Whilst we’re almost at the end of September already, let’s recap this month!

Well, one thing’s for sure, summer is gone and over with. It’s like the weather gods were like, August is no more, so here is your autumn weather in return.
The rain clothes for the kids are the daily outfits, and I need a proper wintercoat, because I am just freezing all the time. Looking forward to actual winter…

The first week of September was all about the start of a new school year. Unlike in the Netherlands, it starts everywhere on the first of September. It was almost like a culture shock, because it felt like a holiday, with all kinds of celebrations. If they did it like this in my schools, I think we all would enjoy school a bit more!
There were flowers everywhere, little treats for the kids and cake for the teachers.
Of course we made group pictures, and I have even more respect for the professional photographers who go to schools to take all the photos. It doesn’t matter how many pictures you take, there are always one or two kids that don’t look at the camera, or won’t do what you aks them to do. But we managed, and they turned out super cute.

In the evening, there was the annual official celebration with all the parents, children and staff to start the school year. In the previous years it was held in the schoolyard, but now because of COVID, they decided to go to the park instead. It was a lot easier with the testing, and even though it was a bit bigger space, it still felt cosy.
I was asked to help with scanning and checking all the vaccination certificates, so I felt like a security guard, without basically any knowledge about the Latvian language, it was just saying yes and thank you.
After all the official welcoming speeches, they introduced all the teachers to the parents, and unfortunately, I had to be introduced as well. I don’t like being in front of a big crowd, it makes me feel uncomfortable and awkward, especially when they make a picture of you too. So after the torture, it was time to party! All the families brought something to eat, and some of the dad’s started to play some music.
When we all started to dance together, I was finally warming up, because even though I was wearing multiple layers of clothes, I was freezing.
Which let to, what else, another cold.

So instead of fully immersing myself in school the next week, I was stuck being home again.
I really don’t like being sick, as any other person doesn’t, but I used my time by preparing for my English lessons and researching about Photon Robotics.
After a few days at home, one of the teachers called me and asked how I was feeling. Some of the other teachers were also sick, and since I was the one who was feeling the best, they needed my help with the kids outside in the forest. I was so happy to get out of the flat and to feel useful, and the forest is such an amazing place. We took the 3/4 year olds for the first time, so for them it was more about explore and play than a real class.

On Sunday morning, Rasa texted me, inviting me to join her family at their countryside house for lunch, to celebrate father’s day. I hadn’t seen her for a little bit, since she goes to school in Riga, and she would go to Belgium the week after. It’s always great to spend time with her and her family, especially on a holiday like this.
After the weekend, it was finally my first official schoolweek, and quite a busy one as well. I helped Aija on Monday with the 4th grade, to introduce them to the Photon Robot and some new English words. We agreed on that I would lead the next class on Thursday with the 6th grade, and with the 4/5 year olds I started with English as well. We talked about colours, played a game and learned a song about them.
I kinda forgot that children’s songs get stuck in your head. So now I’m waking up at night and there it is, playing on repeat in my mind. Not kidding, this actually happened.

Tuesday was booked for a school kids excursion day. Or as we Dutchies like to call it, schoolreisje! We went by this old school bus to Krāslava, some 50 km away from Preiļi, to go to this craft center. We could choose between 3 workshops, pottery, wood burning and leather-working.
After we finished our beautiful art pieces, we jumped back in the bus to go to the next stop. It was a town not too far away, and took us through the border area. It was quite noticeable, since it was less inhabited then the area we are located in.
We had lunch at our next destination, which was the museum of happiness. Apparently there are more places or museums that use an old church, but if was my first time seeing this. It was interesting, because of course everything was in Latvian, so to understand the story was impossible, but I got the overall message. I mean, we got to smash plates, eat some cocoa beans and make our own fragrance pouch. Everything to get those endorphins working.

Beside helping or teaching my own English classes, I also assisted with the cycling classes. Which is quite the experience. As a Dutchie, the happiest you can make me, is by giving me a bicycle. After explaining some basic rules, we were off. Firstly we took the 3th and 4th grade for a loop around town. Of course, everyone was wearing a helmet, but me. I am supposed to, especially when te kids are wearing one, but I forgot to get one and the one that was left was too small. Better next time then.

Today was also Aija’s birthday, and since it was easier to invite some people over to my flat, we had a small dinner party. Which included, no joke, me playing a game or two. For the people who don’t really know me, when my friends invite me over for game night, I bring a book. I just don’t really like games.

So, day after, we took the 6th grade for their bicycle class. And of course, you have to level up with the older kids. Instead of stay in and around Preiļi, we went quite a bit further. Which meant, cycling where the cars go too. Maybe I am spoiled with the cycling culture we have in the Netherlands, but to cycle next to cars who go at least 60km/h, is not my cup of tea. The surroundings were obviously really pretty, and we ended up at Mārtiņš’ dad’s summer house, for a quick break. On the way back to school, we took a different road, where the cars went not 60, but at least 90km/h. Awesome. Felt really safe, wearing a helmet now.