May in Croatia

One of the reasons I came to Fuzine this summer was to help teach English. The Fuzine Community School of English turned out to be a great success. Brajna worked really hard on developing the curriculum and the students loved it. In the reviews they said they learned a lot, and that they can't wait until the next semester! There were more than 30 students in 3 classes. We had a low-intermediate and an upper-intermediate group that Brajna taught, and a beginning group that Tea taught. I got to help with all three groups, which was a great way to meet lots of people who live in Fuzine and the neighboring villages, and to see how different levels of students learn. Some of my favorite moments during FCSE were seeing the students enjoy using their new language skills, and spend time with each other during the special events we planned. Movie nights were a favorite. We even had one movie night where we showed a movie in English with no Croatian subtitles! We planned a picnic for one day and we were going to take everyone down by the lake, but it rained so we stayed at the house and played English games. It was so fun, and the students loved it! One other funny memory I have is of the low-intermediate group. There is a restaurant in Fuzine called Bitoraj - everyone who has been to Fuzine will know it, it's the yellow one right in the middle of "downtown." Well, the owner (also the current mayor of Fuzine) is remodeling and expanding it to be a four-star hotel, so the staff are on break until it's finished. So, he paid for all of his employees to take our classes, and the low-intermediate class was designed especially for them to learn vocabulary for the hotel/restaurant business. Brajna had made flash cards of different useful phrases. One of these cards read, "Here is the front desk, and this is Louise." Lousie continued to show up in their conversations, and I think that if they ever have a guest named Louise at Bitoraj, the staff is going to have a very hard time controlling their laughter!









Another fun thing I got to partake in was watching Eurovision. Apparently this song contest has been going on in Europe since the '50s, but the first time I heard about it was this year from my friend Crystal, who was living in Belgrade, Serbia, for the last year and a half. Crystal told me that Serbia's candidate was good, and it seems that Europe thought so, too, because she won! Which means that the final show next year will be held in Belgrade.

We had lots of rain in May, and some intense thunder and lightning storms. I actually enjoy them, as long as I don't have to be outside in them. A couple times, Brajna and I had to do errands in Rijeka, and got caught out in the rain.



One morning, after a big storm, we looked out our window, and found that the storm had damaged the tree outside our window. Poor tree.

Bye, Brett

We went to Sljeme this weekend for a picnic in honor of our friend, Brett, who is returning to the US after 10 years in Croatia. It was a great time, and a beautiful day. I met Brett in 2005, when I came to Fuzine for the first time. Lindsay and I were able to help out with some of the children's camps he was responsible for starting. Brett, you will be missed here, and we hope to see you again soon.

Did I mention I'm going to Bulgaria??

Oh, by the way, I think I failed to mention that I am not just staying in Croatia the entire time I'm here. Actually in 2 weeks, we are going to the Balkan Prayer Breakfast in Sofia, Bulgaria. After that, we are going to visit ROM friends in Skopje, Macedonia, and also in Prizren and Priština, Kosova/o (Kosovo is still a UN protectorate, and it's status, including name, is still up for debate). I am excited for the opportunity to visit some new places (I went to Macedonia last fall, but Bulgaria and Kosova/o are new) and to visit friends. Oh, and I should also mention that it's a road trip! Should be a good time.

1000 miles apart

I heard this song on my iPod the other day, and I couldn't help but think that this is why I work for ROM.

Downhere - 1000 Miles Apart Lyrics

I wonder when this poison seed

made a root and grew a weed

I wonder when I taught my feet

not to walk down certain streets

I want to feel what I believe:

that we are all the same

It’s not our houses, it’s our hearts

1000 miles apart

You stay there, and I'll stay here,

into our corners we disappear

And we don’t ever have to talk,

'cause you like hiphop and I like rock

But sometimes thoughts hurt just as bad

as striking cheeks with hands

It’s less our homes and more our hearts

1000 miles apart

When will we have eyes to see?

When will we learn?

Will we ever have eyes to see

That from our colours we learn?

A change of heart, a change of tune,

can we forgive each other’s wounds?

Can we cut down this fence of weeds,

and neighbors, close as brothers, be?

Cannot love conquer even when

we don’t look the same?

'Cause we don’t have to keep our hearts

1000 miles apart

Ja sam u Hrvatskoj!

I think that time goes by faster when I am in Croatia. I have been here for a week already, and I can hardly believe it. It seems like I just got here. And yet, so much has been packed into this one week. So far, I have been to Rijeka twice, Crikvenica twice, experienced some warm, sunny days, and two days of Noah-style rain, helped teach 4 English classes, attended several meetings, spent time working, attended 2 aerobics classes, walked by the lake, and of, course, spent time with good friends. Fuzine looks much the same, and yet, different - as it always seems to each time I come. But it still feels like a second home to me.


Pictures coming soon! But for now, you can check out:
http://www.romexcel.com/
http://www.rom2007.blogspot.com/

New photos

I haven't had time yet to sit and write about my most recent trip, however, I have added links to photos that you can look at (just check the photo links below).

Alpha Xi Delta Centennial

One hundred years is a few too many for my brain to comprehend, but it's pretty impressive that my sorority has been on campus at UW for that many years! Last weekend, Nu Chapter celebrated its centennial in style. It was really nice to see the house with it's snazzy new remodels and to see women I haven't seen in awhile. It was also great to meet the newer members. They seem like a great group of women - I wouldn't expect anything less of Xis, though! TFJ!