Today has been another incredible day. While I won't include details here today, I promise that tomorrow I will write a full blog post about today; especially since it's a travel day so I will have time to blog at the airport and once I get to Moscow.
Here is a little preview of tomorrow's post:
1. We taught again in Anzhelika the Amazing's classroom. I taught the students how to play Apples to Apples, and they loved it. There were many hugs and goodbyes.
2. Anzhelika the Amazing took us to The Cathedral of the Blood, located on the sight of where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. Not only did we go there, but she arranged for us to meet with the Chief Priest of the Cathedral and the Keeper of the Patriarch's Residence, Father Maxim Menyalo. Father Maxim took over an hour out of his very busy schedule to meet with us and answer questions about the Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox Religion. It was a great honor!
3. We had dinner with Tatyana where she stuffed us full of incredible foods, most of which she made, picked, pickled, salted, or preserved herself at her dacha!
Answers to questions posted in comments
All of the students have cell phones, and they're not supposed to be using them in class. Sometimes they do use them as a Russian / English dictionary when they forget a word. The teachers all get annoyed when they use them in class, much like teachers in the United States do.
Not at Gymnasium #13. However we have visited other schools where French is also taught.
7th grade asked: Are the students ever disrespectful? If they are, what are the consequences? What happens if they don't do their homework?
I'm sure the students are sometimes disrepectful, but I didn't see it. They would stand up when we came in the room, and wouldn't sit until told to; some would stand to give their answers. Teachers are expected to give all the consequences, so what would happen would be the child would stay extra time and then parents would be called.
If they don't do their homework, they don't get good grades and they don't do well on the tests. Eventually they will get in trouble, and their parents will be called.
They don't really have detentions like we do, and the schools in Russia don't do Suspensions lightly. The goal is for students to stay in school, not get kicked out.