825 slov / 5 min.
Druhý deň. Zvykanie
Ráno ich zobudil spev vtákov a lúče slnka prenikajúce cez okno. Všetci sa ponáhľali do umyvárne, ustlali si postele a prezliekli sa do športového oblečenia. Len Jurko, známy svojou chaotickou povahou, prišiel do jedálne s rozstrapatenými vlasmi, v tričku naruby a s jednou ponožkou modrou a druhou červenou.
„Jurko, Jurko,“ vzdychla si pani učiteľka, ale nemohla sa ubrániť úsmevu. Pomohla mu upraviť sa a konečne si mohli všetci sadnúť k raňajkám – voňavý čaj, chlieb s maslom a medom, cereálie s mliekom.
Po raňajkách vyrazili do lesa. Pani učiteľka ich prekvapila svojimi znalosťami. Ukazovala im rôzne druhy stromov, učila ich rozpoznávať vtáčie hlasy a našla dokonca stopy srnky!
„Vidíte tento mach?“ ukázala na zelený koberec pri päte starého stromu. „Rastie vždy na severnej strane. Podľa toho sa môžete orientovať v lese.“ Roderik žasol. Nikdy by neveril, že jeho učiteľka slovenčiny vie toľko o prírode.
Našli aj mravenisko a pozorovali, ako usilovné mravce nosia ihličie. Pani učiteľka im vysvetlila, ako funguje lesný ekosystém a prečo je každý jeho článok dôležitý.
Po chutnom obede (výborná paradajková polievka a rezne so zemiakovou kašou) mali matematiku a slovenčinu, ale bolo to také iné ako v škole. Počítali príklady o zvieratkách v lese a písali príbehy o svojich dopoludňajších zážitkoch.
Večer, keď už ležal v posteli a čakal na správu od rodičov, uvedomil si Roderik, že prvýkrát za celý deň ani nemyslel na to, že mu je smutno. Mal toľko zážitkov! A keď prišla večerná fotka od rodičov – tentoraz Rex spal s jeho starou papučou – usmial sa a pomyslel si, že zajtra ich čakajú určite ďalšie dobrodružstvá. Zaspával oveľa ľahšie ako včera, hoci mu rodina stále chýbala. Ale vedel, že to zvládne. A možno zajtra objavia v lese nejaký poklad…
Tretí deň. Deň plný dobrodružstiev
Tretie ráno v Škole v prírode začalo už akosi prirodzenejšie. Roderik sa zobudil ešte pred budíčkom, sám si ustlal posteľ a dokonca pomohol aj Maťovi s úpravou jeho postele. V kúpeľni stretol Zuzku, ktorá si každé ráno čistila zuby presne tri minúty s presýpacími hodinami v ruke.
„To aby som mala zdravé zuby ako moja mama zubárka,“ vysvetlila mu dôležito, keď zbadala jeho pobavený pohľad.
Pri raňajkách sa už všetci cítili ako doma. Len tichá Emka sedela sama v rohu a takmer sa nedotkla svojho chleba s džemom. Pani učiteľka si to všimla.
„Emka, poď si sadnúť k dievčatám,“ navrhla jemne a priviedla ju k stolu, kde sedela veselá Peťka. Tá hneď začala Emke rozprávať vtipné príhody a postupne sa k nim pridali aj ostatní. Roderik si všimol, že Emka sa prvýkrát od príchodu usmiala.
Dnes ich čakalo dobrodružstvo pri potoku. Samozrejme, nechýbala ani zábavná príhoda – tentoraz s Filipom, ktorý bol známy tým, že všetko musel vedieť najlepšie. Keď im pani učiteľka vysvetľovala, ako rozpoznať rôzne druhy rýb v potoku, Filip ju neustále prerušoval svojimi „expertnými“ poznámkami.
„V skutočnosti táto ryba pláva rýchlosťou presne 7,5 kilometra za hodinu!“ vyhlásil sebaisto. Všetci sa museli smiať, keď mu pani učiteľka láskavo vysvetlila, že v tomto horskom potoku žijú úplne iné ryby, než o akých čítal v svojej encyklopédii o morských živočíchoch.
Roderik sa cítil čoraz istejšie. Dokonca sa prihlásil ako dobrovoľník, keď pani učiteľka potrebovala niekoho, kto by pomohol niesť pomôcky na pozorovanie vodných živočíchov. Ešte pred pár dňami by sa nikdy neodvážil vystúpiť pred celou triedou.
Po obede mali výtvarnú výchovu vonku. Kreslili prírodu a Roderik nakreslil krásny obrázok horského potoka s rybami. Nemohol sa dočkať, až ho ukáže rodičom.
Večer nastal čas na diskotéku. Spoločenská miestnosť sa premenila na tanečný parket s farebnými svetlami. Dievčatá prišli vyparádené – Lucka mala vo vlasoch trblietavú čelenku, Peťka si obliekla svoju obľúbenú ružovú sukňu a dokonca aj tichá Emka si dala do vlasov mašľu.
„Prosím, prosím, zahrajte Mikuláša!“ volali deti na pani učiteľku, ktorá robila DJ-ku. Keď zazneli prvé tóny obľúbenej pesničky, všetci sa roztancovali. Dokonca aj Filip zabudol na svoje „expertné“ vedomosti a jednoducho sa bavil.
Roderik tancoval s kamarátmi a užíval si zábavu. Všimol si, že aj ostatní sa už správajú úplne uvoľnene, akoby boli jedna veľká rodina. Jurko síce stále zakopával o vlastné nohy a Maya stále opakovala svoj jediný tanečný krok, ale nikomu to neprekážalo. Smiali sa, tancovali a zabávali sa.
Keď prišiel čas ísť spať, Roderik bol príjemne unavený. Ešte skontroloval mobil a usmial sa – rodičia mu poslali video, ako Rex naháňa motýľa v záhrade. Pod videom bolo napísané: „Vidíš, aj Rex si užíva dobrodružstvá, presne ako ty!“
Ležiac v posteli, počúval tiché rozprávanie svojich spolubývajúcich. Maťo práve rozprával vtip o medveďovi a včelách, ale Roderik ho už ani nedopočul. Príjemne unavený z celodenných aktivít a s úsmevom na tvári zaspal skôr, než Filip stihol vysvetliť, prečo jeho verzia vtipu je vlastne presnejšia.
V tú noc sa mu snívalo o potoku plnom rozprávkových rýb, tancujúcich medveďoch a o Rexovi, ktorý s ním objavoval tajomstvá lesa. Bol to krásny sen, ale skutočnosť bola ešte lepšia – našiel si nových priateľov a každým dňom objavoval niečo nové nielen o prírode, ale aj o sebe samom.
Roderik and the Outdoor School – Second and third day
Second Day: Settling In
The morning woke them with the songs of birds and rays of sunlight streaming through the window. Everyone hurried to the washroom, made their beds, and changed into sports clothes. Only Jurko, known for his chaotic nature, arrived at the dining hall with messy hair, his shirt inside out, and one sock blue and the other red.
„Oh, Jurko,“ sighed Ms. Kvetková, but she couldn’t help smiling. She helped him tidy up, and finally, everyone could sit down for breakfast—fragrant tea, bread with butter and honey, cereal with milk.
After breakfast, they headed into the forest. Ms. Kvetková surprised them with her knowledge. She pointed out different kinds of trees, taught them to recognize birds‘ songs, and even found deer tracks!
„See this moss?“ she pointed to a green carpet at the base of an old tree. „It always grows on the northern side. You can use it to find your way in the forest.“ Roderik was amazed. He would never have guessed that his Slovak language teacher knew so much about nature.
They also found an anthill and watched the busy ants carrying pine needles. Ms. Kvetková explained how the forest ecosystem worked and why every part of it was important.
After a tasty lunch (delicious tomato soup and schnitzel with mashed potatoes), they had math and Slovak, but it was so different from regular school. They solved problems about forest animals and wrote stories about their morning adventures.
In the evening, as he lay in bed waiting for a message from his parents, Roderik realized that, for the first time all day, he hadn’t thought about being homesick. He had so many new experiences! And when the evening photo from his parents arrived—this time showing Rex sleeping with his old slipper—he smiled and thought that more adventures surely awaited them tomorrow. He fell asleep much easier than the night before, though he still missed his family. But he knew he could handle it. And maybe tomorrow, they would find some treasure in the forest…
Third Day: A Day Full of Adventures
The third morning at School in Nature already felt more natural. Roderik woke up before the alarm, made his bed by himself, and even helped Maťo with his. In the bathroom, he met Zuzka, who brushed her teeth every morning for exactly three minutes, using a sand timer.
„It’s so I can have healthy teeth like my mom, the dentist,“ she explained importantly when she saw his amused look.
At breakfast, everyone already felt at home. Only quiet Emka sat alone in the corner and barely touched her bread with jam. Ms. Kvetková noticed.
„Emka, come sit with the other girls,“ she gently suggested and led her to the table where cheerful Peťka was sitting. Peťka immediately started telling Emka funny stories, and soon others joined in. Roderik noticed that Emka smiled for the first time since their arrival.
Today, they were going on an adventure by the stream. Of course, there was also a funny incident—this time with Filip, who was known for always having to know everything best. When Ms. Kvetková was explaining how to recognize different types of fish in the stream, Filip kept interrupting with his „expert“ comments.
„Actually, this fish swims at exactly 7.5 kilometers per hour!“ he declared confidently. Everyone had to laugh when Ms. Kvetková kindly explained that the fish living in this mountain stream were quite different from the ones he had read about in his encyclopedia of marine life.
Roderik felt more and more confident. He even volunteered when Ms. Kvetková needed someone to help carry the tools for observing aquatic animals. Just a few days ago, he would never have dared to step forward in front of the whole class.
After lunch, they had art class outside. They drew nature, and Roderik made a beautiful picture of the mountain stream with fish. He couldn’t wait to show it to his parents.
In the evening, it was time for a disco. The common room turned into a dance floor with colorful lights. The girls came dressed up—Lucka had a sparkly headband in her hair, Peťka wore her favorite pink skirt, and even quiet Emka put a ribbon in her hair.
„Please, please, play Mikuláš!“ the children called to Ms. Kvetková, who was acting as the DJ. When the first notes of their favorite song played, everyone started dancing. Even Filip forgot his „expert“ knowledge and just had fun.
Roderik danced with his friends and enjoyed himself. He noticed that everyone else was also completely relaxed, as if they were one big family. Jurko still kept tripping over his own feet, and Maya kept repeating her one dance move, but no one minded. They laughed, danced, and had fun.
When it was time to go to bed, Roderik was pleasantly tired. He checked his phone and smiled—his parents had sent a video of Rex chasing a butterfly in the garden. Below the video, it said: „See, Rex is having adventures too, just like you!“
Lying in bed, he listened to the quiet chatter of his roommates. Maťo was telling a joke about a bear and bees, but Roderik didn’t even hear the end. Pleasantly tired from the day’s activities and with a smile on his face, he fell asleep before Filip could explain why his version of the joke was actually more accurate.
That night, he dreamed of a stream full of magical fish, dancing bears, and Rex discovering the secrets of the forest with him. It was a beautiful dream, but reality was even better—he had made new friends and discovered something new every day, not only about nature but also about himself.