My Future Plans and My Russian Babies!

My FCE Babies!

My English in Mind 4 Babies!

My English in Mind 2 Babies!

My More! 3 Babies!

The Formidable Teacher Shayla a.k.a. "The Boss"

Lately I have been questioning what to do with my future and have been as wishy-washy as the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane concerning the matter (I feel it is made up expressions such as this that makes people miss me...hehehehe)! I now feel confident that I want to be a high school teacher. So eventually I will have to go back to school and get certified but in the meantime I have been pondering how long I should prolong this inevitability. I still don't really know. My options are stay in Russia another year, go to another country to teach English, or go back to school next year. I just don't know how I feel about going back to scary America where I will have to pay for housing, bills, school, and work a crappy part time job. Whereas, teaching abroad pays for my housing, I put at least half of my pay check in savings, and it is a rewarding and interesting experience. It seems obvious that I should continue teaching abroad for a few years, but there are draw backs. I feel isolated because I don't speak the language and the population doesn't speak English, thus my ocean of possible friends gets narrowed down to a puddle.....and let's just say that the TEFL industry tends to attract some odd ducks, who then all flock together and seem to lack a certain amount of depth, maturity, and intellect. I know it is as harsh condemnation but it is true. Fortunately, I have found a few exceptions, who are doing this as a short term experience like myself.......see it is the lifers that you have to watch out for! So those are the challenges posed against me. Last week I officially decided that I would have a great year in Russia, but that I am going to stay in America next year. As stated previously, I am wishy-washy. I had a really great week last week and I felt like I was really accomplishing things with my Russian babies (my term of endearment for my students.....they love it:). This along with getting paid this week and realizing how much money I save here, made me realize that I should do this for another year to save up some money and learn a new language and all that jazz. I am still undecided whether to stay in Russia or relocate, regardless I will definitely change what city I teach in and if I do stay in Russia I would like to try living in St. Petersburg since it is the culture capital of Russia and has so many museums that I would love to see. If I continue to have more great weeks with my little Russian delights like I did this week then I will definitely stay in Russia.

This week my babies were so great! During three different classes my students asked if they could have their picture taken with me. There are so cute and I was surprised because they are not at a cute age......they are 13 year old punks that are in bands and give each other piercings on the weekend (I am not even kidding ......this is a true story). So I brought my camera in and took their picture too. The best part of my week was Wednesday, the day that I teach my newly acquired adult beginner level students. I only teach them once a week and this was my second time doing so. On Monday and Fridays, a Russian teacher teaches them English in Russian......so I am their weekly exposure to a native speaker. They surprisingly liked me and it was refreshing to teach well-behaved adults for a change. And I draw a lot of my enthusiasm from them so we have a good time trying to communicate with each other because I speak zero Russian and they speak about 10 English words. It is a lot of fun. So after I taught them for the second time, at the end of class they all gather round and start interrogating me in "Renglish". One of the students is 21 years old and she speaks the most English and she had me write down my Skype name and e-mail so that she could talk to me. She asked if I had any Russian friends and I said no because the only Russians that I know that speak English are my teenagers.....and I do not want to be their friends outside of class. So she comes up to me and gives me a big hug and says "Now you have one Russian friend". They are so funny and so excited to learn English and I love them. Well on Friday this girl, Julia, Skype chatted me and tried to communicate with me. I understood about half but she has invited me to meet her friends and hang out with her next weekend. It sounds like fun, but it seems kind of weird to hang out with your student. The other teachers who teach adults do it all the time. The thing to consider is that they pay for English school on top of their other school so we don't really give them grades unless they care......they are supposed to want to be there. So hanging out with your student isn't as bad because it isn't a conflict of interest because you aren't giving them anything to gain......just more time to practice English. But it still seems strange to me so I don't know, but it was refreshing to meet someone my age who is Russian and wants to hang out. Each day here, the sense of humor and characters of my students makes my day. I hope to perpetuate my luck into this week!

Only the Strong Survive.....

I have been a bad blogger and haven't posted in a while....so I have some catching up to do. Two weeks ago, I had a really bad week with my kids. They were naughty beyond all reason and I really wanted to give up because I was at my wits end with them. I was going to call their parents but I thought I would give them one more chance, because I didn't want to feel like a failure. My kids are very smart and have really great personalities so I can't help but love them. They have to go to school all day and then they have an hour and a half English lesson with me....I don't blame them for acting out. Anyways I was really depressed going into the weekend. But previously, I had planned for my friend Abby to come to my apartment in Z-grad for a sleepover on Friday. So this cheered me up when I went to pick her up at the train station. Friday is the best day anyways because you have the whole weekend to look forward to and you really need a break by that time.

Abby and I had a great time doing nothing. I was excited to show her my apartment and to give her some old fashioned hospitality. I had an extra air mattress and I made her a bed right next to mine so that we could talk all night long...hehehehe. I cooked dinner for us and we watched feel good movies, like Mulan, and lounged around. We woke up late on Saturday and the plan was to walk around Zelenograd, as I don't know where anything is here because I spend all my extra time in Moscow. This was my first weekend staying the night in Zelenograd for over a month! It took quite a bit of effort on my part to get little Miss Lazy Bones out of her bed. We goofed around and listened to music and re-wrote the lyrics to my favorite song, "Walking in Memphis". We changed it all to "Walking in Moscow"......I am pretty proud of the outcome and the collaboration that went into the production of the song:) But eventually we got out of bed and explored the forests near my apartment. It was great, we took pictures of everything and anything and were just a pair of silly billies the whole time. I am pretty sure we spent 20 min taking pictures of each other jumping off of a stump to get some sweet aerial shots! It was really pretty because it was around the time of sunset and the leaves were extra fiery.

Although lounging about with Abby was great, I never feel like my weekend is complete unless I journey into Moscow. So I went back to Moscow with Abby and we met Iain at our friend Nick's apartment. We all love his apartment, so we call him up with any excuse to come over...hahaha. I was pretty obsessed with wearing these nerdy glasses that were lying around his apartment. I hate sharing and wouldn't let anyone else try them on....hehehehe. It was a good time but since I was only in Moscow for part of a day and not overnight like usual I felt short changed and was in a funk on Sunday night and Monday morning. I never feel like talking to anybody and ignore everyone as part of my "mourning the weekend" ritual. But then I go to teach my kids and they always cheer me up and that is why I love them. I finally realized for the first time today how much I will miss them.....they are my little buddies and I really can't imagine not seeing them next year.

Last week I introduced a new game to my class......Mafia! They loved it, but now I have a slight problem.....they demand to play it everyday and I have had to compromise to playing it once a week....which is still too much. They are master negotiators! I am trying to look for more fun and interactive games like Mafia to play with them periodically in order to break up the monotony of class.....although my classes aren't very monotonous because I also get bored easily so I play lots of games and just talk with them. It was really nice to have a good week after such a bad week.

This past weekend was pretty typical. I went into Moscow on Saturday and had lunch at TGIFridays with Abby, which we hadn't done in a really long time. Then we went to a cafe to meet Iain before going to our friend Nick's apartment. It was really funny actually because we were supposed to call Iain and tell him which cafe to meet us at, but we weren't supposed to meet him until later and when we walked into the cafe.....there he was! He was doing some private English lessons and so we sat about 15 feet away from him and stalked him for an hour and a half without his knowing and then we called him as promised to tell him to meet us about 15 feet to his left......it was funny and it thoroughly entertained Abby and I. Abby was teaching me Russian during this time. I have to learn some new Russian phrases every weekend, because my babies always quiz me on what Russian I learn during my weekends. Oh boy, they will do anything to procrastinate learning English....how can you not love them?

Abby, Iain and I went to Nick's apartment and we also met our good friend Kate Miller there. I can only refer to Kate Miller by both first and last name.....I don't know why....it just sounds right. I hadn't seen Kate since the internship and it was so good to see her again. We were shooting the breeze for a while and then we decided to go out. We went to a couple of different bars and clubs and I went home with Kate Miller and crashed on her floor......my bedding was a pile of her clothes actually. Kate and I had a very interesting night, one which I won't go into too much detail about......let's just say that she abandoned me on a playground and I thought I would be sleeping outside, but she did come back for me...phew! On Sunday, Kate and I saw a Subway by her house and we ate lunch there. I was so excited when I saw it because I love Subway beyond a normal amount and I was told that there were hardly any located in Russia. Apparently, they had just opened this Subway two weeks prior. So I will definitely be visiting Kate Miller again! After this eventful weekend, I went back home to Zelenograd and I realized how much I had missed my bed and the comfort of my room.

I am so used to my normal routine now and I really find solace in it. The regularity of the Russians themselves makes me feel at home. I have several impressions of Russia, all of which revolve around the people. Every time I get on the bus to go to school, I am reminded of the old ladies with big purses that will beat you senseless and shout Russian at you unless you get out of their way. You can't help but love their Soviet attitudes. When I am waiting on the metro escalators, I like to look around and I see the delightful Moscovian style that is so unique. Moscow is bright and bold and so is the fashion! Every woman, and I mean EVERY woman, wears a pair of high heels or knee high boots....if you don't have a pair you might as well leave the country. Their jackets and outfits are straight off of the runways of Paris. You can't help but feel happy when you look at the spirit that their clothes have. The clothes are almost bordering on a 1980's theme.....it is a fine line between tacky and stylish.....not all succeed. The other essential item needed in order to survive besides knee high boots, is the leather jacket. They are all about the leather and fur here. I really like the style because it is hardcore and bold, which is exactly how I try to portray myself to others. However, one thing that really burns my biscuits is all the PDA (public displays of affection)! My God, people are upping the ante in Russia from PDA to PDS (public displays of sex!). I sort of feel like the Russians always think they are on the brink of dying so they live life in this manner.....by rushing around everywhere, kissing and groping in public, and being really really intense about everything. There is nothing care free about Russia, it is a very deliberate country. Every decision from clothes to conduct reflects that it was made as a very clear choice and it sends the message, that the people have become hardened through suffering, but will overcome and persevere by being bolder than everybody else. You can't help but respect a people like that. As I came to appreciate the passion of the Greeks, now I have come to appreciate the bold tenacity of the Russians, a people of perseverance.

Caffeine, Autumn, and Ikea....Oh My!

This weekend I enjoyed some adventures and some much missed comforts. As usual on Saturday, I went to Moscow to see my friends. I met Abby, Iain, and Nathan at a Kafe Haus (sort of like Russian Starbucks). We sat for hours drinking half-priced cappuccinos and catching up on each other's weeks. We discuss important matters as well and have good healthy debates about controversial issues.....and as always my own view is right and I have the final word! (just kidding:)

After we were sure that our caffeine to blood ratio was at an unhealthy level, we left Kafe Haus and walked through a park to enjoy Moscovian Autumn. Autumn is my favorite season and I haven't seen it done right in a while. (Greece just skips the season...hahaha) I love the smell of the wet leaves on the ground and the delightful rustling sound they make when the wind blows. Mostly, I love the colors. I find the juxtaposition of the warm Fall colors against the brisk air very comforting. You feel so safe when you are snuggled up in your gloves, scarf, and jacket yet you know that outside your cocoon of warmth is the cold world trying to wheedle its way in. Because the Fall weather in Moscow is so similar to Wisconsin, I really feel at home.

Later that night, we met some more friends and Russians for drinks and schwarma. I love schwarma and I love getting them at the train station. There are about 10 schwarma stands at the train station and everyone told me not to get one because it isn't sanitary and it's made from cats and dogs and yada yada yada....... Here is the thing: schwarma is super cheap and filling and convenient....so basically I don't care and a little bacteria never hurt anyone. I will admit that the cat and dog rumor did perturb me, but upon further investigation it was proven to be false and merely a little Russian racism that started the rumor. All the schwarma stands are run by Asians (from the Caucus regions like Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). My favorite part of getting schwarma is that I have a particular schwarma stand where I am a regular at. It is so great because I don't speak Russian and the kid who works there doesn't speak English.....since I am a regular I don't have to say a word and he knows my order by heart and it makes us both smile:)

On Sunday, I had quite an adventure to Ikea! My friend Abby very kindly took me to Ikea, since she knew the way, but it was hell and a half to get there. I will omit the details because I don't care to relive that experience....but the gist is that we ate at Ikea and I bought some really awesome stuff for my room to give it a little Shayla pizazz!!! I really transformed my shabby little cave into a sanctuary. It was nice to get a taste of home and to remember other fond Ikea moments in Minneapolis. Ikea is just one of those places that you go to for every big chapter of your life whether it is before going to college, moving into your first home, or decorating your apt abroad! Everyone that knows me, knows that my love of Ikea rivals my love for Xena (dare I say such a thing!). This exciting weekend allowed me to do what I do best and procrastinate. I paid for it this morning when I had to spend 3 hours marking tests for my classes today....oh well....some things never change!

A Day in the Life of a TEFL teacher in Russia!

My day starts late because I don't usually get up until about 11 a.m. I work at night from 3 p.m. to about 9 p.m. so I can afford to sleep in. When I finally do decide to greet the day, I start to think about my classes and what fun activities I will do that day with them. I teach 12-16 year old teens, so they love activities and games. I have 3-4 different classes each day so i need 3-4 different lesson plans. I really enjoy it though and I am getting more comfortable with winging it and not having everything so planned out. I have found that the lessons are much more enjoyable if they happen organically.

I have become fond of my students even though I really wanted to kill most of them upon our first meeting. During the first week of teaching, I was determined to be the cool teacher that all the kids liked and we would be best friends forever:)....hahahahaha....I was so naive back then (only 4 weeks ago!). Well as soon as I experienced a little dose of teenage attitude and sass, I knew that dream was doomed. The whole first week I was overwhelmed by all my new classes and the kids broke me. I had the weekend to recuperate, however, and I decided to come back with a vengeance and to show them that Shayla Gibbens has a bit of attitude and sass to throw back at them!

I disciplined the crap out of them and all my little trouble-makers learned real quick not to mess with me. I was kicking them out of class right and left and employed a few unconventional tactics such as throwing balled up sheets of paper at them (I would have a basket of paper balls ready to fire if need be) and clapping loudly in their faces. I was used to teaching adults in the training program so when I was situated with teenagers I had to find my footing. The amazing thing is that the kids love me! They think when I throw stuff at them that it is hilarious and we all laugh together about it.....but they also know when I mean business. My boss told me that kids love a fascist and I took it to heart.

Now I can't imagine teaching adults again because I am so used to teenagers. Even the trouble-makers, I love to pieces and we all have a great time. I have found that music is the bridge I needed to link the generational gap. They love doing fill-in-the-blank activities with song lyrics. So I play a song and they fill in the lyrics and then we all sing along. I do this once a week in all my classes. We have been told to keep it down quite a few times and I take it as a good sign that we are all so rowdy:)

My favorite classes that I teach are my Cambridge Exam classes. The students are advanced level and are trying to pass one of the Cambridge Exams so that they can get into university or get a better paying job. I love playing word games and doing word morphology because I really get to use my classical background (they told me that is why they gave me these classes). And unlike the majority of my other classes (whose parents make them go to English school), these students want to be there and they are intrinsically motivated to learn English. We all have such a great time and I treat them by teaching them phrases such as, "It's all good in the hood" and "Don't get all up in my grill!". They reciprocate and teach me some funny Russian phrases like, "Shashleek Mashleek". Shashleek is the American equivalent of a barbecue in the woods, and they just make up a rhyming word such as "mashleek" to make it sound funny. It is like in English when we are indifferent about something such as a camera and we would say, "camera schmamera, who cares?".

I am elated that I have found a passion in teaching and that I enjoy it so much. I love the cultural interaction and working with these kids. No day is boring or lackluster. I have always wanted to work with people and now I really feel like I am in the people business:)

The Beginning of my Adult Life as I Know it:)

So I am staying true to form and continuing my exploration of the world. I left Greece after a year of studying art and classical culture and returned home to Wisconsin at the end of May. I graduated from college with a Classics degree and spent my summer working construction in order to save up money to come to Russia. In August, I journeyed to Moscow and became an English teacher for the company Language Link. Now I live in Zelenograd which is only 30km away from Moscow proper.

Zelenograd is known as the "green city", but when I first arrived I had my doubts about the derivation of this name. I live near the train station so it appears more gray than green in my area. Before I came to Russia, I imagined spending my weekends walking through a forest and stopping by an alluring tree to read my latest book or having a picnic with friends. This is precisely why I packed so many books with me, including books on Russian history, the Russian language, and Latin and Greek. Upon arrival, I realized that I was scared to death and didn't want to leave my room. I felt isolated because I didn't speak the language and I couldn't really function here, as nobody speaks English. I slowly came out of my shell and each day I would achieve small accomplishments that would give me the confidence to survive in this foreign land. I thought I would be prepared for Russia, after having lived in the most inconvenient country of Greece, but I still suffered a bit of culture shock.

So I survived the first few days on my own, holed up in my room. On the next Monday, I started the teacher training program in Moscow. I met people from all over the world including Russia, Australia, England, Scotland, and Ireland. The 22 of us soon became excellent comrades in arms. Together we fought the mundane war on English for up to 10 hours a day. The war culminated in an enormous grammar test, which we all passed. We then went our separate ways to towns across Russia. However, we have not ceased contact and on the weekends we all get together to enjoy some vodka and gherkins (pickles). I thoroughly enjoy working in Zelenograd all week and then escaping to stay with friends in Moscow on the weekends. It is like a vacation to look forward to every week:)

Last weekend two of my friends (Abby from America and Nathan from Canada) and I went to a park to have that picnic of my dreams. We took loads of pictures and skipped down the lane arm in arm, just as picturesque as you could imagine. Afterwards we did a bit of sightseeing in Red Square and then we journeyed for a cup of Joe at the all famous "Kafe Haus". A day isn't complete in Moscow without a cup of coffee at a cafe (a Mediterranean habit that I have picked up). Weekends like this with good friends, good sights, and good memories give me much to look forward to for the remainder of my time in Russia.