Friday 16 November 2012

"Last two weeks" by Eszter


Hello everybody..:)
I just felt the need of writeing something about my last two weeks. After Marina’s and Romas’s expereinces. Let’s start in the beginning. The times when we were all together.
(I miss them already.) So busy times writing report, studying for the exam and already being excited because of the new saving up period. We just passed our exams all successfully when we got the new task of organizing Goodbye party for 2012. The whole situation was a bit confusing, who goes where, when and how? I had to lead the party and I think it went well, but was not the same atmosphere what we had. I hope it was just because of the lack of other teams. The team left. I can not just say this in this way. I was so homesick in the bus. The smell, the feeling, the excitement of travelling. I wished to go very much. I couldn’t imagine before that I will feel this. I was said, and I already had my new task work with Jasper. I couldn’t concentrate on feeling sad I had to concentrate on jasper and start to build a good relationship with him. So finally they left, of course our bus left with our teacher first and the German one was still there for hours. This one was our first day in work. In the new-old place with new-old people and situations.
First teacher meeting, we were talking about the different students, and our place in the school, expectations, plans, dreams etc. Teacher meeting every morning. As Marina was writing it also I had the feeling that I’m kind of outsider. I don’t speak Danish and I feel quite bad if they have to speak English just because of me. They said that I should learn Danish at least a bit to understand the kids who can’t speak English. Every day was a new challenge; we also had a small building weekend, where I was asked to be responsible for the kitchen. This actually went quite well, except that I was really stressed.
Than one day we went to bowling club with the students, another day I was almost full day with Jasper. I like to work with him, but it is not easy. I’m sure that I managed to make good connection with him, but he should socialize much more with others. We reach that he is coming to eat in PTG and sometimes stays there and watch movies etc. Really difficult the get him do something else than eating or watching movies. In the same time he is really smart and wants to study (at least he says so). We had problems with Bogense; they didn’t know if he should stay here or go to other place. That’s why he was a bit confused and he always said that he wants to go away, because we don’t have good internet. In the day when I left to Hungary his care home came and they decide that he will stay until January and that we will see what next.
About Hungary and info-meeting/presentations. I arrived home and met with me mother and my best friend. In the same night we went to a spiritual place where we were dancing, singing etc. and I met a guy from Finland. He was actually quite interested about DNS. Next day I was giving 3 presentations in Waldorf School in Budapest. The youngsters were very much interested and asked a lot of questions. Next day I was giving to presentation in English in a public school and one big in my Waldorf School for the whole high school. My and teachers were very proud of me about the travels and what I’m doing here. In the last day I visited my grandparents and cousins in the night I had the info-meeting with 30 people. Was a bit disappointment because even if they were very interested they didn’t really want to join. I don’t know why, but I have a lot of e-mail addresses. Sunday morning we met with Zsófi in the airport and later we also met Helga. So free Hungarian 2 in DNS 1 ex-dnser was flying back to Denmark together. We got a lift from Emese to Herning so we saved a bit of money on travelling. We arrived to Tvind and went around saying hello to everyone.
Back to the work. Morning meetings and Palestine group came back. We started to work on their Bring it to the public. I accept good advices in this topic! My group is really cool; they do what I’m telling them to do, but a bit slowly. They are really cool and I think we will have good presentations. Jasper was really happy when I came back; Zane said that he was asking at least 5 times when I’m coming back etc. We were watching movies with him and he is starting to socialize with others also.
Yesterday Per said that he also wants us to be in his house not just in PTG, Day school and with Jasper. So today I’m planning to spend the night also with him. He stole my computer but I have it back again, and I have my keys back. (Most likely was also him).
Next week we already have one appointment in a special care home to give presentations and also in Julesminde Autumn Concert my guys will give a bit of presentation. Now I just have to convince them that they should dance a bit. They didn’t like the idea very much, but I think we will dance and also make a bit of theatre in the presentations.
Marina and Romas, very nice to see your experiences, and read about both of you! We miss both of you here very much! Write more, don’t forget that everything is going to be ok in the end and that “we go strong”... :)
Hugs: Eszter

“Manual for beginner teachers” by Marina

Berlin - Germany

Deva - Romania

Istambul - Turkey

“Manual for beginner teachers” by Marina

I was in the middle of my report about “Education as an essential step to end Capitalism” when, suddenly, I had to stop to have a meeting.
On the table were refreshments, few papers and the idea about to work in PTG. PTG is a school integrated in Tvind that have as basis the education of youngsters with special needs together with very capable and smart youngsters. The combination of these two groups creates a special way of education that provides, for both, unique experiences.
The point of that meeting was to propose us – to me and my team – different tasks that we could do, during our next three months of saving up.
Travel for one month, by bus, since Denmark until Turkey, with a group of eight students. – Was the proposal that I couldn’t reject and to be honest, in my mind I just had the words “It will be awesome!”
I remember to ask what would be my role during the travel, since I did not have any experience as a teacher, and was explained that, since I am a very political person, my main role was to be mainly together with the four student girls, talking and supporting them, in the future new situations.
On 1st of November, I put my bags in the bus, said goodbye to my team and Tvind in general, and “embarked” in one more trip that would blow my mind.
If you are planning to travel with a group of students through fourteen different countries, during one month, please read these advises:

I - Practice body language
-Sorry, I don’t understand Danish. – I said. And she started to move her hands, trying to explain me something. I got the idea, answered with my hands also, and we moved on.
Language can be a barrier, and that is a problem well known all over the world, but what to do when you have to break down all the barriers and communicate, doesn’t matter what, with your students?
Let me start to say, very simple, that is not easy. You see yourself in a completely new environment and new country, with people that you don’t really know, jumping around, making noise and speaking a language that you don’t understand. English might not help, Danish is a hard option, silence cannot be used during one month and body language is, definitely, not enough. So, my advice is: use all. Make yourself understandable, as much as you can and enjoy it: Laugh about yourself, the others, together, and let the communication flow.

II – Love before Demand
Never demand something from your students before you give them your shoulder to sleep during a long night travel, in the bus. Or before you prepare them a dedicated sandwich or put water in their face when they are not feeling well. Give them your love and compassion before you demand whatever is needed, otherwise your words will fall in an empty hole between you and them.

III – Swallow your strong opinions and proud
The teachers working with you have more experience with the students - that is a fact. But you will consider many times their reactions, decisions and attitudes and you will conclude that, sometimes, they are not the best. However, their experience will talk louder and you, as a beginner teacher, only have to understand that is your time to learn with them. Take for you the behaviours you think are correct and improve the ones that you think are not appropriate. However, independently of your opinions, do not contradict the other teachers in front of the students. It is better let the students think that you don’t have strong opinions or preferences than start arguing with their authority role model, in their front.

IV – Be creative and teach through your attitudes
Your students will appreciate and you will have fun. Use your creativity to surprise them, to get their attention, to make them laugh and mainly, to make them learn!
Show through attitudes, the principles and values that you want them to learn. If you try to teach something and your attitudes show the opposite, you will not manage to pass the message you want.

To be continued... ;)



Monday 15 October 2012

"Cooking in Hellebaeck" by Eszter


Just for the sake of order, I will start a bit before the cooking action. So once upon a time in Helleback a small pioneer DNS team was hosted by Helleback school and giving presentation all around Helsingor and Copenhagen. Happened once that Helleback School needed a helper from the small pioneer team who was giving help with love and this help was me. The occasion why they needed to have one more person was the two missing DI who went to Lindersvald for their study weekend and the special parents’ day in their school. After the nice implement I must say that I was a bit scared of cooking. Not because I’m not so good in cooking, baking or food production, but because I didn’t know these people and the rules of the kitchen. Luckily one day before the magic cooking day everything was solved. They told me the rules, cleaning regulations etc. and the menu. We had to start in that day. Was a special menu with marinated meat. I have never done this before, but who am I to complain. I am a DNSer I should always have some new challenge. Happily my team was helping me to prepare the meat and marinating sauce. We had to use elderflower juice to marinate the meat, took us 3 hours to prepare everything and put the whole stuff into the fridge. Than my team left they went to give presentation while I was making the magic food. I wasn’t alone one pedagogue from Hellebeck was doing the meal together with me. Two kind of special salad one is red another green. Potatoes and the magic marinated stew. From 8 to 13.00 we just cooked and prepared and cleaned everything. We served the food, and they liked it. Most of the parents wanted to have the recipes. One more challenge accepted. J