Kosovo: The Retreat- Chapter 3, Scene 2

I know you’re going to think all I do is travel, but it isn’t so. After the trip to Greece (if you missed it you can check it out HERE), I put in a pretty full week of teaching!

Monday was of course fairly routine, but Tuesday was conference day. The only “no show” I had was a parent who called to say she was tied up in a meeting with the Prime Minister. That was a first for me.

The B&B near Macedonia

Wednesday, the entire elementary school went to the fire station for a field trip. It was actually ten times better than any fire station field trip I had ever attended. Especially since the squad received a call as we were viewing the fire engines and my students got to witness the firefighters donning their suits and jumping on the truck to be whisked away before our eyes. Exciting stuff…even for me.

Thursday was a good day- a day to catch up on all of our “readin’ and writin’ and ‘rithmetic.” That was the day my houseguest from Wales left but another couple from California arrived to take her place.

On Friday, my students and I went to the Marble Caves as part of our study on landforms. No, I did not intentionally plan two field trips in one week. It turned out that way when the fire station trip was changed. Anyway, the cave was incredibly wonderful for my fourth graders but by the time the day ended, I was indeed ready for a break.

Several women I teach with had decided to go away for a little weekend retreat. We left for a bed and breakfast after school on Friday and returned on Saturday evening.

The "barn" quarters at the B&B

There is something special that happens when women get together. We laughed, we cried, we ate homemade cookies and delicious meals. We played games. (I’m pretty sure I hadn’t played “Truth or Dare” since I was in junior high.) We snuggled under warm covers and drifted into a deep peaceful sleep. We did some crafts, read some, and we sang a few songs. Together we found new energy and strength and care.

Where am I going with this? A few months ago I think I would have looked at the calendar and said no to the retreat. I would have thought my life too busy to add something like that to my schedule.

Living abroad has taught me to see things differently. Now I say yes to new experiences.

Now I know I was so busy I needed to go on that retreat.

And yes, my life is richer for it.

By the way, if you are interested in seeing pictures from our field trips to the fire station and the cave, visit Prishtina High School's Facebook Page.

Join me as I spend these next months in Kosova (the Albanian pronunciation for Kosovo) in Southeastern Europe. Each week I share my experiences. Leave your comments and questions below. I’ll try to address each as best I can.