the halloween party

 Little baby lion photo bomber got us in this one.

Happy Halloween!  Halloween isn't traditionally celebrated in Lithuania, though people know what it is.  Some of the younger kids are starting to pick up on it.  Anyways we figured we'd have a party since we are an English class and all....gotta teach some culture.  I was a bird and  Stevie faux hawked my hair.  I was the best looking bird around.  Well, there was one of the students' little brothers that didn't think so.  He's about 1 or 2 years old.  He came walking happily around the corner until he saw me with my mask on and I just saw the terror register on his face and then instant tears. So some Lithuanians are still coming around to the idea of Halloween.  We got lots of confused, upset, amazed stares while walking to and from school.  

But, we let the kids know that they could dress up and bring some food cause we were having a P.A.R.T.Y.  

I was pretty skeptical about if any of the students would actually wear a costume....and if they'd even get the concept.  But they got it. And their costumes were legit.  They put my bird hair to shame.  We had a feast of treats and the kids loved it and it was the best. I think Lithuania has some hope yet of bringing the Halloween notion around. Our work here is done. Mission accomplished.

life lately.

Beet soup.  Pear juice. Rice something that tastes amazing and makes me really excited that I'm not having potatoes again.  

Yeah we have potatoes a lot.  A lot = daily. 

Fav chocolate that I've found. If anyone wants me to bring them home something yummy you better start bribing me. 

This little one was in the hallway crying for her mother because she didn't wanna go to class.  Without speaking her language, 20 minutes later I got her to this blissful state.  I'm awesome.  And yes she has short bangs in the middle because she cut them.  She's awesome, too.

Attempting to learn Russia while we're here. And Lithuania.  It's a whole big mess.

Pizza night was exciting enough to document with a photo.

They made bubbles in class and used pipe cleaners for the tool.  

People give us boxes of chocolate all the time as gifts.  I kinda like it.

And so it begins.

So, I'm here in Vilnius, Lithuania! Its been so great, I love it already. 

This is our apartment building.  Me and the other 4 teachers are living together. 

My bedroom.  I have zebra sheets and cats on my wallpaper.  Its more ghetto cute that I ever dreamed it would be :)

That's right. You heard me. Cats on my wallpaper.  

One of the teachers, Stevie.  We clean up nice yeah?

Our cute little kitchen.

We have two doors and 3 locks. So take that robbers.  

The advertisement for our school. We're legit.  

This cool guy is Gediminas.  Legend has it that he had this dream about a wolf in armor and then was told he would would build a city strong as a wolf.  That statue symbolizes him showing like here is the place for the city Vilnius and there's a wolf below him.  This tiny, little, independent, baltic country strong as a wolf. Love it. 

You're supposed to stand on that and make a wish.  So I did. I can't wait for it to come true! 

I'm so excited to get to know this awesome country.  When I told people that I was going to Lithuania for four months the first question was always "where is that?  south america?" and the second question was always "why do you want to do that?"  The more places that I see in the world the more I addicted I am to finding out where else I can go.  There's so much to learn and see that has changed me completely as I've traveled and its so worth all of the awkward and uncomfortable moments of traveling, including the insane jet lag that I'm fighting.  As soon as I heard there was a new school in Lithuania opening up, I didn't know a single thing about the tiny country but I just knew I had to get there.  This is where I'm supposed to be and I love every minute of it.  Even my cat wall paper. And especially the amazing food (I definitely won't be anorexic here like I was in China).  Dima is the coordinator here running the school and he has been AMAZING! The best part is that he speaks fluent English.  Phew! He's been helping me with everything.  He taught me a couple Lithuanian words too and my favorite is saying thank you, aciu, because it sounds like a-choo like I'm sneezing.  Pretty easy to remember. Its a little awkward to start speaking a new language anyways and then funny man Dima kept saying "bless you" whenever I said it. Pretty sure I turned red every time. 

Life Lately

Loving Black Bean Burgers lately.

Second time seeing Imagine Dragons in a couple months. Obsessed much? I don't care, they're awesome. 

First time seeing a soccer game.  Turns out they're a lot more fun than I thought!  P.S...We beat Toronto :) 

Lay in the grass and look up.  Its good for the soul. 

Yes, I took one of those in the mirror photos of myself.  Stop judging and just look at my cool fishtail braid.  

Its my favorite season here in Utah! 

Going to swim lessons!  Prior to this picture he put on his speedo and goggles and serenaded me with "I'm sexy and I know it". 

Hiking with Dad. The hike was awesome, the tour at the top was not. 

Happy Memorial Day!