The last day

I had my last ever class yesterday - my FCE class. As it was my last class, I just turned the last half into a conersation class. Unlike my cherryade swilling kids, my FCE students were shocked, sorry and surprised to see me go. I am also afraid that I'll miss them, but it has to be done.
Today was a special conference day where people from other schools in Romania and Spain came to see what we do. An organisation called Socrates organised the event in order to create cultural awareness within Europe. We had discussions on what is culture and what our experiences of teaching abroad mean to us. It could've been better and more interesting, but it was really short and we didn't get a proper chance to talk to the other teachers and students.
I am out celebrating tonight. My leaving do is going to consist of three consecutive nights out at different places. The Lithuanians are determined to see that I get a proper sending off.

Shiny happy Vilnius

Bar Paparazzi and Balti Dramblai


After months of searching for service with a smile and places with a good vibe, I have decided on a top five of 'happy' places in Vilnius
1. The Republic of Uzupis.
This 'republic' was established on April Fool's day 2002 as a happy, vibrant area to live in and visit. Uzupis attracts many 'bohemian' types such as students, artists and writers. It's a must and don't forget your passport.
2. Baras Paparazzi
Bar Paparazzi is quite a trendy bar chain that attracts young professionals who enjoy sipping on expensive cocktails. However, the place has a cool vibe and in-house DJs play anything from soul and 70s disco to cool, modern jazz. NICE!!!
In Vilnius: Totoriø 3, tel. 212-0135. Open:17-03. Fri, Sat 17-06.

3. Balti Dramblai
This is Vilnius' only non-smoking restaurants that sells all vegetarian food. It is situated in a basement. Although the food is too bland to be classed as real Indian cuisine, it is certainly cheap and fillling. The place also sells many varieties of real tea including chai and ginger and lemon tea.
Address : Vilniaus 41Tel : 262 08 75 Website : http://www.baltidrambliai.com/ Open daily :11:00-24:00except:Saturday: 12:00-24:00Sunday: 12:00-24:00

4. Prospekto Pub on Gedimino Street
This is the place to come on a Saturday night to let your hair down. The music's crap and cheesy, but who cares when it is full of people flirting wildly.

5. Bix
A great classic rock n roll pub

Springtime in the Baltics plus breaking news

The weather here is gorgeous!! I've been told that temperatures could reach +20. The patios are out and Vilnius is full of tourists, especially from the UK.
I have some breaking news: I have booked my flight back to the UK on the4th May. I have to leave early because of a number of reasons that I'd rather not mention on this blog.

Holiday in Lodz

Lodz's new Lizard King Bar plus Springtime in Lodz



Yesterday I faced a gruelling 12-hour journey from Vilnius to Lodz via. Warsaw on the bus. The best part of that of that was seeing beautiful storks rest on telegraph poles and rolling hills on the Lithuanian-Polish border. The rest of it was spent trying to get some sleep and restlessly trying to read my book.
I have arrived in Lodz safely to see my old colleague, Kasia and the school I used to work in. Nothing here has changed much in the last 10 months. Manufaktura, Lodz's biggest regeneration project still remains unfinished while most of the shops are pretty much the same. However, some new places have opened up such as more expensive coffee houses and a few more restaurants. Apparently, I only have another month until Manfufaktura finally opens its gates to the public.
I have been here for 18 hours and I am already bored. There are so many times you can walk up and down the main street, Piotrkowska Street. I have spent the morning reading my book and the Guardian.

Easter Weekend and Gruto Parkas

Uncle Len, Gruto Parkas
Alytus town centre





Had a great Easter Weeekend. Went to Gruto Parkas - an open-air museum dedicated to Communist Statues that once stood in Lithuania's towns and cities. Gruto Parkas is situated in the south - about a few km away from a spa town called Druskininkai. Some argue that this place rather controversial as it seems to glorify Lithuania's communist past. Despite what some people think, this is a representation of one of the most important periods of Lithuania's history.
Unlike Statue Park in Budapest, Gruto Parkas isn't just a display of different Communist heroes. It is a theme park with old posters of the revolution and has a number of different pieces from this period including a wagon used to expel Lithuanians to Siberia. It is said that over 360,000 Lithuanians were either killed or transported to Siberia under Stalin's rule.
As you walk around, you will hear communist propaganda music throughout the park. After one hour, it gets pretty annoying and tedious.
Anyway, I ended up missing the bus back, so I hitched to Druskininkai, only find that I couldn't get back to Vilnius. I ended up taking a bus to a place called Alytus. Alytus is a pretty dull but mad little town. There are no tourist attractions here - only grey buildings and pissed up youths with nothing better to do. Fortunately, I met some Lithuanians living in London, back in their home town for the holidays.
Am off to Sunny Lodz, Poland tomorrow. Will tell you all about that later.

Goodbye Altechna: Hello Easter

Had my final lesson with Altechna, my in-company class today. I just gave them back their tests and went through it with them. They all passed except for one. Very sad. I couldn't have wished for a better class to teach, especially as they are not like your stereotypical business English group. They come in wearing jeans and trainers. Unlike many adult-Lithuanian classes, They don't want shit-loads of anal grammar, but love speaking and other activities.
Their company deals with laser components, which is above my head.
For those interested, www.altechna.com

I also had a Professional Development Interview (PDI) with my Director of Studies about transferring to another school somewhere else. A few places look interesting: Georgia, Poland and Spain.
The Easter holiday begins soon!!!

Easter around the corner

A ten-year-old Lithuanian student wrote a lovely poem about Easter, which is as follows.

Easter's morning I wake up
And I really want to get up
Sun is shining through the window
Time is shouting:
Eggs are waiting, they want painting!
Rabbits hopping in the grass

Bunnies hopping from the window
Usually I wait for them
Never say you hate Easter!
Never say you hate eggs!!
You should say I love the SPRING!!

The warm weekend

The weekend was so far one of the best and warmest weekends. Temperature reached about 14C on Saturday, so it was one of the first days I could walk around without a coat. The skateboarders are out along with the mountain bikers and mums with their kids in pushchairs. On the other hand, Trakai is still frozen over and the ice-fishers are making the most of what is left of the long-cold winter.

Grey, Grumpy Vilnius

The Beer Bar: Enter at One's Own Risk

A blast from the past: The Fabijonskes District of Vilnius

Although the centre of Vilnius is a hotchpotch of baroque buildings and postmodern glass scyscrapers, a lot of the suburbs of the city's landscape is dominated by grey Soviet tower blocks. If you come to Vilnius, do not expect service with a smile, or a thank you come to that. The service in restaurants and supermarkets is pretty miserable and Soviet Union. They are particularly weary of foreigners around the area, although no-one has yet given me any grief.

Grumpy top Five:

1. Cili Kaimas on Vokiečių 8.

This place is very much like the Harvester in the UK, but with 'traditional' Lithuanian food. Don't even expect a thank you here. Expect to queue here for a long time. Once you are in, they will get you in and out as quickly as possible.

2. Baras Bistrot on Konsitutious Street

This place in the basement of the Soros International House school is a cheap, fast and convenient place to eat. The waiting staff occasionally smile. If you are lucky

3. The service in Akropolis Shopping Centre

Go anywhere in Akropolis and you will find sloppy service everywhere. This is probably because people are paid a pittance and are treated badly by bosses and customers.

4. The National Museum, Vilnius

Check out the stern looking staff making sure you don't do anything stupid or take any pictures.

5. The Kiosks

Next Week: Happy Vilnius Top Ten

Observation time

It's 6.0 am and I wake up to a lovely sunrise. I have to get ready for my 8am In-Company class, which is being observed by a top senior teacher. I am hardly ready as I am still dithering on what to do for the leson and the lesson order. Should I go through the book, or should I simply give them loads of grammar from Market Leader Business Grammar? My lesson plan is also a mess as it shows that I'm not sure on what I'm exactly doing.
The first half is a doddle - I just simply take the students through the book 'In Company Intermediate' and give them a lesson on how to interrupt during boring meetings. Students also learn how to deal with being interrupted during meetings. Useful!!! I give them useful language such as 'sorry to interrupt' and 'errm, just a minute.' I then give them some business letter to complete. My students seem happy enough.
It' 9.00 and my senior teacher is observing me playing grammar Monopoly with the students. Grammar Monopoly is like the real Monopoly, but with grammar correction questions. As I play the game, the guy writes loads of notes on everything I do. I worry what he is writing down. I nevously continue to play the game, occasionally questioning them on their mistakes to see if they have understood them. However, I am just simply too tired and rung out to give full explanations of the grammar.

Photo with co-teachers.

Me with Alus Svytrurs (Lithuanian Beer) and Stephanie (California)

Colleagues from left to Right. Ania from Poland, me and Dovile (Lithuania)

Biding my time

Things at my school are pretty quiet. I have had my workload reduced quite a bit as we have lost a couple of in-company classes. As a result, I have more time on my hands and too much time to spend what I earn. I have been flying through a number of books and spent early mornings in the cinema where I can watch films for around a quid.
Monday is the day when I teach my little ones English. Or at least try. At the age of 8-12, they are pretty hyper at best and want to try and rule the classroom. Today wasn't too bad as one of the key troublemakers, Lukas has now been kicked out. As a result, my class is more manageable. However, they do tend jump up often and shout out answers when I am trying to teach.
Listening exercises are often a good way of getting them to shut up and listen. Yelling them to shut up does nothing. Kids love drawing and can't get enough of it. Once they have something like this to do they will get on with it.