Continued Zakopane Experiences

Each day on a Global Volunteers service trip the day begins with the thought for the day and then a reading of the journal recounting the activities from the day before. Twice now the journal has begun with: It was a dark and dreary day -

I looked at the BBC weather site this morning and we are stuck in a very large system that went from Berlin and Vienna as far as Volvograd.

We continue to teach four lessons of English every morning. Yesterday we did two extra lessons in the afternoon, for the rain was so heavy that there wasn't any way to do outdoor activities. The two extra lessons was the idea of the students; we teachers didn't force more lessons onto the students. And we switched groups so that we each got to know a few more students.

In the evening we adults have been "supporting the local economy" by going to the restaurant next door and enjoy a glass of beer or wine. The hotel we are staying at has closed its bar because of the presence of teen-agers in the building -- and the fact that we are using the bar as a work room, meeting room, and place for two classes!

My granddaughter is doing quite well, giving English lessons for hours after the official class -- that is, she talks with the Polish students during their free time, they go down to Krupowki and go shopping or get a French Fries at McDonald's. Since she doesn't speak Polish, all of the free time conversation has to be in English!