Charlie

We're getting a pup at the end of December. I'm totally psyched. I wish I could have him NOW! He could comfort me after coming from the kindergarten (the four-year-olds are really frustrating me - if nothing changes very soon, I'm done with the job), take me out for a walk and could cuddle with me when Viktor doesn't have time. I think having a dog is going to be a great chapter of our lives!

I'm in love!

I just love my school <3
They make me feel included and they're just so sweet. Well, the kids, unlike the teachers, are not always sweet... but yesterday's trip made me realize, they're just kids and they deserve to be loved no matter how noisy/irritating they can be.
The point is that I'm really glad I got a job in this particular school, it's so small and everything is so "family-like" there. I honestly don't want to move anywhere else for couple of years.

Autumn in Tallinn

is extremely windy and rainy. But today, it was sunny in the morning, so I made Viktor to go to Kadriorg park and take some pictures of me, not the nature :) Btw. Kadriorg is the place where I'd love to get married.

Me: "I'd love to do that" Viktor: "...,then you would get up, there would be a strong gust of wind and bye, bye Danuška"

Totally off the topic, we have pronounced Saturdays as the cleaning days :/

My first week in two jobs

So, this week was the first week when I worked at two places - both within 6 bus stops from my place. I thought it would be much tougher but actually it was quite fun. It is so different to teach 3 and 4-year-olds and 13-15-year-olds.

If I said at school that we're going to sing a song, probably most of them would look at me saying "Why? We haven't done anything bad, please don't torture us with (your) singing." If I said " Let's do some physical exercise", only one or two would move - others would remain seated and would wait what I'd do. Unlike the teenagers, the kindergarten children love all the activities mentioned above. I kinda believe they haven't noticed my false singing yet.
In contrast to kindergarten children, the school children don't like to hide under the table and don't think it's extremely funny. Well, I think some of the teenagers might have troubles to fit in. I remember myself being under the desk several times during my English lessons and it definitely wasn't comfortable. (I was asked by my English teacher to get there, I didn't do it thinking it was funny.)
I think an attention span is the same for both groups :) And one more similarity: they both like colouring.

To sum up: Every job has something. There's no pressure in the kindergarten for knowledge unlike in the school - school children have to have certain outcomes. The teenage kids understand me, the kindergarten children don't - if only they would pay attention to my instructions. I definitely have to work on that. I'm better paid at school than in a private kindergartn (wtf?), which makes me not very happy. The next thing I like about the school children is that they understand sarcasm and I feel much closer to them than to three year olds. It might sound that I don't like my kindergarten job but that's not true, I do like it, I would just appreciate a better pay considering the fact I have become the breadwinner...

Finally!

The things are turning well, finally. I found a second job, things are settled with Viktor (if he found a second job, it would make super-happy) and I feel generally happy :) If only my mum wanted to see it...

Nedostatkové zboží

Estonské podzimní počasí přímo vybízí k pouštění draka. Navíc v Česku se člověku jen tak nepoštěstí ho pouštět na pláži, tak jsem toho chtěla využít. Jenže tu sehnat draka je teda pěkná fuška! Zdá se, že Estonci prostě nelezou na ty svoje minikopečky a ani nechodí na pláž proto, aby trávili čas touto kratochvílí. Ach jo. A naše mamina si myslí, že je to aktivita pro děti, a tak mi draka nechce koupit....těžký život tu mám!

My first day as a teacher in Estonia

Lenka (my BFF from uni) was totally right (as she usually is) - teaching part-time is enough. I'm teaching only grades 7, 8 and 9 and  I felt absolutely overwhelmed after only one day with them. Grade 7 - the kids are freshmen to that teenage thing and it got quite annoying to deal with their "very funny jokes" after a while. Grade 8 - the girls are nice but very shy and again, one can hear the boys all lesson long. Grade 9 - only 3 kids - smart, a bit over being the "funny" teenagers. They speak a lot of Estonian, though. Speaking back to them in Czech quite helped :)

I guess having a not-Estonian-speaking teacher was pretty new to them, too. They looked a bit confused sometimes. Next week, I want to introduce some rules, some punishments and to work generally on my authority. Pity I look so young and friendly. I also want to work on my instructions and a bit personalize some tasks. Besides that, I have make my lessons awesome because my mentor's coming to see me. She's not scary or anything but I'd love to impress her. I can feel that everyone's interested how this teaching English without Estonian experiment is going to work.

Off the topic. I found an ad that on one island close to Tallinn they're looking for an English teacher - how cool would that be to go to work by boat? :)

Btw. Did you know that Estonian kids have three months summer holidays? :)