February 2013

February 2, 2013 was the "Intilnirea cu absolventii" (meeting with graduates) celebration at my school in Tipala. This is basically like a homecoming celebration in the States. All graduates are welcome to attend, but graduates from this year and 20, 30 and 40 years are especially mentioned.

 

Graduates celebrating 40 years. The man in the 2nd row is a physical education teacher at the school. We are currently trying to develop a weight/fitness room at the school.

 

12th graders who will graduate this year. They lead the celebration which includes singing, dancing and skits.

 

The director of the school.

 

One of my 5th graders performing.

 

 

My teaching partner, Vera, is on the left. We teach grades 7 and 8 together.

 

Vera's brother giving a speech. He was celebrating 40 years.

 

"A day in the life of a student in Tipala" presented by the 12th graders.

 

 

 

 

Kind of like musical chairs. Except with graduates and plastic children's toilets.

 

 

Hilarious. They put stockings on their heads, and whoever could make the funniest face while the stocking was being pulled off was the winner.

 

The homeroom teachers of the two 12th grade classes who organized the celebration.

 

Celebrating 40 years! My host mom is in the front row on the left.

 

Vera, her husband and me.

 

After the concert, each class goes to a classroom for food, drinks and stories. These people are celebrating 40 years.

 

My host mom giving a speech

 

During dinner, two of their teachers, including their homeroom teacher, came. He still remembered most of their names after 40 years.

Their homeroom teacher, he shared many funny stories.

My host mom and two of her classmates.

My host mom and myself.

This is not a photo from the homecoming celebration, but I had to share a photo of the mud! Thank goodness for these boots :)

The health center is the building in the distance. Many streets in the villages are like this one after melted snow and rain for the past two days.