After a grueling 22h of delays and cancellations, I'm pleased to announce that I have made it safely to Toronto and am currently at Krystal's house. It was a bit dicey for awhile and I wasn't always sure I was going to make it... near the end I was feeling a bit light-headed from the lack of sleep (and a developing cold). The only thing that made the 12h wait at the airport bearable was the company of several friends - its interesting how travel adversity brings people close together. Though the airport was jammed full of people (some sleeping on the floor for up to 3 days!), everyone was nice and helpful to each other. It was also funny just how many young, Canadian teachers waiting for flights...
I think the most annoying part of the whole experience was the lack of information provided by the airport. There was no poor weather yesterday, so it left many of us wondering what the delay could be. Have you noticed how much easier it seems to bear bad news when you know the reason for it? A simple "due to the adverse weather conditions yesterday, many of the planes are out of place. We are now waiting for the plane to arrive" or "due to transport issues, the pilots and many of the ground crew staff were unable to make it to work in a timely manner" could of alleviated a lot of stress. When we boarded our plane, the captain was really nice and explained the reason for the delay... one funny moment came when, after waiting an extra 30-ish minutes for the short-staffed baggage handlers to load the plane, the captain came on again and said, "Sorry folks, but I have some more bad news - since we've been sitting here too long we now have to arrange for our wings to be de-iced."
Ah well... I'm just grateful I made it. I heard from several friends that their airlines were canceling all flights - some were told not to expect any flights until the 24th! Crazy that a bit of snow could cause all of this travel.
The important thing is that I'm in Canada and ready to spend a great Christmas holiday with my friends and family :).
Monday 20 December 2010
Saturday 18 December 2010
The sleigh will soon be in the sky... hopefully
Its been awhile since my last posting, so figured I better do a quick one before I leave for Canada.
As you may know (apparently it made the news over there), the city of London just got dumped on again. We were doing so well with our weather these last two weeks too - sure it was cold, but no precipitation whatsoever! Then, the day before I leave, it decides to snow... and not just any snow either. You know how we all giggle about Britain's inability to cope with foul weather? This time they actually had an excuse for the travel disruption - the snow really was heavy. Luckily it only lasted 5 hours or so and the airports are starting to clear the backlog of flights. So, hopefully I'll be able to make it home relatively on time. I'll keep you posted - wish me luck!
As you may know (apparently it made the news over there), the city of London just got dumped on again. We were doing so well with our weather these last two weeks too - sure it was cold, but no precipitation whatsoever! Then, the day before I leave, it decides to snow... and not just any snow either. You know how we all giggle about Britain's inability to cope with foul weather? This time they actually had an excuse for the travel disruption - the snow really was heavy. Luckily it only lasted 5 hours or so and the airports are starting to clear the backlog of flights. So, hopefully I'll be able to make it home relatively on time. I'll keep you posted - wish me luck!
Thursday 2 December 2010
Another Winter Wonderland
... And the countdown to Christmas has begun! December has come and with it, snow. This passed week London has experienced heavy snowfalls causing transportation snarls (traffic was trapped on one of the highways for 6h and commuters on an overground train overnight), cold related injuries and, more important to me, school closures. I've been lucky in that today was the first snow day I've had - some of my friends have had all week off. I've used today to go and buy a pair of winter boots (I figured after 14 months, it was time to invest in a pair :). Hopefully, I'll be able to get to work tomorrow.
Speaking of work, good news on the employment front - I got the Reception job I talked about in my last post! Its a January - July full-time position and I will be team teaching with another teacher (there's two classes). This is good for me as it will give me more insight on medium-long term planning (which I haven't had a lot of practice with). I've already told several of my classes and I've had a few sad students... the hard part of being a supply teacher. The class I'll be taking will be made up of the January intake so I'll have a new start with new pupils :).
Only two more weeks until I head home for Christmas - I'm getting excited :). If anyone has any ideas for Christmas gifts, please tell me... I'm having trouble thinking of things for many of you.
Speaking of work, good news on the employment front - I got the Reception job I talked about in my last post! Its a January - July full-time position and I will be team teaching with another teacher (there's two classes). This is good for me as it will give me more insight on medium-long term planning (which I haven't had a lot of practice with). I've already told several of my classes and I've had a few sad students... the hard part of being a supply teacher. The class I'll be taking will be made up of the January intake so I'll have a new start with new pupils :).
Only two more weeks until I head home for Christmas - I'm getting excited :). If anyone has any ideas for Christmas gifts, please tell me... I'm having trouble thinking of things for many of you.
Monday 22 November 2010
Coming together and looking up
Its another long weekend (not by choice) for me, but not to fret - things are coming together and life is looking good!
My big bit of news is that I've gone to an interview for a 2-term (January - July) Reception position (Kindergarten for all of the non-British out there) at a relatively nearby school. Even better, I was given some very positive feedback by my agency - they said I was one of the top candidates! There was still one or two others they were going to interview and I should hear something by Tuesday. This is great for me as it shows I'm learning from my mistakes and improving. Fingers crossed for good news!
Teacher interviews over here are about 2 - 3h long and usually include two parts: a trial lesson and a formal interview. The practical lesson is where you go in and teach a lesson to the class. This can be difficult as you aren't familiar with the class' level or exact spot in the curriculum. Some schools will give you a specific subject to teach while others will allow you to choose. Regardless, a member of the senior management team will be there grading you (similarly to your B.Ed practicum evaluation :). Its usually expected for you to bring a formal (typed) lesson plan and offer a copy to your evaluator (forgot this last time).
The second part of the interview is where you sit down with your evaluator and "have a chat". You'll talk about the lesson (good and bad parts), your experience, qualifications, plans, etc. Its a good idea to have researched the school (esp recent OFSTED reports) so that you have some constructive things to say. OFSTED is the organization that is responsible for inspecting and grading schools on a range of criteria to ensure that the schools are delivering quality educational experience for the students... needless to say, most schools do not have a high opinion of OFSTED :). I think I performed fairly well on this - the only area where I am lacking is experience in long-term planning. Then again, most new teachers are.
Otherwise, life is going well. I only had 3 days of work (plus my interview day) so I decided to explore a different part of London. I hopped on the train and went up to Victoria Park. Its a nice area - the "Hyde Park" of the East. Being a Friday afternoon, there were very few people out and I enjoyed a rare bit of peaceful solitude in the city. A nice time to think and reflect... but as this post is already quite long, I'll save those ruminations for another day.
My big bit of news is that I've gone to an interview for a 2-term (January - July) Reception position (Kindergarten for all of the non-British out there) at a relatively nearby school. Even better, I was given some very positive feedback by my agency - they said I was one of the top candidates! There was still one or two others they were going to interview and I should hear something by Tuesday. This is great for me as it shows I'm learning from my mistakes and improving. Fingers crossed for good news!
Teacher interviews over here are about 2 - 3h long and usually include two parts: a trial lesson and a formal interview. The practical lesson is where you go in and teach a lesson to the class. This can be difficult as you aren't familiar with the class' level or exact spot in the curriculum. Some schools will give you a specific subject to teach while others will allow you to choose. Regardless, a member of the senior management team will be there grading you (similarly to your B.Ed practicum evaluation :). Its usually expected for you to bring a formal (typed) lesson plan and offer a copy to your evaluator (forgot this last time).
The second part of the interview is where you sit down with your evaluator and "have a chat". You'll talk about the lesson (good and bad parts), your experience, qualifications, plans, etc. Its a good idea to have researched the school (esp recent OFSTED reports) so that you have some constructive things to say. OFSTED is the organization that is responsible for inspecting and grading schools on a range of criteria to ensure that the schools are delivering quality educational experience for the students... needless to say, most schools do not have a high opinion of OFSTED :). I think I performed fairly well on this - the only area where I am lacking is experience in long-term planning. Then again, most new teachers are.
Otherwise, life is going well. I only had 3 days of work (plus my interview day) so I decided to explore a different part of London. I hopped on the train and went up to Victoria Park. Its a nice area - the "Hyde Park" of the East. Being a Friday afternoon, there were very few people out and I enjoyed a rare bit of peaceful solitude in the city. A nice time to think and reflect... but as this post is already quite long, I'll save those ruminations for another day.
Friday 5 November 2010
Back from the icy north
As many of you know, last week was the Autumn half-term break over here in London which means another "outrageous" travel adventure for Bryan "Globe Trotter" Kearney. At least, that's what my teaching agency, Protocol, called it and if they're willing to give me 50 GBP just for going, who am I to argue? This time I decided to buck the trend of going somewhere warm and opted for chilly Iceland - the land of lava fields, hot springs, geysers and glaciers. See below for a map of where I went:
In these travel blogs, I usually take this opportunity to moan about how early I had to get up in order to make my departure... well not this time! Learning from my past trips and how much I hate early starts, I booked a later flight out this time (hmm... would this be a good example of Pavlov's Classical Conditioning?) and had a much nicer flight. Unfortunately this foresight did not extend to my return and I ended up flying back on 3 1/2h of sleep ... I'll get it right one of these times.
Fortunately I received a window seat and was able to get a good look at Iceland as the plane descended. My first impression was of a brown, cold, sparsely populated land and, upon closer inspection, it was still a brown, cold, sparsely populated land. One of the major contributing factor (to the "brownness" at least) is the lack of trees due to the volcanic and seismic activity as well as the wide-spread demand for firewood the early settlers had. There is a reforestation program that has been ongoing for several decades but it takes a long time for the trees to grow. Despite this, there is a really stark beauty that the landscape has. You can really see how nature has shaped it - first the glaciers scraping over, then the high frequency of volcanic eruptions, lava flows and earthquakes...
I have posted the pictures from my trip with details so I'll just do a general overview here of what I saw:
In these travel blogs, I usually take this opportunity to moan about how early I had to get up in order to make my departure... well not this time! Learning from my past trips and how much I hate early starts, I booked a later flight out this time (hmm... would this be a good example of Pavlov's Classical Conditioning?) and had a much nicer flight. Unfortunately this foresight did not extend to my return and I ended up flying back on 3 1/2h of sleep ...
Fortunately I received a window seat and was able to get a good look at Iceland as the plane descended. My first impression was of a brown, cold, sparsely populated land and, upon closer inspection, it was still a brown, cold, sparsely populated land. One of the major contributing factor (to the "brownness" at least) is the lack of trees due to the volcanic and seismic activity as well as the wide-spread demand for firewood the early settlers had. There is a reforestation program that has been ongoing for several decades but it takes a long time for the trees to grow. Despite this, there is a really stark beauty that the landscape has. You can really see how nature has shaped it - first the glaciers scraping over, then the high frequency of volcanic eruptions, lava flows and earthquakes...
I have posted the pictures from my trip with details so I'll just do a general overview here of what I saw:
- Blue Lagoon: If there is one thing Iceland doesn't lack, its hot water. Its well known both for the number and quality of its geothermal spas and the Blue Lagoon is the most famous of these. Its fed from the output of a nearby geothermal power plant (Iceland uses 99% renewable energy) and the waters are rich is sulfur and extremely good for your skin. Its located on a lava field with an indoor and outdoor bathing area with a temperature of 36 - 39C. It was really neat swimming around - the lagoon was carved right out of the rock and looked completely natural, the water varied in depth from a wadding pool to neck height and you could feel the temperature changing. There were also steam rooms, mud plasters and a massaging waterfall. The only thing I didn't have time to try was the in-water massages. I'd highly recommend trying this out!
- Northern Lights: I was fortunate enough to see the sky light up with the Aurora Borealis because, being a natural phenomenon, you can never know when it will appear. We traveled out of the city to a dark, windy field and waited. The first night we saw nothing, but the second night we were treated to two ribbons of light lazily waving across the sky. Unlike on TV or photos, the lights were pale, greeny-white in colour - this is due to the wave-length our eyes can normally see as well as the particular activity of the electrons in the atmosphere. The reason that the pictures are usually very colour is simply because a camera can capture a wider spectrum of colour. It was very inspiring though... amazing what nature can do. We also drove past Yoko Ono's tribute to John Lennon (a great beam of light shinning to the heavens.
- Geyser Park: A steamy, sulfurous park full of pools of frothing water bubbling close to 100C and occasionally shooting upwards. None of them were as large as "Old Faithful" in America, but it was still neat to see... An interesting thing is that the Icelandic people give each geyser (regardless of size) its own name. Funnily enough, one town we drove through used to use one of their dormant geysers as a convenient garbage dump - unfortunately, one day it erupted and sprayed the village with decades of garbage. Needless to say, they don't do that any more :)
- Gullfoss: A beautiful waterfall... not much more to say about it.
- Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) National Park: One of the highlights of my trip. This park straddles two tectonic plates, Eurasia and North America, which are moving apart at an average speed of 2 cm / year. Between the two plates is a valley which is slowly sinking due to the plates' movement. This is the location of Iceland's first democratic parliament (possibly the oldest in Europe) and the largest natural lake in Iceland, Þingvallavatn. It was awe-inspiring... check out the pictures of this place!
- Leioarendi Lava Caves: Since my glacier walk was canceled due to weather, I decided I would explore underground (let's see Mother Nature cancel THIS one :). They were created as the lava flows slowly hardened and formed tubes. The government has kept them as natural as possible, meaning no artificial lights or pathways - you have to walk over broken rocky ground, sometimes crawling on your belly in total darkness. The tour provides you with the appropriate caving gear (that helmet was sooo useful) although I really have to wonder at the common sense of some people. There was a girl on our tour who insisted on bringing her large backpack down to the caves and was surprised how much she struggled (we were told many times how little room there was). She then asked if it would "get dark" - ummm... you're in a CAVE... there's no light! Again, amazing rock formations... so glad I did this.
Monday 25 October 2010
Its been a busy month...
I know, I know... I've been horrible at keeping this blog up-to-date this past month. I'm not sure where the time's gone... its just seemed to get really busy all of a sudden, yet it also seems that I've done nothing at all. Anyone else get that feeling? Anyways, let's get to the part that you're all waiting to hear - what I've been up to for the last 30 days.
Work-wise, its been a good month meaning a fairly steady income. I've been working 5 days most weeks although I sometimes end up doing a day of nursery nursing here and there, but its not too bad - less pay but easier work day :). I'm still on the look-out for permanent work and actually had a trial teaching day for a Year 2 class at one of my schools. Unfortunately I didn't get the position (I will however continue to supply there), but it was good to get feedback and hopefully improve. My agent is taking my updated CV to several other schools so we'll just have to see what comes up.
A few weeks ago, I went with my agency to see "Blood Brothers" - its a musical about a poor mother who has too many children and gives one twin away to a rich family down the street in secret. The two boys meet and become best friends despite their mothers' attempts to keep them apart, yet grow up very differently, fall in love with the same woman and come to a tragic end. Its very well performed, if a bit gloomy - the opening scene is the of the funeral. Its definitely not one to see if you want a bit of lighthearted entertainment (which is what I usually go to the theater for), but a great drama. The next show I'm going to see is "Grease" ... we all wanted a bit of a change after that :). What's really unfortunate and which has me kinda bummed is that "Avenue Q" is finishing this week and is completely sold out. This was one show I really wanted to see... I guess this is what I get for procrastinating for so long. Maybe I'll be able to catch it on tour somewhere.
For those keeners who noticed the time of this blog, you're all probably wondering why I'm posting something at 1pm on a school day. Well, this week is the Autumn Half-Term which means schools are closed all week! Its so nice to get up at 10am (that's "get up" not "wake up" because my internal clock still wakes me up at 7am... stupid clock) and have a nice, lazy, "bitty" day. Yes, I said "bitty"... its a new English slang term that I'm starting to use more... basically it refers to doing a bunch of small tasks/errands throughout the day. Speaking of slang, on Friday I attended a school assembly where one of the classes performed a drama bit comparing the US to England and one part looked at different North American slang. Needless to say, it was quite amusing :).
Since I am on holiday and have been making a decent wage for the last two months, I've decided that it was high time to jet off on another one of Bryan's European Adventures. This week I'll be visiting Reykjavík, Iceland, home of the famous volcanic hot springs, glaciers and Aurora Borealis. Yes, I like bucking the normal trend and will be going somewhere colder for my holidays! I'll only have 3 days there so I'm trying to pack in as much as I can - I have a tour to search for the Northern Lights (since its a natural phenomenon they can't guarantee that they'll be visible) and another one to hike along a glacier. A friend has also recommended the city tour, Blue Lagoon and/or geyser bus tour. I'm not sure about the geyser park tour, but I'll try to get over to the Blue Lagoon... it would be a shame to visit Iceland and not experience a hot spring... maybe even a massage as well :).
Work-wise, its been a good month meaning a fairly steady income. I've been working 5 days most weeks although I sometimes end up doing a day of nursery nursing here and there, but its not too bad - less pay but easier work day :). I'm still on the look-out for permanent work and actually had a trial teaching day for a Year 2 class at one of my schools. Unfortunately I didn't get the position (I will however continue to supply there), but it was good to get feedback and hopefully improve. My agent is taking my updated CV to several other schools so we'll just have to see what comes up.
A few weeks ago, I went with my agency to see "Blood Brothers" - its a musical about a poor mother who has too many children and gives one twin away to a rich family down the street in secret. The two boys meet and become best friends despite their mothers' attempts to keep them apart, yet grow up very differently, fall in love with the same woman and come to a tragic end. Its very well performed, if a bit gloomy - the opening scene is the of the funeral. Its definitely not one to see if you want a bit of lighthearted entertainment (which is what I usually go to the theater for), but a great drama. The next show I'm going to see is "Grease" ... we all wanted a bit of a change after that :). What's really unfortunate and which has me kinda bummed is that "Avenue Q" is finishing this week and is completely sold out. This was one show I really wanted to see... I guess this is what I get for procrastinating for so long. Maybe I'll be able to catch it on tour somewhere.
For those keeners who noticed the time of this blog, you're all probably wondering why I'm posting something at 1pm on a school day. Well, this week is the Autumn Half-Term which means schools are closed all week! Its so nice to get up at 10am (that's "get up" not "wake up" because my internal clock still wakes me up at 7am... stupid clock) and have a nice, lazy, "bitty" day. Yes, I said "bitty"... its a new English slang term that I'm starting to use more... basically it refers to doing a bunch of small tasks/errands throughout the day. Speaking of slang, on Friday I attended a school assembly where one of the classes performed a drama bit comparing the US to England and one part looked at different North American slang. Needless to say, it was quite amusing :).
Since I am on holiday and have been making a decent wage for the last two months, I've decided that it was high time to jet off on another one of Bryan's European Adventures. This week I'll be visiting Reykjavík, Iceland, home of the famous volcanic hot springs, glaciers and Aurora Borealis. Yes, I like bucking the normal trend and will be going somewhere colder for my holidays! I'll only have 3 days there so I'm trying to pack in as much as I can - I have a tour to search for the Northern Lights (since its a natural phenomenon they can't guarantee that they'll be visible) and another one to hike along a glacier. A friend has also recommended the city tour, Blue Lagoon and/or geyser bus tour. I'm not sure about the geyser park tour, but I'll try to get over to the Blue Lagoon... it would be a shame to visit Iceland and not experience a hot spring... maybe even a massage as well :).
Thursday 23 September 2010
Wednesday: The New Friday
Ah Wednesday... originally named in honour of the Norse god Oden and more recently known by many as the middle of the work week or more colourfully as "Hump Day" (insert your own joke). Well, now I have another name for it... have you all heard the news? Wednesday is the new Friday! For the first time, I'm taking advantage of my 3-day-a-week job and decided to not call in for work today. Its very liberating feeling, a bit like a school boy playing hooky (not that I ever did anything like that... I was sick... honest mom! ;). Anyone jealous yet?
Last year I think I was simply too conscious of the financial uncertainty of supply work to ever willingly take a day off, but with this 3-day guarantee and good feedback from previous schools, I'm a lot more relaxed about it. At the moment I seem to be consistently getting 4 days of work each week which I'm quite happy with. I know the work is there and it will get busier after the October half-term break so I may as well take advantage of my flexible schedule while I can. I may land a full time position in January and long for these days again. It was definitely a nice break in the week just taking it easy at home and I feel quite refreshed to go into my booking tomorrow (at a nearby school).
Speaking of last year, today is officially my one year anniversary in London. Yup, one year ago to this day I was stepping off of a plane at Heathrow airport looking around with an air of excitement and apprehension, wondering what I had gotten myselaf into :). A few weeks ago some friends (the survivors) and I had been talking about this and reflecting on we wanted to do this time in "Round 2". Honestly, I've had a good year and met some amazing people so I don't know what I would do differently. I guess I'll try to do more of the same (as its worked so far... famous last words I know) and maybe be a bit more proactive in meeting people and more conscientious about planning. I also want to take another big trip... maybe Egypt or Eastern Europe. Better start saving!
Since yesterday was the new Friday, I suppose this means that today is Saturday, though it feels more like a Sunday as I have to work again on Friday which, following this pattern, would be Monday. Arg! Its Monday already?! Where has the weekend gone?! Wait, you mean the weekend is two days from now? But any Reception student... ok, some Reception students could tell you that Tuesday is after Monday which... oh forget it, I'm just going to bed! lol
Last year I think I was simply too conscious of the financial uncertainty of supply work to ever willingly take a day off, but with this 3-day guarantee and good feedback from previous schools, I'm a lot more relaxed about it. At the moment I seem to be consistently getting 4 days of work each week which I'm quite happy with. I know the work is there and it will get busier after the October half-term break so I may as well take advantage of my flexible schedule while I can. I may land a full time position in January and long for these days again. It was definitely a nice break in the week just taking it easy at home and I feel quite refreshed to go into my booking tomorrow (at a nearby school).
Speaking of last year, today is officially my one year anniversary in London. Yup, one year ago to this day I was stepping off of a plane at Heathrow airport looking around with an air of excitement and apprehension, wondering what I had gotten myselaf into :). A few weeks ago some friends (the survivors) and I had been talking about this and reflecting on we wanted to do this time in "Round 2". Honestly, I've had a good year and met some amazing people so I don't know what I would do differently. I guess I'll try to do more of the same (as its worked so far... famous last words I know) and maybe be a bit more proactive in meeting people and more conscientious about planning. I also want to take another big trip... maybe Egypt or Eastern Europe. Better start saving!
Since yesterday was the new Friday, I suppose this means that today is Saturday, though it feels more like a Sunday as I have to work again on Friday which, following this pattern, would be Monday. Arg! Its Monday already?! Where has the weekend gone?! Wait, you mean the weekend is two days from now? But any Reception student... ok, some Reception students could tell you that Tuesday is after Monday which... oh forget it, I'm just going to bed! lol
Sunday 12 September 2010
My first week of supply
I survived my first week of supply teaching... and even better, I actually worked every day! Quite surprising this early in the semester. Yeah me (and my consultants at Protocol)! :) After having a regular class last semester, being back to supplying is interesting - a neat mix of change and uncertainty. Fortunately, I have three days guaranteed at one of my regular school which gives me enough security to find not knowing where I'll go for the other two days exciting rather than annoying/agonizing. I find the variety of ages and assignments very interesting... this week alone I've worked with Year 4's (11 year olds) all the way down to 1 year old babies. This highlights just how adaptable a supply teacher has to be - especially this early in the semester when work is relatively scarce. Luckily for me I already have 4 days booked next week - just looking for another Friday (fingers crossed)!
Since I'll be in the same classes for three days a week two of the teachers have asked me to take the science lessons on. Its nice getting back into the routine of planning lessons - rather reminds me of my practicum days. I'll be doing the unit on "Changing States of Matter" so am currently looking at various resources to use in class.
I had an interesting moment in one of my classes this week: As the children were coming in from their break, one of them came up to me and said that "A" was calling "B" a Christian which was upsetting to "B" who was countering with "no I'm a Catholic". Strangely, they seemed to think it was an insult... incidentally, they also thought "pregnant" was a bad word - where are they getting these ideas? I had to take some time to explain what the word "Christian" meant and that its alright for people to believe different things. Appropriately enough, we were about to start our Religious Education lesson at that time so it was even on-topic :).
Since I'll be in the same classes for three days a week two of the teachers have asked me to take the science lessons on. Its nice getting back into the routine of planning lessons - rather reminds me of my practicum days. I'll be doing the unit on "Changing States of Matter" so am currently looking at various resources to use in class.
I had an interesting moment in one of my classes this week: As the children were coming in from their break, one of them came up to me and said that "A" was calling "B" a Christian which was upsetting to "B" who was countering with "no I'm a Catholic". Strangely, they seemed to think it was an insult... incidentally, they also thought "pregnant" was a bad word - where are they getting these ideas? I had to take some time to explain what the word "Christian" meant and that its alright for people to believe different things. Appropriately enough, we were about to start our Religious Education lesson at that time so it was even on-topic :).
Friday 3 September 2010
Back to reality
Well it looks like my summer holidays are over and the Autumn (not Fall, Autumn) school term has begun. Time to wake up from the dreams of summer and get back to the reality of work! It may seem strange to some, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to work. Holidays are fun and I had an amazing trip around Europe, but I can only take so much vacation before wanting to get back into a routine/paycheck and doing something productive. Its kind of like the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns - after a certain point there is increasingly less enjoyment out of each additional unit of vacation time... see, those Economics classes in university came in handy after all :). Hmmm, I wonder if anyone has applied this law in this way before....
Speaking of work, Wednesday was my first day back. It was an inset day (PA Day for the Canadians among us) so no kids so I sat in on the "Welcome Back" and "Behavioral Policy" meetings in the morning then assisted the other teachers in setting up their classrooms. Our school was chosen to host a second Reception (Kindergarten) class this year which necessitated the building of a new classroom during the summer. Now when I first heard about this at the end of last year, I was thinking "simple port-a-cabin" - small, flimsy and not very pleasant. Boy was I wrong... looks like a permanent structure with the same carpeting and tiling as the rest of the school, 3 bathrooms, entrance area for coats and boots, large classroom and adjoining ITC suite. Inside you don't even realize your not in the main school. One thing I love about this school I'm at (at least for 3 days a week) is that everyone on staff gets along and helps out... everything for the Year 2 class was moved over in about an hour (including cabinets, tables and chairs).
In regards to my Thursdays and Fridays, nothing has been booked as of yet (well obviously if I'm writing this Friday morning....) but I have had a few leads. Fingers crossed that one will pan out - supply days are rather scarce in the beginning of a term as teachers are just getting back from vacation so I'm really fortunate to have the days I do. Just need to keep doing my eyes open and do a good job. Let's make this year (potentially my last in England) the best possible!
Speaking of work, Wednesday was my first day back. It was an inset day (PA Day for the Canadians among us) so no kids so I sat in on the "Welcome Back" and "Behavioral Policy" meetings in the morning then assisted the other teachers in setting up their classrooms. Our school was chosen to host a second Reception (Kindergarten) class this year which necessitated the building of a new classroom during the summer. Now when I first heard about this at the end of last year, I was thinking "simple port-a-cabin" - small, flimsy and not very pleasant. Boy was I wrong... looks like a permanent structure with the same carpeting and tiling as the rest of the school, 3 bathrooms, entrance area for coats and boots, large classroom and adjoining ITC suite. Inside you don't even realize your not in the main school. One thing I love about this school I'm at (at least for 3 days a week) is that everyone on staff gets along and helps out... everything for the Year 2 class was moved over in about an hour (including cabinets, tables and chairs).
In regards to my Thursdays and Fridays, nothing has been booked as of yet (well obviously if I'm writing this Friday morning....) but I have had a few leads. Fingers crossed that one will pan out - supply days are rather scarce in the beginning of a term as teachers are just getting back from vacation so I'm really fortunate to have the days I do. Just need to keep doing my eyes open and do a good job. Let's make this year (potentially my last in England) the best possible!
Monday 23 August 2010
From "The Top of Europe"
Day 15 and 16: The Swiss Alps
Ah Switzerland... the land of chocolate, clocks and knives. An extremely beautiful but expensive place to live. I was right in my prediction about the scenery - its the best on this trip! Neither words or photos can do it justice. Its so green and rocky with many beautiful little lakes and streams.
We drove through a few small towns along the way, most notably the capital of Lichenstein ("Sir Orlik" from A Knight's Tale anyone? ;) and Lucerne in Switzerland where we admired their clocks and knives as well as their chocolate. We finally stopped in a little town called Lauterbrunnern near the Janfrau mountain for the night.
In the morning, we took a train 3265 ft up the mountain to "The Top of Europe" where I spent the day walking through their ice palace (made up of a series of tunnels carved into the side of a glacier) and partaking in a variety of winter activities (such as snow boarding, skiing, throwing snowballs, tubbing and sledding). I had some difficulty catching my breath at times due to the high altitude but it was still very fun. The best part of it all was seeing the reaction of several Australian girls who were experiencing snow for the first time. Hilarious... The only downer of the day was that I forgot to apply sun screen before leaving so my face got pretty burnt.
Its hard to believe that my tour is nearly over - only 4 days left. Tomorrow we're heading into the Rhine Valley and then onto Amsterdam.
Ah Switzerland... the land of chocolate, clocks and knives. An extremely beautiful but expensive place to live. I was right in my prediction about the scenery - its the best on this trip! Neither words or photos can do it justice. Its so green and rocky with many beautiful little lakes and streams.
We drove through a few small towns along the way, most notably the capital of Lichenstein ("Sir Orlik" from A Knight's Tale anyone? ;) and Lucerne in Switzerland where we admired their clocks and knives as well as their chocolate. We finally stopped in a little town called Lauterbrunnern near the Janfrau mountain for the night.
In the morning, we took a train 3265 ft up the mountain to "The Top of Europe" where I spent the day walking through their ice palace (made up of a series of tunnels carved into the side of a glacier) and partaking in a variety of winter activities (such as snow boarding, skiing, throwing snowballs, tubbing and sledding). I had some difficulty catching my breath at times due to the high altitude but it was still very fun. The best part of it all was seeing the reaction of several Australian girls who were experiencing snow for the first time. Hilarious... The only downer of the day was that I forgot to apply sun screen before leaving so my face got pretty burnt.
Its hard to believe that my tour is nearly over - only 4 days left. Tomorrow we're heading into the Rhine Valley and then onto Amsterdam.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Bryan's Further Adventures in Europe
Day 12-13: Austia Tyrol
Ah Austria! Where the hills are alive with the sound of music... well maybe not as (aside from the ol' Ipod) I haven't heard so much as a peep. But its a nice image nevertheless. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous - the most spectacular thus far. In case you haven't noticed, I just adore mountainous terrain! Here also is where we went white water rafting and tandem paragliding (and biking, but that's not nearly as interesting is it? ;).
Ok, so white water rafting: we went down grade 3 rapids (can't remember the river at the moment) which were fun, but I would've liked something a bit more rougher (you know me and waves). That being said, I did over-extend during one of my strokes as a wave hit and ended up in the water. The worst part is that my partner didn't even notice and it took the guide yelling "Man in the water!" for him to pull me out. No damage done though (actually it was the best part of the trip lol). We als had a guy who got motion sickness and of course he sat behind me... luckily he managed to lean over-board.
Paragliding was cool - we had our guide strapped to the back of our seat who controlled our decent (and performed a few ariel acrobatics). To start, we had to sprint down the side of the mountain until we built up enough speed for the wind to catch our parachute and pull us up. It was a good thing we were able to go too - the good weather had deserted us and we didn't find out if it was on or not until 1:15pm that afternoon.
On another positive not, those persistent flu-like symptoms seem to have disappeared :).
Day 14: Austria to Munich
Today we had a drive through the German countryside to Munich. It was nice enough I suppose but it just couldn't compare to the Austrian landscape. One of the "problems" of a whirlwind trip like this is that you see so much so quickly that you can become a bit jaded. For example, in Munich I walked through two Lutheran churches, Peterplaz and Frauenplaz. In the beginning they would have rated their own entry, while now they are simply a footnote. Thy were beautiful to be sure, but I've just seen so many beautiful churches that they don't seem special.
During the drive we stopped at the Dauchu concentration camp. Like the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam, it was moving in its starkness. One moment really stood out for me though - I was walking through the gas chambers when I passed a girl (no more than 2 years old) walking with her father, happily gurgling in that cute, toddler way. The contrast between "then" and "now" just kinda made me think: 75 years ago this was a place of great suffering and dispair while now it is a place for little children to walk with their familes. How things change...
In Munich of course we went to a beer hall where we feasted on pork knuckle, saukraut and dumplings while being entertained by dancing bar wenches playing bells. Life was good... and it was some cracking crackling ;)
Ah Austria! Where the hills are alive with the sound of music... well maybe not as (aside from the ol' Ipod) I haven't heard so much as a peep. But its a nice image nevertheless. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous - the most spectacular thus far. In case you haven't noticed, I just adore mountainous terrain! Here also is where we went white water rafting and tandem paragliding (and biking, but that's not nearly as interesting is it? ;).
Ok, so white water rafting: we went down grade 3 rapids (can't remember the river at the moment) which were fun, but I would've liked something a bit more rougher (you know me and waves). That being said, I did over-extend during one of my strokes as a wave hit and ended up in the water. The worst part is that my partner didn't even notice and it took the guide yelling "Man in the water!" for him to pull me out. No damage done though (actually it was the best part of the trip lol). We als had a guy who got motion sickness and of course he sat behind me... luckily he managed to lean over-board.
Paragliding was cool - we had our guide strapped to the back of our seat who controlled our decent (and performed a few ariel acrobatics). To start, we had to sprint down the side of the mountain until we built up enough speed for the wind to catch our parachute and pull us up. It was a good thing we were able to go too - the good weather had deserted us and we didn't find out if it was on or not until 1:15pm that afternoon.
On another positive not, those persistent flu-like symptoms seem to have disappeared :).
Day 14: Austria to Munich
Today we had a drive through the German countryside to Munich. It was nice enough I suppose but it just couldn't compare to the Austrian landscape. One of the "problems" of a whirlwind trip like this is that you see so much so quickly that you can become a bit jaded. For example, in Munich I walked through two Lutheran churches, Peterplaz and Frauenplaz. In the beginning they would have rated their own entry, while now they are simply a footnote. Thy were beautiful to be sure, but I've just seen so many beautiful churches that they don't seem special.
During the drive we stopped at the Dauchu concentration camp. Like the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam, it was moving in its starkness. One moment really stood out for me though - I was walking through the gas chambers when I passed a girl (no more than 2 years old) walking with her father, happily gurgling in that cute, toddler way. The contrast between "then" and "now" just kinda made me think: 75 years ago this was a place of great suffering and dispair while now it is a place for little children to walk with their familes. How things change...
In Munich of course we went to a beer hall where we feasted on pork knuckle, saukraut and dumplings while being entertained by dancing bar wenches playing bells. Life was good... and it was some cracking crackling ;)
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Day 7 - 12: Italy
The last few days have been quite hectic - awesome and fun-filled but still hectic. Hence why I have not had the opportunity to make an entry for awhile. There's no way at this point that I could describe everything I saw and experienced in Italy without devoting pages and pages, so I'll make a few comments here and put the rest on my photos when I get back home and post them. OK? Well, this was another one of those rhetorical questions as there isn't much you could do to change it now is there? lol
I've always said before that one thing I love about European cities is how the "old" and "new" is smooshed together... well its even moreso over in Italy (especially Rome). Rome is like a giant archeological dig site! Did you know that they've been trying to extend their subway lines for many years (and don't expect to finish anytime soon) because ecery couple of feet they dig, they hit another ancient ruin that needs to be excavated. The whole city is built above the old one... in some places its 8m higher than 1000 years ago!
I also found that (aside from the ancient ruins) I wasn't all that impressed with Rome. The ruins were fabulous, but as a modern city, it leaves something to be desired. It seems that the government spends money to maintain the tourist areas and leaves the rest of the city to its own devices. For example, large parts seemed run down and the pavement was extremely uneven. I guess my point is that I loved to visit it, but wouldn't want to live there.
In contrast, Venice was the Italian city that impressed me the most... so many windy roads and criss-crossing bridges and canals. I was half-expecting there to be a smell, but there wasn't... also the mosquitoes weren't nearly as bad as I'd been led to believe. Only a few bites :). It was easy to get lost in though, but I managed. Oh! And those masks - they were so cool and every second shop seemed to be selling them. Of course I purchased a couple examples for my collection :). You do have to be watchful of your belongings - one of the group members lost his wallet! Fortunately he seems to have got things sorted and didn't lose anything irreplacable.
There's not much I have to say about Florence... it was quite beautiful and I had a great time there as well.
The things I'll remember most about Italy is probably the food (and wine ;). They have a bit of a "minimalist" approach to cooking... they use a few ingredients and bring their full flavour out. The pasta and sandwiches and pizza and coffee.... mmmmm.... The weather has also been superb so far. Let's hope it countinues as we travel into Austria and Germany.
I've always said before that one thing I love about European cities is how the "old" and "new" is smooshed together... well its even moreso over in Italy (especially Rome). Rome is like a giant archeological dig site! Did you know that they've been trying to extend their subway lines for many years (and don't expect to finish anytime soon) because ecery couple of feet they dig, they hit another ancient ruin that needs to be excavated. The whole city is built above the old one... in some places its 8m higher than 1000 years ago!
I also found that (aside from the ancient ruins) I wasn't all that impressed with Rome. The ruins were fabulous, but as a modern city, it leaves something to be desired. It seems that the government spends money to maintain the tourist areas and leaves the rest of the city to its own devices. For example, large parts seemed run down and the pavement was extremely uneven. I guess my point is that I loved to visit it, but wouldn't want to live there.
In contrast, Venice was the Italian city that impressed me the most... so many windy roads and criss-crossing bridges and canals. I was half-expecting there to be a smell, but there wasn't... also the mosquitoes weren't nearly as bad as I'd been led to believe. Only a few bites :). It was easy to get lost in though, but I managed. Oh! And those masks - they were so cool and every second shop seemed to be selling them. Of course I purchased a couple examples for my collection :). You do have to be watchful of your belongings - one of the group members lost his wallet! Fortunately he seems to have got things sorted and didn't lose anything irreplacable.
There's not much I have to say about Florence... it was quite beautiful and I had a great time there as well.
The things I'll remember most about Italy is probably the food (and wine ;). They have a bit of a "minimalist" approach to cooking... they use a few ingredients and bring their full flavour out. The pasta and sandwiches and pizza and coffee.... mmmmm.... The weather has also been superb so far. Let's hope it countinues as we travel into Austria and Germany.
Monday 16 August 2010
French Riviera
Day 5: Beaujolais - French Rivera
This was another travel day. The good thing about these days are that any spending is usually less... which is a good thing cause Europe is quite an expensive place. I slept for most of the ride again but what I saw of the region was very picturesque. The terrain is getting more rocky which I absolutely love!
After dropping our stuff at the camp, we had a few hours in Monaco, the second smallest country (only the Vatican is smaller). The city is very rich and built up on the side of the hills, affording spectacular views... so of course I forgot my camera (sigh). May need to steal some pictures from my fellow Contiki goers... I elected not to go inside the casinos (I like to keep my money in my wallet thank you very much lol) so I wandered around taking in the sights. Most who went in had minor losses - the highest winner I heard of was 40 euros.
Day 6 French Riveria - Florence
This is the dawn of our longest bus ride thus far - 6 hours! I'm glad I was moderate in my celebrations last night and got a good sleep because we are driving along these incredible windy mountain roads - each turn providing another amazing panoramic view. I really wish my camera took decent moving pictures through glass...
Speaking of drinking, I'm going to go on a bit of a rant here about some of the people at our last camp (from another group) who were incredibly annoying. I have nothing against having a good time, but on a trip like this when you are sharing accomodations with others, there is a certain amount of respect necessary and I just hate it when people are so inconsiderate. We literally had people running through other campers' cabins and drinking on their doorsteps at 3am! When they were told to keep it down they simply laughed. I mean really! There were those on our coach who were too exhausted from no sleep do to the noise to enjoy the scenery the next day. Gah! I wish Contiki could do something about that kind of behaviour... "what" I'm not sure, but something surely!
This was another travel day. The good thing about these days are that any spending is usually less... which is a good thing cause Europe is quite an expensive place. I slept for most of the ride again but what I saw of the region was very picturesque. The terrain is getting more rocky which I absolutely love!
After dropping our stuff at the camp, we had a few hours in Monaco, the second smallest country (only the Vatican is smaller). The city is very rich and built up on the side of the hills, affording spectacular views... so of course I forgot my camera (sigh). May need to steal some pictures from my fellow Contiki goers... I elected not to go inside the casinos (I like to keep my money in my wallet thank you very much lol) so I wandered around taking in the sights. Most who went in had minor losses - the highest winner I heard of was 40 euros.
Day 6 French Riveria - Florence
This is the dawn of our longest bus ride thus far - 6 hours! I'm glad I was moderate in my celebrations last night and got a good sleep because we are driving along these incredible windy mountain roads - each turn providing another amazing panoramic view. I really wish my camera took decent moving pictures through glass...
Speaking of drinking, I'm going to go on a bit of a rant here about some of the people at our last camp (from another group) who were incredibly annoying. I have nothing against having a good time, but on a trip like this when you are sharing accomodations with others, there is a certain amount of respect necessary and I just hate it when people are so inconsiderate. We literally had people running through other campers' cabins and drinking on their doorsteps at 3am! When they were told to keep it down they simply laughed. I mean really! There were those on our coach who were too exhausted from no sleep do to the noise to enjoy the scenery the next day. Gah! I wish Contiki could do something about that kind of behaviour... "what" I'm not sure, but something surely!
Thursday 12 August 2010
Day 3 and 4 - Paris to Beaujolais Region
Day 3 - Travel Day
It was an early day for us which was quite painful for some given the copious amounts of alcohol consumed the night before... But we all eventually made it to the coach and headed off to the Beaujolais wine region. There's not much to talk about the drive - it was a standard road trip across some nice scenery. Most slept.
We arrived at the gorgeous Contiki Chateau in the middle of one of the smallest wine areas in France. Don't let its size fool you - the wine is still top-notch. They have a limited production run at this vineyard and only export a limited number of bottles to Germany and Europe. They also make a nasty alcohol called eau de vin or water of life... among the staff it is (more appropriately known as eau de mort or water of death. I'll let your imaginations fill in the rest :).
Day 4 - 2nd Day in Beaujolais
Today was what a vacation should be about. We had a free day to laze around the chateau and relax. The weather continued to be absolutely fantastic so we all went on a hike up the side of a nearby hill to the "Top of the World", the highest point in the region. It was a fairly challenging in some parts but most of us made it to the top and were able to appreciate the view.
We had our French style picnic then headed back to spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool side. Apparently I am still unable to perform a back flip or back dive (to the amusment of everyone present)... ow... On the bright side, I spent the whole day in the sun without getting burned! I may even be getting some colour - go me!
That evening we had an 80s themed party in "The Cave", a basement bar. I was rocking to Micheal Jackson while wearing a red bandana and a full bottle of wine... life is good.
It was an early day for us which was quite painful for some given the copious amounts of alcohol consumed the night before... But we all eventually made it to the coach and headed off to the Beaujolais wine region. There's not much to talk about the drive - it was a standard road trip across some nice scenery. Most slept.
We arrived at the gorgeous Contiki Chateau in the middle of one of the smallest wine areas in France. Don't let its size fool you - the wine is still top-notch. They have a limited production run at this vineyard and only export a limited number of bottles to Germany and Europe. They also make a nasty alcohol called eau de vin or water of life... among the staff it is (more appropriately known as eau de mort or water of death. I'll let your imaginations fill in the rest :).
Day 4 - 2nd Day in Beaujolais
Today was what a vacation should be about. We had a free day to laze around the chateau and relax. The weather continued to be absolutely fantastic so we all went on a hike up the side of a nearby hill to the "Top of the World", the highest point in the region. It was a fairly challenging in some parts but most of us made it to the top and were able to appreciate the view.
We had our French style picnic then headed back to spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool side. Apparently I am still unable to perform a back flip or back dive (to the amusment of everyone present)... ow... On the bright side, I spent the whole day in the sun without getting burned! I may even be getting some colour - go me!
That evening we had an 80s themed party in "The Cave", a basement bar. I was rocking to Micheal Jackson while wearing a red bandana and a full bottle of wine... life is good.
Day 2 - Free Day in Paris
Today was the first of my free days in Europe and I knew the 2 things I most wanted to see were the Louvre and Eiffel Tower.
The Louvre... what can I say except that it was amazing! The collections it housed were fabulous of course, but (surprisingly) the star attraction was the building itself. I thought the Victorian architecture in London was detailed... well the Louvre put that to shame. The paintings, carvings and guilding on the walls and ceiling were incredible!
The line to get into the Eiffel Tower was long, but worth the wait. I actually walked up the first two sections of the tower before taking the elevator. The view from the top was "quite nice" ;). This entry was actually written while standing in the tower's shadow - jealous ;)?
In the evening, we went to a dinner and caberet show. Oh my... the duck a l'orange was fantabulous! I so need to learn how to cook it. The best meal thus far though I still have Italy to sample. The show afterwards was great - there were jugglers, acrobats, dancers and singers. They even performed a traditional can-can dance.
The Louvre... what can I say except that it was amazing! The collections it housed were fabulous of course, but (surprisingly) the star attraction was the building itself. I thought the Victorian architecture in London was detailed... well the Louvre put that to shame. The paintings, carvings and guilding on the walls and ceiling were incredible!
The line to get into the Eiffel Tower was long, but worth the wait. I actually walked up the first two sections of the tower before taking the elevator. The view from the top was "quite nice" ;). This entry was actually written while standing in the tower's shadow - jealous ;)?
In the evening, we went to a dinner and caberet show. Oh my... the duck a l'orange was fantabulous! I so need to learn how to cook it. The best meal thus far though I still have Italy to sample. The show afterwards was great - there were jugglers, acrobats, dancers and singers. They even performed a traditional can-can dance.
Sunday 8 August 2010
My European Adventures : The Beginning
Day 1: Travel from London to Paris
Off I go again on another wild and zany adventure... ok maybe not as much as its a package tour run by a reputable company, but I'm very pumped about it! It's started out very well - the people are awesome. I've actually initiated converstations with others for once - I may just be coming out of my shell and being more social lol. Only time will tell.
It's amazing the amount of comraderie that being on a tour creates. I mean here we are, strangers who wouldn't normally speak to each other if they were sitting next to them on a bus, sitting around swapping stories like we've been life long friends within hours of meeting. Its also reinforced how poor my memory I have for names (shocking for a teacher, I know). Faces I'm fine with but names go in one ear and out the other. Perhaps we should institute a name tage practice. Though I suppose walking around a city with name tags on just screams "I'm in a tour group - easy mark!". I guess I just need to learn to pay attention better.
Amazingly I witnessed a person's first experience with coffee on the ferry to France. He decided to try a machiatto... I'll never forget that expression as he took his first sip - a perfect mixture of shock, surprise with a hint of disgust. Of course he now loves the stuff... another successful conversion I msut say.
Today we simply made our way from London to Paris and we're staying in a camp site. We did a drive through of Paris but we'll get a better look tomorrow on our free day. If you're curious, my itinerary can be found by clicking here. I'll try and update as often as reasonable.
Off I go again on another wild and zany adventure... ok maybe not as much as its a package tour run by a reputable company, but I'm very pumped about it! It's started out very well - the people are awesome. I've actually initiated converstations with others for once - I may just be coming out of my shell and being more social lol. Only time will tell.
It's amazing the amount of comraderie that being on a tour creates. I mean here we are, strangers who wouldn't normally speak to each other if they were sitting next to them on a bus, sitting around swapping stories like we've been life long friends within hours of meeting. Its also reinforced how poor my memory I have for names (shocking for a teacher, I know). Faces I'm fine with but names go in one ear and out the other. Perhaps we should institute a name tage practice. Though I suppose walking around a city with name tags on just screams "I'm in a tour group - easy mark!". I guess I just need to learn to pay attention better.
Amazingly I witnessed a person's first experience with coffee on the ferry to France. He decided to try a machiatto... I'll never forget that expression as he took his first sip - a perfect mixture of shock, surprise with a hint of disgust. Of course he now loves the stuff... another successful conversion I msut say.
Today we simply made our way from London to Paris and we're staying in a camp site. We did a drive through of Paris but we'll get a better look tomorrow on our free day. If you're curious, my itinerary can be found by clicking here. I'll try and update as often as reasonable.
Sunday 1 August 2010
School's Out for the Summer!
So comes the end of my first school year here in the UK. I almost can't believe its been 10 months since I first walked off that plane at Heathrow Airport. I've been on summer vacation for a week now and it still feels strange waking up in the morning (or afternoon in some cases) and not have anything I need to do. I miss the routine that work imposes on you (and the corresponding paycheck... but that's a whole other concern ;). After having my daily schedule more or less dictated to me for so long, being able to have a say in my schedule is both a novelty and a burden. It can be challenging to find enough things to fill the days without completely emptying the bank account lol. But I shall persevere as I always do... in a worst case scenario, there's an Xbox connected to the TV in the living room and both Mass Effect and Call Of Duty ready to play :).
Also, my trip is coming up pretty fast (this Thursday in fact) and (too everyone's great surprise I'm sure) I've already started planning my packing. No, I'm not sick... I believe its more a function of boredom :). Later today I'll be heading out for a few more items of clothing as the tour operator recommends 2 weeks worth.
Also, my trip is coming up pretty fast (this Thursday in fact) and (too everyone's great surprise I'm sure) I've already started planning my packing. No, I'm not sick... I believe its more a function of boredom :). Later today I'll be heading out for a few more items of clothing as the tour operator recommends 2 weeks worth.
Thursday 15 July 2010
Week Report
Hello again! This is Bryan, reporting live from London England. The weather for the past bit has been up and down but in the low 20s... typical British summer :). Now let's look at the breaking news.
At the top of the list, last Wednesday was my birthday! I'm now the big 2-7 (or as my sister likes to say "in my LATE 20s). There's not much to say aside from the date... it was a normal working day and I didn't even make it out for a pint to toast the occasion. Don't worry though, I managed to sneak out on the weekend for a drink with a few friends as I watched the Netherlands and Spain battle it out for the World Cup. (Incredibly, it was a very exciting game... fast moving with so many penalties handed out I felt like I was watching a hockey game lol.) I'd like to thank everyone for their wishes and cards. I do miss you all and look forward to seeing you this coming Christmas (my flight has been booked!).
This brings us to our weekly countdown - to the end of the term! I have another week after this before school breaks up for the summer. Of course, this also means I have another 2 pay checks until September... sigh. Oh well, I have my European vacation to cheer me up! One of the great things about working in Europe is how close everything is to travel to... may as well take advantage while I'm here. Yes, I know... I don't understand how departing on an expensive trip (on which I'll be spending even more money) makes me feel better about my finances either... but it does :).
With the imminent ending of the school year, its time to finish up all those loose ends that have been put off. Today's project was updating the SEN folders (wait... you mean those papers were actually to be used for something?!... kidding kidding lol). I think next week is shaping up to be a quiet one. Last class trips (the nursery is getting a teddy bear picnic :) and finishing up the year. Staff-wise, we're holding a little party to say good-bye to several members. A little sad, but they're going on to bigger and better things.
At the top of the list, last Wednesday was my birthday! I'm now the big 2-7 (or as my sister likes to say "in my LATE 20s). There's not much to say aside from the date... it was a normal working day and I didn't even make it out for a pint to toast the occasion. Don't worry though, I managed to sneak out on the weekend for a drink with a few friends as I watched the Netherlands and Spain battle it out for the World Cup. (Incredibly, it was a very exciting game... fast moving with so many penalties handed out I felt like I was watching a hockey game lol.) I'd like to thank everyone for their wishes and cards. I do miss you all and look forward to seeing you this coming Christmas (my flight has been booked!).
This brings us to our weekly countdown - to the end of the term! I have another week after this before school breaks up for the summer. Of course, this also means I have another 2 pay checks until September... sigh. Oh well, I have my European vacation to cheer me up! One of the great things about working in Europe is how close everything is to travel to... may as well take advantage while I'm here. Yes, I know... I don't understand how departing on an expensive trip (on which I'll be spending even more money) makes me feel better about my finances either... but it does :).
With the imminent ending of the school year, its time to finish up all those loose ends that have been put off. Today's project was updating the SEN folders (wait... you mean those papers were actually to be used for something?!... kidding kidding lol). I think next week is shaping up to be a quiet one. Last class trips (the nursery is getting a teddy bear picnic :) and finishing up the year. Staff-wise, we're holding a little party to say good-bye to several members. A little sad, but they're going on to bigger and better things.
Monday 28 June 2010
A Dark Day for England
If anyone was watching the World Cup this weekend, they would have witnessed one of England's worst games culminating in their 4-1 thrashing by Germany and an end to their cup dreams. Seriously... Germany walked all over them and it didn't seem that there was any heart in the squad. They gave up much too early.
Another contributor was the disallowed goal in the first half... how anyone could miss that it was in is still beyond me. Two feet over the line for Pete's sake! Just another argument for the use of goal line technology in soccer matches (it happened again in the next game with Argentina receiving an offside goal against Mexico). I'm not quite sure why FIFA has nixed the idea... something about it taking too long and spoiling the "spirit of the game". Really though - in this day and age, in this sort of high profile match with millions of dollars in the balance, I think taking a minute to verify contentious goals would be an asset. Its not like we're asking for every infraction, foul or free kick to be checked... just disputed goals which the officials did not have a good line of sight to.
At the end of the day though, the players themselves must take the "blame" for the loss. One goal would not have made a difference in the result and, if they could not mentally shake themselves out of the shock of going into the second half one goal down, then they should not be in this kind of high profile event. In any kind of sporting event, you have to just keep pounding away at the other team until you get the result you want - miracles can happen but only if you create chances for them to.
They are making £100,000 + a week which hardly seems justified in the way that they performed. And to Rooney - if you don't want fans to boo, give them something to cheer about!
Another contributor was the disallowed goal in the first half... how anyone could miss that it was in is still beyond me. Two feet over the line for Pete's sake! Just another argument for the use of goal line technology in soccer matches (it happened again in the next game with Argentina receiving an offside goal against Mexico). I'm not quite sure why FIFA has nixed the idea... something about it taking too long and spoiling the "spirit of the game". Really though - in this day and age, in this sort of high profile match with millions of dollars in the balance, I think taking a minute to verify contentious goals would be an asset. Its not like we're asking for every infraction, foul or free kick to be checked... just disputed goals which the officials did not have a good line of sight to.
At the end of the day though, the players themselves must take the "blame" for the loss. One goal would not have made a difference in the result and, if they could not mentally shake themselves out of the shock of going into the second half one goal down, then they should not be in this kind of high profile event. In any kind of sporting event, you have to just keep pounding away at the other team until you get the result you want - miracles can happen but only if you create chances for them to.
They are making £100,000 + a week which hardly seems justified in the way that they performed. And to Rooney - if you don't want fans to boo, give them something to cheer about!
Saturday 26 June 2010
Another lazy weekend
Here I sit on another lazy weekend . The temperature is 25C and rising - a perfect sunny day for a BBQ. My housemates and I just finished cleaning off the unused porch and BBQ in preparation. It'll be just us pretty much, but should be fun.
I suppose the most exciting news from this week is that I've gotten guaranteed work for the autumn term! I will be back at my current school for 3 days a week covering teachers' prep classes (or PPA as its called over here) for Nursery - Year 4. Each week a teacher gets half a day off to plan, mark and prepare for the next week which means the school either arranges for another teacher to cover the class or hires a supply. I'm quite happy about this: I have some guaranteed work coming back from my long vacation, I don't have to take any days off to prepare for / attend interviews and its a good school with friendly staff and well-behaved students. The head teacher also had some really nice comments about how I was doing a good job and everyone loved me :).
It will be a change - hopefully a good one. I will miss the bond between teacher and student that you form when your with the same group of kids every day, but 3 days at the same (small) school will help mitigate that. It will also be nice not to have to worry about long-term planning or assessments (though marking will be the same). And the two days out of the week I wont be at the school, I'll (again hopefully) be out at other schools - giving me back a sense of adventure and new ideas (PD that I get paid for doing! lol). Also even though 3 days a week is enough to survive on, it doesn't leave much for saving :).
I suppose the other thing I need to do is my report writing which I am woefully behind (surprise, surprise eh?). If everything goes to plan, I'll get 6 done this weekend leaving only 5 to be completed during the week. Its not too bad - thankfully I only have half a class to do or I'd really be in trouble lol.
I suppose the most exciting news from this week is that I've gotten guaranteed work for the autumn term! I will be back at my current school for 3 days a week covering teachers' prep classes (or PPA as its called over here) for Nursery - Year 4. Each week a teacher gets half a day off to plan, mark and prepare for the next week which means the school either arranges for another teacher to cover the class or hires a supply. I'm quite happy about this: I have some guaranteed work coming back from my long vacation, I don't have to take any days off to prepare for / attend interviews and its a good school with friendly staff and well-behaved students. The head teacher also had some really nice comments about how I was doing a good job and everyone loved me :).
It will be a change - hopefully a good one. I will miss the bond between teacher and student that you form when your with the same group of kids every day, but 3 days at the same (small) school will help mitigate that. It will also be nice not to have to worry about long-term planning or assessments (though marking will be the same). And the two days out of the week I wont be at the school, I'll (again hopefully) be out at other schools - giving me back a sense of adventure and new ideas (PD that I get paid for doing! lol). Also even though 3 days a week is enough to survive on, it doesn't leave much for saving :).
I suppose the other thing I need to do is my report writing which I am woefully behind (surprise, surprise eh?). If everything goes to plan, I'll get 6 done this weekend leaving only 5 to be completed during the week. Its not too bad - thankfully I only have half a class to do or I'd really be in trouble lol.
Saturday 19 June 2010
I'm Alive!
Alright, no need to send out search parties or call the police... I am indeed alive and well. I know that I haven’t been keeping this blog as up-to-date as my loyal fans would like (or at all for that matter). I guess that is the danger of having a routine – you get comfortable, complacent and just don’t know what to say. Over the month I’ve tried to sit down and blog, but ever time I would simply stare at the blank page – the words wouldn’t come. I know its hard for some of you to imagine... Bryan at a loss for words?! But its true.
Anyways, I’m still enjoying my time with my Nursery class – they are so cute at that age and some of their observations are amazing in their insight. The other day I had to do one of the hardest things a teacher has to do... I said goodbye to my first child. You just get so attached to them at that age and I wont be there next year... don’t think she understood though lol.
This summer I’ll be taking another trip, this time around Europe. I’ve booked through Contiki again (quite a good agency for young professionals) so hopefully it’ll be a blast. I decided on their European Experience leaving in August. Click here to view my itinerary.
Work for September is still up in the air, so fingers crossed something will come up in the next month or so. I really don’t want a repeat of last Autumn! I need more than 6 days lol!
Anyways, I’m still enjoying my time with my Nursery class – they are so cute at that age and some of their observations are amazing in their insight. The other day I had to do one of the hardest things a teacher has to do... I said goodbye to my first child. You just get so attached to them at that age and I wont be there next year... don’t think she understood though lol.
This summer I’ll be taking another trip, this time around Europe. I’ve booked through Contiki again (quite a good agency for young professionals) so hopefully it’ll be a blast. I decided on their European Experience leaving in August. Click here to view my itinerary.
Work for September is still up in the air, so fingers crossed something will come up in the next month or so. I really don’t want a repeat of last Autumn! I need more than 6 days lol!
Sunday 2 May 2010
Finally Back!
Ok,, so apparently when I said "the next few days" I really meant "in two weeks" . I'm not really sure why I haven't blogged in so long - I've had quite a few ideas for posts (the last two weeks have had plenty of things for me to post about) but I just haven't seemed to get around to it. Guess my head hasn't really been in the game... though that begs the question "what game has it been in?" :) Could be a symptom of little sleep...
I've started my new assignment at the nursery class and I'm loving it! Since I've supplied there previously and there's a very experienced team, its was easy to slide into the routine and the kids have gotten comfortable around me. Every now and then though I'm reminded that I'm in charge... there's no other teacher to do the daily planning, room organization, comment books, paper work - I'm ultimately responsible. As well, I set the lessons (though its quite unstructured in nursery) as opposed to simply following them as a supply teacher so I'm free to choose the topics and direction and deviate whenever I see fit. The power - the awesome new power! :)
On a serious note again, its so nice being in one place - knowing that I have a job, where I'm going and what I'm going to do in advance really decreases my daily stress. Seeing the same children each day helps build the teacher-student relationship and let's me watch the improvement. Being able to see that I'm making a positive difference is very rewarding and really adds to my job satisfaction. Some days, I'm having so much fun with my children that it doesn't seem like work at all - though these kind of days are invariably the most draining by the end :).
I'm also seeing the importance a stable environment makes in their development. Stability gives the children a framework in which to explore safely - too much uncertainty or new things can be scary. Changes or interruptions of established routines (even briefly) have the potential to throw children off for the entire session which means I have to keep things interesting and engaging while familiar enough so they know what to do and can have fun.
So the final Ireland albums have been posted (6 in all) so check them out! I'll make more of an effort to get more consistent updates ("ya ya", I hear you say, "we've heard THAT before".) Well... I mean it this time :).
I've started my new assignment at the nursery class and I'm loving it! Since I've supplied there previously and there's a very experienced team, its was easy to slide into the routine and the kids have gotten comfortable around me. Every now and then though I'm reminded that I'm in charge... there's no other teacher to do the daily planning, room organization, comment books, paper work - I'm ultimately responsible. As well, I set the lessons (though its quite unstructured in nursery) as opposed to simply following them as a supply teacher so I'm free to choose the topics and direction and deviate whenever I see fit. The power - the awesome new power! :)
On a serious note again, its so nice being in one place - knowing that I have a job, where I'm going and what I'm going to do in advance really decreases my daily stress. Seeing the same children each day helps build the teacher-student relationship and let's me watch the improvement. Being able to see that I'm making a positive difference is very rewarding and really adds to my job satisfaction. Some days, I'm having so much fun with my children that it doesn't seem like work at all - though these kind of days are invariably the most draining by the end :).
I'm also seeing the importance a stable environment makes in their development. Stability gives the children a framework in which to explore safely - too much uncertainty or new things can be scary. Changes or interruptions of established routines (even briefly) have the potential to throw children off for the entire session which means I have to keep things interesting and engaging while familiar enough so they know what to do and can have fun.
So the final Ireland albums have been posted (6 in all) so check them out! I'll make more of an effort to get more consistent updates ("ya ya", I hear you say, "we've heard THAT before".) Well... I mean it this time :).
Saturday 17 April 2010
Travel Update... It's a "blast" over here
Ok, so you've all probably heard about the eruption in Iceland (near the Eyjafjallajokull glacier) which has sent clouds of ash into the atmosphere and paralyzed airports across Europe. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, including mine with Ryanair to London. In my last post, I said that I was going to just hang out in Dublin till this blew over, but after reading and talking to more people I've decided to bite the bullet. As no one knows when the air is going to clear and airports are going to be crazy with backlog, I've booked a ferry to Holyhead tomorrow morning and will try to get a train to London from there. Let's hope there's space on one of the trains (I can't pre-book the tickets).
As much as I have loved my time here, I'm ready for the vacation to be over and to get back to work... and I'll still make more working than the extra trip cost. Of course I'll be talking with Ryanair and my travel insurance to see if I can get any money back, but I wont hold my breath. If everything works perfectly, I'll only be around 12h behind schedule though which is worth it.
Keep watching this space as I'll have another post with more Ireland info and pictures (not to mention first full time teaching experiences) up in the next few days.
As much as I have loved my time here, I'm ready for the vacation to be over and to get back to work... and I'll still make more working than the extra trip cost. Of course I'll be talking with Ryanair and my travel insurance to see if I can get any money back, but I wont hold my breath. If everything works perfectly, I'll only be around 12h behind schedule though which is worth it.
Keep watching this space as I'll have another post with more Ireland info and pictures (not to mention first full time teaching experiences) up in the next few days.
Friday 16 April 2010
The Good, the bad and the Irish
Some days I feel like a broken record, but I couldn't think of a better phrase to capture my feelings than "wow, I can't believe how the time has flown!" It seems like only yesterday that I stepped into Dublin and now its nearly over. This trip has been almost perfect - beautiful weather (I actually got a little sunburnt), spectacular scenery and a funny and knowlegable guide (seriously, Sean could waffle on about paint and it'd be interesting). For the trip, he shared with us his two big travel tips to have a good time:
1) Don't travel broke. Seriously, there is nothing worse than being stuck in a country with no money. Sure you've already pre-paid for the sights and accomodations, but there are still optional extras and, I don't know, FOOD!
2) Don't complain about the weather. This seems to be the number one complaint for tourists and really, what can be done about it? Personally, I would amend this to say simply "Don't complain". You are on a tour in a brand new country - just relax and enjoy the experience. If anything bad happens, you'll at least get a story to tell your friends and family back home.
Getting back to my sight-seeing... ya, there's no way I'll actually fit the whole five day tour into this blog (and really, words alone wouldn't capture it properly). So I'll speak in generalities and add longer captions onto my pictures whenever I get them up next week (boy I'm rather dreading that... I figure I have over 400 pictures on my camera)! From the Michelstown Caves where mellenia of erosion has created cool organic rock formations to the stark beauty of the seaside cliffs towering over the water; from the stark beauty of the wind swept Burren to the rolling emerald hills criss-crossed by stone walls and corkscrewing roads the beauty of the country is captivating.
Like many other places I've seen in Europe there is a delightful mix of ancient and modern, but moreso if that makes any sense. There's something about standing at a prehistoric area (such as the ruins of a fort) that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and humbling. On one hand, despite the best efforts of man and nature, it is still standing after thousands of years. On the other hand, you realize that this is all that's left of a once proud people... dispite their best efforts everything they once had has fading till only a shell is left. You realize that everything you hold dear is ultimately finite.
Anyways, that's all for now... I'll probably add another blog to expand on some points but I think that's long enough for now. Right now, I'm due to fly out tomorrow. However, there's been a volcanic eruption in Iceland and the ash in the atmosphere has played havoc with air transport (all planes have been grounded till 1 pm tomorrow at the earliest). Many are opting to take the ferry and bus to get back to London, but I think those will be waaaay too crowded for my taste so I'll wait it out here. So (fingers crossed) my plane will still be on schedule.
1) Don't travel broke. Seriously, there is nothing worse than being stuck in a country with no money. Sure you've already pre-paid for the sights and accomodations, but there are still optional extras and, I don't know, FOOD!
2) Don't complain about the weather. This seems to be the number one complaint for tourists and really, what can be done about it? Personally, I would amend this to say simply "Don't complain". You are on a tour in a brand new country - just relax and enjoy the experience. If anything bad happens, you'll at least get a story to tell your friends and family back home.
Getting back to my sight-seeing... ya, there's no way I'll actually fit the whole five day tour into this blog (and really, words alone wouldn't capture it properly). So I'll speak in generalities and add longer captions onto my pictures whenever I get them up next week (boy I'm rather dreading that... I figure I have over 400 pictures on my camera)! From the Michelstown Caves where mellenia of erosion has created cool organic rock formations to the stark beauty of the seaside cliffs towering over the water; from the stark beauty of the wind swept Burren to the rolling emerald hills criss-crossed by stone walls and corkscrewing roads the beauty of the country is captivating.
Like many other places I've seen in Europe there is a delightful mix of ancient and modern, but moreso if that makes any sense. There's something about standing at a prehistoric area (such as the ruins of a fort) that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and humbling. On one hand, despite the best efforts of man and nature, it is still standing after thousands of years. On the other hand, you realize that this is all that's left of a once proud people... dispite their best efforts everything they once had has fading till only a shell is left. You realize that everything you hold dear is ultimately finite.
Anyways, that's all for now... I'll probably add another blog to expand on some points but I think that's long enough for now. Right now, I'm due to fly out tomorrow. However, there's been a volcanic eruption in Iceland and the ash in the atmosphere has played havoc with air transport (all planes have been grounded till 1 pm tomorrow at the earliest). Many are opting to take the ferry and bus to get back to London, but I think those will be waaaay too crowded for my taste so I'll wait it out here. So (fingers crossed) my plane will still be on schedule.
Sunday 11 April 2010
Off on an Irish Adventure!
Today I began another adventure (this time to Ireland) which means it was another early morning start (bloody 3am!). However, as much as I whine and whinge (hehe... really picking up the British expressions) about early mornings, there is something to be said about pre-dawn travel - its just so peaceful. The bus is quiet and uncrowded and journey times are greatly reduced due to almost no traffic. The darkened streets have a serenity to them - a pureness which is lost in the hussle and bussle of daylight.
At least that's how it usually is... this time's been a bit more stressful. Between my first bus being delayed for 30 min (stupid loud, drunk, obnoxious people) and nearly missing my connecting bus due to road work and I had difficulty finding the temporary stop. Add to that my 5 hours of sleep and lack of coffee and you have my state of mind.
Luckily, I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I'm really liking these smaller airports and the relatively quick lines. When I got to Dublin, I got the "Dublin Pass" which got me free entry into a lot fo the central attractions and a coach ride into the city. I've seen the Guinness Brewery, Dublin Castle and Jaimeson Distillry (not bad for a day's sight-seeing I think). I've also tried "the best chippery" in Dublin - I needed some sauce and the chips were underdone... but it wasn't bad.
But the tiredness has caught up with me and I couldn't even finish my dinner :(. So I'm signing off... look out for more updates whenever I can!
At least that's how it usually is... this time's been a bit more stressful. Between my first bus being delayed for 30 min (stupid loud, drunk, obnoxious people) and nearly missing my connecting bus due to road work and I had difficulty finding the temporary stop. Add to that my 5 hours of sleep and lack of coffee and you have my state of mind.
Luckily, I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I'm really liking these smaller airports and the relatively quick lines. When I got to Dublin, I got the "Dublin Pass" which got me free entry into a lot fo the central attractions and a coach ride into the city. I've seen the Guinness Brewery, Dublin Castle and Jaimeson Distillry (not bad for a day's sight-seeing I think). I've also tried "the best chippery" in Dublin - I needed some sauce and the chips were underdone... but it wasn't bad.
But the tiredness has caught up with me and I couldn't even finish my dinner :(. So I'm signing off... look out for more updates whenever I can!
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Back from Amsterdam
Wheew! So I made it back from Amsterdam in one piece. Let me tell you, it was great! I love going to see new places as a total tourist. I met quite a lot of nice people on the tour (there were 2 buses of 50!) and spent my time walking around Amsterdam and hanging out with them. The only real “let down” was the weather, which pretty much rained the entire time (I really need to get a rain coat I think). Considering we were just there for the long weekend, we saw quite a bit so I’ll try to say as much as I can in this short space.
The trip started when I woke up at the ungodly hour of 4am in order to meet up with the coach in Central London by 6 – why do all tours have to start so early?! We traveled by coach to Dover where we boarded the ferry to Calis and then drove the rest of the way to Amsterdam (in all, about 11h). It was a nice day for traveling though very windy on the Channel (nearly lost my hat a few times on deck).
Some of the highlights of the trip included:
- A night boat ride on the Amstel river with the group in a covered boat. We learned that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice (a whooping 88) and most of the land is at or below sea level. Motifs consisting of three "X"s were everywhere... these represented the three things the old city feared most: fire, plague and flooding. The buildings and bridges were beautifully lit up but many of my pictures came out poorly due to the condensation, darkness and rain. So I eventually abandoned my camera and hit the open bar with the rest of the group ;).
- A bike ride through a little town, Edum, about 40 min from Amsterdam. Its been so long since I rode a bike that this was one of my favourite parts. Of course, the bikes over there are different – instead of the mountain bikes I’m used to, they use “granny bikes”. You need to sit straight in your seat and, instead of the breaks being on the handlebars, you need to pedal backwards to stop. Afterwards, we visited a cheese and clog shop where they showed us how they were made. I’m now glad of the wall-to-wall carpeting in my house cause I actually bought a pair of clogs lol. They’re my new slippers!
- A visit to the Keukenhof Gardens. As you may or may not know, Amsterdam is the tulip capital of the world. Every year, tulips are shipped there from all over to a central exchange where they are purchased in the millions. So the city has some exquisite samples of the flower and these gardens show it. I never thought about how many different varieties of the flower there could be. These gardens have been the site of many royal visits and important visits. My new friends and I had a ball going around viewing the flowers and art and generally acting like silly tourists . Its so liberating at times to kick off your shoes (and inhibitions) and just have a good time (responsibly).
- A tour of a couple of the museums: the Anne Frank museum (very sobering), Heineken brewery (great experience) and Sex Museum (just funny). These were each very fun in their own way, but this blog is already running extremely long and I’m sure you all know what a museum is so I won’t say much. Jsut that the brewery provided a beer tasting at the end and there was a very stark quality to the Anne Frank museum (the furniture had been removed when the Nazi’s raided and was never replaced per Anne’s father’s wishes) that really brought the message home. The one museum I didn’t see which I wanted to was the Van Gogh...
- A live sex show in the red light district (hilarious!!). What trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to the famous red light district. The show we saw was exactly what it sounds like, but very “tongue in cheek”. Several members of the tour were even pulled on stage to participate (mostly dancing). Before the show we wandered around the district a bit and its true about the ladies in the doorway – these “ladies of the night” are standing in front of a glass door with a red curtain leading to a small room. When they’re open for business, the curtain is open, the red light above (where the district gets its name) is on and they are standing in their lingerie. At that time, customers can approach and negotiate (they reserve the right to refuse anyone on any grounds or whim). There are large “bouncer type” men standing around on the corners ready to respond to any alarm and to prevent people from taking photos.
Well those were the main events of the tour. My free time generally consisted of food like pancakes from the best pancake house in the city (I got a Thai ... curried chicken with salad in a crepe), chips and mayo (a classic favorite) and a cheese burger from a vending machine (it was actually quite good... better than McDonald's); sleeping; and bars. Don't worry though... I behaved myself - didn't get too drunk or visit any Coffee Shops. So it was a great trip (though Europe is quite expensive and I spent a little more than I planned... oops lol) and I will definitely be using Contiki again.
Pictures of the trip have been uploaded to the web album for anyone who wishes a look.
The trip started when I woke up at the ungodly hour of 4am in order to meet up with the coach in Central London by 6 – why do all tours have to start so early?! We traveled by coach to Dover where we boarded the ferry to Calis and then drove the rest of the way to Amsterdam (in all, about 11h). It was a nice day for traveling though very windy on the Channel (nearly lost my hat a few times on deck).
Some of the highlights of the trip included:
- A night boat ride on the Amstel river with the group in a covered boat. We learned that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice (a whooping 88) and most of the land is at or below sea level. Motifs consisting of three "X"s were everywhere... these represented the three things the old city feared most: fire, plague and flooding. The buildings and bridges were beautifully lit up but many of my pictures came out poorly due to the condensation, darkness and rain. So I eventually abandoned my camera and hit the open bar with the rest of the group ;).
- A bike ride through a little town, Edum, about 40 min from Amsterdam. Its been so long since I rode a bike that this was one of my favourite parts. Of course, the bikes over there are different – instead of the mountain bikes I’m used to, they use “granny bikes”. You need to sit straight in your seat and, instead of the breaks being on the handlebars, you need to pedal backwards to stop. Afterwards, we visited a cheese and clog shop where they showed us how they were made. I’m now glad of the wall-to-wall carpeting in my house cause I actually bought a pair of clogs lol. They’re my new slippers!
- A visit to the Keukenhof Gardens. As you may or may not know, Amsterdam is the tulip capital of the world. Every year, tulips are shipped there from all over to a central exchange where they are purchased in the millions. So the city has some exquisite samples of the flower and these gardens show it. I never thought about how many different varieties of the flower there could be. These gardens have been the site of many royal visits and important visits. My new friends and I had a ball going around viewing the flowers and art and generally acting like silly tourists . Its so liberating at times to kick off your shoes (and inhibitions) and just have a good time (responsibly).
- A tour of a couple of the museums: the Anne Frank museum (very sobering), Heineken brewery (great experience) and Sex Museum (just funny). These were each very fun in their own way, but this blog is already running extremely long and I’m sure you all know what a museum is so I won’t say much. Jsut that the brewery provided a beer tasting at the end and there was a very stark quality to the Anne Frank museum (the furniture had been removed when the Nazi’s raided and was never replaced per Anne’s father’s wishes) that really brought the message home. The one museum I didn’t see which I wanted to was the Van Gogh...
- A live sex show in the red light district (hilarious!!). What trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to the famous red light district. The show we saw was exactly what it sounds like, but very “tongue in cheek”. Several members of the tour were even pulled on stage to participate (mostly dancing). Before the show we wandered around the district a bit and its true about the ladies in the doorway – these “ladies of the night” are standing in front of a glass door with a red curtain leading to a small room. When they’re open for business, the curtain is open, the red light above (where the district gets its name) is on and they are standing in their lingerie. At that time, customers can approach and negotiate (they reserve the right to refuse anyone on any grounds or whim). There are large “bouncer type” men standing around on the corners ready to respond to any alarm and to prevent people from taking photos.
Well those were the main events of the tour. My free time generally consisted of food like pancakes from the best pancake house in the city (I got a Thai ... curried chicken with salad in a crepe), chips and mayo (a classic favorite) and a cheese burger from a vending machine (it was actually quite good... better than McDonald's); sleeping; and bars. Don't worry though... I behaved myself - didn't get too drunk or visit any Coffee Shops. So it was a great trip (though Europe is quite expensive and I spent a little more than I planned... oops lol) and I will definitely be using Contiki again.
Pictures of the trip have been uploaded to the web album for anyone who wishes a look.
Thursday 1 April 2010
I'm so "Wonderful"
They called me "Wonderful"
So I said "Wonderful" - if you insist
I will be "Wonderful"
And they said "Wonderful"
Believe me, it's hard to resist
'Cause it feels wonderful
They think I'm wonderful
Hehe... yes, its true - I'm still a bit obsessed with the "Wicked" soundtrack. Then again, is there anyone who knows me and is surprised at this? You may be thinking that this snippet is a tad immodest... and you'd be right! But in my defense, I've received some very positive feedback lately and am feeling on top of the world! I actually so impressed a school that they came running after me when I left to see if I was available the next day (though I'm still unsure whether that has to do with an exceptionally good performance on my part, or exceptionally poor performances from previous supply teachers).
As well, I have my upcoming holiday and long-term Nursery placement when I come back to look forward to. Life is good... now if only I could get a good night's sleep, thing's would be perfect. I'm not sure what the reason is but I can't seem to sleep through the night. Maybe its all the excitement of my life... yeah, right lol. A more likely source is the literal vat of coffee I drink each day - damn you coffee and your delicious flavour.. heavenly aroma... mmmm... I should have another cup.
So I said "Wonderful" - if you insist
I will be "Wonderful"
And they said "Wonderful"
Believe me, it's hard to resist
'Cause it feels wonderful
They think I'm wonderful
Hehe... yes, its true - I'm still a bit obsessed with the "Wicked" soundtrack. Then again, is there anyone who knows me and is surprised at this? You may be thinking that this snippet is a tad immodest... and you'd be right! But in my defense, I've received some very positive feedback lately and am feeling on top of the world! I actually so impressed a school that they came running after me when I left to see if I was available the next day (though I'm still unsure whether that has to do with an exceptionally good performance on my part, or exceptionally poor performances from previous supply teachers).
As well, I have my upcoming holiday and long-term Nursery placement when I come back to look forward to.
Thursday 25 March 2010
6 Month Anniversery (or How the Time Does Fly)
Time is a funny thing - at times it is like slowly moving molasses bubbling along, each grudging tick of the second hand an eternity; at other times it seems to pass like the blink of an eye. The later metaphor appears to be a more apt description of my England adventure. It was a strange feeling for me waking up one morning only to realize that 6 months have elapsed since I first came to England. Where has the time gone? Of course, this all just a bit of poetic nonsense for time has passed just as it always has - neither faster or slower than usual. Uncaring of these minor events in our brief lives. To believe otherwise would suggest delusions of grandeur at best (and lunacy at worst). But I digress - we were exploring the differences 6 months has made in my life.
Things have changed quite a bit (for the better) since I first stepped off that plane one balmy September day. There I was, a struggling expat, aspiring to be a teacher and full of worries about money, accommodations, meeting people, handling British classrooms, delivering a curriculum I didn't know, etc. As I sat in that backpacker inn I confess that I had my moments of doubt - had I made the right decision? Work was not initially encouraging and I stayed up late into the night scouring the internet for any and all teaching tips and jobs.
Looking back on it now, it seems another lifetime. As you all know, regular work has come through for me and I have built up a good reputation among the schools I've worked at. I've also met friends I can hang out with and have a decent place to live. I still think about money, but the questions have gone from "can I afford groceries next week" to "can I afford to go to Paris next week" - a welcome change, no? (Yes, that is an exaggeration to make the point.) And if I have late nights, its not necessarily because of stress ;).
Speaking of traveling, I've recently booked my first European vacation! I'll be spending time over the term break in Amsterdam and Ireland - I'm so excited about it! :)
So things are definitely looking up and I look forward to the changes (improvements) the next 6 months will bring!
Things have changed quite a bit (for the better) since I first stepped off that plane one balmy September day. There I was, a struggling expat, aspiring to be a teacher and full of worries about money, accommodations, meeting people, handling British classrooms, delivering a curriculum I didn't know, etc. As I sat in that backpacker inn I confess that I had my moments of doubt - had I made the right decision? Work was not initially encouraging and I stayed up late into the night scouring the internet for any and all teaching tips and jobs.
Looking back on it now, it seems another lifetime. As you all know, regular work has come through for me and I have built up a good reputation among the schools I've worked at. I've also met friends I can hang out with and have a decent place to live. I still think about money, but the questions have gone from "can I afford groceries next week" to "can I afford to go to Paris next week" - a welcome change, no? (Yes, that is an exaggeration to make the point.) And if I have late nights, its not necessarily because of stress ;).
Speaking of traveling, I've recently booked my first European vacation! I'll be spending time over the term break in Amsterdam and Ireland - I'm so excited about it! :)
So things are definitely looking up and I look forward to the changes (improvements) the next 6 months will bring!
Sunday 21 March 2010
Something Wicked this way came...
Yes, this is another post about a show I saw in London with some teacher friends... any guesses which one? Well, I'll save you the "suspense" and just tell you it was "Wicked" (the musical). And what a "wicked" show it was lol - the music was upbeat and fun, great costumes and the lead had an amazing voice. For those of you who haven't heard of it, this particular musical takes a new look at "The Wizard of Oz" and shows us what really happened and why. It begins where the story ended in Munchkin Land where the Munchkins are celebrating the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West. One then asks Glinda, "weren't the two of you friends?". With that, the story flashes back to the Wicked Witch of the West's birth, their days together as college roommates and the events of the "Wizard of Oz". I wont spoil the plot for you if you haven't yet seen it... its highly recommended that you do.
I really love these untold stories variants as they breathe new life into much beloved tales and give us the "expected" in a fresh, new way. One of the themes throughout the show (and one which I've given some thought to over the years) is the subjectiveness of the truth. To quote the show "the truth is what everyone agrees it is". Our lives these days are so full of cognitive demands, that it can be quite appealing / easy to accept things on authority and not question. With all this information at our finger tips, it can be difficult to sift fact from fiction without first hand knowledge.
In other news, spring has definitely come to England. I'm constantly amazed how much I'm affected by something as simple as sunshine and warmth. Each day I go to work with a spring in my step and sunglasses on - such a change from winter. I actually look forward to going outside and even the rain doesn't bother me now. Perhaps its time to take up my jogging again...
I really love these untold stories variants as they breathe new life into much beloved tales and give us the "expected" in a fresh, new way. One of the themes throughout the show (and one which I've given some thought to over the years) is the subjectiveness of the truth. To quote the show "the truth is what everyone agrees it is". Our lives these days are so full of cognitive demands, that it can be quite appealing / easy to accept things on authority and not question. With all this information at our finger tips, it can be difficult to sift fact from fiction without first hand knowledge.
In other news, spring has definitely come to England. I'm constantly amazed how much I'm affected by something as simple as sunshine and warmth. Each day I go to work with a spring in my step and sunglasses on - such a change from winter. I actually look forward to going outside and even the rain doesn't bother me now. Perhaps its time to take up my jogging again...
Sunday 14 March 2010
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
If the title isn't enough of a hint, I went to see the new "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D. The movie was enjoyable if a bit mediocre - the CGI was excellent and I liked Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter (not his best work, but entertaining enough). However, the big let-down for me was Mia Wasikowska's performance as Alice... she seemed to fade into the background when the story was supposed to be about her. The film had a fairly formulaic storyline (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) which could have gone a bit deeper - like why was the Mad Hatter mad? Who was this Stayne guy?
As I said, it was entertaining and I'm glad I saw it. I do love films that blur the line between what's "real" and what's just in our minds. Is this a story about a girl who falls down a magic hole into an enchanted world or a persistent fantasy of a young woman who's unconscious mind is struggling to deal with the stiffing dictates of society?
Moreover, I'm glad I watched it alone because I had a lot to think about when it ended. The film acted like a catalyst for a few things that I've been thinking about in regards to my life and some advice I've gotten over the past few years from family and friends. So I spent the bus ride home engaged in an internal monologue and musing on my life (those of you who know me can probably picture it :)... it was quite refreshing to have a good muse... hadn't had one in a good long while. Do you think its indicative of anything that it takes a Tim Burton film for me to take a look at my life? Hmmm.... lol.
Also, if anyone out there DOES know how a raven and writing desk are related, I'd love to know.
As I said, it was entertaining and I'm glad I saw it. I do love films that blur the line between what's "real" and what's just in our minds. Is this a story about a girl who falls down a magic hole into an enchanted world or a persistent fantasy of a young woman who's unconscious mind is struggling to deal with the stiffing dictates of society?
Moreover, I'm glad I watched it alone because I had a lot to think about when it ended. The film acted like a catalyst for a few things that I've been thinking about in regards to my life and some advice I've gotten over the past few years from family and friends. So I spent the bus ride home engaged in an internal monologue and musing on my life (those of you who know me can probably picture it :)... it was quite refreshing to have a good muse... hadn't had one in a good long while. Do you think its indicative of anything that it takes a Tim Burton film for me to take a look at my life? Hmmm.... lol.
Also, if anyone out there DOES know how a raven and writing desk are related, I'd love to know.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Bit of a rant
I know its not my normal blog day (but then, when have I actually followed a proper blog schedule?) I have a bit of a rant about the professionalism of supply teachers to get off my chest so bear with me.
The set-up: It was around 4:15 and I was just finishing off my marking and the letter to the class teacher after a lovely day with a Year 1 class when in walks the other Year 1 teacher. She seemed surprised that I was still there and commended me for going beyond expectations - “most of our supplies shove off around 3:30 and leave the marking for the class teacher the next day”.
The distressing part of all this is that its not the first time I’ve heard comments to that effect. I’m fairly sure that I have a pretty standard agency contract and it (as well as every booking e-mail) states that I am to arrive before 8:30am, stay until 4:30pm and finish any marking or tidying that is required unless informed otherwise.
Now I love getting compliments for a job well done, but the number of times I’ve been praised for simply following my contract just seems strange. I mean, what kind of supply teachers are they getting to think that doing the job we’re paid to do is exceptional? After all, delivering a lesson is only part of supply teaching... what ever happened to professionalism and doing the job that you’re paid to do?
I do realize that different schools have different dismissal times and some people are faster / more efficient workers. So its not out of the question for teachers to be finished by 3:30pm and may object to “desk warming”. However, that’s no excuse for leaving work undone or sloppily completed. There is also something to be said of being available if a member of staff or student needs to speak with you. I just can’t understand how someone could put so little effort in something as so important as education.
The set-up: It was around 4:15 and I was just finishing off my marking and the letter to the class teacher after a lovely day with a Year 1 class when in walks the other Year 1 teacher. She seemed surprised that I was still there and commended me for going beyond expectations - “most of our supplies shove off around 3:30 and leave the marking for the class teacher the next day”.
The distressing part of all this is that its not the first time I’ve heard comments to that effect. I’m fairly sure that I have a pretty standard agency contract and it (as well as every booking e-mail) states that I am to arrive before 8:30am, stay until 4:30pm and finish any marking or tidying that is required unless informed otherwise.
Now I love getting compliments for a job well done, but the number of times I’ve been praised for simply following my contract just seems strange. I mean, what kind of supply teachers are they getting to think that doing the job we’re paid to do is exceptional? After all, delivering a lesson is only part of supply teaching... what ever happened to professionalism and doing the job that you’re paid to do?
I do realize that different schools have different dismissal times and some people are faster / more efficient workers. So its not out of the question for teachers to be finished by 3:30pm and may object to “desk warming”. However, that’s no excuse for leaving work undone or sloppily completed. There is also something to be said of being available if a member of staff or student needs to speak with you. I just can’t understand how someone could put so little effort in something as so important as education.
Sunday 7 March 2010
Idle Minds...
I think the motto for today is "idle minds are a breeding ground for idle questions". It was a slow day with not much going on which left my mind free to drift and explore many interesting questions. Any insight you have on any or all of these would be welcome.
- Should teachers teaching in a Catholic school be Catholic themselves?
- Do ghosts exist?
- Should the death penalty be reintroduced?
- Which religion is "right"?
- What is behind the falling standard of parenting?
- How have I managed to amass over 20 GBP ($32) in change on my beside table?
- Should teachers teaching in a Catholic school be Catholic themselves?
- Do ghosts exist?
- Should the death penalty be reintroduced?
- Which religion is "right"?
- What is behind the falling standard of parenting?
- How have I managed to amass over 20 GBP ($32) in change on my beside table?
I've finally discovered how to insert images into my blog!! :)
With these questions buzzing around I went for a walk in Greenwich (pronounced "gren-itch", not "green-witch"). It was another lovely sunny day, but a wee bit nippy... actually, the wind was quite icy and really just cut through you. My hands and face were nearly numb by the end. Other than that, I had a brilliant time exploring the extensive grounds with a bacon butty in hand (a cafe au lait would've been in the other, but the shop had run out).
So all in all its been a good weekend and I have a full week to look forward to. I'm working everyday but Wednesday... not too sure what's happening then as I was first teaching a Reception class, then I had a trial day scheduled which has since been cancelled. We'll just have to see.
Saturday 6 March 2010
Interesting Day...
Well, yesterday was certainly the interesting day. Just like on Monday, I was told that things were very busy and that I should expect a call early. So here I was sitting at my computer watching the clock as 7:30 changed to 8:00 which became 8:30 then 9:00... by the time 9:30 rolled around I had pretty much given up on working and changed into my casual clothes. As luck would have it, no sooner had I done so then I get a call asking me to go teach a Year 5 class at a nearby school. This is a new record for me - getting a work call at 9:45am :). Being me, I was able to get changed and there by 10:10 and had a great (read "easy") day.
Over here, the classes get a 15 min mid-morning break and an hour lunch break. Then it is up to the individual school whether or not to give the classes another 15 min mid-afternoon break - some do, some don't. Another cultural difference.
The reason I mentioned this is because I recieved a message from my agency in the afternoon, but because Key Stage 2 classes don't have an afternoon break, I wasn't able to check it until I dismissed the class. Good thing too... if I had, I don't know if I could've concentrated on my lessons as well lol. They were calling to offer me an LTO in a nursery class!! It was at a school I had done a lot of supply in previously, so I didn't even need an interview. Of course I accepted :). So all in all, a good day.
My position is set to start after the Easter Break (April 26th) and runs until the end of term (July 22). I'm still considered a daily worker and will recieve the same pay as well as submit weekly timesheets. The big difference is that I have guaranteed work in the same class and will be responsible for planning and assessment instead of just implementing plans left by other teachers (dear lord, that means I have to learn the curriculum and plan ahead... lol). Its a lot more responsibility, but a good step forward for my career. I've said all along that I miss having my own room and how I want to put my own stamp on it - well, here's my chance. Several of my friends have found England teaching to be very rigid and focused on assessment ("soul destroying" one called it). Let's see if I can cut it.
Over here, the classes get a 15 min mid-morning break and an hour lunch break. Then it is up to the individual school whether or not to give the classes another 15 min mid-afternoon break - some do, some don't. Another cultural difference.
The reason I mentioned this is because I recieved a message from my agency in the afternoon, but because Key Stage 2 classes don't have an afternoon break, I wasn't able to check it until I dismissed the class. Good thing too... if I had, I don't know if I could've concentrated on my lessons as well lol. They were calling to offer me an LTO in a nursery class!! It was at a school I had done a lot of supply in previously, so I didn't even need an interview. Of course I accepted :). So all in all, a good day.
My position is set to start after the Easter Break (April 26th) and runs until the end of term (July 22). I'm still considered a daily worker and will recieve the same pay as well as submit weekly timesheets. The big difference is that I have guaranteed work in the same class and will be responsible for planning and assessment instead of just implementing plans left by other teachers (dear lord, that means I have to learn the curriculum and plan ahead... lol). Its a lot more responsibility, but a good step forward for my career. I've said all along that I miss having my own room and how I want to put my own stamp on it - well, here's my chance. Several of my friends have found England teaching to be very rigid and focused on assessment ("soul destroying" one called it). Let's see if I can cut it.
Monday 1 March 2010
Yes We Did!
Who's #1? CANADA!! Ok, that was a great gaming... nail biting to the finish! Luongo's stellar goaltending and beautiful goals by Toews, Perry Crosby sealed Canada's 14th gold medal (the most out of any country this Olympics). After queuing for over an hour, I eventually was able to get into a pub showing live footage and let me tell you it was so worth it. There is definately something to be said about watching a game live, surrounded by fans - when Crosby got that last goal, the cheering was deafening in the bar as we broke out into spontaeous renditions of "O Canada". It was exciting, but it also underscored how far away from home I am.
A few people back home have asked me why the British coverage of the Olympics has been so critical... honestly, this is the first I've heard of it. There was very little coverage of the Games over here as the public, by and large, is fairly indifferent about the Winter Olympics - many did not even realize the Olympics had started. This probably due to a relatively weak winter team and their preoccupation with organizing the Summer Games. I had to rely on North American media and family/friends to tell me what was going on :).
So, some of you may be wondering why I am blogging at such a strange hour... aren't I suppose to be at work (especially considering I'm on a Guarenteed Work Agreement and this is a very busy time for the agencies)? Well yes I am, but they forgot about me :). This morning, I was told to make sure I kept my mobile on me as they would definately place me. Around 9 I called back to ask why I hadn't been placed and it turns out they had penciled me in for a Year 6 class, but found another lady closer to the school. After they gave the place to her, they forgot to put my name back on the available list. So here I am, being paid to sit at home typing on my computer... my life is so hard, isn't it? ;)
A few people back home have asked me why the British coverage of the Olympics has been so critical... honestly, this is the first I've heard of it. There was very little coverage of the Games over here as the public, by and large, is fairly indifferent about the Winter Olympics - many did not even realize the Olympics had started. This probably due to a relatively weak winter team and their preoccupation with organizing the Summer Games. I had to rely on North American media and family/friends to tell me what was going on :).
So, some of you may be wondering why I am blogging at such a strange hour... aren't I suppose to be at work (especially considering I'm on a Guarenteed Work Agreement and this is a very busy time for the agencies)? Well yes I am, but they forgot about me :). This morning, I was told to make sure I kept my mobile on me as they would definately place me. Around 9 I called back to ask why I hadn't been placed and it turns out they had penciled me in for a Year 6 class, but found another lady closer to the school. After they gave the place to her, they forgot to put my name back on the available list. So here I am, being paid to sit at home typing on my computer... my life is so hard, isn't it? ;)
Thursday 18 February 2010
Midway Through Half-Term
No, this isn't a trick or hallucination; I really am making a Thursday blog post. You may be saying to yourselves, "Bryan, what the heck are you doing posting a blog on Thursday?! Its 3-4 days early for you..." Since Monday's blog was so long and I have a similar trip on Friday, I wanted to do a mid-week blog in an attempt to curtail Friday's (it proabably wont work and Friday's blog will still be fairly long, but at least I'm trying :).
Anyways, here I am, midway through my second half-term break. Now while I haven't done any amazing trips like some of my friesnds (who've gone to places like Madrid, Rome, Greece and Wales), I think its been a good break. It may be a little disappointing that I didn't get to see mainland Europe this time 'round (especially as my planned Paris tour isn't going to be happening) but I console myself that I have plenty of time in the next 18 months or so to see it. Instead, I've been enjoying seeing more of England (and really, lots of people travel thousands of miles to do what I've been doing this week :). I do regret not making it to Westminister for Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday services though :(.
Yesterday was just simply beautiful - it felt like late April! The sun was shining, birds were singing and it was warm enough to walk around in a light jacket. Since I had no errands to run (well except food shopping, but who could do that when it was so nice out ;) I decided to take a little stroll. So I went on down to southern part of Hyde Park and wandered down the Princess Diana Memorial Walk and past Kensington Palace. Yes, pictures are up.
It was lovely. I can't begining to describe how good it feels to have nowhere to go, nothing to do, no destination in mind... just walk. The earthy smell of new growth. The little darting squirrels. The chattering of birds. Everyone seemed to be happy - I could feel the stress that I didn't even know I had melting away. It was a weird feeling - I guess I'm so used to some stress, that its absence feels a bit empty. Hmm... ok, I guess I can describe how it feels lol.
Not much planned for today, but Friday's going to be busy! I have a 8:30am tour to Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Cliffs and a Greenwhich Cruise back to Embarkment at 6pm. Then I have to get to a restaurant to meet my housemates (we're finally having that dinner we've been talking about for so long) which will last till late as there is a nearby club :).
Anyways, here I am, midway through my second half-term break. Now while I haven't done any amazing trips like some of my friesnds (who've gone to places like Madrid, Rome, Greece and Wales), I think its been a good break. It may be a little disappointing that I didn't get to see mainland Europe this time 'round (especially as my planned Paris tour isn't going to be happening) but I console myself that I have plenty of time in the next 18 months or so to see it. Instead, I've been enjoying seeing more of England (and really, lots of people travel thousands of miles to do what I've been doing this week :). I do regret not making it to Westminister for Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday services though :(.
Yesterday was just simply beautiful - it felt like late April! The sun was shining, birds were singing and it was warm enough to walk around in a light jacket. Since I had no errands to run (well except food shopping, but who could do that when it was so nice out ;) I decided to take a little stroll. So I went on down to southern part of Hyde Park and wandered down the Princess Diana Memorial Walk and past Kensington Palace. Yes, pictures are up.
It was lovely. I can't begining to describe how good it feels to have nowhere to go, nothing to do, no destination in mind... just walk. The earthy smell of new growth. The little darting squirrels. The chattering of birds. Everyone seemed to be happy - I could feel the stress that I didn't even know I had melting away. It was a weird feeling - I guess I'm so used to some stress, that its absence feels a bit empty. Hmm... ok, I guess I can describe how it feels lol.
Not much planned for today, but Friday's going to be busy! I have a 8:30am tour to Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Cliffs and a Greenwhich Cruise back to Embarkment at 6pm. Then I have to get to a restaurant to meet my housemates (we're finally having that dinner we've been talking about for so long) which will last till late as there is a nearby club :).
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Break Time! (long)
Welcome to another edition of Bryan's British Bistro. Again its late, but you were expecting that weren't you? "What could it possibly be", you ask? I'm glad you did... you see, I was planning on doing my usual one on Sunday but it was pointed out to me that Sunday was Valentine's Day and I would almost be obligated to do a "theme post". Now as you probably know, my love life is non-existent (so no plans to talk about) and I didn't think another post on the subject of the commercialization of Valentine's Day was really necessary. Then I was going write one yesterday, but the trip took more out of me than I first thought (up at 6am - back at 10pm) so I was just wrecked (I did manage to post my pictures though :). So here we are on Tuesday and I'm ready to go! *
* I'd like to thank my Arts Degree, without which, this last paragraph of rambling emptiness would not have been possible...
As many of you are aware, it is now half-term in the UK which means I have this week off! Being much more settled compared to the last half-term (I actually have a cheque book, credit card and savings now :D), I have quite a few more options. Yesterday, I exercised one of those options and went on a day bus tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. Now this blog is already going a bit long (boy do I like my words), so I will try to keep my description brief. As mentioned above, the pictures are available on the blog link and my Facebook page.
Our first stop was Windsor Castle which is still used as a royal residence 6 weeks out of the year (the Queen thinks its more family oriented for things like Christmas). It is the oldest occupied castle, being built by William the Conqueror in 1070. Originally it was a small motte and bailey which later improvements were added and a town grew around it. The motte and bailey are now used as royal archives and are not open to the public. I also learned that the monarchy only costs each British taxpayer 67 pence/annum - far less than I first thought.
It was a facinating place. Unfortunately, I was only allowed to take pictures in the castle proper (outside) - no recording or photography was permitted in the state apartements which was a great shame. Some of those rooms were magnificent (while others were absolutely ghastly... way to dark and done up). I particularly liked the collection of sketches on display. They actually have inspired me to try it out - I may go out and by some charcoal and sketch pad today. Of course, my favorite part was the armoury section. Dear lord, soooo many weapons and armour in so many different styles. Apparently it was so interesting that one lady couldn't pull herself away in time to get back to the bus before it left... luckily for her, the tour manager stopped the bus and drove her up.
Afterwards, we left for the only disappointment in the tour - lunch. We stopped at a pub where the food was mediocre and overpriced... quite the tourist trap. However, when you're hungry and not given any other options, you pay it.
The next stop was to the mysterious Stonehenge which really is smaller than you think. Most of the attraction the place has for me is knowing the mystery surrounding it. On the ride up, our guide described some of the historical highlights (this is as close as I can remember it). There were two separate groups who lived there: the first small group came around 6000 years ago, dug the circle and stayed for maybe 50 years before disappearing; the second, larger group, came around 4500 years ago, erected Stonehenge, lived there for 500 years or so, then disappeared as well. The second group has been dubbed "Beakers" as the first burial mound that was excavated contained a beaker-like cup. New evidence has been found of a larger settlement than previously thought, putting the numbers of Beakers in the thousands instead of hundreds. There was also a burial mound containing a 4000 year old archer from Sweden. All of this information is being published in a book coming out in Novemember to re-evaluate existing theories on Stonehenge... if you're into archeology, the guide recommends it.
Our final stop was the city of Bath. It was built upon the Roman City of Aquae Sulis ('the waters of Sul') which was (and still is) famous for its healthy hot springs. Legend has it was discovered by a leper prince who observed his pigs rolling around in some muddy water which seemed to sure their sores. He began bathing there as well and his lesions disappeared within 3 days. The site became a center of worship for the Celts (and later Romans) who set up altars to Sulis and Minerva respectively.
The city has been forgotten and rediscovered several times over the centuries, but it became the Bath we know today when John Wood (backed by Ralph Allen) redesigned the city using the yellow stone quarried nearby (funny enough, the quarry was owned by Mr Allen - imagine that). Its quite a pretty place - nice Georgian architecture with a river running through it. The oringial Roman Baths aren't used by the public due to water safety issues (the original piping is made of lead as well as concerns about infectious disease). There was a new bore-hole sunk in 1983 in the pump room which provides drinkable water for visitors to try and there are more modern baths for visitors to use.
Ok, so I think I've bored you sufficiently for today. I don't have any firm plans for the rest of the week (save for a dinner on Sunday) so my plans are pretty up in the air (as usual). The rain is starting to slack off, so I may venture out to get some food and art supplies. It is kind of nice not having to do anything... I really could get used to this "sleeping till half 9" thing :).
* I'd like to thank my Arts Degree, without which, this last paragraph of rambling emptiness would not have been possible...
As many of you are aware, it is now half-term in the UK which means I have this week off! Being much more settled compared to the last half-term (I actually have a cheque book, credit card and savings now :D), I have quite a few more options. Yesterday, I exercised one of those options and went on a day bus tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. Now this blog is already going a bit long (boy do I like my words), so I will try to keep my description brief. As mentioned above, the pictures are available on the blog link and my Facebook page.
Our first stop was Windsor Castle which is still used as a royal residence 6 weeks out of the year (the Queen thinks its more family oriented for things like Christmas). It is the oldest occupied castle, being built by William the Conqueror in 1070. Originally it was a small motte and bailey which later improvements were added and a town grew around it. The motte and bailey are now used as royal archives and are not open to the public. I also learned that the monarchy only costs each British taxpayer 67 pence/annum - far less than I first thought.
It was a facinating place. Unfortunately, I was only allowed to take pictures in the castle proper (outside) - no recording or photography was permitted in the state apartements which was a great shame. Some of those rooms were magnificent (while others were absolutely ghastly... way to dark and done up). I particularly liked the collection of sketches on display. They actually have inspired me to try it out - I may go out and by some charcoal and sketch pad today. Of course, my favorite part was the armoury section. Dear lord, soooo many weapons and armour in so many different styles. Apparently it was so interesting that one lady couldn't pull herself away in time to get back to the bus before it left... luckily for her, the tour manager stopped the bus and drove her up.
Afterwards, we left for the only disappointment in the tour - lunch. We stopped at a pub where the food was mediocre and overpriced... quite the tourist trap. However, when you're hungry and not given any other options, you pay it.
The next stop was to the mysterious Stonehenge which really is smaller than you think. Most of the attraction the place has for me is knowing the mystery surrounding it. On the ride up, our guide described some of the historical highlights (this is as close as I can remember it). There were two separate groups who lived there: the first small group came around 6000 years ago, dug the circle and stayed for maybe 50 years before disappearing; the second, larger group, came around 4500 years ago, erected Stonehenge, lived there for 500 years or so, then disappeared as well. The second group has been dubbed "Beakers" as the first burial mound that was excavated contained a beaker-like cup. New evidence has been found of a larger settlement than previously thought, putting the numbers of Beakers in the thousands instead of hundreds. There was also a burial mound containing a 4000 year old archer from Sweden. All of this information is being published in a book coming out in Novemember to re-evaluate existing theories on Stonehenge... if you're into archeology, the guide recommends it.
Our final stop was the city of Bath. It was built upon the Roman City of Aquae Sulis ('the waters of Sul') which was (and still is) famous for its healthy hot springs. Legend has it was discovered by a leper prince who observed his pigs rolling around in some muddy water which seemed to sure their sores. He began bathing there as well and his lesions disappeared within 3 days. The site became a center of worship for the Celts (and later Romans) who set up altars to Sulis and Minerva respectively.
The city has been forgotten and rediscovered several times over the centuries, but it became the Bath we know today when John Wood (backed by Ralph Allen) redesigned the city using the yellow stone quarried nearby (funny enough, the quarry was owned by Mr Allen - imagine that). Its quite a pretty place - nice Georgian architecture with a river running through it. The oringial Roman Baths aren't used by the public due to water safety issues (the original piping is made of lead as well as concerns about infectious disease). There was a new bore-hole sunk in 1983 in the pump room which provides drinkable water for visitors to try and there are more modern baths for visitors to use.
Ok, so I think I've bored you sufficiently for today. I don't have any firm plans for the rest of the week (save for a dinner on Sunday) so my plans are pretty up in the air (as usual). The rain is starting to slack off, so I may venture out to get some food and art supplies. It is kind of nice not having to do anything... I really could get used to this "sleeping till half 9" thing :).
Monday 8 February 2010
Yes, I'm still alive and breathing...
Yikes! Look at the date - seems I haven't updated this in quite awhile. Jeez I'm bad at this :(. Well, today is the first day I haven't gotten work and its a cold, blustery day which means blog time!
It looks like our flirtation with spring has ended and we are now firmly back in Winter mode (stupid groundhog...). This morning, I woke up shivering at 5:30am and it was so cold that I could see my breath! I had to go put a sweater on and boost the heat before heading back to bed. It actually snowed for a bit around noon, but nothing to write home about... well, I guess I am, but you know what I mean :). I did a few errands in London and I am contemplating going back for my weekly Magic game. Not sure whether its worth the cold lol.
Speaking of which, I am appreciating my GWA (Guaranteed Work Agreement) today. Since I'm guaranteed a teaching position, I can (and did) turn down a nursery assistant in favour of waiting to see if a supply teaching position opened up (which didn't). Normally, I would simply take the first thing offered to ensure I get a steady income, but now I can wait for something better secure in the knowledge that I'll get my daily rate regardless. Its quite empowering.
There's not too much new happening over here (the main reason why these blog posts are so spaced out). I've taught every day until today and I've gone to a few pubs with friends. All in all, a pretty boring, normal existence. This past weekend, I did go to a "Would You Still Be My Friend If I Wore This" party which was fun - ended up wearing blue and turquois beach shorts, a turquois beach top, aviator sunglasses and a red bandana (no I didn't travel like that due to the cold... I wore jeans and changed at the house). The whole outfit cost 7.50 GBP (go Primark)! Pity I forgot my camera or there would be pictures!
Next week is a half term break, so I'll have to try and plan something. I haven't found anyone interested in travelling yet, so I may just hop on a train to Paris or something for a few days. Rome is another possibility as is Stonehenge. So many options and so much time to procrastinate and dither over them lol :). If anyone has suggestions, they're more than welcome to submit them :).
It looks like our flirtation with spring has ended and we are now firmly back in Winter mode (stupid groundhog...). This morning, I woke up shivering at 5:30am and it was so cold that I could see my breath! I had to go put a sweater on and boost the heat before heading back to bed. It actually snowed for a bit around noon, but nothing to write home about... well, I guess I am, but you know what I mean :). I did a few errands in London and I am contemplating going back for my weekly Magic game. Not sure whether its worth the cold lol.
Speaking of which, I am appreciating my GWA (Guaranteed Work Agreement) today. Since I'm guaranteed a teaching position, I can (and did) turn down a nursery assistant in favour of waiting to see if a supply teaching position opened up (which didn't). Normally, I would simply take the first thing offered to ensure I get a steady income, but now I can wait for something better secure in the knowledge that I'll get my daily rate regardless. Its quite empowering.
There's not too much new happening over here (the main reason why these blog posts are so spaced out). I've taught every day until today and I've gone to a few pubs with friends. All in all, a pretty boring, normal existence. This past weekend, I did go to a "Would You Still Be My Friend If I Wore This" party which was fun - ended up wearing blue and turquois beach shorts, a turquois beach top, aviator sunglasses and a red bandana (no I didn't travel like that due to the cold... I wore jeans and changed at the house). The whole outfit cost 7.50 GBP (go Primark)! Pity I forgot my camera or there would be pictures!
Next week is a half term break, so I'll have to try and plan something. I haven't found anyone interested in travelling yet, so I may just hop on a train to Paris or something for a few days. Rome is another possibility as is Stonehenge. So many options and so much time to procrastinate and dither over them lol :). If anyone has suggestions, they're more than welcome to submit them :).
Sunday 24 January 2010
I'm Back!
Wow! OK, its been quite awhile since my last post. The reason for this is I was... ummm... I mean to say that... uh... Alright, I don't have a good reason! But that's all water under the bridge now cause I've settled back into a routine and will be making a weekly post every Sunday. Now that that's out of the way, let's see what I've been up to this past month.
I'm sure you've all heard about the terrible winter we've been having over here - the worst winter in 30 years (while Canada has had the mildest... grr..). Fortunately, its now quite mild (early Spring weather) but it was a miserable time while it lasted. I was quite lucky that my agencies were able to find me work each day as thousands of schools across London were being closed. Even then, traffic was horrible - many days the trains were delayed, canceled or running an alternative timetable. The roads were gridlocked as well. One interesting fact: in some areas, residents were encouraged NOT to clear the sidewalks outside their houses. Apparently, if they did clear it and someone still slipped, they may be liable for that person's injury.
But as with all things, there were some really good memories too of beautiful scenery and children playing. My favorite was one Friday when the VP stopped classes at 2:30 and sent all the staff and students onto the playground for a school-wide snowball fight. It was awesome! If you're interested, click here for news coverage.
My other piece of exciting news is that I've accepted a Guaranteed Work Agreement with Protocol Education! The agency is guaranteeing me 5 days of supply work / week (otherwise I get paid to stay home) until the end of March. They told me that they've gotten excellent feedback from the schools I've been to (the schools have been asking for me by name) and they want me to work exclusively through them for their busy season. It's always nice to hear that you're doing a good job and its a big relief to know I'll have a steady income for the next 2 months or so. Its just like having a full-time position, but with no planning or assessment! :)
Now with my finances stabalized, I'm going to have to start thinking about things like where to travel and what things I'd like (not need) for the house (desk, bookshelf, printer/scanner, etc). I have a half term break coming up on February 15th - thinking of doing a few tours/day trips to places like Bath and Stonehenge. Then again, Paris isn't that far either.... I'll just have to see what kind of packages are available as I'd like to go with a group.
I'm sure you've all heard about the terrible winter we've been having over here - the worst winter in 30 years (while Canada has had the mildest... grr..). Fortunately, its now quite mild (early Spring weather) but it was a miserable time while it lasted. I was quite lucky that my agencies were able to find me work each day as thousands of schools across London were being closed. Even then, traffic was horrible - many days the trains were delayed, canceled or running an alternative timetable. The roads were gridlocked as well. One interesting fact: in some areas, residents were encouraged NOT to clear the sidewalks outside their houses. Apparently, if they did clear it and someone still slipped, they may be liable for that person's injury.
But as with all things, there were some really good memories too of beautiful scenery and children playing. My favorite was one Friday when the VP stopped classes at 2:30 and sent all the staff and students onto the playground for a school-wide snowball fight. It was awesome! If you're interested, click here for news coverage.
My other piece of exciting news is that I've accepted a Guaranteed Work Agreement with Protocol Education! The agency is guaranteeing me 5 days of supply work / week (otherwise I get paid to stay home) until the end of March. They told me that they've gotten excellent feedback from the schools I've been to (the schools have been asking for me by name) and they want me to work exclusively through them for their busy season. It's always nice to hear that you're doing a good job and its a big relief to know I'll have a steady income for the next 2 months or so. Its just like having a full-time position, but with no planning or assessment! :)
Now with my finances stabalized, I'm going to have to start thinking about things like where to travel and what things I'd like (not need) for the house (desk, bookshelf, printer/scanner, etc). I have a half term break coming up on February 15th - thinking of doing a few tours/day trips to places like Bath and Stonehenge. Then again, Paris isn't that far either.... I'll just have to see what kind of packages are available as I'd like to go with a group.
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