Two Months down?! Halfway done???

Okay I cannot believe how fast time is flying here in Lithuania. We've already been here for two months now and that means we're halfway done??? EXCUSE ME WHAT? Its crazy to me. This last month has flown by. I swear it was just the beginning of September? Then we only have two weeks of teaching left for October because the last week of this month we have our 10 day vacation. Then after that, time will fly even more.

This last month honestly has felt like a blur. I don't even know where to begin.. I guess since I last posted, we went to Poland for our first "official" vacation. That was a lot of fun but also very tiring because the last day was basically traveling all day long. Which is never fun. We spent about, 16 hours total on busses. I ran out of dramamine so I was getting pretty car sick, but luckily I didn't puke like I did on my flight from Seattle to JFK! Phew! 

Some weekends we just stayed in because we were so emotionally and physically tired from the school week. Other weekends we explored around Vilnius! My parents sent me the best package on the earth and I will admit, I was getting very irritable waiting for it to come because it took 3 weeks and I overreacted when it wouldn't come some days, but hey sometimes your emotions get the best of you hahaha! oops, sorry roommates! But I got it and now I have a supply of goodies that I'm rationing to last me until I come home. Lots of GOGO-squeezes, protein bars, nutri grain bars, peanut butter, cheese-its, and other yummy food! I am so so so grateful for my parents. They're the best. 

We had conference weekend this past month! Well, it was just last weekend. For conference weekend, we decided that we didn't want to wait a whole week to hear it, (they just watched it here) so we streamed it live. It was on 7pm and 11 pm our time. Sure we stayed up late but it was SO worth it. I love love loved conference weekend. Its hard to pick a favorite but some of mine were: Uchtdorf, Hales, Monson, Keetch, Nelson, Holland, Oaks and Schwitzer. I felt like conference was exactly what I needed. I have such an overwhelming feeling of joy and desire to be more like my Savior. I'm trying to be better and more like him in every way possible and conference was just the reminder I needed.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from conference: 

Also! Annie, McCall and I have been going to Institute. The actual class with everyone else is at night and we can't make it then. But the senior missionary couple here is so incredibly amazing that they decided to make a class for us and teach us Wednesdays at 11 am! So, we have our own little class with them at their apartment :) They have been so incredibly welcoming and loving. They have made it easier being away from home. They are a wonderful example to me of being selfless and christ like love. I have love love loved institute so far. I am learning so much. We are right now focusing all on Jesus Christ and the everlasting gospel! My testimony is being strengthened and my relationship with my Heavenly Father has been growing. I am so grateful for institute. We love you Elder and Sister Nuttall!! 

Last week it was Annie's birthday and so we had pizza on her actual birthday and then her mom and brother came into town for the weekend! Annie hung out with them and showed them around most all of Vilnius and then Friday and Saturday Annie, McCall and I hung out with them. Saturday we showed them St. Ann's Cathedral and went to Uzupis which is a sovereign state in Vilnius. Its pretty funny. Then, we went to the Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso Art Exhibit which was really cool to see.

Overall, I love teaching but it is exhausting.. I mean it always will be BUT i've had so many good moments. I give teachers soon much props it is HARD work. I can barely handle the amount of time I teach cause its exhausting! I mean, I love my kids so so so much but I can't imagine teaching as long as real teachers, teach!! I think my favorite group to teach is my level 1 kids and then pre-language. I know I'm probably not supposed to have favorites BUT, I do. Level 1 kids are so so so funny. One of my students farted three different times in class and one of them smelled like she probably should've gone to the bathroom. Her name is Agata and she is the funniest, strangest child I have ever met. My level one kids get really crazy, one day they actually sounded like howling monkeys. I honestly do not know how to describe them because they're so funny, yet so weird.

Heres one of the best moments I have had since being here. One student of mine in level one has been struggling for weeks on his spelling tests and would not even take them. He would break down in tears and just crumple up his paper. Two weeks ago for the first time EVER he got 100%. I wanted to jump up and down for joy, hug him so so tight and just tell him how proud I was of him! Of course, I did all three things. Now, for the past three tests he has gotten 100% !!!!!!! Not only that he would barely speak in class, not ever say my name, wouldn't participate. Now he always asks me for help, says my name, participates and has so much more confidence in himself. It makes my heart sooooo happy.

My pre-language kids are so lovable. They will just come up to me and give me hugs and pat my back. So cute and it warms my heart so much. Their smiles just make your heart so so happy! My level 2 kids are pretty dang funny too. One kid just talks about his goats that his grandma has in her backyard. Anytime we draw something that has to do with a garden or your house, he will draw goats with them. I know without a doubt in my mind that saying goodbye to these kids will break my heart and I will definitely be leaving a little piece of my heart here with them.

I cannot wait for what this next half of the semester will bring. More laughs than anything that's for sure. I got dang lucky because I don't know what I would do without Annie or McCall. The other girls are pretty great here too. However, I hope I don't freeze to death in the next week or so because our apartment is like a frozen tundra because in Vilnius the city controls when they turn on the heat... we don't get to. So, we have no heat in our apartment right now BUT Im so grateful I am here. Little things like this are making me realize how lucky and good we have it in the States. I love Lithuania, the experiences and memories I am making here. I know without a doubt in my mind this is what I needed to be doing in my life. These kids, my life long friendships I'm making, the travel experiences and all the memories I have and will continue to make will impact me in some way. Heres to halfway done!!!

Poland

Well, last weekend we went to Poland! We get 3 different vacation times and this was the first one! We get two 4 days and one 10 day! This was one of the 4 days. We were going to first Krakow, Poland and then Zakopane, Poland.

So, Thursday night we left to go to the bus station to take a night bus all the way to Krakow. It.was.long. But, the nice thing was the two busses we rode had TV screens in the seat in front of us so we could watch movies! I luckily had some dramamine still that I took because I get super bad motion sickness, and so I basically slept the whole way there. At points I would wake up and look out the window and the country side of Poland is GORGEOUS.

Our bus arrived in Krakow, Friday morning at 11 AM! We first had to take out some money from the ATM because unfortunately, Poland doesn't use euros. BOOOOOOO! But, its okay, their money is so pretty! We were all starving so we decided to find somewhere to eat. Luckily the bus station had little restaurants and we settled on this burrito place. IT WAS SO DELICIOUS. Oh my gosh. My tummy was so happy. Finally after we finished eating, hung out for a little, we went to go find our hostel.

Krakow is so pretty! All the green everywhere made my heart so happy. All the buildings and the detail on them is so gorgeous. Finally we arrived at our hostel and unpacked and washed up because we all felt disgusting from being on a bus all night long. After that we decided to head out and explore the town of Krakow :) It was so much fun! We went to the big castle they have there next to their old town and square, and just had fun walking around! There were carriage rides all over the center square it was so magical. After that we all decided we were getting tired so we went back and relaxed at our hostel. For dinner we went to this cute salad dinner place and I had THE BEST pumpkin soup ever. I've never had pumpkin soup before, but that was the best if I ever do have it. We were all so exhausted so after dinner, we got home around 8:00 and we were all just ready for bed.

The next day we woke up around 7:00 to get ready to go meet with tour group for Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. I knew going in, that it would be a lot to take in and boy it was. It was amazing, sad, eye opening, mind blowing to be walking where so many innocent lives taken and where history unfortunately took place.

We first went to Auschwitz I camp. That was... wow. We learned a lot about the "process" and what people went through and thought was going to happen when they were coming to the camp. How they would literally be on trains for days without food or water. I mean, I remember learning a lot about this all in School but it is INCREDIBLY different walking and being there. We walked through the bunks where sick, disgusting, "medical experiments" would take place. A lot of this camp was turned into a "museum" in terms of teaching a LOT of history and it was just so much to taken in. All the new things I learned too made me sick. One "block" or building we went into had the hair they shaved off the people's head and I cannot explain to you how sick that made me. I am still unable to wrap my mind around what I saw. Then we saw all the briefcases, shoes, hair brushes, glasses, cups, bowls, plates, clothes, dolls, "work outfits" and so much more. When we walked into each room our tour guide reminded us, "One item = one life lost." We also went into the torture chambers where they would do unspeakable things to people and it just made me sick and heartbroken for what all of those people went through. Finally the last part of the portion of the tour was walking through the gas chamber... I couldn't believe it. It is so hard to put into words what I felt there.

The second part of the tour was spent at Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. I cannot even begin to explain how in awe I was at how big it was. It honestly went on for miles. It made me so sad! We walked through and learned more about the history of it. How they tried to "cover up" what they did by burning the gas chambers but the ruins were all still there. There was this huge memorial there too and there was a saying in 22 different languages that says, "For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity where the Nazi's murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children many Jews from various countries of Europe." It was so sad. The whole day was just so emotional and its hard to put into words.

After we got back from the tour, we ate some food it was SO YUMMY!! Then we decided to go to the old Jewish Quarters in Krakow and explore. It was really cool to see everything! We also went to try this bagel place that is amazing. How? I do not know. I'm still thinking about it right now. Yup, wishing I had a bagel sandwich from Bagel Mama. Yummooo. Then McCall, Annie and I went to go get some hot chocolate because we were freezing. We also got a donut. I promise we do more things than just eat. We just chatted and chatted. I love those two so so much.

Sunday morning we left for Zakopane! Oh my goodness that place is GORGEOUS. It is a tiny town and in the mountains and my heart was just so so so so soooo happy. We went on a nature hike and just randomly explored. We had dinner at this yummy kebab place and the kebab was HUGE. Oh my gosh. So we were only there for the whole day sunday and monday morning. Sunday was so foggy and rainy and cold but it was magical. Poland is magical. I love it!

Then, monday afternoon, we left for our long long loooonnggg journey back home. It was long. We got home tuesday morning. Annie and I were so exhausted that we got home around 9 am, we passed out. We woke up at 1 in the afternoon to go to lunch. I'm so happy I got to Poland and I cannot wait for our 10 day vacation!!!!