Identity is a complicated thing

Today was my first day getting to see a bit of life at the school.  Sure, there have been delightful breakfasts and meetings and opportunities to meet colleagues.  But today was new family orientation (featuring around 100 families) and the middle school peer helpers were there along with middle school tech leaders.  I had forgotten how funny middle school kids can be.  Between the two groups, there were about 50 students - including new middle school students - and there was energy abounding.  While I had no specific role as of yet, I have agreed to help with the peer helpers and the separate tech club after school.  I am excited to have direct contact time with students and to be back in a community.  Today was a breath of - well - pre-teen air though, that's for sure.

Sol, the original tech integrationist in our position and my partner, began with taking the tech leaders and having them make short videos about the Responsible Use Plan for our Macbook Airs that we are handing out this week.

Sol with the Tech Leaders 

After they finished their videos, many of these students continued on to be peer helpers for the new students who had arrived for orientation today.  This was a bit more of a rambunctious group.  They did some important things like getting their schedules, their locker combinations, and working through some of the groups to meet new students.  It was all kinds of awkward though.  There were several kids who were just standing on their own, there was the group of girls who were at the top of the social food chain, it was real life middle school (which I haven't been privvy to in years) unfolding right before my eyes.  Luckily, I'm awkward enough to jump in and talk to whomever, so that's what I did.  

Here's the group of new kids and peer helpers in one of the commons areas

Part of the time with the new students was to meet new kids and then introduce them to the group.  What a fascinating exercise.  It's one that play out in classrooms across the world, but is especially interesting to me as a new staff member in an international school for the first time.  The kids were "from" all over the world - Argentina, China, Venezuela, Poland, the United States, Canada, Vietnam, but their identity is not something that can be described in a 20 minute name game.  Though one particular kid was born in Connecticut, he told me "but I've never been there so it's not actually home." Which is fascinating because by default - if he were born there, he had been there though his point was not lost on me.  He considers himself Polish because though he was born in the states, he has spent most of his time here, but speaks perfect fluent English (and Polish).  His mom is Polish and his dad is from "the UP."  He was not so thrilled with his summer because the town they stay in while in Michigan doesn't have a Buffalo Wild Wings and "that's why people go to the US, isn't it?"  

The introductions of students to one another is a seemingly innocuous first day activity, but brings about perspectives, cultural differences and understandings that I have never encountered and I'm fascinated to learn more.  It's got to be interesting to be some of these kids.  In a way, they're more worldly than many people I know.  At the same time, I bet there is a lot of pressure on them.  They have made a significant adjustment in their lives as I have, but they're 11, 12 and 13.  One student I talked to came here from the states, and had never been out of his state.  Can you imagine?  Granted, every day school life is fairly similar to what it would have been in back in the USA, but jimminy christmas.  When they consider where they are from, they can include where they were born, where they have lived and who their relatives are mixed with experiences that drive their lives.  That's a lot to boil down to a one place answer to "where are you from?"  Incidentally, I was wearing my Minnesota necklace so there was no question where my identity and loyalty rests.  Though when I stop to consider things, my life was impacted tremendously when I lived in Hungary - even for that short time - and I wonder how I will juggle my developing identity as I incorporate my time, experiences and growth from living in Poland... 

Now, each time I ask a student where they are from, I will give them time to dig into the answer and give me time to understand how each of their experiences add to their concept of "home."

"I'm from a small town you probably don't know...."

Following the time with the peer helpers and new students today, the school ordered pizza for the peer helpers.  Seemed like a typical activity to have following a time they volunteered and came in on their last day of vacation.

There were two things that stuck out to me though - the size of the pizza slices, and Peter.

I did a brief intro of myself - let's be honest, middle schoolers didn't really care who I was - they were more concerned with their lockers and schedules, as they should be.  They did point and talk about the tattoos though - interesting to watch.  While introducing myself though, I asked if there were any Hungarians in the group.  One middle schooler's hand shot up into the air and Peter identified himself as a Magyar.  I was so excited that later I followed up with, "so where are you from in Hungary?"  He said, "I was born in Budapest, but lived in a small town you probably don't know."  I said, "oh yeah?  Try me."  His answer...... drumroll........ "I lived in Tata."  SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.  That's where I lived and taught.  What are the odds?

Peter

and the pizza.  it was delicious.

Feast of the Assumption?

Last Monday was a holiday here in Poland.  My mother, the devout Catholic, was thrilled that as a Catholic country, Poland honors the Feast of the Assumption.  We were told that many stores would be closed, banks and mail would not be in service, and that there would be a huge parade with tanks and soldiers with a speech from the President.  Seems like it makes sense that we celebrate this way because as Mary lay taking her last breaths, I'm sure she was flanked on either side by tanks and other artillery.  Right.

Upon further investigation (a little googling) I learned that Monday, August 15th was Armed Forces Day here in Poland.  I'm not sure if it falls on the same day as the Feast of the Assumption each year, but I'll tell you that I did not come across many who seemed to be in mourning for the death of Mary.  There were several people toting around Polish flags and homes businesses and random buildings had flags flowing proudly as well.  As it turns out, on August 15th in 1920, the Poles beat the Russians at the Battle of Warsaw in the Russian-Polish war.  They are very proud of this achievement and rightfully so.  They showed their pride through pomp and circumstance involving an air show of sorts, a huge parade and every.single.Pole in the city in attendance.

Note the small flags on either side near the lights

Sarah and I decided to meet to check out the parade and see what all the fuss was about.  It turns out we were definitely behind in getting there as we were probably 8-10 people back from the actual path of the parade.  Turns out, when you're only 5'4, you can't see much from that far back.  In fact, here is what my view looked like: 

As much as I like parades, it was difficult to see from where I was :( 

The preface to the parade was an impressive show of force via air equipment.  Several sets of 4-8 helicopters and various planes flew by in formation and it was pretty cool.  The first planes had trail smoke of red and white.  It was neat! 

After the planes and aircraft, the parade on the ground started.  While I could only see limited amounts, what I saw was pretty cool.  The history of the Polish army through costumes and weaponry.  

Note the Go-Pro mounted on the top/front of the tank above the gun

My favorite part of the whole parade though, were the two adorable old men who were watching the parade from just behind us.  I love old people so much, and these two were so proud to be wearing their uniforms representing their time in service.  It was awesome.  

Adorable.

It was a nice way to spend an afternoon, and I'm glad we were able to see the Poles celebrate their history.  

Navigating the Grocery Store

I went for my first big grocery shopping today.  It's a challenge to stock a kitchen from ground zero - especially when you're not exactly sure what you need (I should get one of those kitchen pantry books that my friend Matt told me about) and you also aren't sure what you're buying.  Luckily I'm not completely new to the world of foreign grocery stores. In fact, I really enjoy wandering up and down the aisles to see what is given prime real estate on the shelves. Lots of things are the same, but when they're different, it really can throw you for a loop.

I set out for the Carrefour in a nearby mall early this morning.  I've been there once before (that time I hauled a microwave on the metro) and was looking forward to just roaming and purchasing things I couldn't get at my two local (much smaller) groceries.

It all starts with the cart.

I was prepared for the cart process from my time in Hungary.  In order to get a cart - as opposed to a basket - you need to insert a coin to release the chain from the cart in front of it.  Your cart comes loose and off you go.  I was not - however - prepared for the fact that there were three bum carts at the end of the row.  I was juggling carts like a crazy lady - insert coin, connect to different row of carts, release coin, insert coin in new cart - and security was watching it with (not so secret) glee.  

Off I went into the Walmart like aisles of the large supermarket!!  Bread was first, and I was definitely tempted as I rolled though the pastry section, and I even stopped to look at a couple before deciding I didn't need any of them.  I did not pass up the opportunity to look even crazier than the cart shuffler I was just a few minutes before, and I used my Google Translate app the whole way through the bread department.  I wanted to know what was in all the pastries and all the various bread loafs they had.  

If you ever travel to, or live in, a country where the language is not your first Google Translate is a life saver.  You choose the language the words are in, and select what language you'd like to translate it into - and either hover your smartphone camera over the foreign language, or input the words using the keyboard.  It's nothing short of amazing.  

Here is what a label in Polish looks like to the naked eye. 

Here's the translated label using Google Translate.  Voila. 

While not a fool proof plan, it certainly helps distinguish signs, documents, labels - the works.  It's really helpful, but does nothing to advance my practice of trying to blend in like a normal person.  I walk around with my phone wandering from product to product as if there is a rare Pokemon Go hiding inside a box of pasta.  

On to the produce section.  Generally I'm okay with produce.  I can identify lots of the products, and I'm aware of the whole weigh your own make sure you get the sticker practice.  I was NOT prepared however, for the guy who pulled out a machete to cut his own sliced watermelon.  Really?  I put in hours at Byerly's cutting melon, wrapping it and making sure it was prepared in a way that would exceed customer expectations.  This guy was in it to win it.  Knife, slice, wrap, done.  

Note that his small child's fingers are right in there helping dear old dad out.  

If you aren't familiar with the weigh your own produce, it's fairly easy - no machete necessary - and it's less work for the cashiers at the front end.  The only mystery is making sure that you press the right button for the fruit or vegetable you have in hand.  I spent a good five minutes, traversing to three different machines, trying to find the code for limes before I realized the price was for each lime, not by kilogram.  Always a learning curve...... 

I'm not sure what you do with an entire sunflower head, but you can get one at the store if you want.  Maybe my dad should bring his to Cub and see if they can use them!

At the very end of the produce section was something I hadn't seen before - and it was fascinating. I'm not sure how one tends to it, or who is in charge of making sure they are good and not over saturated (if that's even a thing).  They had right smack dab in the produce aisle - bulk pickles.  

While I didn't partake in them this time, I'm sure I'll try them sometime in the future (after a few minutes spent watching exactly where one puts bulk pickles.  Do you wrap them in a bag and weigh them?  Is there a jar?  What do they even taste like?) after I've made baby steps in the rest of my life in Poland.  

The other interesting thing I had to contend with today, and at IKEA yesterday, was the new class of men I call "MOFO's without licenses." They drive without abandon and give zero fucks that there are people in the aisle, product in the aisle, poles in the aisle.  It doesn't matter.  They'll keep going without pause, and do it at a speed that rivals only that of MY driving record.  If you encounter one of these men, get out of the way, do it quickly, and keep lookout for when they'll come around again.  I personally think there's an internal bet to see how many people they could take out before someone complains to management. 

MOFO Without License - in action 

And he's off!  All that is left are two trails of soapy water...... 

Moving into the dairy section.  I was in search of Greek yogurt - not hard to find - but specifically plain Greek yogurt.  As I was scouring the aisle that was chock full of yogurts - joghurt in Polish - I came across this:

I like yogurt, and I try to get protein into every meal.  What would happen if I were to consume this yogurt?  In an age where we're trying to move toward equity in so many different facets of public life, we're really producing yogurt that is for men?  Side note: they're larger containers than the other ones, because you know, men need to eat more than women. 

On to the spices.  I put together a list of basic spices I'd need on a list- with the Polish translation next to it - prior to leaving my apartment.  Luckily, there are pictures on the front of the envelopes that spices come in here.  They're a lot like they are in Hungary - no container, just an envelope.  Kind of annoying when you're trying to organize your pantry, but it's what we have none the less.  

A spoonful of zioła makes the medicine go down?

As I continued to wander the aisles, I was pretty good at not filling my cart with things I didn't need. I was enjoying perusing the different things that Poles flock to in each aisle, and I of course was people watching the entire way as well.  I did perk up even more when I came to the ethnic foods aisle. Someone at school mentioned they were looking for siracha- they had it.  Tortillas?  They have it. Soy sauce, Japanese ramen, chili sauce, french jams and jellies?  They've got it.  Several regions of the world were represented boasting foods that natives would desire while living in Warsaw.  Until I got to the part of the aisle labeled "America."  ppppppfffffffftttttttttttt. ugh. 

Candy, flavor syrups, something called fluff, and more candy.

Jif is now "new" in Poland.  #Murica

I checked out and got home without incident, but thrilled that I can return and get Jif anytime I need. Oh Poland.  

Where in the world is Carla?

A couple of people have asked me how to stay in touch, so here are some options.

My snail mail address is:

Carla Staffa
American School of Warsaw
Bielawa, ul. Warszawska 202
05-520 Konstancin-Jeziorna
Poland

It's the school's address, it's a bit more complicated to get things to my apartment, so let's just avoid that.  If you're interested in googling where I live, it's Bukowinska 22A.  The school said that lots of things get held up in customs if they're not labeled correctly or the contents aren't clear.  If you're planning on sending me really expensive things, that might get caught up and lost too - so maybe underestimate the cost.

I have What's App - which uses my Polish phone number +0048 537 323 966  (yes, that's enough numbers) and you can text me for free.

That's also my phone number +0048 537 323 966

Obviously Google Hangouts and Facetime

I can get texts to my gmail - so if you have an iphone, I will receive texts if you send them to my gmail (castaffa@gmail.com).

Additionally, I'm experimenting with Goole Voice and my old phone number.  I am able to receive text messages and voicemails to my emaill.  The voicemail has a written transcript of the message and I have the ability to listen to it as well.  Luckily I'm still on a thread of texts from work and I get funny bitmojis every now and again ;)

Last, I talked to Matt Deutsch on the phone the other day, through Facebook.  What tha?

So at any rate, there are many ways you can reach me.

Adele Never Gets Old...

As I was preparing to leave the states just a few short weeks ago, Adele's "Hello" came on the radio and someone I was near said immediately, "ohmygod I hate this song, change it!" I'm not sure how anyone can hate anything that came from Adele's mouth.  She's down to earth, pleasant, generous, humble and extremely talented.  But that's neither here nor there.

I just got home from my first official day today.   Today was the first time leaving my new apartment crossing my fingers that I had everything I needed.  It was my first time navigating my way to the school on my own.  First time packing a lunch for school in a singular building since 2014. First time reporting to a new team when all of us were there together.  First time in a full faculty meeting with entirely new faces since 2008.  First time navigating a school cafeteria in many years.  First time logging into new technologies I have not experienced yet.  You get the point.  It was an exciting, exhausting day.

I got myself home on the bus - (albeit with several other staff members, so we definitely weren't going to die on the bus) walked myself to the CrossFit that is near me and spoke with a coach there about joining their facility.  I stopped at the other grocery store near me to check it out and compare selection to the first one I went to.  I got home, cleaned a bit and started making dinner.

I'm finally at a point where all of my suitcases are unpacked, the place is mostly cleaned to my liking, and I was able to relax and read before bed last night.  Yes, there is still a ton to do, but I'm settling in. My Apple TV is hooked up, and I decided today that while I was making dinner, I'd listen to the radio instead of "watching" Netflix since I'd not be able to see the screen.

As I prepared to make dinner, I navigated my way through the channels and such on the Apple TV and I chose a station.  I sat on the couch, thinking about this new life when the first song came on the tv.  It was, you guessed it, "Hello" by Adele.

I'm not usually one for signs, but this hit me, and hit me hard.  It was as if it was a sign from home that I had made the right choice.  You see (many of you experienced this live at the TIES Conference last year) we wrote a spoof of "Hello" for the opening videos for our winter conference last year.  I happen to be the singer voicing the song for my oh-so-talented colleagues who were the dramatic beauties on screen.  (click here to re-live the delightful opening video - and if you have some time, watch the whole thing- my team was pretty awesome)  Hearing "Hello" today as I was just getting into my routine of this new normal here in Poland was a reminder of my team at home, and of the great work we did there.

Without that experience at TIES, I would not have been prepared to enter this world I'm in today. I learned more than I taught, and grew as a teacher as the result of the excellent work my peers do there.  Without the conversations we had, the collaboration we did, the growing pains that come with instructional technology(at any level), the events, coaching and workshops we put on, I would not have been equipped to take on this role.  I relied on the gentle leadership of Caroline, the patient teaming of Kari, the technical expertise of Troy, the knowledgable and humor-filled instruction of Mary, the organizational skills of Cara, the tech perspective and experience of Kate, and the positivity and open-mindedness of Ashley.  Without these folks, I would not have grown, changed and matured as an instructor.

Thank you to these great colleagues, not to mention Amanda, Connie, Dorothy, Floyd, Deb, Chris, Danielle, Scott, Mike and all the others who helped me to spread my wings a bit further so I could take on day one in Poland with success.

Day One - #Nailedit

We had our first day as a full staff today.  It was great to begin to see the staff in it's entirety, though I'm sure I learned a bajillion names today which I will never remember.  We began with a delicious breakfast of pizza, fruit, muffins and yogurt cups.  Most of the newbies stuck to each other - which is expected I suppose - and it's only the first day.  Give us a break :)

The pizzas and breakfast spread!

Panorama of the staff enjoying breakfast

Opening slide of the Head of School's presentation

The Head of School welcoming all staff

It's so interesting to me to be in the situation I'm in right now.  It's been two school years since I have been in a building, and eight years since I taught in Hungary.  It has been quite a while since I was a "newbie" in a building as I was in Burnsville for 13 years.  Admittedly I was a newbie in Hungary, but since everything was in Hungarian, I had no idea what was going on so I always kind of functioned in a cloud.  Here, it's as if we are an independent school in the states, but when you leave everything around you is in Polish.  Don't get me wrong, there are Polish faculty, staff and students, but for all intents and purposes, things are status quo - in terms of schools - here. 

There was a welcome breakfast - with different offerings than I remember in my last district, but still the same.  People catching up, asking about their summer vacation with perhaps slightly different answers- "did you go anywhere? Oh, Greece, huh?  How was that?"  People groggy from the first alarm since the summer began, but their excitement to return and get going again is palpable in the room of staff.  PE teachers and chemistry teachers look like PE and chemistry teachers the world over.  We gathered in the theater (no food or drink allowed) and kicked off with a welcome from the Head of School.  Status Quo.  Until John (Head of School) started talking.  Today, as at the newbie welcome, he gave us permission to fail.  He recanted that there were great things which happened last school year, and did not dodge the topic of shortcomings of the last year.  He has been here three weeks after a somewhat mysterious end to the last Head of School's tenure.  

Regardless of what went down last year, he convinced us that we are all in this together.  He stressed that ALL students are OUR students, and that we need to connect behind our mission and values as we move into a brand new year.  He also included in his talk an image that I posted on my Facebook page earlier this week:

                                            

"It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do: we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do" ~Steve Jobs 

Many of us "newbies" agreed to come to this school based on conversations we had with the former head of school.  I will say though, that this guy, who is only two weeks more veteran to me, has managed to say the right things, and convince me that there is something special happening here at ASW.  As for right now, I like his approach - he identified himself as a 'servant leader' and one who was here to be involved and make ASW the best it could possibly be.  It was a great start to the day.  

We had some other smaller department and team meetings, but I wanted to share about the Middle School/ High School meeting we had.  As a staff, we are separate in terms of elementary, middle and high school.  The principal for the middle school is the same guy as the high school however, so there will be some joint meetings to deliver information and things of the nature.  We met the vice principals and did some quick info stuff.  Then he had us write on a piece of paper, one thing that a teacher did for us as a student that we remember.  Once we had our statements written, we 'chose our method of delivery' (some were crumpled into balls, I folded mine into a weak as heck airplane) and we threw them.  We were tasked to read at least three people's statements - re-crumpling and re throwing in between statements.  He managed not only to get us up and moving, but had us partake in a quick, meaningful reflection, and allowed us to read about the small things other teachers did to help students.  Some I read included information about supporting students, a smile after a tough day from a teacher, a note home about something small.  One stuck out to me that talked about how a teacher held her hand as she puked on the stairs of the school after a play she was in.  While it seems a bit trivial to participate in an activity like this, it allowed us to stop and remember that the small things matter.  Truly.  Each and every day we can do something small to make a difference - teacher or not.  

So while the day seemed status quo on a lot of levels, I am pleased to be part of a team who believes in their teachers, in their students, and in the power of each and every person in the room to contribute to the betterment of the lives of others.  Cheers to a new year!