"Teacher Finish"

So today was my last day of school. Crazy. Time seriously flies.

It was a really nice, short week :) Only Monday and Tuesday!! I had a great time at the school and loved learning how to teach English as a foreign language. The past two days were really eventful at school. Yesterday, it was approximately zero degrees in the building. All of the foreign language teachers were wearing coats, hats, scarves, and gloves in the office. We were even making mug after mug of coffee/tea/hot chocolate because it was all we could do to keep warm. It was really ridiculous how unbelievably cold it was. But it created a nice, relaxed atmosphere for a Monday--even though it was kind of unbearably cold.

Today, the foreign language teachers had a party for my last day. It was awesome. Everyone thanked me for coming to the school and helping out. I thanked them for giving me such great opportunities and helping me become a better teacher. I really feel welcome by all of the teachers in the foreign language department. It has been so much fun working with them. The party was after lunch--they had some music playing and one of the teachers brought in a homemade cake that could have won a prize on any cake show. It was amazing--chocolate and banana. I was so glad I didn't eat too much for lunch :) The party was for both my roommate and I--so they had us cut the cake together. It was really funny, kind of like we were married or something. The students who came into the office at during the party were really confused as to why we had music on and weren't doing work, but its fine. It was wonderful to feel so appreciated :)

Our professionally made cake

The wonderful foreign language teachers of Istek Acibadem :)

Chocolate cake, banana filling=amazing

 I was asked (after lunch) to teach Grade 6 today for the last lesson. I was surprised because I've never taught anything above Grade 2 before. But one of the native English speaker teacher's went home ill, and so I was asked to cover his lesson. One of the other teachers gave me her Grade 6 English book and showed me what they were studying. No joke--I was to teach about Roberto Clemente, talk about his career in Pittsburgh, and how he helped the people of Nicaragua!!! Hah of all things, this is one that I know a lot about. The students were impressed when I told them I was from Pittsburgh and that I had been to Nicaragua. I probably seemed like such a world-traveler, but really it just worked out in my favor that Roberto Clemente worked where I live and volunteered where I've been. Crazy. The lesson went so well, and I was very pleased with the students' work and participation. I only wish I had more time to teach English to all of the grades in the primary school (1-8). 

It was kind of difficult to explain to my students that it was my last day. When they complete their work in class, they always raise their hands and say "teacher finish." So I figured that pointing to myself and saying "teacher finish" they would understand what I meant. And they did with a few more words and use of body language. Most of them said "gitme" which means "don't go" and that was followed by a lot of "hayır" which means "no." I will really miss them.

Tonight, I had dinner and then coffee with some of my Turkish friends. I am really sad to be leaving them. We usually get coffee and one of my friends reads the coffee grounds which is like telling your fortune. I have learned so much from them about Turkish culture and the Turkish language. I would have definitely not had the same experience without them.

Turkish coffee and a waffle

Tomorrow, my dad gets here and we will spend my last eight days touring around Istanbul and Cairo. Wooooo! Should be excellent. But this means that I am moving out of my dorm (bittersweet because living in a dorm is well...living in a dorm) and away from my friends. I better get packing. Peace out.