I walked into the kitchen and spread across the floor was the skin of a wild boar. I was glad i did not know what I was eating at the time. The grandfather had hunted the boar which was common in certain parts of the country. It was said they were extremely dangerous and could kill a person. I learned not to ask what we were eating and just try everything.
My new host family lived in a house that had been in their family before the communists took over. Along with the house was a small farm with a stone building where mushrooms were grown and a sauna. Now that they had it back the grandmother and grandfather had their own apartment within the house. The family lived in the rest. I was given my own room on the upper floor where the rest of the bedrooms were located and there was a small den.
The school where I was to teach was within walking distance and one of the only non residential buildings in town besides a small store which my host family owned, the bank and the bus depot and train station. The town bar was located in the school. There was no drinking age so students were free to buy a drink, although I never saw any students buying alcohol.
The first day of school the principal called a teachers meeting at 10Am. We sat at desks in a circle and my friend who taught English to the younger students translated for me. Open faced sandwiches were passed around and the principal poured each of us a shot of vodka.
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