How Lucky They Are
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 8:18PM I left the school for a few hours. That's all it took. The kids managed to bring in a Christmas tree - at least 20 feet tall - and decorate it in the main hall.
It didn't make me mad - it made me jealous. And it wasn't the first time.
When I decided to come here and teach, I had no idea what to expect of the school. Just in case, I mentally prepared myself for a horrible building filled with demonic students. I hoped that wouldn't come to pass, but I doubted it could be any worse.
Fortunately, it went the other way. This school is nicer than my high school. I attended a school that was made up of four buildings that were all built in different years. The newest was only a few years old, but the oldest was quite outdated. To me, it felt like a dungeon.
I half expected to arrive here and find kids hanging from their ankles in the classrooms. The floors were made of dirt, and a small creek flowed through the hallways. Livestock would occasionally wander in, and no one would notice. This isn't how I thought of Hungary, I just have an overactive imagination.
Far from this, though, the school is almost brand new. It was built within the past five years, and it's all very modern. I've been told the students don't like it because they think the clean, white hallways look like a hospital. I think they're crazy.
The classrooms all have nice white-boards, there is wireless internet access, and the kids manage to play popular music throughout the PA system. It's everything my high school wasn't.
Now, the kids have a Christmas tree. It's huge. The whole school smells good. I can't believe I wasn't there to see them bring it in, I don't think I'll ever leave during the day again.
However, there is one way that my school beats them. I never, ever had school on Saturady. Ever. Tomorrow, they have classes! Yes! I win!
Wait, I'm a teacher. I have to go too.
I think I'll teach them the expression "getting the short end of the stick" - I definitely got it.
Hungarian word of the day:
Iskola
Pronounced Eesh-co-luh. It means "school".
Reader Comments (12)
You're lucky, I've seen worse schools here. But in the end, it's always about what the students and teachers make out of it. You can have a great atmosphere in an old building and feel a cold shiver in a new building.
P.S.: My Hungarian phrase of the day was "okos telefon", it made me laugh when I heard that in the radio. It's a literal translation of "smart phone".
P.P.S.: On Monday morning, I'll be near to Békescsaba, I'll visit a customer of mine in Orosháza.
Rigó Jancsi,
You're right about the schools, it's the people that really make the difference. I love my school because the staff are all friendly to me, and I like all but one of my classes (I'm not afraid to pick favorites - one class just doesn't behave).
That's funny about "okos telefon" because one of my beginner students gave a presentation on his today. I was going to teach the phrase "smart phone", but I thought it would go over their heads!
I've seen Orosháza from the train, and I hope you have a good time there. If you have any spare time, stop by Békéscsaba and say hello!
Alex
Isn't it refreshing to be out of the yoke of iron-hard mandated PC behavior - like no xmas references in schools?
My daughter's American high school wouldn't tolerate ANYTHING of the sort, and Xmas trees and such were strictly and absolutely verboten.
Once you have the hang of it, and grasp the flavor of HU, it WILL down on you on one fine day, that HU is actually a freer country in both verbal, written and physical expressions in every aspect (political,. religious and societal) than the current USA.
Careful... It's addictive...
For the sake of tolerance everything is "verboten"? Not to hurt the others (religious and other) feelings nothing is permitted? This is an interesting solution...
Alex, I have something for you.
I share the secret why we don't laugh so much (remember, you asked this in the past)
here is the explanation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGgkHyti0ME
Ez egy pesszimista ország! Actually, this song might make every Hungarian finally laugh. :-) And as addition some more cultural background for Alex: The melody in the beginning is the "Gloomy Sunday", which was composed by a Hungarian and which caused a series of suicides all over Europe at that time, because it's so sad. At least so I've been told.
The concept of complaints choir is invented by another gloomy nation, Finland, maybe no accident that t is the other main nation in finn-ugric language group...
http://www.complaintschoir.org/history.html
Rigó Jancsi!
Ich habe deine BLOG studiert. Du kennst die ungarische Umstande sehr gut -soviel ich gesehen habe. Gratuliere!
Nat
The melody in the beginning is the "Gloomy Sunday", which was composed by a Hungarian and which caused a series of suicides all over Europe at that time, because it's so sad. At least so I've been told.
That is correct. It was the music of a film made about the deportation of the Jewry in the II. W.W.
Text is:
"Sunday is gloomy, my hours are slumberless
Dearest the shadows I live with are numberless
Little white flowers will never awaken you
Not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you
Angels have no thought of ever returning you
Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?
Gloomy sunday..."
You can hear the original music here:
in the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOqiolytFw4
the story of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiOyvxgcob4&feature=related
As I noticed almost every nation has a choir of complaints.
Have a nicer Saturday!!
I meant Sunday. (and Monday, etc)
I love this choir of complaints idea! I want to be a part of one! It looks like a blast.
I've heard mention of the "Gloomy Sunday" song, but I didn't know anything about it. Thanks for sharing these links, I'm watching through them now.
If I was in a choir of complaints, "Political Correctness" would be one of my biggest complaints. I absolutely HATE this concept that is, unfortunately, vey strong in the United States. You must never say or do anything that could possibly offend anyone. It's getting to the point that you can't say or do anything at all.
Aside from being very tired, my week has started off very well. I hope it's the same for the rest of you!
Thanks,
Alex
In the song there were 3 things mentioned as a complaint, you 'd mentioned before in your blog.
1. The number of the seats on the train
2. The lack of smiles
3. ....uh, what it was-i must watch it again to make me remember