fulbrightermara’s posterous

Ligo and Jani (midsummer)greetings to all Latvians

I haven't kept up with my posterous postings but I have uploaded my pictures to picasa so now I'm going to do what will probably be my last posterous posting for a few weeks and add those pictures.  Thursday, June 25, will be my last day in Rezekne.  A car and driver have been arranged to take me to Ikskile which is about 3 hours from Rezekne.  I'll spend one night there with relatives.  The next day I'll go to Riga where I'll spend the time until my Lufthansa flight Riga-Frankfurt- Dulles on June 29.  This experience has been very good.  Fulbright provides such wonderful programs.  I've been fortunate to participate in two - this Fulbright scholar program and the Fulbright Japan program.  I encourage you to take a look at the website and take advantage of this opportunity if  you are eligible or pass it on to someone else. http://www.iie.org/Template.cfm?section=Fulbright1
Before I needed to start seriously thinking about packing up to leave Latvia I took a trip to Kiel, Germany to visit two women I had met at a conference in Rezekne. I left Rezekne on election day (local and EU elections)  http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/ElectionDay#   I hadn't been to Germany for about 6 years so it was good to be back again.  It was very interesting to spend time in Kiel and other parts of Schleswig-Holstein since most of my time in Germany has been spent further south.  I love Kiel.  I was so fortunate to have such gracious and generous hosts there - Annelore and Uta. My Kiel pictures are not organized well enough to post yet but I will do that soon. I think that the pictures I am posting here have explanations with them or at least brief captions so I probably don't have to say more here. 
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/IneseSGraduation#  Inese's graduation
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/LeavingRezeknesAugstskolu#  goodbye Rezeknes Augstskola
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/AtIntaS202?authkey=Gv1sRgCJS88ofgg6X5hAE# at Inta's
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/LolitasPirts?authkey=Gv1sRgCNn4uMWP44ijaw# Lolita's pirts (sauna)
I thought that being in Latvia for 6 months would give me an opportunity to see and do everything on my to-do list but unfortunately that was not to be.  I was here to work, to teach and that I did and feel good about the results.  The things not done will just have to wait for the next trip.  I arrived with heavy suitcases full of books and other teaching materials in addition to the 4 boxes I had sent through the US Embassy diplomatic pouch.  I thought that going home would be easier but here I am in the midst of trying to figure out how to pack everything.  I'm trying to get everything together during Latvians' biggest festive celebration - Ligo and Jani (see midsummer celebration explanation below on Latvian Institute site).
http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=1130
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments [0]

more bad news for teachers

While I was in Kiel, Germany taking a break from life and work in Latvia, the news for education and teachers in Latvia was going from "really bad to even worse."
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSLH73502220090617
 
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13832637&source=hptextfeature
 
 

Comments [0]

Trying to catch up...

It is getting harder and harder for me to keep up with posts here.  I have tried to keep up with the uploading of pictures so I will simply post links to the pictures. Most of them include some sort of explanation - at least a caption.  Since the last time I wrote the semester has ended and I have survived the evaluation process. There have been several events in Rezekne, including a visit by the President of Latvia.  The past two days have been excursion days for me.  I have seen many beautiful and important places in the Latgale and Vidzeme regions.
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/PoetryReadingAtTheCityLibrary#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/MolsMyFavoriteRestaurant#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/PressConferenceAtCatholicSchool#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/FirstYearStudents?authkey=Gv1sRgCOTj1JGIrdWvaA#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/YouthFolkloreFestivalInRezekne2324May#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/MM2#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/PreSchoolGraduation#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/PresidentZatlersInRezekne#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/AglonaCathedralAndBreadMuseum#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/KaralkalnsRaznasEzersUnMakonkalns#
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/TripToValmieraAndSurroundings#
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments [0]

Vitol Fund

this article is for those who read Latvian
http://www.delfi.lv/archive/article.php?id=23747527

Comments [0]

a weekend event

Trying to forget the economic crisis - at least for the weekend... I wish I could participate in this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8072955.stm

Comments [0]

A different day but the same story.

Comments [0]

This is the way it is

Comments [0]

More from Mara in Rezekne

 
Last day of pre-school English
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/PreSchoolLastClass?authkey=Gv1sRgCO7iouGawp_Ofw#
 
Today, May 21, was a busy day.  First pre-school and then a presentation by the Rezekne district education director regarding the school closings, salary and teacher position cuts.  I had to leave because it was too depressing.  Next there was a happier event.  Every year the city honors the students who have scored well in national competitions in various school subjects and activities.  The teachers of these students are also honored.  The ceremony takes place in the town hall.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/HonoringRezekneStudents?authkey=Gv1sRgCOm_yc3V8YzaRw#
Pictures of Inta working in her Rezekne District Office.  Sometimes I help.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mara.mranders/IntaSRezekneDistrictJob?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnmzYD9y72GVA#
 
 

Comments [2]

Invitation to view Mara's Picasa Web Album - Honoring Rezekne students

You are invited to view Mara's photo album: Honoring Rezekne students
Honoring Rezekne students
Rezekne -
May 21, 2009
by Mara
To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Comments [0]

Invitation to view Mara's Picasa Web Album - Pre-school last class

You are invited to view Mara's photo album: Pre-school last class
Pre-school last class
Rezekne -
May 21, 2009
by Mara
Today was the last day of class with the pre-schoolers. We reviewed what we had learned and practiced the two songs that we will sing at graduation - Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Do You Speak English. At the end of class I gave them pencils with erasers of different animals, etc on them. I had used the erasers the week before to teach new vocabulary. They were excited about having something to take home because they always have to bring something to school but rarely take someth...
To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Comments [0]