Maturita is finished!! Let the Celebration begin!

So, after a very crazy week of leaving exams taken by the Seniors last week, the lives of everyone are a lot more relaxed! And it's a beautiful thing. The students spent months studying for this and crammed the entire last week to be prepared to speak about 4 topics chosen at random out of a possible of 100. So, they learned 100 topics for 4 classes and then had to speak about only 4 of the topics for 15 minutes each. It's a difficult process, and the hardest thing is that there are no breaks between exams for one subject. They have to know everything for all classes when they go in for the test. And after 4 hours, everything is finished and then they can all relax and enjoy life to its fullest. It's a wonderful thing. And the great thing is that everyone (at least that I know of) passed! And I know everyone who took english passed the English test. So, it was very simple, but a very stressful time. I think the idea of Maturita is actually a lot worse than the actual Maturita exam itself, but, that's part of living in the beautiful land of ČR!! So, what else. now that Maturita is finished, it was time for our kids to graduate. On Friday we had a graduation ceremony, but it was fairly unlike any in the states. So, we all show up to the place and sit down, of course everyone is dressed very nice. Then the principal says a few words and some other people and then they call each class up on stage and give them their certificate of completion (yet, I don't think it is really anything like a diploma, I think it is more like a "Please remember us bye" type of certificate.) Then maybe one or two students say something really quick, and then they invite all the students and teachers on stage at the end for some champagne. So, me and mike had to run down real quick, cuz we were on the balcony and we (as usual) weren't really informed about anything. So, we are all on stage, and the relatives and parents are just watching us and it's gotta be a bit boring for them. So we are up there and then when we all have finished clinkin our glasses together and toasting and stuff, then we go down and leave. That's all. No cap and gown, no big ceremonial speaches, nothing. It's a bit interesting. Oh yea, and I hardly understood anything also by the way.

This is the Business class of which I taught 4 wonderful girls (all of which passed beautifully, thanks to their wonderful teacher).
















So, this next class was the 8 year Gymnazium students. I had two guys from this. They are great as well.






This next group is the 4 year Gymnazium students, and the majority of my Maturita students. It was a great year and I'm gonna miss all my students very much. Hopefully I can stay in touch with some of the graduating class next year. It would be great.








Here are some pictures from our after-Maturita party with the 4 year Gymnazium class. It was fun. And the photos are full of big American smiles. It's great



So, then, afterwards, we rushed home in order to prepare for the after-Maturita class party of the 4-year gymnazium students. These parties are strictly for the graduating class and teachers, only. So, where to have it, but in a pub. Yea, you think this would fly in America? So, we eat dinner, the students are talking with all the teachers, drinking and smoking blatantly as in casual talk. But, they aren't students anymore, so somehow it's totally ok. It was a sad night. Everyone saying goodbye for the last time after 4 years, and everything was just bittersweet. It was a great time to say goodbye to students and to have a different environment for speaking English. It was a great time and I think that I'm really gonna miss all of them. It's crazy, and next year is gonna be just as crazy. peace.








Here's some pics of some of the guys just being awesome and jammin to some beats.