Change Is In the Air

Wow… hadn’t realized it had been so long since I’d written. It’s been a pretty rough time here lately, but things are starting to look up. :)

The most recent happenings have been graduation and Ieva’s birthday, both this past weekend. Graduation was kinda overwhelming for the students. Unlike in the US, they are in small classes of 12-20, and they are in 95% of their daily classes with those same people. The graduating class this year was 12 students. The only classes that they have when they’re NOT all together is boys and girls are separated for Home Ec/Shop class, and they can choose if they want their second foreign language to be Russian or German. That’s it. Otherwise, they’re together, all the time. Three students had been together since first grade. Can you imagine? In a class that small, it’s obvious that they would become good friends. So, it was a pretty emotional time for many of them. The ceremony is also very different than the US, but that’s another story. Flowers are a HUGE part of it!

Ieva graduated on Saturday. She was beautiful and we were so proud of her.

It was hard for me, too. This year the only class I taught was the 12th grade, so I felt kind like they were MY kids, too. It’s strange to think I won’t be going back there next year, but I’m really ok with that. I’m ready for something different.

Sunday was her 19th birthday. We hosted a small party here at our apartment and had a good time.