School Days

Jim is now in the middle of his third week of school. He was admitted into the graduate studies program of the University of Montenegro's School of Economics. His specific track is the Economics of European Integration. This is a very interesting time for this particular track of study as Montenegro is on the brink of joining NATO and the European Union. Because the program is geared towards professionals, he has class Friday evenings and all day Saturday. As you can imagine, focusing on graduate level lectures taught entirely in Montenegrin for this many hours straight is quite a feat! It has been so interesting for me to hear his stories of how different things are in the education system here. The culture alone comes with its own learning curve.

Our apartment is about a half a mile from the School of Economics, or the Ekonomski Fakultet, which makes it easy for Jim to walk to class and come home for the lunch break on Saturdays.

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to also go to school...as a teacher! One of the embassy spouses recommended me to help out as a substitute teacher at the QSI International School here in town. QSI is a non-profit school organization that has 36 schools in 27 countries worldwide. They teach entirely in English. Out of the 55 students in grades pre-K through 12, a small percentage is Montenegrin and the other students are children of diplomats and expats. I taught the art class for a week. Fortunately, since I know very little about teaching art, the teacher left a very detailed lesson plan for me to follow. Over the week, I taught the 3&4 year olds twice, the 5&6 year olds once, the 7&8 year olds twice, the 9-11 year olds twice and the 12&13 year olds twice. The high-schoolers were on a camping field trip so I didn't get to teach them. Overall it was a challenging and fun week that stretched my imagination, creativity and patience. I loved every minute of it, and I have a much greater appreciation for what my teacher friends do (especially those who teach the kiddos that are 7 and under)! It was also pretty fun being called Mrs. Armstrong by adorable little kids with accents! Hopefully, the school will need more help in the future. Mrs. Armstrong would love to come back and teach again!

 The art classroom was beautiful. The QSI School moved into a brand new facility this past February.

This was the beginning of the project I was to do with the 3&4 year olds. 

Fortunately, I have also had the opportunity to keep my nursing "skills" sharp by helping out occasionally with embassy children's immunizations. When one of the embassy spouses found out that I am a pediatric nurse, she insisted that my skills be put to use. She requested to the staff nurse at the embassy that I administer her baby's 5 month immunizations and the nurse happily agreed. Understandably, adult nurses prefer not to make babies cry if they don't have to! I gave this precious baby her 5 and 6 month immunizations and also several children's flu shots. Interestingly enough, one of the little girls that I gave a flu shot to had been in my art class. I asked her after the shot (she was very brave but did cry a little) if she thought I made a better nurse or art teacher. I fully expected her to say art teacher, as I had not made her cry in art class. It certainly made me feel confident in my choice of profession when she responded quickly with a resounding, "nurse!" Hopefully my pediatric nursing skills can continue to be put to use while we are here. I miss it!

Until the next adventure,

The Adventuring Armstrongs

Hike at Durmitor National Park

 

We hitched a ride with a friend on Sunday up north in the mountains to Durmitor National Park. It had beautiful hiking trails around two crystal blue and green lakes. We enjoyed a packed picnic lunch and a day of hiking around the lakes. It was a fantastic way to spend a beautiful October Montenegrin day!

5 Things I've Learned Since Moving to Montenegro

I was recently asked by the CLO (Community Liaison Officer) to write an article in the upcoming October Embassy Newsletter. Here's a sneak peek!

5 Things I've Learned Since Moving to Montenegro

By: Katie Armstrong

It is hard to believe that we have lived in this lovely country for three months already. Our short time here has proven that my husband and I are far from experts on this whole living overseas lifestyle. But in the course of our adventures we’ve learned a thing or two and I thought I’d share a few those.

1. Montenegro is the perfect combination of everything beautiful. Podgorica is wonderfully located within a short drive from the Adriatic and the mountains. It is a country that appeals to the beach bum like myself and the adventure seeker like my husband. There is everything from hiking and rafting to sailing and sunning. Every night we enjoy a sunset that’s more beautiful than the previous night’s. I’ve felt compelled to photograph every sunset because they’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! We also very much appreciate the abundance of green space in this city. There are plenty of parks and hills and walking trails that make outdoor exploring more than just sidewalks in the city.

2. Always be willing to meet up with people.  Making new friends in a new place can be tough! Take every opportunity that arises to join activities with groups of people. Our car has yet to arrive so we have been dependent on the generosity of others to take us along on their adventures. We have been very fortunate to be included in several trips to the coast and mountains. While the destinations have been truly fabulous, sometimes the trip is even better!

3. Don’t be afraid to get out into your new community! Think about things you are passionate about and

what gifts and talents you have and share them with people. You never know what it can get you involved in. I have been practicing pilates for many years and it is something that I love very much. I mentioned this to the property manager when we first moved in and she recommended several studios. Now I go to pilates three times a week. I’m the only one in the class whose native language is not Montenegrin and it’s fantastic! Every class is exercise and a language lesson rolled into one. Seeing and greeting my classmates out in town makes this place feel much more like home. I’ve also enjoyed joining members of the International Women’s Club lunches and coffees weekly. It’s an amazing feeling when you know there are people expecting you and excited to see you.  

4. The food is great! The ingredients are always fresh and local. Isn’t it interesting that the “farm to table” trend in the US is just a way of life here? We have really enjoyed finding ways to adapt some of our favorite recipes using ingredients that are more readily available here. It is also nice that although they may be a bit more expensive, we can still find a few of our favorites such as avocados and sweet potatoes. A trip to the Green Market provides not only fantastic fresh produce but also a unique cultural experience. We have also begun to adapt to eating at different times and  some of the social customs associated with dining out. When we arrived, we were thrilled to find so many cafes and restaurants within a few blocks from our house. Early on we noticed that we were frequently the only patrons eating. As we have come to find out, spending time in the cafe is much more about enjoying the company you’re with than the espresso or Šopska salad in front of you.

5. You will make mistakes! I have a strong desire to learn as much Montenegrin as possible during our two years. I believe that it will help me to feel much more comfortable and at home here in Podgorica. Before we arrived, I worked with a tutor twice a week and have been continuing to study Montenegrin since we arrived. I am working on being braver and braver with using the language while out and about in town and it has provided us a few laughs

along the way. Just the other day, I accidentally ordered 500 kilograms of ground meat from the butcher. That would be 1,100 lbs! Fortunately, he knew I meant 500 grams and just gave me a knowing smile and a little chuckle once I realized what I’d said. We have found that people are exceptionally appreciative, patient and surprised when we speak in Montenegrin. My conclusion is that I stick out anyway, why not stick out a little more by occasionally sounding silly when attempting to speak their language!

I know these five things are only the beginning but I believe what I’ve learned the most is that I desire to be a part of this community rather than a visitor in it. Although fitting in may take awhile, I’m looking forward to it and will keep making efforts to contribute during our time here. I get the feeling that this country has much more to teach me…and I am excited to learn.