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!

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...

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.

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.

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?

 

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.

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.

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? ;)