Working with the kids

Our first day of teaching. The Russian education philosophy is that one must produce something to be doing profitable/helpful work. So what we must do at every level, for every group, is a craft activity. Paper, tissue, glue, yarn, scraps. It is all in a wonderful workroom and each day requires at least 2 and sometimes 4 craft projects prepared. I am not even good at making the samples! But the kids will not have an unattainable goal...tomorrow is dragonfiles!

Imagine the wildest pairs of shoes for women, on 4" heels with platforms, laces, multicolored and open toe. They have all been shipped here and are being worn by women pushing prams! Women stay home for the first year after a baby is born and then go back to work so the streets were full of babies and adorable moms who could topel off their footwear any moment!


We had a town tour, and Yarolsalv is lovely. They celebrated 1000 years in 2010 so everything in the center of town is fresh and new, parks and statues and churches all freshened and painted. We did not get to go in anyplace but know how to take the bus now and have lots of sites to go back and visit.

The food is potato heavy but tasty, and there is plenty of strong coffee. Almost Lutheran!

Ah...the spel chek here only speaks Russian so according to it I just misppeled every word. Good luck.