I took some time, relaxed, checked my email and had a cup of tea. I sat down to evaluate how I could make the situation better and this is what I came up with: In a two week period, some days are bad, others are heaven (one lesson and the rest either free periods or study hall supervision). The good make the bad bearable. Overall, I teach three different sections of a 7th grade science class, one 9th grade science and one 10th grade science. I have two sections of 8th grade geography and one 11th grade drama class. That's 5 preps, which is not too bad, it just means I have to stay organized and well-planned!! On the days that I teach drama, I have study hall supervision or free periods, so how can I really complain that they want me to teach drama?? Moving back and forth between two buildings won't be too bad - especially if I set myself up so that I have everything I need in the department offices. and, the 12 year "form" shouldn't be too bad either... They are old enough that they can lead the Catholic prayers, themselves, and I can add in other character building (non-denominational) type stuff.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
5:15 London Time:
This was my second day of workshops and I feel completely overwhelmed. Not discouraged (let me clarify), just a little out of my comfort zone (okay, A LOT). I am going to take some time tonight and try to sort through it all, so I'll feel better about everything in the morning. Just want to check my email and have a cup of tea before I try to tackle it all. Right now, I do not have a set classroom (I was expecting that), but they've also given me a "form" class (a homeroom where I am expected to lead prayers each morning - Catholic prayers!!). On top of that, they have scheduled me Science and Geography, but I can only see one place on the two-week schedule where I teach the same subject back-to-back! I won't even get into the various grade levels within each subject!!! Then, looking closely at my schedule, they want me to teach a DRAMA class!!! AGGG!!! Like a said, a cup of tea, then I'll sit down and make the best of it all!!
This was my second day of workshops and I feel completely overwhelmed. Not discouraged (let me clarify), just a little out of my comfort zone (okay, A LOT). I am going to take some time tonight and try to sort through it all, so I'll feel better about everything in the morning. Just want to check my email and have a cup of tea before I try to tackle it all. Right now, I do not have a set classroom (I was expecting that), but they've also given me a "form" class (a homeroom where I am expected to lead prayers each morning - Catholic prayers!!). On top of that, they have scheduled me Science and Geography, but I can only see one place on the two-week schedule where I teach the same subject back-to-back! I won't even get into the various grade levels within each subject!!! Then, looking closely at my schedule, they want me to teach a DRAMA class!!! AGGG!!! Like a said, a cup of tea, then I'll sit down and make the best of it all!!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
9:48 London Time:
I've been busy and yet it feel like I have accomplished nothing in the last few days! I have added a little bit more to my cheesy website - nothing special. Unfortunately, I need to be able to download a couple of things and have not had access to the internet through my own computer. Hopefully, soon, so I can start using my Yahoo! Messenger. :)
We had an off-campus staff development day today. It was cool. Let me start by saying that the school I am teaching at is a Catholic school, so today, as part of the staff development, we had a Mass. Technically, I have been to two Masses in my life (one of which I can barely remember), that's it. I was raised a Jew, for those of you who don't know, so Christian religious ceremonies are not my specialty - I tend to follow what everyone else is doing, skipping the "Jesus" parts... Well, in this Mass, there were Hymn books, but as far as the other prayers (that everyone else in the room seemed to know by heart) I was lost. Then, they had communion. I seem to remember being told (in the one Mass that I actually remember attending) that if you are not Catholic, you shouldn't take communion. So, as everyone around me was getting up, the woman beside me leaned over and asked, "are you going?" Well, the woman beside me is new to the school, too, and she had been teaching in Malaysia for nine years. She also is obviously Hindi (I can't think of a PC way to say this, but she had the "dot" on her forehead), or at least NOT Catholic. When I explained what I had been told, she said, "are you sure?" Well, no, not really, but I just kept thinking of the Priest's face when she walked up to take communion. Oh my!! There were other people in the crowd that did not get up, so I held my place on the bench. Later, I learned that I should have been kneeling, but I took my cue from the rest of the group and the only people kneeling were the ones returning from the communion line... I'll know for next time (Thank you K! :) )
I met the most of the Science department and the head of the Geography department - everyone seems very nice! Tomorrow we'll go through my "timetables" and start talking about curriculum.
I've been busy and yet it feel like I have accomplished nothing in the last few days! I have added a little bit more to my cheesy website - nothing special. Unfortunately, I need to be able to download a couple of things and have not had access to the internet through my own computer. Hopefully, soon, so I can start using my Yahoo! Messenger. :)
We had an off-campus staff development day today. It was cool. Let me start by saying that the school I am teaching at is a Catholic school, so today, as part of the staff development, we had a Mass. Technically, I have been to two Masses in my life (one of which I can barely remember), that's it. I was raised a Jew, for those of you who don't know, so Christian religious ceremonies are not my specialty - I tend to follow what everyone else is doing, skipping the "Jesus" parts... Well, in this Mass, there were Hymn books, but as far as the other prayers (that everyone else in the room seemed to know by heart) I was lost. Then, they had communion. I seem to remember being told (in the one Mass that I actually remember attending) that if you are not Catholic, you shouldn't take communion. So, as everyone around me was getting up, the woman beside me leaned over and asked, "are you going?" Well, the woman beside me is new to the school, too, and she had been teaching in Malaysia for nine years. She also is obviously Hindi (I can't think of a PC way to say this, but she had the "dot" on her forehead), or at least NOT Catholic. When I explained what I had been told, she said, "are you sure?" Well, no, not really, but I just kept thinking of the Priest's face when she walked up to take communion. Oh my!! There were other people in the crowd that did not get up, so I held my place on the bench. Later, I learned that I should have been kneeling, but I took my cue from the rest of the group and the only people kneeling were the ones returning from the communion line... I'll know for next time (Thank you K! :) )
I met the most of the Science department and the head of the Geography department - everyone seems very nice! Tomorrow we'll go through my "timetables" and start talking about curriculum.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
(Back-dating this a little, sorry!)
I saw a little of the school today. It was an administrative day, so not many people were around. I was told that they would walk me through my "timetable" on Thursday - that's my daily schedule. It seems that Geography is taught in a different building than Science, so I'm curious to see what my timetable entails. There wasn't much for me to do at the school, so I headed into town to get a bank account set up. Well,not quite as easy as I thought. The first bank that I went to was very pushy and they basically said that I couldn't open an account unless I had a bill addressed to me at my address in the UK. When I asked if a letter from my landlord would be sufficient, she hurriedly replied "NO" and ran to help the next customer. So I tried the next bank (there are about 4 or 5 in town), it's actually where my sister and brother-in-law have accounts in NYC. The guy couldn't open an account today, but all I have to do is get the school to write a letter for me, explaining that I am employed there and it needs to have my residence listed on it as well. I also found out that I can only open their most basic account - no checks, no check card, but I can schedule debits (like rent payments) and get cash from the ATM.
I stopped in the DSS office (Department of Social Security) to get an National Insurance number. They gave me a phone number to call to set up an appointment...
I checked on a mobile phone, but when I explained that I was looking for a phone to make primarily international calls, she smiled and said to invest in a phone card. She said they charge typically £1.5 per minute on international calls. That's almost 3 dollars a minute!!
I also did a little shopping today - the weather has been much cooler than I expected. So, I bought a pair of khakis, a jumper (a sweater) and another long sleeve top. The pants were a bit expensive, but the jumper, top, and a sweatshirt I found cost me a total of £13 (that's less than 26 dollars total)!! I'm very happy with my find!! I think these items will hold me over for a while. Once school starts up, too, I'll wear more of what I've brought. I walked the other way home and found an area of shops, etc. Its about 5 minutes from the house, in the opposite direction of the school.
I saw a little of the school today. It was an administrative day, so not many people were around. I was told that they would walk me through my "timetable" on Thursday - that's my daily schedule. It seems that Geography is taught in a different building than Science, so I'm curious to see what my timetable entails. There wasn't much for me to do at the school, so I headed into town to get a bank account set up. Well,not quite as easy as I thought. The first bank that I went to was very pushy and they basically said that I couldn't open an account unless I had a bill addressed to me at my address in the UK. When I asked if a letter from my landlord would be sufficient, she hurriedly replied "NO" and ran to help the next customer. So I tried the next bank (there are about 4 or 5 in town), it's actually where my sister and brother-in-law have accounts in NYC. The guy couldn't open an account today, but all I have to do is get the school to write a letter for me, explaining that I am employed there and it needs to have my residence listed on it as well. I also found out that I can only open their most basic account - no checks, no check card, but I can schedule debits (like rent payments) and get cash from the ATM.
I stopped in the DSS office (Department of Social Security) to get an National Insurance number. They gave me a phone number to call to set up an appointment...
I checked on a mobile phone, but when I explained that I was looking for a phone to make primarily international calls, she smiled and said to invest in a phone card. She said they charge typically £1.5 per minute on international calls. That's almost 3 dollars a minute!!
I also did a little shopping today - the weather has been much cooler than I expected. So, I bought a pair of khakis, a jumper (a sweater) and another long sleeve top. The pants were a bit expensive, but the jumper, top, and a sweatshirt I found cost me a total of £13 (that's less than 26 dollars total)!! I'm very happy with my find!! I think these items will hold me over for a while. Once school starts up, too, I'll wear more of what I've brought. I walked the other way home and found an area of shops, etc. Its about 5 minutes from the house, in the opposite direction of the school.
Monday, August 30, 2004
11:25pm London Time:
Okay, so if you click on the link, an error message will come up. I'll work on it...
Sunday I took a walk into the town of Gravesend. I live on the outskirts, about 5 minutes from the school, but the town itself is right on the river and is about 15 minutes from here. The town is just how I'd imagined it - old buildings that have been modernized on the inside, but hold their character on the outside. There are a ton of shops, many clothing shops (yea!), at least 5 different banks, etc. I didn't find the train station, but I wasn't really looking for it either. I'll probably go there tomorrow to set up a bank account.
Today I went with Chris and Jenny to the Codham Fete. Codham is the village where they go to church. The Fete (or party in french) is a fair with lots of games and rides for everyone. It was nice. After we walked around for a little while, we walked up to the church - they were having a painting auction there. The church was absolutely breathtaking!! First of all it was built in the 13th century. It was small (or at least small compared the the places we have in TN/NC) and it just looked old, well-kept, but you could just tell that it had a history! It may have been the gravestones that had been worn and weathered in the front yard. Jenny took me outside to the old college - it used to be associated with the church many years ago, then it became an alms house. Now, it is a retirement community. We walked through a walkway and into the prettiest courtyard. Jenny says that the rooms are never vacant and that they've built a new building to accommodate all of the people who want in. Afterward, we walked down to the new cemetery. We walked though this nice wooded path, which opened up to the cemetery. Outside of the gate for the graveyard is an apple orchard (which overlooks the Kent countryside and rolling hills). It was truly beautiful! I need to start looking for cameras soon so that I can document some of these things.
Okay, so if you click on the link, an error message will come up. I'll work on it...
Sunday I took a walk into the town of Gravesend. I live on the outskirts, about 5 minutes from the school, but the town itself is right on the river and is about 15 minutes from here. The town is just how I'd imagined it - old buildings that have been modernized on the inside, but hold their character on the outside. There are a ton of shops, many clothing shops (yea!), at least 5 different banks, etc. I didn't find the train station, but I wasn't really looking for it either. I'll probably go there tomorrow to set up a bank account.
Today I went with Chris and Jenny to the Codham Fete. Codham is the village where they go to church. The Fete (or party in french) is a fair with lots of games and rides for everyone. It was nice. After we walked around for a little while, we walked up to the church - they were having a painting auction there. The church was absolutely breathtaking!! First of all it was built in the 13th century. It was small (or at least small compared the the places we have in TN/NC) and it just looked old, well-kept, but you could just tell that it had a history! It may have been the gravestones that had been worn and weathered in the front yard. Jenny took me outside to the old college - it used to be associated with the church many years ago, then it became an alms house. Now, it is a retirement community. We walked through a walkway and into the prettiest courtyard. Jenny says that the rooms are never vacant and that they've built a new building to accommodate all of the people who want in. Afterward, we walked down to the new cemetery. We walked though this nice wooded path, which opened up to the cemetery. Outside of the gate for the graveyard is an apple orchard (which overlooks the Kent countryside and rolling hills). It was truly beautiful! I need to start looking for cameras soon so that I can document some of these things.
11:21pm London Time:
One of these days, I'll get around to changing the time on my blog. Actually, I've been debating about changing a lot of things. There are only a few people that know about this site and even fewer that actually read it. I want something that my family can read and see pictures, so I am thinking about my own .com. Quite frankly, some of the things I post here my parents/grandparents would not be able to handle. I'll keep posting here for all of the "fun" stuff, but if you'd like to read about my experiences here, check out www.myadventuresinengland.com. It's under construction now, but I hope to have it up and running soon. All I need now is a digital camera to post pictures. I'm working on that.
One of these days, I'll get around to changing the time on my blog. Actually, I've been debating about changing a lot of things. There are only a few people that know about this site and even fewer that actually read it. I want something that my family can read and see pictures, so I am thinking about my own .com. Quite frankly, some of the things I post here my parents/grandparents would not be able to handle. I'll keep posting here for all of the "fun" stuff, but if you'd like to read about my experiences here, check out www.myadventuresinengland.com. It's under construction now, but I hope to have it up and running soon. All I need now is a digital camera to post pictures. I'm working on that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
