My last day in the Nordic Languages Secondary School in Riga was spent with each of Inga's classes. We discussed vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and various terms that have subtle meaning differences whether uttered by a British or Amaerican English speaker... We also shared sports analogies, and a few American proverbs and slang terms.
Grade 10 students wanted to leave Columbus with a final CCNN greeting:
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Visit to Vidusskola 34 and the seaside at Jurmala
I enjoyed another intense day in Riga, Latvia! I arrived at the Vidusskola 34 secondary school for a full schedule of activities and events; Marina ensured I was treated to a welcoming environment.
I met with three classes and discussed the Civic Voices International Democracy Memory Bank Project with students who were very interested to learn that their opinions would be added to the Student Survey results (everyone wants another person to listen to one's opinion, no?).
As I was leading one session, we had an impromptu meeting with the Riga City Mayor and Vice Mayor who were at the school to discuss proposed renovations and improviements. Photo opportunity with the Riga City leaders, Mayor Nils Ušakovs and Vice Mayor Andris Ameriks!
After a delicious lunch, I was treated to a lovely concert by students who sang and performed with great enthusiasm; who wouldn't want to be serenaded with "Pretty Woman" by a choir of young men!
After an interesting meeting with the members of the school's active student parliament, I conducted a training session with teachers to share the Civic Voices Project and to invite them to consider having their students participate.
Marina and Natasha drove me out to Jurmala to enjoy an afternoon at the seaside of the Gulf of Riga.
It was windy and cold, but the bright sunshine illuminated and enhanced the wonderful scene of gulls, waves and sand dunes.
We took in more of Latvia's coffee culture at a Jurmala cafe and tried Balzams for the first time!
It tastes like medicine and it is touted to have healthful properties!
What a wonderful day to add to this collection of fabulous days here in Latvia...
Check out the videos of the Choir and performances at the following links:
Latvian Folk Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRRS0r6u5zQ
Spiritual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiLIlvv3vpg
Russian Folk Tale "Gingerbread Man": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ7Lh-9UiOA
Russian Poem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZfjBmRGNSE
"Pretty Woman": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ipbzDdJr8
French Chanson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATyHHI5zrPo
Monday, April 18, 2011
The view of the Gauja River Valley from Turaida Castle Tower
Enjoy the view! We had a stunning day in the Gauja National Park area...
Day eight (already?) in Latvia
This morning, I spent four lessons with students in the 12th and 10th grades, and the students in Latvia also are not very motivated on a Monday morning - something they have in common with my students!
We discussed the Civic Voices democratic concepts, and we completed the Freedom of Expression Listening activity (http://www.civicvoices.org/UserFiles/Freedom%20of%20Expression%20Listening%20Guide.pdf and http://www.civicvoices.org/MemoryBank ).
Several students participated fully and I was pleased to see their energy and interest.
A few of them were interested in the SMART board I used for the lessons, and most of them wished to have their photo taken for today's blog post!
After lunch, Inga's son, Ivo and I traveled to visit the Riga area Holocaust Memorials of Salaspils, Rumbula, and Bikernieki Forest... A mournful way to spend a sunny afternoon, but important for me to accomplish.
I appreciated having Ivo with me to help translate the markings in Russian and Latvia, and we visited locations that he had never seen. I found Salaspils to be an impressive and sad...especially the children's memorial with all the stuffed animals and flowers honoring the lost lives of so many young girls and boys.
The monumental statue of the Mother protecting her children made me weep, and the statues of the defiant and supportive individuals were moving.
We then visited Rumbula, and I found the memorial's design to be simple and intense...
It was odd to hear the noises of the street traffic and of the nearby concrete factory and the rail lines in the middle of the wooded memorial site.
As you can see from the photos, the memorial stones are effective and moving...
After a while, we traveled to the Bikernieki Forest memorials which are on both sides of a major roadway. This memorial was also in the wooded area of Riga, surrounded by trees moving in the wind, pine needles rustling a murmur of remembrance.
The stones marking the memorial, and the markers for the too many mass graves were solemn reminders of so many men, women and children lost, their lives full of potential and gift deprived of reaching their fullness.
I was disturbed to find evidence of individuals who have no respect for the solemnity of the Memorial; many empty bottles and other trash were left in the stones of the memorial and its environs...
Upon our return to Riga, we visited the cemetary to view the tomb of Latvia's first President, and to see the monuments to the victims of the Soviet oppression.
We arrived in Riga center and drove past the Cheka secret police Corner House, the site of interrogation and persecution of Latvians. We stopped to witness the monument in the form of a door with a small viewing window...such abuse of power.
A day filled with more Latvian history, time spent with Latvia's future, its students, and an evening filled with clear skies and sunshine...also a day of so many thoughts and feeling...
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Inga explains the Turaida Roza legend
Take a listen to the Latvian legend of Turaida Roza, Maija, who saved her purity but lost her life:
The history of Latvia has been filled with pain and hope and resilience! I am honored to be able to learn so much from my Latian friends who are proud to share their country's life and heritage...
The history of Latvia has been filled with pain and hope and resilience! I am honored to be able to learn so much from my Latian friends who are proud to share their country's life and heritage...
WILLOW SUNDAY BLESSING EXPLAINED
Inga shares the Willow Sunday blessing and its importance to Latvians on this special day:
Willow Sunday (Palm Sunday) in Latvia!
Today has been another fantastic day!
I awoke to Inga's invocation of the Willow Sunday blessing: "May you be round as a willow, flexible as a twig, health in and sickness out!"
We also had two harbingers of prosperity during the day - Inga swinging on the swing and a stork in its nest!
Inga's son, Ivo, kindly drove us to the countryside to witness the beauty of the Gauja National Park and to experience history of past centuries in Latvia by visiting several castles and fortifications.
We began in Araisi where an island fortress was first established in the 9th century, and a walled fortress was built nearby a few centuries later.
We proceeded to Ligatne to experience a Secret Soviet Bunker tour. It was amazing to descend three stories and enter the bunker - it was damp and smelled like "underground."
It was very interesting to see the telex and phone equipment from the 70s, and to see the maps indicating projected flooding and fallout in the case of nuclear attack...
It was also a bit unnerving to see Lenin's face in most of the rooms we toured. We even had a meagre Soviet bunker lunch!
We continued our Latvian history tour with a stop in Cesis to view its castle, and we also saw the monument to the Estonian student brigade that fought against the German forces between 1919 and 1920 (yes, WWI Armistice was in effect, but there were German troops still fighting in Latvia).
We finally arrived in Sigulda to experience Turaida, a Middle Ages castle and fortress.
It was well preserved with a thorough exhibition of archeological evidence excavated when the castle was explored and opened to the public
The view from the tower was spectacular!
We also learned the legend of Turaida Roza, and visited the cave where she was brutally threatened and where she offered her life to save her purity.
Newly married couples traditionally visit the grave of Turaida Roza soon after they wed.
We ended the wonderful day with a meal at the largest Lido Latvian cuisine restaurant.
It is well decorated for Easter, and the grounds provide young and old opportunities for diversion.
I return to the school to lead classes in the morning. I hope the SMART board I have requested arrives on time to allow me to "do my education magic!"
Untill later... Labvakar!
I awoke to Inga's invocation of the Willow Sunday blessing: "May you be round as a willow, flexible as a twig, health in and sickness out!"
We also had two harbingers of prosperity during the day - Inga swinging on the swing and a stork in its nest!
Inga's son, Ivo, kindly drove us to the countryside to witness the beauty of the Gauja National Park and to experience history of past centuries in Latvia by visiting several castles and fortifications.
We began in Araisi where an island fortress was first established in the 9th century, and a walled fortress was built nearby a few centuries later.
We proceeded to Ligatne to experience a Secret Soviet Bunker tour. It was amazing to descend three stories and enter the bunker - it was damp and smelled like "underground."
It was very interesting to see the telex and phone equipment from the 70s, and to see the maps indicating projected flooding and fallout in the case of nuclear attack...
It was also a bit unnerving to see Lenin's face in most of the rooms we toured. We even had a meagre Soviet bunker lunch!
We continued our Latvian history tour with a stop in Cesis to view its castle, and we also saw the monument to the Estonian student brigade that fought against the German forces between 1919 and 1920 (yes, WWI Armistice was in effect, but there were German troops still fighting in Latvia).
We finally arrived in Sigulda to experience Turaida, a Middle Ages castle and fortress.
It was well preserved with a thorough exhibition of archeological evidence excavated when the castle was explored and opened to the public
The view from the tower was spectacular!
We also learned the legend of Turaida Roza, and visited the cave where she was brutally threatened and where she offered her life to save her purity.
Newly married couples traditionally visit the grave of Turaida Roza soon after they wed.
We ended the wonderful day with a meal at the largest Lido Latvian cuisine restaurant.
It is well decorated for Easter, and the grounds provide young and old opportunities for diversion.
I return to the school to lead classes in the morning. I hope the SMART board I have requested arrives on time to allow me to "do my education magic!"
Untill later... Labvakar!
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