Week 1 (Orientation week)

My first week in Poland as a Lattitude volunteer has easily been one of the best of my life. Along with the twenty other young people who will be staying in Poland for the next five months, I attended at introductory TEFL course at the British Council in Warsaw from Monday to Friday. It may sound a bit dull but when you're part of such an enthusiastic and friendly group, everything is exciting. That's not to say the program at the BC was in any way boring. Spending our mornings trialling TEFL games and activities, then having the opportunity to practise teaching to a real class was a motivating kick-start to our placements.

While not at the BC, our group was spending time getting to know each other, either doing things in Warsaw with Beata or at the hostel. Certainly one of the highlights for me was the night we went ice skating at the National Stadium. Despite the odd tumble (I still have the bruises), we all had an amazing night doing something you hardly get the chance to at home. Of course, the night wouldn't have been the same without Sebastian, the plastic seal we hired that you could sit on while someone pushes you around. Admittedly, the only other person using one was two years old. but age is just a number, right?

On Saturday, we were all sad to say goodbye to the new friends we'd made and head off to our placements and host families. It's amazing to think how close we all became in just one week. For me (like a few others), the weekend meant settling into a suburb of Warsaw with an incredibly open and welcoming family who gave me a tour of the beautiful Old Town on Sunday. For others, however, the week ended with a train ride to another area of Poland. Regardless, I think we're all excited to begin teaching and I'm sure we'll see each other very soon.

Jessica