Submitted by Ashley Manero on the 2014 winter session program in Budapest, Hungary sponsored by the School of Education…
This week was one of the most exciting weeks since I’ve been here! It started with more school visits to the Britannic International School. We visited the school a total of six times, and I have definitely learned a lot from this experience. I was able to observe classroom norms, routines, and engage in activities with the students. I led another lesson on inclusion and bullying. The class even played one of the games we taught them at recess! Today, I had the opportunity to attend a secondary school called Eotvos Jozsef Reformatus Kozepiskola in Heves, Hungary. This was an experience I will not forget. The students were Hungarian, but they were taking English as a class. I had the opportunity to sit in on an English class of 18 year olds and ask them questions about their life in Hungary. They were fascinated by us Americans and I was surprised to see how much we had in common. Later that day, we all participated in a traditional Hungarian folk dance lesson which was so much fun! All in all, both schools were a great experience.
In addition to these school visits, I had the opportunity to travel to Paris for an extended weekend. I was taken away by the beauty of the city and got to see so many interesting places. The Eiffel Tower, of course, was a breathtaking site. In addition, I visited the Louvre (where I saw the magnificent Mona Lisa), Musee d’ Orsay, Arc de Triomph, and Lock Bridge. We took a day trip to Versailles and I learned a lot about Marie Antoinette and the history of her life. The palace was beautiful and the gardens outside seemed to go on forever.
All in all, I am having an amazing experience here in Budapest.