Friday, May 28, 2010

I should have measured the oven


Um, yeah. What was I thinking?! I was so excited to see a baking sheet at the Maxi supermarket that I grabbed it without first considering that we have a teeny-tiny oven. Imagine my surprise (and simultaneous groan of realization) when the oven and baking sheet met with a metallic "thunk!" Thankfully, with some creative wiggling, I think I have found the one angle at which it will find a home in the oven.

These past couple of weeks I have been busy! (Collective gasp!) I started substitute teaching at the international school and it has been a blast so far. I was scheduled to meet the director one Thursday morning. It was 7 a.m. and I was innocently getting ready to meet with him at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the possibility of filling in when my phone rang. "Um, Lisa. One of my teachers is sick today. Are you available to teach today?" Nothing like getting thrown in to the deep end...sink or swim. I had sudden flashbacks to when I was in elementary school and our goal when we had a substitute teacher was to "sink the sub" i.e., make her cry. Wow, we were horrible. Anyway, I chose to swim...I think...and have been valiantly doggy-paddling ever since. In truth, the kids are great, the staff is wonderful, and I am really enjoying my time there.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Getting faster...trying to keep busy

I am attempting to keep up on my Couch to 5K training program, and so far I think I am doing well. I went for 2.2 mile "run" this morning and it just feels so good to be out and active. I may be getting to the point where people are like, "Ooh, there goes that crazy foreigner again with that Beckham shirt." I have seen some guys out for runs but NO women whatsoever.

MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 05/04/2010

MapMyRun is a fun little gadget that allows me to keep track of my training even way over here in Crna Gora.

I am also trying to keep busy in other ways. I have started tutoring a young American/Montenegrin girl for the verbal/written section of the SAT plus I am trying to advertise my private English lessons. I posted this flyer in our building as well as at the American Corner.



I am planning to plaster a bunch at the university as well, but I need to find a place where I can print/make copies. That could potentially be fun if they don't speak the Engleski.

On a more exciting note, some of you may know that I have the fantastic opportunity to volunteer at the WHO. This has been in the works for awhile now, but there is progress so I thought that I would share this info on the blog. The country office here is very, very small (only two people!) so they are more than happy to take on free labor. I have met with them on multiple occasions and they are very nice. The paperwork needs to go through the regional office in Copenhagen (which is an incredibly slow process) and then I should be able to start working. It will be an invaluable experience for me to see how THE international health organization works from the inside.

Well, I should be about my day...need to go find a friendly, Engleski-speaking print shop! Tata!