I have survived the first day of school.

Not that there was really much to it: no kids, just meetings. I have to say that coming back has been such a relief. In each meeting I thought back to a year ago and how overwhelming and confusing it all was. This year already feels much better. The Head stopped me in the office this morning and said that he is talking to another American about an English position (through the same company I came over with). It is a bit late, but it'd be cool if she came. He said that she was hemming and hawing over it and asked if I would talk to her (if he could get her on the line). It didn't happen today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

I leave for Belgium tomorrow after school. I will take the Eurostar (train from London) to Brussels and spend Friday night there. I will sightsee in the morning, then meet my aunt and uncle in Brugge mid-afternoon. I should be home by 6 o'clock on Sunday, leaving me enough time to get ready for the first day of school on Monday... Guess I should start brushing up on my Flemish.

So, I had this whole rant planned, but it sounded so angry and I am not (angry anymore)... Instead, since I am worn out and have little energy to do much else this evening, (Jrzy Gyrl's Top Ten List took all the energy I had. Narrowing my list to ten was the most difficult think I've had to think about all summer.) check this out:

What does your name mean?
http://www.bostonuk.com/names/default.asp

Andrea
Strong, womanly : Greek

Life is never dull with your adventurous and restless spirit. You are always on the move and seeking a new challenge to pit your wits against. Being in touch with nature you love the outdoors. You have keen intuition and a desire for knowledge and you can be something of a crusader. When you apply discipline and tenacity to your energetic mind then leadership positions are easily available to you.

I totally borrowed this idea from someone on myspace. Cool site, though. :)

Carnival was fun. Notting Hill was beautiful. The weather was amazing. Tiina and I drank our Red Stripe, watched the parade of extravagant costumes, ate our plantains and danced to many a DJs' beat. It was a maze of food and music. A bit crowded at times, but a nice way to spend my Bank Holiday Monday.

We left Notting Hill to eat dinner at Leister Square. Then we headed for a pub. Hear that EJ?! I now know of a cool little pub within walking distance of Trafalgar Square (that doesn't have pictures of erections hanging on the walls), so the next time you are in town...

Tomorrow we are heading to Bromley, London's largest Borough (and only a short bus-ride away). It's supposed to be a good place for shopping. There's also a Synagogue in Bromley, which will make my grandmother proud.

Speaking of grandmothers, my mother's mother was in the hospital last Tuesday having a lump removed from her breast. She is a strong and adventurous woman who was part of the first group to join the US Navy. But when she talks about cancer, she admits fear. As a woman in her 80's, you'd think breast cancer would be the least of her worries... Anyway, the mass was small and they think they got enough of the surrounding tissue that she'll be fine. My point is that it can affect anyone, so ladies please be sure to check yourselves (myself included since I suck at remembering).

Bouquets of sharpened pencils

"You've Got Mail" was on the television this evening. It's not my favorite movie, but I always seem to find myself sucked-in whenever it is on air. There's one scene where Tom Hanks is describing why he loves New York in the Fall and he says that it makes you want to go out and buy school supplies. That's what I always think of at this time of year. I love the beginning of a school year. I love shopping for school supplies. I love decorating a classroom. I love writing class lists in my gradebook. It may seem silly, but it marks a new beginning for me.

There are not many professions where you get to start each year with a clean slate (or at least semi-clean). What ever students you have had before, you will never have the same class, for the same subject and the same lessons again. There's hope. There's a chance that this year will be different from the last.

According to the calendar, the year starts in January. But for me, it starts in August. I make my resolutions with the beginning of each new school year. Last year was my year to survive. This year I want to succeed.

Bored

I have been back for six days and I am already bored with myself. I have read, taken walks, watched films and been shopping. There's always more that I could do, but I have become bored with myself. I guess I was spoiled all of those weeks at home.

Tomorrow I am going to the Notting Hill Carnival with my flatmate, Tiina. It is a huge Caribbean Festival with lots of food and music. When I went to Scotland, I met Garrett (a girl from Trinidad) who said that Carnival is spectacular! I can't wait to see.

On Thursday and Friday we have teacher workdays and students start back on Monday (September 5th). I am leaving Friday for Belgium to meet my aunt and uncle in Brugge for the weekend. Is it smart to go away for the weekend before the first day of school? Probably not. But, how often do you get to meet family in Europe?

I am sitting at my desk excited to be back and sad to be so far away from home. My floor is littered with crap, my half-hearted attempt to unpack my suitcase. There's my 'school' pile full of stickers, education books, lessons and board markers. There's an equally large 'food' pile containing the important things that a girl can not live without: Thanksgiving ingredients and a Sam's-sized mountain of Easy Mac and Ranch dressing mix. Not to mention clothes, shoes and the Bath and Body Works stuff I brought back.

It was wonderful to be home! I had such a wonderful time being around family and friends. And now that I am back, I'm already looking into things I want to see and do before school starts back next week. It feels strange just how different my life is in the US and in the UK. I like both. And, in an ideal world, I could have a combination of the two. But that is a topic for another day...

Here's how I spent the rest of my time in the US:
Tuesday: Hung out with Cosmo. Then dinner with Kristin and Stephanie (a friend from my ZTA days) and TRIVIA with some of the coolest people in Charlotte. It was great to see everyone's smiling faces: old and new!
Wednesday: My birthday present to myself: chop off all of my hair. There were about 7 inches on the floor when all was said and done and I am thrilled! Met up with Krissie and Jen and drove to see Pat McGee in Greenville. I had a blast and Pat even said "Happy Birthday" (Thank you Krissie and Iris).
Thursday: Shopping with Krissie. Sushi with K, Jennifer and Kevin. NoDa and Thomas Street with Laura and Margaret. A second wind that resulted in pitchers at the Penguin with Laura.
Friday: A bit hung over, I met Amy at her new Children's Theater and she gave me a tour of the new complex (More on that later because it is spectacular!!). Dinner at the Penguin with Amy, Jeremy and Kristin. Drinks, shots, dancing and late-night party with Laura, Amy and Margaret. Acquaintances from what feels like a lifetime ago ("Hey! Didn't you used to date...?")Oh! And hugs from Nute!
Saturday: More shopping with Krissie. A walk to Jennifer and Kevin's new fabulous home! Dinner and drinks with K and Tols that resulted in a late-night Teeter run and game of scrabble.
Sunday: My favourite drive through the NC/TN mountains. Picking up peaches in SC and dinner with the neighbors when I got home.

That next week I spent my time running errands, doing laundry and trying to spend time with parents and grandparents. I finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I also worked with Dad one day on his house. I had a blast at home and now I am refreshed and ready to tackle this next school year.

Sunday: Arrived in Atlanta at 3:30, met the 'rents and drove to TN.
Monday: Picked blueberries with Mom, then went shoe shopping. Spent a little time with the newly-21 cousins.
Tuesday: Made two blueberry pies (well, Mom did) and visited with my aunt before she drove home to Alabama.
Wednesday: Worked with Mom and Dad on their new house project.
Thursday: Shopping, shopping, shopping!! We hit the jackpot in Pigeon Forge (outlet shopping) and all walked away with bargains.
Friday: New contacts and worked on the house some more. Dinner with my grandparents.
Saturday: Hung out on the lake with my aunt and uncle. Dinner with the whole fam-damily.
Sunday: Nice relaxing day at home.
Monday: Drove to NC...

That's been my week in a nutshell. Nothing very exciting, but all of the things I enjoy. My dad's new house is really comming along. I helped hang mirrors and paint trim. I also learned how to cut baseboard and hang a door. Like I said, all the things I enjoy...

I spent last night with Kristin and her cool dog, Cosmo. He's adorable, a chow/lab mix and is just the perfect size for her townhome. She's gone into work today, so Cosmo and I are hanging out and playing ball. I will probably read a bit of Harry Potter (I just started the book last night) and spend a little time at Birkdale Village. Tonight is trivia and I can't wait to see the gang! Tomorrow is Pat McGee with Krissie! It feels so nice to be home...

One final note: Happy Belated Birthday Krissie! Happy Belated Birthday Robert!

Could've Should've Would've...

I could apologize for not posting in a while. I should explain that I have two posts started (and saved as drafts). And if I had more time, I would type out my adventures in Bath (including a story about the girl who SNORES louder than I've ever heard in my life) and seeing Will Hoge on Thursday. But, you see, instead I am packing to come home. So, the stories can wait... It's time to put the computer away... I am heading home - Yippee!!

The Roman Baths 

Pulteney Bridge 

The Royal Cresent

Stonehenge

Where some Harry Potter classroom scenes were filmed (Lacock Abbey).

Another uneventful day...

My life has been pretty dull lately. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. There just hasn't been much to write about. I go to work, I go home, I watch a little tele... That's about it. It's a happy life, really, just not very exciting.

Friday was the last day of school. I'm glad to have a break. Those last few weeks were torture. At home, the last week of school consists of movies, games and parties. Here, you work through the last day. We had a Sports Day and a Feasts Day last week, but that meant that the kids did not want to do shit this past week. Combine that with the fact that it was a Week One (my heaviest timetable) and you've got lesson after lesson of pulling teeth just to get the kids to work a little. Ugh! What a way to go out! Anyway, the good news is that I get six weeks off before I have to worry about any of that again. Whoo-hoo!!

I've got a week before I head home, so Monday I am heading to Bath (pronounced 'Bahth', mind you, because every time I say it 'Baath' I am corrected - besides, it sounds better with the British accent). I have booked two nights in a hostel there and am hoping to see Stonehenge along the way. I am meeting one of the girls from my European tour on Monday. It'll be cool to explore the city with company.

Thursday I have tickets to see Will Hoge at Shepherd's Bush Empire with The Cat Empire - a sold out show, mind you. I need to look into the Night Bus from London so that I can stay out later than 11. Otherwise, it could be a fairly early night.

Then, a week from today, I will be on a non-stop flight to Atlanta - heading home for three weeks, baby!! [Just a little excited about that one - should be a good time!]

My day according to Yahoo! Horoscopes:

"Ready to meet yet one more exotic, interesting new friend? Because you're due to run into them at any moment, probably under odd or unusual circumstances. You'll recognize them by the mischievous grin they'll be wearing -- the one that will perfectly match your own. From the second you two make eye contact, you'll feel as if you've known each other forever. Don't be surprised if you end up having a nice long heart-to-heart chat about reincarnation."

Your halo has slipped, can't you feel it strangling you?

I heard someone at work say that and it made me laugh.

The past two weeks have been crazy, especially that first week I was here. That week (July 2 -8, 2005), without phone/internet, was a bit surreal. The weekend I moved was the Live 8 Concert - huge deal around here. I listened to parts of it from the car as I moved my three suitcases (and four boxes) to my new flat. That Monday was the Fourth of July and I completely forgot. [I know, I know, I am a horrible American] That week was also the G8 Summit in Scotland - lots of protesting and lots of people hurt in those protests. On that Wednesday, they announced that London would host the 2012 Olympics. I have to admit I was a bit surprised about this announcement. I thought Paris would get it, hands down. Then, that Thursday London was attacked. Who knew so much could happen in 7 days?!

At school things have also been extremely busy. The Year 10s were out this week on Work Experience. A great idea as far as I am concerned. All Year 10 students spend a week out, working... They can make their own arrangements or a company will place them in a job, but it a mandatory part of their high school experience. Kids were all over the area working in primary schools, garages, shops, Bluewater shops, etc. I was really impressed with the program. With the Year 10s gone, we had a Sports Day with the kids left (that would be the Key Stage 3 - middle school - kids), the Year 7s, 8s and 9s. That was Thursday, then yesterday was Feast Day so we had a Mass outside (beautiful day for it!) and then played games in the afternoon. I supervised the Dodgeball activities. I tried to play a game or two, but my shoes were terrible and kids kept cheating and putting themselves back in the game when no one was looking. So, I went back to supervising.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but I have some idea of what I will be doing next year. I will be teaching only Science, so at least I won't have to worry about running back and forth between the two buildings again. There's been talk that I will be getting a Year 11 tutor group (homeroom), not exactly sure how I feel about that. I have also sneaked a peek at the timetable for next year and I will be teaching mainly Key Stage 4 students. As it stands right now, I have four KS4 classes and two KS3 classes. I am a bit disappointed and a bit unsure if that is the best idea. I am a certified Middle School teacher not High School. Would that be considered 'teaching outside my area?' Anyway, I can see some positives in all of this. It will definitely be a challenge and I like challenges. It will make me stretch myself and what I am used to - that can't be such a terrible thing. There is a difference between teaching Year 7 students and teaching Year 11s but I have some time over the summer to prepare. I said I was disappointed and I am - I do not have a single Year 7 class on my timetable and that's who I have enjoyed the most this year. Oh well. At least I may be getting my own classroom!

Yesterday I went to the gym with my new flatmate. The woman is tiny and prefers the bodybuilding free-weights as a workout!! She can bench like a hundred kilos!! Legs, she says she can do about two hundred kg! [if 1 kg is 2.2 pounds... You do the math!] It's nuts!!

Anyway, the REM concert was rescheduled for today at Hyde Park, so I am off to enjoy the sun.

A New Life

First week in my new home. I like it so far. Of course, living without a computer or a telephone has been frustrating. I spent Sunday at a pay-phone trying to catch up with my Mom.

Driving was cool. A bit over-rated, though. I've gotten so used to walking or using the train/bus that being behind a wheel and having to concentrate was a bit stressful. I was happy to prove to myself that I am capable of driving on the left side of the road and able to navigate round-abouts. A car gives you freedom, that aspect was nice. I was happy to return it on Wednesday, though, ready to get back to my path-friendly life.

The new place is nice. I went to IKEA on Monday and bought a desk, bookshelf and drawers. I am mostly unpacked. There's just one box left to sort through.

I have been around town and today I even joined the local library. :)

There have been a lot of emails since Thursday. Sorry if I haven't gotten to everyone. I am safe and sound. I was at school, an hour away. The kids knew before I did - mobile phones - and they were quite on-edge. I have been without a phone/internet for the last week, which had my Mom quite worried when she heard the news on Thursday. I didn't think to call and I guess I should have... Whoops! Guess, being thousands of miles away, I should have thought about calling home. Anyway, I will update again once I have my computer up and running. They are saying I will have a phone line by Wednesday - yippee!!

The REM concert was rescheduled for next weekend. So, I am off to explore my new town. Talk to ya'll soon.

My last night in this town...

Well folks, the big move is tomorrow. It's not really all THAT big, especially compared to last year. (Wish I had taken a picture of my poor car - it was packed to the brim!) I have really enjoyed the last couple of weeks here and my host has been wonderful! She's such a great lady! She's lived all over the world and is SO politically aware. I want to be her when I am a grandmother. Well, except that I am not Irish and I am not Catholic...

I have given in and joined the rest of the world...

The Da Vinci Code, everyone seems to go on and on about this book. I have avoided it, trying not to hop on to the bandwagon. I finally gave in when I needed a new book to read and realized that the local W.H. Smith has a very poor selection. I can't complain so far. Although, every time I look at the front cover, I find myself rolling my eyes (only because I gave in).

With the move, I will be spending an hour daily on the train (25 minutes each way), so I am expecting to do quite a bit of reading over the next few months. Any title suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Of course, the new Harry Potter book will be released on July 16th!!

A nice week and a nice weekend...

I am enjoying my life in the temp. digs... I am much closer to town, which motivates me to spend more time out and about during these sixteen hour days of sunlight. Plus, I had to do a bit of shopping last week because I did not pack for HOT days in the UK. So, now that my wardrobe is ready for summer, the weather has taken a cooler turn and I am stuck with my same-old clothes. Ah, that's okay. It just means that I have new clothes to pack for my trip home in August.

I am really getting excited about heading home for a couple of weeks. I am ready for a life of Taco Bell, sweet-tarts, 24-hour Wal-Marts and loads of friends and family. Until then, it's school, flat-sorting (I still have not signed a lease yet!) and another move. Plus REM, a new Harry Potter book, a science department party on the shore of the Thames and Will Hoge!! I'm even thinking about hiring a car to move my belongings... Watch out UK round-a-bouts, here I come!!