Back to Roper a Whole Day of Fun! :) Lincoln Czech Club Accordion History Lesson

A few months back I had gone and spoke at Roper Elementary (where I had gone to school.) I was featured in our neighborhood newspaper, the Westword, after I had won the Miss Czech Slovak Nebraska title and got a call a few weeks ago about this. One of the 2nd grade teachers (who happened to be a past teacher of my younger brother) was reading it and thought of something she had been thinking for a while. She had seen that I play accordion and thought about the author study that the whole school would be doing in November. There was a book by this author about some uncommon instruments and she thought it would be fun to have me come and talk to the 2nd graders about my accordion. She was really excited when she called my mom and I happened to be there so we set up a date and time and it was in the books! :) I was excited to get to talk to another age group at Roper and well...just to go back to Roper period!! I emailed the 4th grade teachers again also and asked if I could come back again as the last group of 4th graders that I spoke to were now 5th graders. We tried and tried to set it up but with my work schedule it was hard. The day before I was attending to speak to 2nd grade one of the speakers that the 4th grade class canceled and I was able to take their place. (I think it was meant to be! HEHE!)

I started by speaking to the 2nd graders. I went through the normal information by talking about heritage and where my family came from. On of the teachers even brought me a globe to show them where it was. I told them about the LONG trip to the US and why they had come here. I also asked them what kind of things that they think these families would have to bring. Then I talk to them about my accordion and how I can't give up when I get frustrated with playing because it's hard but I can do it if I just keep practicing. I played a few songs and answered LOTS of questions! I sang the Blue Skirt Waltz also so they could hear the Czech words. (They had fun giggling hearing how different the words are.) I had lots of fun talking to this group. I went into the classroom of the teacher who invited me and talked to the kids more one on one. They were WONDERFUL listeners! :)

I had a few hours until I had to speak again so I went to the principals office and visited and also went and said hello to a few other teachers. It's always fun seeing some of the teachers I haven't seen in a few years. Hard to believe it's been 11 years since I went to school there! EEK! I also got to meet the author himself and got a signed copy of one of his books. Next stop was the 4th grade pod!

I got to spend my time in one 4th grade classroom and each of the classes rotated in. I talked about all of the same things as I did with the 2nd graders but in a different way. It was fun to hear the kids tell me what they know about their heritage. :) One kid said "I know Czech but I'm only allowed to say one word that I know because the rest are bad." LOL! Later on he raised his hand again and asked if he could share the word he knows and he said Husak and told everyone it means Goose. They were also great listeners and had lots of questions for me. I had a blast with each and every one of these classes!

After a few hours with the kids I had a bit of rest then headed to the Moose Lodge for the Lincoln Czech's meeting. We had our normal business meeting and for the first time I got to stand up and talk a bit about membership as the new membership chair person. I also told them a bit about my queenly duties to keep them updated. The entertainment for the night was Don and Emma Trouba and the history of accordions. It was AWESOME to see as a new accordion player. They first told the actual history of the accordion then went through all of the accordions that Don owns and told a bit about the differences and how he came upon that specific one. It's so much fun to me now to see all of the different accordions and how much different they each sound. I hope someday I'll have a collection 1/2 that size. LOL! Too bad they're not a bit cheaper. HAHA! Well I'll write after the next event.

Spanem Bohem!
Stefanie Vocasek
2009-10 Nebraska Czech-Slovak Queen

PS...I got a packet from Sherridan Elementary and opened it up to find handmade cards from the class I spoke to a few weeks back. They are SO AWESOME! :) It seriously made my day. Some drew pictures of me, my accordion, my crown, etc and each of them wrote me a small letter thanking me and telling me their favorite part of having me visit. Some said things on the front like "The Czech Queen Rocks!" or "I hope you win for USA." :) This is one of my favorite things I've gotten so far as queen!!!