Hej,
So another week has past, and we have had some more exciting adventures. Tuesady we had Svenska class again and then we got to hang out around the school, where we spent our time playing ping pong and checking emails. Then in the afternoon we worked with a class of 10th grade girls. They were still kind of shy, so not to much was said. On Wednesday we had a class at 8:45. This class was a of all 10th grade guys. They were really talkative, which was really nice. As it were, it turns out half of the stuff they told us was false. For example one of the boys in my group tried to convince me that his name was OKAY, so i was like oh okay... and he proceeded to correct me...NO it's OKAY. I should have told him that I knew that his real name was Viktor, but I decided to play along with it. Also during this time, one of the boys decided to explain to me what Midsummer is and this is the discriptiont that I got..."We dance around a stupid tree and I hate it!". By the time class was over, we were all laughing and joking around (in English) which was really fun. When we left they had to make sure that we were coming back again, because they really enjoyed talking to us. After the class had ended my craving for students speaking English to me was satisfied, even if they were lying half the time. The rest of the day was spent in Svenska class and then at school where we once again played pingis (ping pong) and checked emails. Thursday morning was spent with classes 6a and 6b(6th graders). All I can say is these kids are talkers and I loved it. This was the first time a class seemed interested in speaking English with us, besides the 10th grade guys. We laughed and talked a lot and even play some games. After the classes were done, we sat down in the commons area, but this time we had the kids we had just got talking to, swarming around us. It was the greatest feeling, knowing that some of the students actually want to learn enligh and knowing that we were appreicated. I learned that the 6th graders like me!! Hurray!! After lunch we had 7b, they were talkative, but unfortunately not as talkative as the 6th graders were.
Friday we had Svenska class again and then we helped out with the 7a class. This group really frustrated me because they didn't seem to want to talk at all and they were really rude about it, so we sat there in awkward silence. I would ask my group a question and one or two people would respond and then we would sit in silence again. Finally I told them that their teacher would give them homework if they didn't talk, that worked for a little while, and then it got quiet again. Finally I gave up and forced them to play a game, I felt bad, but that's they only thing I could think of doing to break the awkward silence. That night we had Grottan. Once again it turned out to be really fun, even though not as many people came. We played pingis again, talked a lot and even play TELEPHONE PICTIONARY, which was a blast. I love teaching people new games, especially this game.
Today, we had a free day, so we decided to go on a walk. We found ourself by the lake, which is beautiful. Then we decided to take a walk through the woods. It was very peaceful and calming, which was exactly what I needed. It was nice to be able to get out of the house and go exploring the woods, I love being in nature. I took lots of pictures, but unfortunately I left my camera chord back at the house, so I will upload the pictures sometime soon, so you may all see Sweden at it's finiest.
Next week, is week 44, which is a vacation week. We decided that we are going to go to Luleå, which is about 2 hours away from us, so we can get some winters boots and other warm items because it is cheaper to purchase them there. I also hope that during this time we get to explore the area around us somemore.
Life in Jokkmokk is still going great. I feel like I'm actually starting to settle in, which is a very nice feeling, it's almost like a home a way from home kind of feeling. I also feel like everyone here is starting to see us as their neighbors and not as the team that came from America.
Well this is all I have for now and I will add the pictures as soon as I can!!
So another week has past, and we have had some more exciting adventures. Tuesady we had Svenska class again and then we got to hang out around the school, where we spent our time playing ping pong and checking emails. Then in the afternoon we worked with a class of 10th grade girls. They were still kind of shy, so not to much was said. On Wednesday we had a class at 8:45. This class was a of all 10th grade guys. They were really talkative, which was really nice. As it were, it turns out half of the stuff they told us was false. For example one of the boys in my group tried to convince me that his name was OKAY, so i was like oh okay... and he proceeded to correct me...NO it's OKAY. I should have told him that I knew that his real name was Viktor, but I decided to play along with it. Also during this time, one of the boys decided to explain to me what Midsummer is and this is the discriptiont that I got..."We dance around a stupid tree and I hate it!". By the time class was over, we were all laughing and joking around (in English) which was really fun. When we left they had to make sure that we were coming back again, because they really enjoyed talking to us. After the class had ended my craving for students speaking English to me was satisfied, even if they were lying half the time. The rest of the day was spent in Svenska class and then at school where we once again played pingis (ping pong) and checked emails. Thursday morning was spent with classes 6a and 6b(6th graders). All I can say is these kids are talkers and I loved it. This was the first time a class seemed interested in speaking English with us, besides the 10th grade guys. We laughed and talked a lot and even play some games. After the classes were done, we sat down in the commons area, but this time we had the kids we had just got talking to, swarming around us. It was the greatest feeling, knowing that some of the students actually want to learn enligh and knowing that we were appreicated. I learned that the 6th graders like me!! Hurray!! After lunch we had 7b, they were talkative, but unfortunately not as talkative as the 6th graders were.
Friday we had Svenska class again and then we helped out with the 7a class. This group really frustrated me because they didn't seem to want to talk at all and they were really rude about it, so we sat there in awkward silence. I would ask my group a question and one or two people would respond and then we would sit in silence again. Finally I told them that their teacher would give them homework if they didn't talk, that worked for a little while, and then it got quiet again. Finally I gave up and forced them to play a game, I felt bad, but that's they only thing I could think of doing to break the awkward silence. That night we had Grottan. Once again it turned out to be really fun, even though not as many people came. We played pingis again, talked a lot and even play TELEPHONE PICTIONARY, which was a blast. I love teaching people new games, especially this game.
Today, we had a free day, so we decided to go on a walk. We found ourself by the lake, which is beautiful. Then we decided to take a walk through the woods. It was very peaceful and calming, which was exactly what I needed. It was nice to be able to get out of the house and go exploring the woods, I love being in nature. I took lots of pictures, but unfortunately I left my camera chord back at the house, so I will upload the pictures sometime soon, so you may all see Sweden at it's finiest.
Next week, is week 44, which is a vacation week. We decided that we are going to go to Luleå, which is about 2 hours away from us, so we can get some winters boots and other warm items because it is cheaper to purchase them there. I also hope that during this time we get to explore the area around us somemore.
Life in Jokkmokk is still going great. I feel like I'm actually starting to settle in, which is a very nice feeling, it's almost like a home a way from home kind of feeling. I also feel like everyone here is starting to see us as their neighbors and not as the team that came from America.
Well this is all I have for now and I will add the pictures as soon as I can!!
-alyssa
5 comments:
What is your favorite part of learning a new place, Alyssa?
It is wonderful to become a neighbour rather than an exotic import, hey? Being new and different is only fun for so long. I am glad that you are starting to feel like you belong in Sweden, Alyssa. Woo hoo for you! I am glad that we get to be neighbours (bunkmates!) again, even if only for five days or less next (North American) fall. :)
I've never heard of telephone pictionary. You'll have to teach it to me. Hope you stay warm. We had snow flurries here yesterday. Brrr.
(opps, somehow deleted this the first time)
Hi, Alyssa....good to hear you are finding the outdoors to be a place that gives you peace....how did the vacation time go?
It's so great to hear how you are settling into life in Jokkmokk. I can't wait to see pictures and hear about your recent adventures! (This is a thinly veiled hint that we love your blog and wait in anticipation for the next post!)
Love and miss,
Theresa
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