30 September 2011

Happy Friday!

What a great day! I began it by waking up without an alarm- I love that. For some reason my body has adjusted to the school hours very nicely and I wake up at 7am whether I’ve slept for 3 hours (eek!) or 10. Today wasn’t any different- while I didn’t have to be at school until 9:30 I was up and ready to go at, you guessed it, 7am. Thankfully that was the case because I got to take my time eating breakfast and drinking tea, while unfortunately my host mom was running around like crazy because she had to go to the fields to work and she thought she had the day off, so needless to say she was rather unprepared. At just after 8 I had finished my breakfast and was drinking my second cup of delicious homemade tea (which I actually had a dream about last night??!!) and working on choosing some photos for an awesome project that I am thankful to be part of and can’t wait to share with you on Thursday… when all of a sudden I heard, “CATE!!” coming from outside. Like I’ve said before, it is rare to find a house in the village that has a doorbell. Instead there are doordogs, or if you’re like us and don’t have either, if someone needs the either stand at your gate and yell your name or they walk on in and start opening doors till they find out. When I heard my name I hopped out of bed to go see who it was because it sounded like my partner teacher, but she usually calls me so I was confused. It turns out it wasn’t her, but it was a 2nd grade neighbor girl and you know what she wanted? She wanted to walk to school with m e. I’ve heard of this happening to other volunteers (kids waiting for them at their gate to walk to school) but it’s never happened to me… until today. I think I’m going to start going to school for the first lesson just so I can have my walking buddy. It makes me think of when my mom used to walk my sister and me to school before we got old enough that she trust us (or she got busy enough to where she didn’t want to walk with us). It’s a pretty good feeling. Unfortunately I had to turn her down today because I was still in my pj’s and I still had some things to do at home…

But that wasn’t the only thing that was great in the morning. On the way to school I walked by the house of a little girl that I sometimes give English lessons to… or, rather, we do the “hokey pokey” about 10 times before I realize we’re not going to get any further than that and I go home (that was a bit of an exaggeration… we do actually do lessons until I give in and do the hokey pokey). She has apparently taught her little 2 year old sister to say, “hello” so now every time I walk by her I hear her little strong voice through all of the honking geese, clucking chickens, and the noise of the tractor say, “Hello!” as she raises up her hand. It’s pretty stinking adorable… and so is it when her sister tells her to come up to me and give me a kiss… she gives one of those big wet kisses on the check only after she rubs noses.

It doesn’t stop there!! I had the 2nd and 3rd lesson and then two free hours before the 6th (and final!) lesson, so I went to the shop behind the school to get a coffee and something sweet to munch on. It wasn’t that I was tired or hungry, but I like hanging out there and talking to people that come in and with the people that work there (it’s like being at Henry’s in Lawrence, just without the scene kids, delicious coffee, and college town ambiance… oh, and the bar upstairs. With a balcony. But it does have a bar included, a shop to buy the bare necessities which is really anything you could need on any given day, and a porch). Anyways- back to the story. There wasn’t anyone there at the moment, but a chair in front of the door indicating someone would shortly be back. And they were. With a child in hand. Whenever I see a child it is very hard to resist talking to them or tapping their nose or playing with them. What I’ve seemed to notice is that the child is either going to be shy and run and hide, which is fine, or they are going to play back, which is great. Well this little fetita (girl) was the latter… she wasn’t afraid of me in the slightest and was just a ball of happiness and energy. And very smart! We ended up playing with a balloon and I taught her how to rub it on her head an then stick it to the wall, and we played with a top (the spinning tops) and she quickly learned how to make it spin after watching me. But then I asked her how old she is and she said, “2”. Grandma quickly chimed in and corrected her saying that she was not 2, but 3. Then she’d ask the little girl how old she is again and tell her to say it correctly and she’d tell her grandma 3, and then the grandma would tell her to tell me how old she was and she’d smile and say, “2”. Some things are just engraved into the memories of kids and are hard to get out, I guess. But who really cares because she was adorable nonetheless and never once stopped smiling, even when two balloons popped in her hands.

28 September 2011

The Internet

It's not that I can't live without the Internet because I'm "addicted" to it... because I can. This is not the hard part at all. What is difficult is that I have realized how much my life really does center around the Internet. It's how I find out if I've won a photography competition, how I communicate with friends and family, how I plan lessons, how I plan vacations, and how I know what is going on in the World. It is also how I learn how to do things that I don't know how to do yet.

However, due to the timing of my year-long contract coming to an end and the installation of the new DSL internet in the village, I will not have internet at home until that is installed. In the meantime I will be borrowing my neighbor's internet when possible, but only for short periods at a time (like now). So if you need me, find my number on Facebook. Otherwise, feel free to shoot me an email (mccrandell@gmail.com) and I will get back to you when I have Internet access!

(and be ready for bulk blog posts when I do have Internet, because they're going to happen)

25 September 2011

Inside out and gifts

Tonight as I was sitting at the dinner table with my host family enjoying a few shots of some of the amazing grape juice made today, my host mom looked at my host dad and said his tank top, which he’d been wearing while working outside all day, was inside out. He looked at the seams he could see and then mocked her saying the same thing. She then looked at the back of his shirt to see where the tag was- and it was, in fact, on the outside. But he wasn’t convinced… so he then pulled up his shirt and the back of it over his head so that he could see the tag for himself and sure enough, it was (still) inside out. The best part of this whole scene, though, was when he said, “Sometimes it’s OK to wear shirts inside out”. We all cracked up. Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious. I love it when my host dad is in a really good mood.

On another note, today while coming back to my village from Chisinau I met a girl from a neighboring village. She heard me speaking English with one my students and asked if I could give her some lessons. She then asked for my number but had to go get a piece of paper from her bag in the back of the bus…and when she came back, she had a book of the British Embassy in Moscow that she was giving to me as a gift (it is written in English and Russian). People here really never cease to amaze me.

23 September 2011

What I learned

I know I'm the teacher and all, but teachers can learn interesting things in school, too!

Today I learned that there is a comet that is heading toward the Earth and is going to cause 3 days of darkness beginning on Monday, which could cause the end of the world. And due to this, all of the important world's leaders (Obama included) are taking "mini vacations" and really hiding in bunkers. While I haven't found out if the bunkers part is true, I did find out that the comet is most likely not going to be of an issue.

Then I found out that Moldovan's were not informed of the conspiracy theory that the attacks on the twin towers were not an act of terrorism but instead a plot by the government. They are just now being informed of this. I wonder what else they're hearing on the news...

I also learned that I'm probably going to be teaching a lot more classes by myself this year because I still don't think my other partner wants to work with me. But that's ok, because I like teaching by myself :)

Oh, and one last thing. I learned that chocolate gives me a NICE burst of energy to make it through the very last lesson on Friday's!



22 September 2011

Last day of summer

My aunt informed me today that it is the last day of summer, so I guess it was a good thing that I chose today to go on a walk. But the real reason for choosing today was because the weather is beautiful (it was around 80ºF in the afternoon) and it was my last "sick day" before going back to school. And, in all honesty, I still look disgusting because of the attack of the cold sores and I wanted to get outside but I didn't feel like socializing with anyone. Luckily, though, the people that have seen me have informed me that I had a fever, to which my response is yes, I had a fever, along with a temperature and sore throat and yes, I drank a lot of tea with honey.

Oh yea, the walk.

I put on my walkin' shoes and jeans this time so I could walk through everything and not say "ouch" every few feet (flip flops are not good hiking shoes):


Then I hit the road by taking my original path at first, and straying from it.

When I saw the river, I knew I had to go there:
And made a wish

Then I decided to trudge through the weeds and make my way literally to the water's edge. It was so peaceful listening to the water! I felt like I was at the ocean.
And with all of my thoughts and wishes, I was glad a frog popped out of hiding to remind me that even though my mom isn't here with me, she still listens.
And the driftwood reminded me that my dad is still here and he also listens. And responds!


Then I saw the Arcopolis of Moldova (which ended up not being so cool up close)
Although some kids did try to write profanity in English. Spelling error!
And eventually I ran into the ferry which would have taken me over to the monument I wanted to see if it was running, but unfortunately it wasn't.
After sitting there for awhile and doing some writing and drawing, I decided to head back home.
And I found my next computer one the way there...
And some men that gave me directions and then the one in the white tried to get me to marry his son. His first question after telling me I just had to keep walking straight 2 kilometers was, "Are you married? Neither his he." HA!
My walk finished with picking some apples, which I later used to make amazing applesauce.

And on a final closing... I just want to say how happy I am at the moment. In fact, I am so happy that I was not only walking but also dancing while on my walk.





20 September 2011

We speak ROMANIAN!!

I arrived back in my village today (Penicillin does amazing things, except I still have a mouth covered in fever blisters and I'm still contagious) with not only the one bag I left with, but two. My host mom asked me where I got the other one, and I said a volunteer who left gave it to me (filled with lots of awesome cooking goodies! Thanks Christine!). So when we sat down at dinner my host mom asked me a little bit about her. I told her (and my host dad) that she's a Russian speaker... meaning she learned Russian when coming here instead of Romanian. Well, my host dad did not like that ONE BIT! He told me that if she was going to learn Russian she should have gone to Russia. I told him that we are not given the option to choose whether we learn Russian or Romanian and he said it didn't matter, there shouldn't be places here that need Russian speakers because the language is RO-MA-NA (Romanian)! Unfortunately I wasn't going to win this battle so I gave up. Poor Peace Corps Russian speakers! :P

How to thin your hair

I have really thick hair. Actually, since I've been in this country it's thinned out a bit... but, regardless, it's still thick. So today I decided I was going to try to curl my hair with a curling iron that another PCV said anyone could borrow whenever we wanted... well, usually I have to put the settings on high because my hair won't hold the curl as well and it was on med so I moved it up to high. Once it was warm, I started all the way up the root and I heard sizzling. I thought it was just because my hair was a little bit damp still because I just blew it dry. Then as I tried to move it down to do another curl... it stuck. And then a chunk of hair fell out with it. Voila! Instantly thinned hair.

FML. I knew I should have followed my gut and started underneath instead of at the front of my head at the part... now I feel like a 2 year old who decided to give herself a haircut. And failed.

19 September 2011

Sick update

It's not mono, thank goodness... but instead it's strep. Regardless, my throat hurts and I have no energy.

18 September 2011

Sick. Again.

The school year JUST started and once again I am sick... this time it's mono. I guess it's a good thing I decided it would be best not to direct teach any classes this year (although I really wanted to)... because I was afraid this would happen. I have a feeling I'll be out this whole week, too. Bummer.

15 September 2011

Puppy love


It doesn't matter if dogs sleep in the bed with you, or if they're used as doorbells... kids still love them... as long as they're puppies.


Makes me miss this 13 year-old puppy:


14 September 2011

Dreams

Last night I had a dream that my mom didn't die 13 years ago (the end of this month) but instead she was in a coma all that time... and all of a sudden she woke up and was back to her normal self, and I was so excited because I really wish I got the chance to know my mom and to know her today- on an adult level (I think we'd have a lot in common... and we look just alike except I'm blonde). So I'm not exactly sure where we were in the dream, but we were with a lot of people and at a place with a lot of BIG rolling hills that remind me of Italy. The house we were staying in had a couple of floors and her "spot" was down in the basement. So I went down there to see what she was doing and to say goodbye because I was supposed to go with some friends on a bus ride somewhere and she said she was going with her friend (or boyfriend?) on a jeep ride and asked me to go with her. Of course I couldn't say no to spending time with my mom! So we hopped in the top-less jeep (the jeep was top-less, not us) and went on a ride exploring the huge hills and the mountains- off of the main roads. All of a sudden this guy decided to turn to go down another road but he didn't realize the drop-off. It wasn't much but it was enough to cause the jeep to go sliding down the hill and we ended up in a muddy river that was really deep. I was able to jump out of the jeep before it went under but my mom, the guy, and the other passenger were quickly swept under the current still in the car. I tried running after them where the water was shallow and I was able to grab a foot but all I got was a shoe... and then they were gone. I remember walking back to the center of town into a restaurant where the man apparently used to be the manager (ugh and they said his name but I forgot) and then they told me (in Romanian, actually) that he no longer worked there (and when I woke up I remembered the word they used, but now I forgot it). So I walked out of the restaurant sobbing uncontrollably to a movie theater that was next door and I was going to walk in, unsure of what to do next, when I woke up... feeling as though I had just finished struggling for breath because of crying so hard.

I'm so happy to have seen my mom... but I could have done without the rest. It's kind of put me in a "funk" for the start of this morning.

13 September 2011

The secret to success

I don’t know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone. - Bill Cosby

I got this quote from this INCREDIBLY inspiring blog post a guy wrote about what he's learned after 8 straight years of traveling. You really should click on the link and read through it. Numbers 1, 7, 12, 17, 26, 27, 28 especially stood out to me. Then continue reading through the site... but don't spend too much time on it because then you're missing out on the life that is happening around you!!!

12 September 2011

Goal setting

I've been wanting to start prioritizing my goals for my life to figure out just where I want to be headed and what I need to do in order to get there. A fellow (now returned) PCV did a fabulous lesson on goal-planning for a GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) seminar that I also taught in and it's stuck with me... so when I the topic for 10th form today was "Goals" I decided to try and mock that activity she did because I feel it is really important (you know, teaching them life lessons while we teach them English!). I'd planned to take up the whole lesson teaching this, but unfortunately I was cut short so nouns could be discussed... regardless, it set me on the track for finding my goals.

Then today I came across this quote on someone's Facebook status, and I thought it goes well with the topic of goals:

Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.

So, in my heart, what I am meant to do?

Travel. Goal #1.

11 September 2011

She's a tough one

I had three friends come to help me celebrate my birthday this weekend. Since two of the girls ended up arriving later in the afternoon than expected (afternoon transportation to my village is rather sporadic if not nonexistent) and the weather was less than agreeable, so we ended up taking it easy and spending the evening chatting in my room. We decided to make some dinner since at lunch my host mom had told my friend that was here that I've never shown her how to make American food... so we made curry. SO American. lol. It was so funny having my host mom and my host dad standing over our shoulders telling us what to do and how to cut and clean the vegetables, even though they had no idea how to make what we were making. In the end, though, I think they enjoyed it an we'll be making it again. I really think my host family enjoys when i have friends over because they are always comparing my language skills and eating habits to those of my friends. My language is never as good as theirs, and I also don't eat enough. I don't think I'll ever win those battles.

It was too bad that today is Sunday because the girls had to leave and the weather is so perfect today that we could have gone to do some exploring. But such is life! So we went on a short walk to visit my thinking spot and then headed home so they could catch their rutiera. We were waiting with about 6 other girls, all heading in the same direction. When it arrived, however, the driver only let a couple of the other girls on and then said the rest couldn't get on because it was full- and 6 people had called him and asked to leave space for them in a village that is about 15 minutes away. My host mom was SO not okay with that! She was yelling at the driver telling him the girls needed to get on because they had to get home, and they always pack people in like sardines (even though they're technically not supposed to do so), so why couldn't he do it now. When she realized she'd lost the fight, she shut the door what was apparently a little too hard, so he opened it back up and began to yell at her for slamming the door... and when he was finished, he, too, slammed it shut. I love how my host mom isn't afraid to speak her mind and tell people how it is. I think it's a rare trait for a Moldovan woman to have, but she sure has it and uses it all the time!

09 September 2011

Birthday excitement

The celebrations for my 24th year of birth began by putting my alarm on sleep. Twice... due to a restless night. So when I finally rolled out of bed I went to go take a much-needed shower only to find out there still wasn't water (we didn't have it last night, either). But that ended up being a blessing in disguise because I realized I was not teaching the 3rd and 4th periods, but instead the second and third. But I still had to look frumos "beautiful" because it's my birthday... so I straightened my hair, put on some make-up, then did a quick wet wipe wipe down and threw on a long dress and walked out the door... arriving just a couple of minutes late. Oops. I arrived at the classroom to my students singing me Happy Birthday and giving me roses (I'm going to miss that next year). So after my two lessons I left school and went to visit Maria. She gave me a book of photographs explaining the history of Moldova and the art of Moldova in Russian, Romanian (in cyrillic) and English. She said she wanted to give me something I'll have forever... and that I will sure treasure for life. We then enjoyed chatting about boys, and laughing at how alike we are when it comes to emotions and feelings and what she looked for- and I look for- in a partner. Then her cat cuddled up to her and acted like he wanted to breastfeed. No, seriously. He did. It was hilarious... but I guess you had to be there.

Then I began my walk home in the extreme winds and off-and-on rain. I ran into a guy that refuses to believe I am an American because all Americans, he says, are black. And apparently I speak just like a Romanian, so I must be Romanian. After some time, though, I slowly began to make him realize that yes, we have black people in the States, but we also have tan, and white, and orange (haha fake bakers... haha I'm so not funny). Ok, great. He finally believed I am from the States. But I must be "mixed" because I'm definitely not white. Then, after criticizing me (he's serious), he asked me if I would take him back to the States with me. Um, yea, no thank you. Once I had enough of that and because my arms were hurting due to holding them in a bent position for so long with the flowers and the book, I said I needed to head home.

About halfway there I got stopped again. This time it was by some of the locals hanging out at the bar. They invited me up to celebrate with them because they knew it was my birthday and also because it was the birthday of one of the guys. So they bought me a "Festival" (which is pretty much like wine cooler) because it is "light", gave me some food, debated over whether or not Brazil is close to Kansas... and then I said it was time to go.

When I arrived home I went to put my flowers in a a make-shift vase (my Brita container) because I didn't have anything larger, and when I went to add some water my host mom laughed and asked me where I came from with all of the flowers. When I told her I came from school she chuckled and asked why. I then told her it was because it was my birthday. She stopped running the tomatoes through the grinder and looked at me puzzled and then said, "But how. Your birthday is the 16th". When I then laughed and told her that nope, it is in fact today, she sat there another minute and then said, "hai, bine" meaning "Ok, good" then she got back to work.

Oh what an interesting day so far.

08 September 2011

birthday blues

I think one of the most challenging things about being so far away from home (and friends) is when I feel down, I don't have my friends to bring me a frosty from Wendy's or to give me a big hug. One of the other volunteers celebrated her birthday this summer, and I was with her the night before and she kept saying she didn't want it to be her birthday and she didn't want to do anything for it, even though she had some plans. Well, it's the night before my birthday and I'm feeling the same way. It's just not the same as being home, going to Henry's, and being surrounded by my best friends (although, actually, most of them aren't even in Kansas City anymore...). Regardless, I'm missing home a lot today. And I could use a hug.

(sorry for the sad and needy post... but it's been awhile since I've had one of these so I figured it was OK)

07 September 2011

Cows

My absolute favorite part of the day is when the cows come home. It's usually right around sunset, and this time of year it's so beautiful at that time. I was hanging out with some of the younger girls in the afternoon, and then they invited me to go with them to fetch the cows since it was that time... and I did... and now I look forward to going many, many, many more times.

Challenge

Today I don't have a lesson until 4th period, so I've been doing my usual blog-reading-catching-up-while-I-was-sleeping (thankfully there wasn't a lot because of an impossible sleep last night)... and I got inspired by this post. I love her work, and it really makes me wish my mom was still around and still running her interior design and/or clothing business because she'd be rocking this world today and hopefully we'd be a rocking team.

Today is overcast and supposed to rain, but I want to take some kids out and see what I can get. If it's not raining too much... because I don't want to be blamed for them being sick!

06 September 2011

Choices

Sometimes life isn't about choices: we get what we get and we don't throw a fit. So one of the challenges when we don't have choices is working with people that we don't get along with, don't like, or people with whom are completely different from us. This is a lesson I've never really had to learn (or learned but have apparently since forgotten... somehow) since I have had my own business from the age of 17, and when I worked in the dorms there were so many of us that it didn't really seem to matter (or maybe we just all got along really well). But here I have only two partners which at first seemed great because we'd get to know each other really well and I didn't see any way there could be a problem. But then sh*t hit the fan. So at the beginning of this school year I made the executive decision not to work with one of my partners... let's just say to some "irreconsivable differences". If I was in another program here in Moldova with the Peace Corps, that would be fine because I could find another organization to work with, or if I was in a bigger school it would also be find because I could just work with other partners. But what it boils down to is I just have to wipe the tears away and suck it up. While it's a challenge for me to accept what my Director said today when I told her about the situation, it is the truth and she is very right: I have to wipe away the feelings that hurt my heart, move past them, and find a way to work together because that is what I'm here to do. Just teaching 9 hours isn't fair to the kids that I came here to TEACH. After all, what's just one more year of stress.

mei mei mei mei mei this is a difficult life lesson to learn the hard way.

02 September 2011

Village life

There are a few things I really like about living in a village versus living in the city, or the suburbs:
The fresh air
The stars (oh.my.god)
The open landscape
The fact that everyone knows me- and that I can recognize a fair amount of people
I can walk everywhere
The cows coming home in the evening
Fresh fruits and vegetables in the summer (when there isn't a drought)
... and more.

But with really liking some things, there has to be some things that I don't like, too.... and there is. In fact, a rather large list. However, I am only going to focus on one thing because it pertains to today.
Death. 


Yesterday as I was preparing for school my host mom told me that the father of one of my students (who also happens to pretty much be our neighbor and who also happens to be one of the friendliest and happiest men in this village) woke up paralyzed. They had called the ambulance, but it still had not arrived. When I arrived home from school she told me that just an hour before she was crying because he died. I think he was in his mid-50's. Just the other day he stopped me and asked why I didn't take my father to meet him when he was here and I felt bad about that so I told him we would have a Skype session when the fast internet comes (October 18th!). I'm not really sure what else to say right now, but I am deeply saddened for their loss. He was the father to 6 (or maybe more, I forgot) children, the oldest having a couple of children herself, and the youngest started 5th grade yesterday. I wish I got a change to ask him what happiness means because I'm sure he'd be full of words and smiles while walking with his bike up the hill.

So, what I don't like about death while living in the village is that because it is small, everyone knows everyone, and you kind of feel like you're friends with everyone, in some sort of a way. And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone dies. And it always hurts to see someone so young and so happy and so full of life die young. My heart hurts for Tudorita (my student) and her family. And it's interesting that it rained for the first time in 3 weeks last night. I think Mother Nature is grieving with their family.


01 September 2011

The last first day

The first day of school in Moldova is a really, really big deal. Usually. I've heard stories of huge celebrations with a lot of music and dancing and singing and performances and at the end of the day there is a masa (or meal) for the teachers usually centered around a lot of alcohol. However, that's not exactly how it went down in my village.

The kids and teachers were dressed in their best clothes (with the kids in black and white), with tons of flowers in their hands.

 
Some speeches were given by the 12th graders, the Director of the school, the Mayor (who just so happens to be her husband), and a woman from our Raion (kind of like a county).
The 12th graders then brought a key to the 1st graders because this is their first year at the school, and then they gave them flowers, kisses, and walked around the blacktop ringing the first bell. 




Then everyone gave their teachers flowers, then headed into school for 30-minute classes.



Instead of this being super great, however, I got yelled at by one of my partner teachers for the pictures I made out of construction paper and put above the blackboard. But, you see, I didn't just make random pictures. I made a bunch of "nouns" where I had intended to write the words for them so that if kids are stuck on a word for a sentence, they have some ideas right in front of them. Well, apparently they are ugly and won't do any good, and a (really) very nice painting that one of the students make of Varatic is much more essential to the learning of the students and should therefore be left in the front of the classroom and my  "ugly silent learning" materials should be on a wall where it can't be seen. Right. 


Thankfully I have another partner that appreciates the decorations I make, so she helped reassure me that everything is going to be okay because of course it is. When life gives us lemons we have to make lemonade, right?


So I went outside and did what I love and took pictures of some of the people I love: my students. Seriously, if it wasn't for these absolutely amazing kids, I'm pretty sure my time here with the Peace Corps would have already come to an end. But they are (almost) all wonderful and love getting their picture taken, which is great because the picture-taking is now a fundraiser to make prints of some of the photos I have taken this year in my village for the people in the photographs. (blogger just changed their posting format and so now I can't figure out how to get the photographs aligned properly. Suggestions??!!)




  











The highlight, though, was when one of my students came up to me and said she had a question. I wasn't quite sure where this was going, for the simple reason that many students have come to me with rather, well, interesting questions. But hers was great. She is in the 11th grade and was wondering what the best profession is to have in Moldova, and since I've been here a year now, I should have a pretty good idea. Well, I don't. Because the funny thing is that I just had a conversation with someone about this the other day and how there are jobs here you just have to look for them, but if you do find them, they are WAY underpaid. So I told her that her best bet is to study in a university in another country because it is more respected globally. You see, she wants to be a doctor. And she wants to study in the States. And she is one of those (rather rare) students that actually does study and does do her homework and learns something in school (imagine that idea). For students like that, I am willing to do whatever I can to help them out, and I really wish her the best of luck.

Hopefully this was just a rough start to what will be a great year.