is Zofi Pazitna.
first and foremost i think eveyone has to be introduced to the budapest nightlife as deeply as possible
then we can move onto the less fun stuff:::: just kidding: Parliament, Szechenyi Spa, tours around the City, Castle, MARKET!!!!, House of terror, Gellert mountain view of the sunrise, boat trip on the DAnube if ppl wish, Margaret Island, definitely, national theatre - the same place where the ludwig museum of contemporary art is....
obviously, volunteers will decide what they do and do not want to do... we will probably buy a three day pass so we can travel in budapest as much as we like. the price of the three day pass is 3100 Ft, however if there are ppl coming earlier I think there is a week pass for 3600 Ft, so it is worth buying that...i will check this out though...
Are you facebook friends yet? His name is Balazs Csemy, and hers is Zofi Pazitna.
Traveling in Central Europe
CEVP is a great starting point for travelers. It's less touristed, its beautiful, and for those of you on student budgest, it's wonderfully cheap.
For super-cheap flights, refer to wizzair.com or aireuropa.com. For that authentic European experience, however, try to take a train. It's six to twelve hours packed in a car with smiling, smoking strangers asking you about your country and if they can practice their English with you.
Unless they're British. Then they'll just make fun of you for your silly little accent and how you call your trousers the word for underwear.
I met these fellows on a 12-hour ride from Krakow to Prague, but from places in Slovakia it's only about 6 hours and $15 Roundtrip. Last year all the volunteers decided we would meet up one weekend in the Czech Republic, and it was great. I loved it so much, I went twice. And I even hopped from Prague to Berlin with a bunch of Americans I had met at the Charles school.
the best part was when we discovered the seats recline all the way
those ripped-up knees are mine, by the way
look at all the love in our car
Any suggestions for where you'd like to meet up, just throw 'em at me.
For super-cheap flights, refer to wizzair.com or aireuropa.com. For that authentic European experience, however, try to take a train. It's six to twelve hours packed in a car with smiling, smoking strangers asking you about your country and if they can practice their English with you.
Unless they're British. Then they'll just make fun of you for your silly little accent and how you call your trousers the word for underwear.
I met these fellows on a 12-hour ride from Krakow to Prague, but from places in Slovakia it's only about 6 hours and $15 Roundtrip. Last year all the volunteers decided we would meet up one weekend in the Czech Republic, and it was great. I loved it so much, I went twice. And I even hopped from Prague to Berlin with a bunch of Americans I had met at the Charles school.
the best part was when we discovered the seats recline all the way
those ripped-up knees are mine, by the way
look at all the love in our car
Any suggestions for where you'd like to meet up, just throw 'em at me.
Latest conversion rates
$1 USD = 184 HUF
Last year it was 220 HUF. Look out, America!
Meanwhile, the pound is still holdin' strong.
£1 = 364 HUF
Way to go, Brits.
Last year it was 220 HUF. Look out, America!
Meanwhile, the pound is still holdin' strong.
£1 = 364 HUF
Way to go, Brits.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Learning Enterprises Cookbook.
This year, LE will be testing out a fundraiser that has been floating around for years but is finally ready to become implemented. One of your fondest memories during the time you spend in your village will undoubtedly be the food. What better way to remember your time there (and raise us some dough) than through an LE cookbook?!
Think about it. New and creative recipes from rural villages the world over, brought to you by a student-run NGO. People love organic and sustainable agriculture, what can be more earth-friendly than a dish made from a backyard garden in Slovakia or China?
So what do you need to do as a volunteer? Not that much really:
1. Get at least one recipe from EACH of your host families during your stay. If you are only with one family the whole time, try to get at least two.
2. Write it down on whatever while you are over there, but please type it up when you get back. Be sure to include a list of ingredients, how many people it serves, prep time, cook time, name of dish, etc. I can barely read my own writing half the time, let alone some note card you carried with you halfway across the world. You’ll send this all to us when you get back, probably to something like
recipes (at) le (dot) org
3. Keep in mind that the measurements used are likely going to be different from what is used in the States. Write down whatever is used, and then an equivalent. Something like a pinch should be fine to keep, but try to estimate what something larger would be.
Personally, I have a Great Great Aunt who still cooks with this old world measuring cup that probably measures in furlongs or hogsheads or something archaic like that. She makes the best pies with it, but if I was giving the recipe to other people, next to “one scoop flour from old world measuring cup” I would write 1 ¼ cups, or whatever the equivalent is.
4. If you’re only going to get two, choose something that is palatable. Sure, goat spleen was great at the time, but nobody is going to buy a cookbook with that in it. Or, better yet, include the spleen recipe in addition to the other ones you send in, so we can make an “extreme recipe” section or something.
Also, keep in mind that that lots of people will probably be submitting the same recipe as you. If there’s a local delicacy, go for it.
5. Be sure to take lots of pictures! Get a picture of your host mother or father cooking the food, the end result, etc.. The more pictures, the more likely it will end up in the book!
6. Also, keep in mind where you are. We’ll probably have lots of recipes from somewhere like Mexico, but Mauritius where there are fewer volunteers… not so much. So try to keep that in mind when figuring out how many you’ll bring back.
That’s about it really. This should be a fun assignment for you in that not only will you have a tangible memory from your stay, but it also enables you to take an interest and bond with your host family. You may not speak their language, but you can both share in a meal together.
Sincerely,
Brian Conway
Director of Training and Recruiting
Learning Enterprises
Think about it. New and creative recipes from rural villages the world over, brought to you by a student-run NGO. People love organic and sustainable agriculture, what can be more earth-friendly than a dish made from a backyard garden in Slovakia or China?
So what do you need to do as a volunteer? Not that much really:
1. Get at least one recipe from EACH of your host families during your stay. If you are only with one family the whole time, try to get at least two.
2. Write it down on whatever while you are over there, but please type it up when you get back. Be sure to include a list of ingredients, how many people it serves, prep time, cook time, name of dish, etc. I can barely read my own writing half the time, let alone some note card you carried with you halfway across the world. You’ll send this all to us when you get back, probably to something like
recipes (at) le (dot) org
3. Keep in mind that the measurements used are likely going to be different from what is used in the States. Write down whatever is used, and then an equivalent. Something like a pinch should be fine to keep, but try to estimate what something larger would be.
Personally, I have a Great Great Aunt who still cooks with this old world measuring cup that probably measures in furlongs or hogsheads or something archaic like that. She makes the best pies with it, but if I was giving the recipe to other people, next to “one scoop flour from old world measuring cup” I would write 1 ¼ cups, or whatever the equivalent is.
4. If you’re only going to get two, choose something that is palatable. Sure, goat spleen was great at the time, but nobody is going to buy a cookbook with that in it. Or, better yet, include the spleen recipe in addition to the other ones you send in, so we can make an “extreme recipe” section or something.
Also, keep in mind that that lots of people will probably be submitting the same recipe as you. If there’s a local delicacy, go for it.
5. Be sure to take lots of pictures! Get a picture of your host mother or father cooking the food, the end result, etc.. The more pictures, the more likely it will end up in the book!
6. Also, keep in mind where you are. We’ll probably have lots of recipes from somewhere like Mexico, but Mauritius where there are fewer volunteers… not so much. So try to keep that in mind when figuring out how many you’ll bring back.
That’s about it really. This should be a fun assignment for you in that not only will you have a tangible memory from your stay, but it also enables you to take an interest and bond with your host family. You may not speak their language, but you can both share in a meal together.
Sincerely,
Brian Conway
Director of Training and Recruiting
Learning Enterprises
Essentials: What to Pack and What to Leave at Home
Cannot stress enough: BRING YOUR TEACHING MANUAL. We didn't put together a brilliant, 100-page collection of games and teaching techniques to sit at home and collect dust. You won't get along as well without it.
And most importantly, DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY. I'd like to start this post with a little story about my train ride from hell where I had to kick myself for bringing a roll-on suitcase. It's so long, I'll tell it in parts.
The scene: There were four of us teaching in Poland last year. It took a connection or two and ten grueling hours to get there.
Obstacle 1: Not so bad. In order to get to the appropriate platform from Komarno (small town in Slovakia where we'll be experiencing midpoint break) to Budapest, we had to go up and down two very tall flights of stairs.
Obstacle 2: A little harder. The ticket lines in Budapest were so long we had to almost sprint to get on the train in time. Sucks when you have to carry a lot. Also, in the process of passing heavy bags up the train steps, the strap of my shirt tore and my favorite necklace broke. And oh my poor back.
Obstacle 3: REALLY SUCKED. Because we were running on to the train, we were so happy and surprised to find an empty car in the back. Several minutes later, the conductor informed us that we were in a section that was not going to Krakow, but instead would be breaking off in Bratislava and going on to Vienna. I don't know how we know he said that because none of us spoke Hungarian. Anyway, since we weren't really down with a Vienna adventure in the wrong direction, we had to drag all of our belongings through not one, not two, but TEN narrow railway cars to get in the appropriate section, taking turns watching all the remaining stuff. For some reason, Europeans love to stand in the aisles and smoke cigarettes out of the windows, and they really really hate it when you disturb them while they do this. Also, because we couldn't find any empty cars in the front, we had to stand around a pile of luggage in a corner by one of the doors until some space freed up. After a few spots, a car cleared, and we could finally relax.
Awesome ending to a hilarious story: We got to Poland at about 4 a.m. and I was just so happy to meet my host family. I had my backpack on my back and we got in the car and I fell asleep as soon as we got home. And then we get a call saying I left my roll-on suitcase at the train station.
So, how do you avoid nightmares like this? My advice: bring a backpack.
GENERAL ITEMS:
· A guidebook to Eastern Europe: This is absolutely essential if you plan to travel when the program is over, and it is nice to have even if you do not. LE recommends Let’s Go Eastern Europe ($18 on Amazon.com). This book has tons of info on all the countries, packing info, visa info, etc. Best of all, it is geared toward students. It's great for sightseeing suggestions and for getting around public transportation.
· The Eyewitness Travel Guides (usually available only for cities, not entire countries) are also great, as they provide plenty of pictures, maps, and illustrations, and the text is kept to a minimum. Alternately, Lonely Planet travel guides are also good as long as they are up to date.
· A travel-sized English-Hungarian dictionary/phrase book (if you can find one): Always useful for both Hungary and Slovakia.
· A large backpack: You will certainly be able to survive the summer without a backpack, but it will be much easier to bring a backpack instead of a suitcase. European railway aisles are pretty narrow, and trust me, you don’t want to bring more than you can carry yourself! You do not need anything too fancy. You can get a new one at any outdoor store, or a used one from your school’s Outdoor Ed club.
· A TOWEL! Although your host family will provide you with one, most hostels in Europe only offer something the size of a dishrag. Unless you like to air dry, or walk around in soggy clothes, this is a definite must while traveling outside your village.
· A small, school-sized backpack: This is nice for carrying teaching supplies and other things when you are in the village. It is also nice when you are traveling, because you can carry your important things (passport, wallet, guidebook) in this backpack and leave everything else in your large backpack.
· A disposable bag (optional): If you need to carry your teaching supplies in an extra bag, bring something cheap (a $5 canvas sack) that you can leave in the village. That way you are not lugging around an extra bag at the end of the program. Check your airline’s baggage restrictions before packing an extra bag, though.
· Documents:
o Passport!!! You are a nobody without it. If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a visa for traveling in Eastern Europe, unless you plan on visiting Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, or Russia. If you are a foreign national, check with your country’s embassy for visa regulations. Copies. COPIES COPIES COPIES. Make lots of 'em and store them in different places. One in your carry-on, one in your luggage, one always on your person.
o Student ID: Good for occasional discounts. U.S. University IDs are generally accepted as proof of student status. If you have an ISIC (International Student Identity Card), bring it. If not, do not get it unless you have to. It is also possible to get one abroad if you find that you do indeed need one.
o Plane Tickets: Get them early! If possible, buy round trip airline tickets. Otherwise, check with your specific airline/airport because it might not be possible for you to leave the country with a one-way ticket.
o Itineraries: Make sure to print all of your itineraries, especially the hostel information.
o Make sure that your parents have copies of all the documents that you plan to take with you (in case they’re lost or stolen). You should also have copies for yourself that travel with you in case the originals are lost or stolen. It is especially important to travel with a copy of your passport.
· Money:
o Central Europe is extraordinarily cheap, and so the amount of money you’ll need varies from volunteer to volunteer. Personally, I took $900 for two months and did just fine. I was able to travel to Prague (twice!), Berlin, Krakow and Auschwitz, buy drinks in Budapest, and see Radiohead in Budapest’s annual festival. I would recommend nothing less than the bare minimum of at least $300. It’s sure to cover food and lodging during orientation, as well as transportation between villages.
o Do not bring traveler’s checks! They are hard to cash (especially if you are outside of major metropolitan areas), and most places will charge you exorbitant fees to cash them.
o The best way to get local currency is through ATMs. You may be charged a fee of $1 to $5 per transaction, but the exchange rate is much better than what you would get from a currency exchange booth.
o It is a good idea to bring some cash as well (~$100). This can be your emergency back up money. If you get in a pinch, most people are willing to take dollars instead of the local currency. Make sure the bills are not torn, dirty, etc., or people won’t take them. You might also want to buy a money belt from a travel store/agency in order to carry around some backup cash.
· A camera. You will want to record all of your wonderful memories from this summer! If you have a film camera, try to buy all your film in the States. It is a lot cheaper, especially if you buy it bulk. If you have a digital camera, make sure that your memory chip has enough memory.
· Gifts for your host families. Nothing shows gratitude better than a small gift, especially if it says something about who you are or where you are from. Nothing extravagant is necessary. People LOVE stuff from the US, especially if it is specific to your hometown or region, i.e. books with photographs, calendars, etc. Also, remember that you will have two host families!
· Electronic voltage converter and plug (optional). If you want to operate anything electronic, you will need a converter. Outlets in Europe have a different style of plug and operate on a different voltage. If you only have one inexpensive thing you need to plug in (a hairdryer, for example), you might want to consider buying one there. If you still need one, RadioShack sells good converters for $20 or less. Get one before you leave, though. They are very hard to find once in Europe.
· A small travel pillow for long train rides (optional).
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
CLOTHES:
Let’s Go has an excellent piece of advice: lay out only what you absolutely need, and then take half the clothes and twice the money. Simplicity is key. Take the kinds of clothes that you would be comfortable wearing for days on end: basic pants, t-shirts, and shorts. Do not take anything fancy or anything that is not compact and easy to wash in a sink. Also, do not worry about American clothes being immodest.
· The basics: a sweatshirt, five or six t-shirts/tank-tops, a couple pairs of shorts, and a pair of pants, socks, underwear, and pajamas. Your host family will do your laundry.
· Bring one pair of shoes to wear everyday. Do not bring hiking boots or anything too heavy. However, make sure that you have shoes that are sturdy and comfortable enough for sightseeing in Budapest and longs walks around your village.
· Bring one outfit that is somewhat nice (a button-down shirt to go with your pants for the guys, a skirt for the girls). You might have a formal occasion in the village. You do not need anything super dressy – anything nicer than a t-shirt will do. You also might want to take a pair of nicer shoes. They do not need to be fancy, just a step up from your dirty white New Balances.
· A light raincoat.
· A swimsuit (essential!) You do not want to miss out on the Hungarian bathhouses.
· Bring one towel for showering, and, if you are planning on significant beach/pool time, it might be nice to bring a beach towel as well.
· A pair of flip-flops.
· A small umbrella.
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
HYGIENE/MEDICAL ITEMS:
Keep in mind that most brands available at American drugstores (like your local CVS) are also available in CEVP countries, at least in the larger cities. Unless you have a very strong attachment to a specific kind of shampoo only sold at the salon near your grandmother’s house, you do not have to (and should not) bring a supply of toiletries for the entire summer. Sample sizes will last you through orientation in Budapest, and afterwards you can stock up at local stores.
· Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream, hair gel, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and anything else you might need.
· Hand sanitizer (this is usually hard to find but extremely useful!)
· A roll or toilet paper or pack of tissues for public restrooms. (Do not assume that toilet paper will be there!)
· Feminine Products (apparently, tampons with applicators are hard to find. I wouldn’t know myself. Never looked for them.)
· Sunscreen
· Mosquito repellant
· Glasses, contact lenses, contact lense solution (as well as a copy of your prescription)
You should also put together a basic first aid kit that includes the following:
· Aspirin/Advil/Tylenol
· Neosporin
· Band Aids
· Dayquil
· Tums
· Diarrhea or upset-stomach medication
· Allergy medication
DONT BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
TEACHING MATERIALS:
Paper is really the only material you can count on having. It is possible that your villages will have other supplies, but you should not count on it. Here is what we recommend to bring.
· Notebook (for lesson plans and other notes)
· Index Cards: easy to pack and very versatile
· Tape
· Chalk (regular and sidewalk kinds)
· Markers and/or crayons.
· Map of the world and/or the United States
· Ball and/or Frisbee (or something else to throw). Do not bring a soccer ball; there will be at least one in every village!
· Something small to give away as prizes.
· ... Anything else from the local dollar store or CVS that is fun, not bulky, and can be used in a lesson.
· Bring lots of magazines from the U.S. Try to get ‘younger’ magazines with pictures of celebrities (Tiger Beat, Teen People, etc.). Of all the items on this list, you will probably get the most mileage out of these.
· Bring photos from home. These can be used in class and can be shared with people in the village and with your host family.
· Read over the teaching manual and see if any of the games/activities you would like to do require additional materials.
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
A NOTE ON KEEPING IN TOUCH:
· The easiest way to keep in touch with people is through email. Internet cafes abound and are not too expensive (between $2-7 dollars per hour), depending on where you are. Some host families will have Internet connections at home.
· If you decide to call, international calling cards are the way to go. They are easy to get a hold of in Europe and the rates are better than if you buy the card in the U.S. ahead of time. So, unless your parents make you, consider holding off on this one. DO NOT use a credit card to place an international call from a payphone!!! The rates are ridiculous (several dollars per minute).
· You can also have the person you are calling call back. Make sure to write down the calling code for the country that you will be in before you head out. Note: telephone systems in some locales are not compatible with the tone dial system used in the U.S. and Western Europe. So, if a call does not go through, try asking the other person to switch the dialing mode on their phone to pulse.
DONT BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
And most importantly, DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY. I'd like to start this post with a little story about my train ride from hell where I had to kick myself for bringing a roll-on suitcase. It's so long, I'll tell it in parts.
The scene: There were four of us teaching in Poland last year. It took a connection or two and ten grueling hours to get there.
Obstacle 1: Not so bad. In order to get to the appropriate platform from Komarno (small town in Slovakia where we'll be experiencing midpoint break) to Budapest, we had to go up and down two very tall flights of stairs.
Obstacle 2: A little harder. The ticket lines in Budapest were so long we had to almost sprint to get on the train in time. Sucks when you have to carry a lot. Also, in the process of passing heavy bags up the train steps, the strap of my shirt tore and my favorite necklace broke. And oh my poor back.
Obstacle 3: REALLY SUCKED. Because we were running on to the train, we were so happy and surprised to find an empty car in the back. Several minutes later, the conductor informed us that we were in a section that was not going to Krakow, but instead would be breaking off in Bratislava and going on to Vienna. I don't know how we know he said that because none of us spoke Hungarian. Anyway, since we weren't really down with a Vienna adventure in the wrong direction, we had to drag all of our belongings through not one, not two, but TEN narrow railway cars to get in the appropriate section, taking turns watching all the remaining stuff. For some reason, Europeans love to stand in the aisles and smoke cigarettes out of the windows, and they really really hate it when you disturb them while they do this. Also, because we couldn't find any empty cars in the front, we had to stand around a pile of luggage in a corner by one of the doors until some space freed up. After a few spots, a car cleared, and we could finally relax.
Awesome ending to a hilarious story: We got to Poland at about 4 a.m. and I was just so happy to meet my host family. I had my backpack on my back and we got in the car and I fell asleep as soon as we got home. And then we get a call saying I left my roll-on suitcase at the train station.
So, how do you avoid nightmares like this? My advice: bring a backpack.
GENERAL ITEMS:
· A guidebook to Eastern Europe: This is absolutely essential if you plan to travel when the program is over, and it is nice to have even if you do not. LE recommends Let’s Go Eastern Europe ($18 on Amazon.com). This book has tons of info on all the countries, packing info, visa info, etc. Best of all, it is geared toward students. It's great for sightseeing suggestions and for getting around public transportation.
· The Eyewitness Travel Guides (usually available only for cities, not entire countries) are also great, as they provide plenty of pictures, maps, and illustrations, and the text is kept to a minimum. Alternately, Lonely Planet travel guides are also good as long as they are up to date.
· A travel-sized English-Hungarian dictionary/phrase book (if you can find one): Always useful for both Hungary and Slovakia.
· A large backpack: You will certainly be able to survive the summer without a backpack, but it will be much easier to bring a backpack instead of a suitcase. European railway aisles are pretty narrow, and trust me, you don’t want to bring more than you can carry yourself! You do not need anything too fancy. You can get a new one at any outdoor store, or a used one from your school’s Outdoor Ed club.
· A TOWEL! Although your host family will provide you with one, most hostels in Europe only offer something the size of a dishrag. Unless you like to air dry, or walk around in soggy clothes, this is a definite must while traveling outside your village.
· A small, school-sized backpack: This is nice for carrying teaching supplies and other things when you are in the village. It is also nice when you are traveling, because you can carry your important things (passport, wallet, guidebook) in this backpack and leave everything else in your large backpack.
· A disposable bag (optional): If you need to carry your teaching supplies in an extra bag, bring something cheap (a $5 canvas sack) that you can leave in the village. That way you are not lugging around an extra bag at the end of the program. Check your airline’s baggage restrictions before packing an extra bag, though.
· Documents:
o Passport!!! You are a nobody without it. If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a visa for traveling in Eastern Europe, unless you plan on visiting Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, or Russia. If you are a foreign national, check with your country’s embassy for visa regulations. Copies. COPIES COPIES COPIES. Make lots of 'em and store them in different places. One in your carry-on, one in your luggage, one always on your person.
o Student ID: Good for occasional discounts. U.S. University IDs are generally accepted as proof of student status. If you have an ISIC (International Student Identity Card), bring it. If not, do not get it unless you have to. It is also possible to get one abroad if you find that you do indeed need one.
o Plane Tickets: Get them early! If possible, buy round trip airline tickets. Otherwise, check with your specific airline/airport because it might not be possible for you to leave the country with a one-way ticket.
o Itineraries: Make sure to print all of your itineraries, especially the hostel information.
o Make sure that your parents have copies of all the documents that you plan to take with you (in case they’re lost or stolen). You should also have copies for yourself that travel with you in case the originals are lost or stolen. It is especially important to travel with a copy of your passport.
· Money:
o Central Europe is extraordinarily cheap, and so the amount of money you’ll need varies from volunteer to volunteer. Personally, I took $900 for two months and did just fine. I was able to travel to Prague (twice!), Berlin, Krakow and Auschwitz, buy drinks in Budapest, and see Radiohead in Budapest’s annual festival. I would recommend nothing less than the bare minimum of at least $300. It’s sure to cover food and lodging during orientation, as well as transportation between villages.
o Do not bring traveler’s checks! They are hard to cash (especially if you are outside of major metropolitan areas), and most places will charge you exorbitant fees to cash them.
o The best way to get local currency is through ATMs. You may be charged a fee of $1 to $5 per transaction, but the exchange rate is much better than what you would get from a currency exchange booth.
o It is a good idea to bring some cash as well (~$100). This can be your emergency back up money. If you get in a pinch, most people are willing to take dollars instead of the local currency. Make sure the bills are not torn, dirty, etc., or people won’t take them. You might also want to buy a money belt from a travel store/agency in order to carry around some backup cash.
· A camera. You will want to record all of your wonderful memories from this summer! If you have a film camera, try to buy all your film in the States. It is a lot cheaper, especially if you buy it bulk. If you have a digital camera, make sure that your memory chip has enough memory.
· Gifts for your host families. Nothing shows gratitude better than a small gift, especially if it says something about who you are or where you are from. Nothing extravagant is necessary. People LOVE stuff from the US, especially if it is specific to your hometown or region, i.e. books with photographs, calendars, etc. Also, remember that you will have two host families!
· Electronic voltage converter and plug (optional). If you want to operate anything electronic, you will need a converter. Outlets in Europe have a different style of plug and operate on a different voltage. If you only have one inexpensive thing you need to plug in (a hairdryer, for example), you might want to consider buying one there. If you still need one, RadioShack sells good converters for $20 or less. Get one before you leave, though. They are very hard to find once in Europe.
· A small travel pillow for long train rides (optional).
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
CLOTHES:
Let’s Go has an excellent piece of advice: lay out only what you absolutely need, and then take half the clothes and twice the money. Simplicity is key. Take the kinds of clothes that you would be comfortable wearing for days on end: basic pants, t-shirts, and shorts. Do not take anything fancy or anything that is not compact and easy to wash in a sink. Also, do not worry about American clothes being immodest.
· The basics: a sweatshirt, five or six t-shirts/tank-tops, a couple pairs of shorts, and a pair of pants, socks, underwear, and pajamas. Your host family will do your laundry.
· Bring one pair of shoes to wear everyday. Do not bring hiking boots or anything too heavy. However, make sure that you have shoes that are sturdy and comfortable enough for sightseeing in Budapest and longs walks around your village.
· Bring one outfit that is somewhat nice (a button-down shirt to go with your pants for the guys, a skirt for the girls). You might have a formal occasion in the village. You do not need anything super dressy – anything nicer than a t-shirt will do. You also might want to take a pair of nicer shoes. They do not need to be fancy, just a step up from your dirty white New Balances.
· A light raincoat.
· A swimsuit (essential!) You do not want to miss out on the Hungarian bathhouses.
· Bring one towel for showering, and, if you are planning on significant beach/pool time, it might be nice to bring a beach towel as well.
· A pair of flip-flops.
· A small umbrella.
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
HYGIENE/MEDICAL ITEMS:
Keep in mind that most brands available at American drugstores (like your local CVS) are also available in CEVP countries, at least in the larger cities. Unless you have a very strong attachment to a specific kind of shampoo only sold at the salon near your grandmother’s house, you do not have to (and should not) bring a supply of toiletries for the entire summer. Sample sizes will last you through orientation in Budapest, and afterwards you can stock up at local stores.
· Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream, hair gel, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and anything else you might need.
· Hand sanitizer (this is usually hard to find but extremely useful!)
· A roll or toilet paper or pack of tissues for public restrooms. (Do not assume that toilet paper will be there!)
· Feminine Products (apparently, tampons with applicators are hard to find. I wouldn’t know myself. Never looked for them.)
· Sunscreen
· Mosquito repellant
· Glasses, contact lenses, contact lense solution (as well as a copy of your prescription)
You should also put together a basic first aid kit that includes the following:
· Aspirin/Advil/Tylenol
· Neosporin
· Band Aids
· Dayquil
· Tums
· Diarrhea or upset-stomach medication
· Allergy medication
DONT BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
TEACHING MATERIALS:
Paper is really the only material you can count on having. It is possible that your villages will have other supplies, but you should not count on it. Here is what we recommend to bring.
· Notebook (for lesson plans and other notes)
· Index Cards: easy to pack and very versatile
· Tape
· Chalk (regular and sidewalk kinds)
· Markers and/or crayons.
· Map of the world and/or the United States
· Ball and/or Frisbee (or something else to throw). Do not bring a soccer ball; there will be at least one in every village!
· Something small to give away as prizes.
· ... Anything else from the local dollar store or CVS that is fun, not bulky, and can be used in a lesson.
· Bring lots of magazines from the U.S. Try to get ‘younger’ magazines with pictures of celebrities (Tiger Beat, Teen People, etc.). Of all the items on this list, you will probably get the most mileage out of these.
· Bring photos from home. These can be used in class and can be shared with people in the village and with your host family.
· Read over the teaching manual and see if any of the games/activities you would like to do require additional materials.
DON'T BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
A NOTE ON KEEPING IN TOUCH:
· The easiest way to keep in touch with people is through email. Internet cafes abound and are not too expensive (between $2-7 dollars per hour), depending on where you are. Some host families will have Internet connections at home.
· If you decide to call, international calling cards are the way to go. They are easy to get a hold of in Europe and the rates are better than if you buy the card in the U.S. ahead of time. So, unless your parents make you, consider holding off on this one. DO NOT use a credit card to place an international call from a payphone!!! The rates are ridiculous (several dollars per minute).
· You can also have the person you are calling call back. Make sure to write down the calling code for the country that you will be in before you head out. Note: telephone systems in some locales are not compatible with the tone dial system used in the U.S. and Western Europe. So, if a call does not go through, try asking the other person to switch the dialing mode on their phone to pulse.
DONT BRING MORE THAN YOU CAN CARRY
Faces to Know
These are your two lovely Hungarian Hosts, who've been dragging Americans (and now Brits) around the sights and sounds of Budapest for the past six years, despite the great embarrassment it causes them. They do it because they love it, and you're going to love them, too.
Balazs looking over the Danube from Budapest's castle. You won't always see him so serious. Most of the time, he's eating.
and Zofi! language expert extraordinaire, she speaks five languages and always grabs 'em by the horns
Balazs looking over the Danube from Budapest's castle. You won't always see him so serious. Most of the time, he's eating.
and Zofi! language expert extraordinaire, she speaks five languages and always grabs 'em by the horns
The First Step is Getting Here
Arrival Information
BY AIR:
There’s nothin’ easier than taking the Airport Minibus to the hostel. The ticket counter is located in the arrival-level passenger hall of the airport (where people meet up). It is open between 5am and 1am and the staff should speak English, be incredibly rude, and set you up with a driver and a van. Last year I split one with a fine English gentleman and it was a pleasant ride until I found out I was at the wrong hostel. It was my fault, however, not theirs. Show them the address featured below and make sure to say Martosh, not Martos, or you’ll end up having to take a cab from a different locatio. The Minibus is your best bet - It’s direct, it’s easy, and it’s cheap, at only about $12 USD.
BY TRAIN:
If you are arriving in Budapest by train, you will most likely arrive at the Keleti train station in the eastern part of the city. There is public transportation available, if you choose to use it. I can get you more information on this if you’d like, but I highly recommend taking a cab, since the train station is located across the city from the hostel and you will be loaded with luggage. They can be easily found outside of the train station.
Be careful, however. Taxis in Budapest are notorious for overcharging foreigners. Avoid luxurious-looking taxis and taxi-drivers that are overly eager to get you in their cab. Always make sure that the meter is running when you get in the cab and ask how much the fare to your destination will cost before taking off. A good price is around the equivalent of $30 USD.
BY CAR:
Hostel Martos is located in the Southwest part of Budapest.
Martos Hostel (Martos Kollegium): THE GRAND LE TRADITION
XI. Sztoczek u. # 5-7 H-1111
Budapest, Hungary
Tel: ++36 1 ... 209 48 83. e-mail: reception@hotel.martos.bme.hu
http://hotel.martos.bme.hu/htmeng/english.html
Scope out the photos, get excited.
Room Prices:
3000 Ft/night/person, or $16.14 USD, £8.17 British Pounds
Balazs, who you'll get to know soon enough, has made reservations for 22 people for Thursday, June 28, to Sunday, July 1.
-- Janelle
BY AIR:
There’s nothin’ easier than taking the Airport Minibus to the hostel. The ticket counter is located in the arrival-level passenger hall of the airport (where people meet up). It is open between 5am and 1am and the staff should speak English, be incredibly rude, and set you up with a driver and a van. Last year I split one with a fine English gentleman and it was a pleasant ride until I found out I was at the wrong hostel. It was my fault, however, not theirs. Show them the address featured below and make sure to say Martosh, not Martos, or you’ll end up having to take a cab from a different locatio. The Minibus is your best bet - It’s direct, it’s easy, and it’s cheap, at only about $12 USD.
BY TRAIN:
If you are arriving in Budapest by train, you will most likely arrive at the Keleti train station in the eastern part of the city. There is public transportation available, if you choose to use it. I can get you more information on this if you’d like, but I highly recommend taking a cab, since the train station is located across the city from the hostel and you will be loaded with luggage. They can be easily found outside of the train station.
Be careful, however. Taxis in Budapest are notorious for overcharging foreigners. Avoid luxurious-looking taxis and taxi-drivers that are overly eager to get you in their cab. Always make sure that the meter is running when you get in the cab and ask how much the fare to your destination will cost before taking off. A good price is around the equivalent of $30 USD.
BY CAR:
Hostel Martos is located in the Southwest part of Budapest.
Martos Hostel (Martos Kollegium): THE GRAND LE TRADITION
XI. Sztoczek u. # 5-7 H-1111
Budapest, Hungary
Tel: ++36 1 ... 209 48 83. e-mail: reception@hotel.martos.bme.hu
http://hotel.martos.bme.hu/htmeng/english.html
Scope out the photos, get excited.
Room Prices:
3000 Ft/night/person, or $16.14 USD, £8.17 British Pounds
Balazs, who you'll get to know soon enough, has made reservations for 22 people for Thursday, June 28, to Sunday, July 1.
-- Janelle
The Start of Something Good
Hey volunteers. That time you've all been waiting for is here - you get to find out what villages you'll be teaching in.
-- Janelle
Let's get right to it:
Session 1, July 2-20
Abasar (HU) Jae Chang, j.yeon87@gmail.com
Halimba (HU) Matt Patterson, matterson52@yahoo.com
Hidaskürt (SK) Sophie Troiano, sophie.troiano@chch.ox.ac.uk
Tardoskedd (SK) Krystin Borgognone, kborgognone@gmail.com
Nána (SK) Sara Lannin, slannin@stanford.edu
Csallóközaranyos (SK) Jolene Hwee, jolene.hwee@gmail.com
Nyárasd (SK) Elizabeth Myer, emyer@nyu.edu
Alistál (SK) Brooke Marshall, bpmarsh@learnlink.emory.edu
Alsónemesapáti (HU) Shelley Potter, shel_leigh@hotmail.com
Kiskutas (HU) (wants a volunteer for both sessions) Gretchen Kreuger, gmk1987@yahoo.com
Gúta (SK) Tom Collar, tomcollar@hotmail.com
Madar (SK) Danny Holland, hollanddws@yahoo.co.uk
Tallós (SK) Sarah Forrest, sjf39@georgetown.edu
Izsa (SK) Sylvan Hoover, Sshoover@mac.com
Dusnok (HU) A.T. Srinvason, ats8@duke.edu
Dusnok (HU) Francesca Mazzola, mazzola@stanford.edu
Nagy Ker (SK) Catherine Mary Keefe, cmk54@georgetown.edu
-- Janelle
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