Exams and Cepelinai

I had meant to write in my blog last night, but we arrived home around 10pm and I was just too exhausted!

2 days ago we had another exam,  to re-assess our skills and things that we had to work on. Like many people, I just focus on the idea of potential failure and being judged rather than the task itself.

I have found myself really struggling with everything we have learned with the grammar of Lithuanian. There were chunks of the exam that I left blank and I ended up feeling really teribble about it. My classmates, Sonja and Thomas both speak languages where Lithuanian style grammer applies, but in English, this is not the case.

I ended up asking our teacher 'Vitalija' if I could speak to her in another room. I started crying and asked her if just this once we could speak in English. The funny thing is that until this moment, I thought that Vitalija did not want to speak English in our class. However, she told me that she understand English but cannot carry out a conversation in English! So we kept speaking in Lithuanian while I had a bit of a sob. I told her that I am feeling very lost with the grammar, and that it was hard to do certain language exercises when you don't actually understand what you need to do! Vitalija was very encouraging and kind, she gave me a hug and told me not to worry, not to expect perfection all at once as it is not possible. She told me that she knows I am trying hard and that the Lithuanian grammar does not come easily to people who speak English as their first language. She said that she knows that I am not stupid, and that with time it will all come together. I think my individual lessons will be helpful, in that I really need someone to just explain the grammar rules for me in English, and in the individual lesson I can be given that opportunity.

Our class has now changed teachers for a while, aswas planned at the beginning of the program. Our teacher at the moment is called 'Daiva'.

Today I taught the class and Daiva about crocodiles and sharks. :)

Last night was just fantastic. As planned, our university group visited 'Alex' and 'Christina's house where we all made Cepelinai together from scratch.

We drank wine together and  I translated what Alex was saying to the rest of the class (and today one of the other students asked if I would do her homework for her, so that helped re-boost my confidence post the exam)! Alex and Christina's children asked us all if we would attend their concert at their house in which we had to write down our name, if we were coming we needed to pay 20c Euro. I gave the boy 40c Euro, and told him that he could keep the change, which then inspired him to ask the other students for $1 Euro! What a business man he was. The children played piano for us and sang songs. Alex showed us his amazing collection of crosses that he made himself (An old Lithuanian tradition) in which he is so talented and passionate with.




 Alex starting making crosses when he lived in Columbia (where he was born), as his father was Lithuanian. Alex brought over all of his crosses to Lithuania, where he did the language course in Klaipeda, and since then has now been married with children, living in Lithuania for years.

Alex gave us an explanation about traditional cross making in Lithuania. We were given some textas and paper, with 5-10 minutes to draw some sort of cross as a competition. I did notice late that Alex's boy added some extra decorations on the outside of my cross once I left the room. :P

I won the competition amongst our University group, and was very generously given some honey liquer as a prize (which I will share with the University group sometime).

It was such a special evening, there was so much laughter, love and light. I feel very special to be a part of the family that is our University group. Alex and Christina are a true demonstration of Lithuanian family love, as they have been hosting this event every year since 2006. All of our teachers put a tremendous effort  in to all of our classes and they organise so many after school activities for us.  The course is only $350 Euro, for 6 hours of intense classes each day over two weeks with so many activities. I will have to think of a way to really show my appreciation more, as I feel embarressed paying so little.

Blynai soup and Kompot for lunch, yum yum!

Most of all, all of our teachers conduct everything with so much love and enthusiasm all the time. They say that they do really love their work,  and it is made very clear to all of the students in the course.It is inspiring, and also heartwarming that they really want us to be in Lithuania too.

Daiva said that she knows that we are tired so it was optional for us to do homework tonight.

I  think I will give my brain a little rest and have a Lithuanian beer instead.

Labanaktis.

Xo

Rasa