An Excellent First Week!

Friday, 15 October

Breakfast at Hotel Fáma. Food - ham, cheese, bread, rolls available for school snacks. Team discussed journal entires by each members each day. Departed for separate schools about 7:30. Walking Fáma to Nemeth Laszlo about 10 minutes to arrive before 08:00.

School instruction very punctual. Is regulated by chimes which play “Happy Birthday to you.” As every where in my experience, Hungarian children all have different life styles. Some more “laid back” than others and some assertive.

Each team member works with 2 to 5 teachers in 2 to 4 different classes each morning. After lunch the team members discussed their morning progress and concerns about the reactions of the individual classes to the instruction by team members. Team members spoke of whether the students were responding to instruction. Almost universal positive responses were reported. Some team members' instructors apparently are more structured than others. John (from Mississippi) talks "funny" (southern accent) and students take a little amount to adjust to he spoken dialect!!

All team members reported success in the adult classes held in each afternoon. Apparently the team instruction is going well, if the participation in conversation by students with team members and with each other is any criteria.

Team leader Milton Diehl continues to provide a wide experience for team members in learning Hungarian culture and history. The places of interest available to the team over the weekend was discussed. It was decided that a visit to a pottery manufacture should be eliminated and that a trip to near by city would be of greater benefit to all members.

A very good meal of beef goulash was obtained at the Fisherman's Restaurant. The team was joined by Rita Deszo who is the local representative from the Municipality that assists the Global Volunteer teams.

Everyone retired to Hotel Fáma to await the trip to Szeged on Saturday.

Written by John Fox