»We learn by teaching«

If I remember it right, I still owe you a final report. It sure is difficult to decribe the period of the past three months in a couple of lines. Not difficult, impossible.

As I've mentioned before saying goodbye was rather stressful. However, I am now certain I will see some people again. Which makes it a bit earier.. Chiara most certainly being one of them! ..the best flatmate one could wish for. Without a doubt!

Farewell dinner with Chiara and her boyfriend Mauro

On my last day, the school organised a kind of a farewell party for me. It was amazing! I had a very hard time trying not to cry ;) It really was very emotional. A couple of students baked different pastries for us to try, while others prepared a review-presentation of my stay at their school.


It was especially difficult saying goodbye to my mentor Silvia who was very much helpful and did all she could in order for me to feel at home. She was very successful at it! Silvia, I'm sure gonna miss you..

Silvia and myself

I am very fortunate to have such a boyfriend who was willing to come and pick me up (together with all my luggage ;) and take me back home. The trip was nice and above all emotional, as driving along the Italian highways and listening to Italian music made me remember all the moments that I had there, all the people that I've met, and the changes that I've undergone.

However, before returning home FOR REAL, we made one more stop. Together with our friends we went to the Croatian island of Cres. The peace that I felt when by the sea cannot be described in words. Check the photo ;)

Now that the three months have passed I can conclude I've learned a lot. Teaching profession as such got closer to me than it ever was and I am now able to see it from another point of view. Teaching is a very interesting and exciting profession, but I now consider it more than just a profession. It is a vocation that the teachers have to show passion for. The proverb »We learn by teaching« can without a doubt be applied for my assistantship, as well. I've learned immensely!

Time to say goodbye..

It's been a week since my return to Turin after the Easter holidays which I've spent home with my family. My last days here went by very fast. Incredibly fast, really.
Besides having to finish off with what I've started three months ago at school, there was loads of saying goodbye. One emotionally intense week, indeed!
I did have to go through the whole »saying goodbye process« once in the past, but it seems to me that no matter how much you prepare for it- you can never be prepared enough.

What I'm feeling at the moment can be described as a kind of »dolce-amaro« taste; feeling extremely happy to return home but on the other hand being sad about leaving behind the life that I've been living in Turin for the past three months. It's been a different life, full of new and exciting things, full of new people (each touched me in his own way). But deep inside me I know this is the right thing. This is how it should be. The period spent here will definitely not be forgotten. But now it's time to move on.. I sure am curious about what life has prepared for me in the future..:)

In the previous week my school work did not differ much from that in any other week- helping teachers of English, that of TOK (Theory of knowledge), having to substitite for a missing professor and holding some supplementary lessons for students with problems.. and soon my working week was finished!

Yesterday it was particularly intense- I had my last lessons with the first and the second class. For this purpose (and to make it a bit more exciting) I've prepared a quiz about Slovenia. Since the start I've tried to make the students understand where Slovenia is located (which is, obviously, a knowledge not to be taken for granted ;) and what its characteristics are. To check whether they've actually remembered anything I gave them a test. They did relatively well. Why relatively? Well, there were still some commentaries about Bratislava and Zagreb being our capital, about Slovenia being a part of either ex Soviet Union or Checkoslovak Republic and this sorts of things.. but we managed to get by ;)

At the end I've asked them to give me a kind of a feedback on my work- writing what they liked and disliked about my lessons. This is something I find to be extremely useful as it can help you improve certain things. In addition, it's an opportunity for the students to get back at me for all the horrible things I've done in the past ;) To be honest I was really very much surpised by the commentaries given. It almost made me cry..
Here are some, in original form (still including grammatical mistakes ;):

»I enjoyed all the exercise, the explains, it was a very nice experience because now we speak the english better then before and we know a little bit better Slovenia.«

»I like very mutch your lessons becaus I have learn something about a new country. But I didn't like becaus you rest with us a few time. For this I am a little bit sorry. Hvala for everything.«

And my favourite one:

»I think she's very nice and friendly, and she can explain english very well. She could be a parfect teacher. I hope to see her again soon.

Ps: when she speak Italian she's very hot ;)«

Tomorrow the school is throwing a kind of farewell party for me. I've never had a party organised just for myself and so you can imagine how excited I am.. ;)

Let you know how it goes!

Family visit

As it has already been mentioned I had two very special guests.. my brother and my aunt paid me a visit last week and I can conclude it really was great! Seeing them after such a long time made it even more special than it already was.

We first took a trip around Turin which was, despite the fact I know it rather well by now, interesting for me, as well. Visual material which serves as a proof I'm not just messing with you, is found below ;)
Gran Madre and the Verbic "brothers" ;)

Mia crazy zia ;)

We also took some other trips to near-by places which I haven't seen so far. Among other places we also saw Venaria Reale, also known as "The Versailles of Turin". Let me say I've been to Versailles several times so far and I find it NOTHING like Venaria (and I don't mean that in a good way ;) Sorry.. ;)

La Veneria Reale

One place which I particularly fancied was defenately Sacra di San Michele. It is also known as "The Symbolic monument of the region Piedmont" which still today served as the religious object.

Sacra di San Michele/Saint Michael’s Abbey

Sacra di San Michele/Saint Michael’s Abbey

At the moment I'm spending my Easter holidays in Slovenia with my family and friends. I love it here! Even more now than I did before going to Italy. Slovenia is undoubtedly MY HOME. And even though I'm loving my days spent in Italy, nothing can be compared to the feeling that you get upon returning home..

This Sunday I'm going back to Turin to finish off what I've started 2 and a half months ago. I'm sure saying goodbye won't be easy. Leaving new friends, collegues, experiences behind.. But then, I'm an optimist myself when it comes to the future. And so.. new experiences, here I come! ;)

Three weeks to go..

The week that is about to finish passed extremely quickly; one of the reasons being that I only started working on Tuesday and not on Monday, as usual. Which made the whole week a day shorter ;)
As mentioned in the previous post I've been to Lyon last weekend.


As I really wanted to take full advantage of my stay there I asked my mentor if it would be possible to take a day off. Fortunately for me, she agreed ;)
This is actually something I really appreciate with this programme of Comenius Assistantship. An assistant is supposed to be working from 12-16 hours per week but the days when the work is supposed to be done are not really defined. So in a way assistants are relatively free when deciding when to work. However (and like in most cases) this also depends on the relationship that you establish with the mentor and with other school staff. I can say we have a good rapport. But then, isn't that always the case- when you're honest to someone, this someone is very likely to give his kindness back?

School was quite busy, though. I can even conclude the passing week has been one of the busiest so far. On average I worked for 4 hours per day, but when returning home there was plenty of other stuff to do... Believe it or not, it took me additional 4 hours to prepare for the lessons held in the following days. That's what I call hectic ;)
But I am now through with it and extremely happy about it ;)... did I tell you holidays start next week? Yeah, that's kind of the thing that keeps me going ;)

A classroom at Il Liceo Europeo Vittoria

At our school holidays start next Thursday and last up until the 19th of April. And so as you can see, I have a looong holidays ahead of me (and I'm sure not complaining about it ;)

Ok, so I've told you about my good, working side. However, teaching and preparing for lessons is not the only thing that I do around here (even though one might get precisely this idea ;). I do like to take time to enjoy myself, of course. To be honest, I already got the feeling that it's only a matter of time before I'll have to leave Turin and return to my sweet Slovenia. That's why I want to take full advantage of my stay here. And how do we do that? First, we go for some ice-cream tasting ;)
And so yesterday I met up with my friend Kate, again. The main purpose of this meeting of ours was to check out the new flavor of the month in one of the best gelaterias in town (GROM- I strongly advise you to remember the name! ;). But... believe it or not, this time I said no to it and only watched Kate as she enjoyed her scoop of Gianduja. I'm not saying it wasn't hard or that I did not suffer while watching her, but the thought I was able to resist it for once, makes me even happier ;)
By the way- the reason why I said no wasn't a religious one (or any other noble kind, for that matter). I was just too stuffed with other sweets that I had before ;)

Yesterday evening we went out for dinner. A friend of mine, Alex from Romania, celebrated his birthday which is why he invited us for an aperitivo. It was a very lovely evening!

And today? Well, apart for writing this post, I’m preparing myself for a very special visit. My brother and my aunt are already on the way to Turin... how cool is that? ;) We’re planning to visit some things in the city and hopefully we’ll manage to see some other cities which I have not had a chance to visit so far. And so I am expecting a very nice week! As a welcome present for them my flatmate Chiara (who is, by the way, a true expert in baking) and myself (well, I mostly did the watching part ;) baked these handome looking cookies.. Wanna a bite? ;)

Weekend in Lyon

Last weekend I've been to Lyon (France) where I met up with an old friend Johann. We were hosted by his brother Benjamin and his family who did their best in trying to make me feel like home. They did an excellent job!

Adell de Ortells family, you trully are great! ;)

Let the photos tell the rest..

The Roman Era Theatre

Place Bellecour

Panda town ;)
Basilica de Fourvière I.

Basilica de Fourvière II.
Charnay

Here and there and everywhere

If you happen to be wondering what has Tina been doing in the past week, here's a brief description ;)

On Friday evening I usually go to the Italian language course. Last Friday was particulary sweet. Wanna know the reason? Well, two of my friends from the course and myself went to try out some ice-creams just before the course. I actually took them to a gelatteria where another friend of mine took me a week ago. I was thinking it would be a shame not to spread the word of "the best ice-cream in town" to others ;) And judging from their faces I would say they loved it as much as I did ;)

After the course we went to a kind of a party (which proved to be nothing more than a dinner, but ok ;) Here's a photo..


Later we went for some chocolate tasting which proved to be an excellent way of ending the day ;)

On Saturday I was invited to join two of my students together with their family as they visit the Museum of Oriental Art. An interesting museum, indeed. I recommend it!

We continued the day at a Chinese restaurant where we had a looong talk in 3 different languages (the mother is Serbian, which enabled us to speak our own languages). It was a bit confusing, but to be honest I liked having the chance to speak Slovene again!


The week passed very quickly again and I now see it's just a matter of time before my departure will come, as well.
Anyway, on Wednesday we went partying (together with Erasmus students which was niceee ;) and on Thursday my flatmate Chiara and her boyfriend have invited me to join them for dinner at their friend's house. Giorgio (the friend) certainly is one interesting person with loads of talents. Let me explain before you start worrying ;)
Apparently, he's an expert in palm reading. Well, at least that's what he says ;)
I learned some interesting facts about my life which I wasn't aware before. Anyway, always good to find out something new about yourself ;)

Friday night we went out again- a friend of mine from England (working just outside Turin) came with another friend and we went to grab dinner together.

And Saturday.. well, on Saturday I went to Como (most famous for its lake, of course). There, I met up with Ivan. He's a Spanish guy who I first met at that meeting of Comenius Assistants in Florence. As you see, I got to know quite many people there. So those of you who will actually go abroad as assistants- do go to this meeting, you will regret not going. That's an ORDER! ;)


Como was really nice. Honestly, I didn't expect to see so many nice things there. On the way back I stopped to Milan where I had 3 hours before my train back to Turin. I went to see some other places which I could not visit a week before. Among other things, I saw one of the most prestigious shopping streets in Milan (Via Monte Napoleone). So if you happen to find yourself having 1 000 euros to spend, I suggest you stay at home. Do not come here with less than 5 000 ;)

Till next time..

International week

One great week!
I know I say this for every week that has passed, but this was REALLY something speacial ;) For a week our school hosted 17 Dutch students and 2 professors, coming from the Merewade College in Gorinchem, Holland. They came here with a programme of the European Union (Comenius school assistansthips) which enables schools to take part in such one-week lasting cultural exchanges. I found the programme an excellent way of getting to know a foreign culture, giving the the students a unique opportunity to live out a real Italian experience. Such an exchange is based on the principle of reciprocity; last November our students have gone to the Netherlands and spent one week with the Dutch families. This time it was them who did the hosting part. Each Dutch student lived with an Italian family. Great, is it not? A true and genuine experience!

I was really glad (and fortunate) to be able to participate in the whole thing. My task was to help with the organisation and to join our guests when sightseeing. As you can imagine, I had no problems with that.. no problems what-so-ever ;)

And so on Monday we took them to Lingotto, a former Fiat factory which is interesting for two things. First, it has a track all around the building and so when the directors wanted to observe the whole production process they did not even have to step out of their cars (they could drive all the way through). Second, it also had a rooftop test track for testing the cars. Smart, isn't it?

On Tuesday we went to the Egyptian museum (the 2nd biggest in the world, immediately after the one in Egypt).
























Wednesday was an interesting day, as well. In the morning we visited Mole Antonelliana, the symbol of Turin which hosts the Cinema Museum. What I particularly fancied was the view from the top. If you're ever in Turin, it sure is a must to go on the top. On a clear day it seems you can see all the way to Slovenia. Well, almost ;)



TTT- The three teachers ;)

In the afternoon we visited another important sight- Palazzo Madama, one of the residences of the royal family. The palace now houses Turin's Museo Civico d'Arte Antica.


In the evening I was supposed to take the Dutch teachers out for dinner. I have to admit I don't remember the last time I had so much fun ;) To make the story short- late evening we ended up in the apartment of Sara, our afternoon guide to Palazzo Madama. Don't ask, it's a looong story ;)

I've never been to Milan myself, and so going there was something I've wanted for a long time. My wish came true on Thursday when we all went to see this fascinating city, found only two hours away from Turin. When we got in front of The Duomo there were crowds of people staring at the sky, shouting something. A couple of minutes later I found out the cause of their enthusiasm. On one of the balconies there she was.. Dolce Nera. Never heard of her? Well, join the club ;) But according to the number of people gathered there she seems to be rather popular among the Italian youth (recently she participated in the San Remo festival).
Anyway, let the photos tell more..

The students in front of Castello Sforcesco

The professors in front of Il Duomo

We ended the week on Friday by going to Parco Valentino and to see Borgo Medievale. Due to some organisational problems (or the lack or it, for that matter ;) we didn't actually enter (but as a proof, we did take a photo in front ;). But I think the students actually prefered having some unexpected free time than seeing yet another museum. I can't really blame them ;)


With more experiences that I have here I see my horizons are spreading. I see more and more possibilities that are offered by the EU and I can only hope others do, too. Take advantage of it or else you may end up regreting for not doing it. There are very many possibilities and so I'm sure you can find one that suits you, as well. Go for it, guys! ;)