Audacious - every students' middle name!

There is something strange about the names of students these days. It seems the UK is traveling back in time. Gone are the names of my generation, such as Jennifer or Mike. Gone are the names of the next generation, like Madison or Mackenzie. What I am noticing now is a selection of names that go back to the generation of my parents. In my last few classes I had students named Larry, Henry, Jim (no offence, Dad) Clyde, (Clyde?!) Bob (no, not Bobby, or Robbie, or Rob) Harriet, plenty of Oliver's and Charlie's, and 3, count them, three kids named Frank. What the heck is going on here! I'll admit the names the preceded these ones were getting a little too creative and out of hand...but we have gone slightly archaic here! Back to basics I suppose. I wonder what will be next? Bartholemew? Hezekiah? Maybe we will go back to Ancient Greece and start naming our children things like Odysseus, Zeus, Achilles, or Dionysos. Who knows. As the title of my blog suggests, all of the children however share the same middle name, whether or not they know it. In fact, most could have two middle names and I will leave you to your imagination to think of what those could be. 

It is nearly the end of another week. I have lost track of time but think that I have been here for almost 4 weeks. The days seem to meld into one another and I think fall will soon be here. I am noticing leaves on sidewalks and the colours are starting to change. I have enjoyed the weather so far, but I know that I missed out on summer! You lucky Canadians have had an amazing September I've been told (over and over and over again...lol).

I have been scouting lately, and I found the flat of my dreams! However, it will remain a dream as logistics did not pan out...lol. I am looking at moving from where I am currently on the 3rd floor. It was sufficient for the time being, but I am realizing I do not like living so alone, and there are much cheaper places available. I am on the lookout and I think my scrabble buddy Mrs. Wilson is going to find something that suits me better (probably some place that is convenient enough for me to walk over for a game and tea!). 

I have landed a one day a week reception (SK) class for the rest of the term. I can easily give it up if I get something full time permanent before the end of the term. I am other places the rest of the time, but at least every Wednesday I know where I am going. One step at a time, and its a foot in the door at a good school. It's actually a Roman Catholic school and regardless of the fact that I don't know my hail mary's or whatever it is, I really enjoy it. I think it helps as far as behaviour goes as well..."do you think Jesus would appreciate you kicking your classmate?" It's nice to have the ultimate upper authority to call on! 

Anyway - I think this is about it for now! I hope all is well back home and I appreciate everyone's comments and read them - even if I don't respond! Until next time - 

love,

amy

Oh sleep - how sweet thou art!

I have had an insanely busy week. But I did manage to have some fun along the way!

Let me talk about the day I had teaching on Friday first. It was a year 3 - good age. Exactly what I thought I wanted for a permanent classroom - it was quite a distance away from where I live and I ended up running a fair ways to get there in time...I barely made it and was sweating when class started! I could read every name on the register (attendance) which was a good start. The children were the typical pasty white English children and were very polite to start. Then - it was like they all consumed a mountain of sugar each - they were running and screaming and jumping. They were completely insane. I would be giving a lesson and this kid would walk straight up to me and interrupt me to ask a stupid (I know, no questions are stupid...) question. I went over and over and over that they must raise their hand if they have a question and they must stay in their seats. I would get them quiet for 5 seconds - just long enough for me to tell them it was far too loud to learn and they would start again. If you can imagine two boys, both named Frankie, faking every injury imaginable, asking to use the "toilet" every 15 minutes, and making every effort and attempt to do the least amount of work possible - well, they were the least of my problems!! I don't even want to go into more detail - they were appalling. At times I do question my abilities - but I have to dwell on the children and classes that were positive in order to know I am not a rubbish teacher! 

I worked all weekend and do not know how I am still standing up properly. I am exhausted. Absolutely spent. It is almost 8pm here and bed is no later than 9pm tonight. At work today I sat down beside my locker and promptly found myself sleeping 10 seconds later. I know I know, I don't need to hear it - next week I only have two shifts at the pub so I won't burn myself out, I promise. As long as I collect myself at the end of the weekend (like tonight) and get to bed early, all will be well! Specifically, last night at work was nuts!! Excuse me, it was "mad" I should say (they don't understand what nuts means...well, not in the way I mean it. Haha) . I started at 1pm and we had a wedding until about 1am, so it was quite a long shift, which was tiring. Afterwards, however, the whole staff at the pub had a bit of a private party - it was really great to get to know my co-workers a little better! There is a really great group of people working there!

Sometime during the week I got to the National Museum - which was HUGE and fantastic. Originals from all the greats! Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Valsquez, Rembrant, Vermeer, Goya, Degas, Titian among so many timeless artists. Absolutely amazing...I think that was the only touristy thing I did this week, as I was so busy doing other things! 

I'm toast. I have to go to bed - I hope all is well with everyone back home. 

Much love to all, 

amy

Internet - check!

Thank the heavens I FINALLY have the internet! I am overcome by joy and my frustration has melted away!!!....... 5 minutes later...... Oh boy. My internet just kacked out for a bit and after I recovered from an internal conniption and when I got back online I thought, how IRONIC - someone MUST be playing tricks on me!!! Let's hope the kinks work themselves out.

I have had a VERY full couple of days. Teaching Nursery (JK) was hilarious. Those little tykes are so adorable! It can be very exhausting however. There seems to be a lack of structure at this level. They sort of do this "free flow" thing were it is mostly just free play and run around in and outside. They call it free flow - I call it the reason the kids are as bad as they are when they get older! It was fantastic though! Today I taught year 5. Whole other ball game. Some of the kids were brilliant. Absolute stars. Others just would NOT SHUT UP. It wouldn't matter what I said, did, where I moved them, or what punishment I gave them. It didn't matter. The only thing left was physical abuse and I sure wasn't willing to try that method, although I'm sure it would have worked...haha. I was VERY happy to turn the class back over to their teacher at the end of the day. Definitely not the class or school for me. I see what everyone was saying about finding where you belong here. The atmosphere at every school is very different. The area I was in was very ethnic, no typical pasty white English kids. Haha. I also had to teach French today! That was actually a lot of fun and the kids responded really well, I also know a lot more French than I thought! Another thing about all of the kids I have taught so far is that the majority have names which are 15 letters long! That makes it VERY difficult to call on someone, or scold them! No one syllable names or ones I can pronounce! I am pretty good with names usually and picked up on short forms quickly! So, my conclusion thus far is that the kids are MUCH easier the younger they are and you can catch them - but the "curriculum" (if you can call it that!) is boring. The older they get, the more fun the curriculum but the more you lose your voice, patience, hair, sanity, and methods of gaining attention by the end of the day!! Either or, or in between - I know I am where I am supposed to be - teaching! 

I worked all weekend at the pub! There was a wedding on Saturday and it was nuts. I remember why I got out of managing in this business!! As a bartender I don't take any blame. It's nice. Sunday was also very busy because it is still tourist season in London and the pub is just outside the main gate of Greenwich Park so we get tons of people passing by for a pint and a bite to eat. Everyone that works there seems to be from another country as well. There are only two Londoners! There are some guys from Columbia who scream in Spanish to each other in the back, there is a girl from Germany, a guy from Bulgaria, a guy who is half Moroccan/half Slovakian, AND a Polish girl who I speak to in Polish all the time! It's awesome that this language isn't going to waste in my head! Anyway, everyone is VERY cool and helpful. I really enjoy this job. Unfortunately, the pay isn't great - but working a weekend covers the week's rent, so that's just fine by me. It also gives me a social life! 

I think that's it for now! Keep you all updated!

Much love, 

~amy~

 

2 jobs starting in one week!

What a wonderfully hectic week I've had! From tons of meetings, lots of sightseeing, trip planning, and finally, oh yes, finally, my internet is to be sorted on Friday! Thank the heavens! 

I officially start teaching on Friday. I had hoped to start a little earlier this week, but not everything is as organized as one would hope. However, I am pleased to say that I am in a nursery class (no, not like babies). Nursery here is the first year of school, so the equivalent to Jr. Kindergarten. I will be sure to have plenty of kleenex stuffed up my sleeve for the little ones! Many of them will just have started school for the very first time, so I am sure there will be plenty of tears and lots of hugs needed! I will be singing and dancing to my heart's content with the little dears. Well, in a perfect world...I guess I will see about that and I will let you all know this weekend sometime what really happened!

The second job I am starting this week is tomorrow at 5pm. I got my pub job! (Haha, now I'm thankful they all close down at 11pm!!!!!) Actually, it is better than a pub. You can all check it out at www.thegreenwichpark.com. It is a restaurant/pub/fine dining sort of place. The guy who hired me asked if I had any experience with banquets and proper service...LOL do I ever! Oh Sault College and the Holiday Inn... Anyway, I am working most every Fri, Sat, Sun at 5pm. Good thing I don't have much of a social life! But the money will help when it comes to weekend and break trips I hope to take. Like the trip Diana and I have planned to SCOTLAND!

Yes, we officially booked our flights for the mid term break at the end of October. Round trip to fly is less than about $75. However, we only booked a flight to London FROM Edinburgh as we are planning to take a scenic train up. I have contacted the relative we have over there, but I haven't gotten anything back. If I don't, I just plan on showing up at her door! 

Yesterday on my way to a 5pm meeting I took a planned detour to the Tate Modern. I can't believe I was standing face to face with original Picasso's, Matisse's, Pollock's... I just can't believe it! I can't wait until I get to go to the National Gallery where so many greats have their originals displayed! It's just so incredible! I get the jitters just thinking about it! Maybe not all of you share in this kind of joy - but for those of you who do - you know what I am talking about! 

I have also discovered something spectacular. I can get from my place at Westcombe Park station to Diana's place at Woolwich Dockyard station (about a 1/2 hr walk) for FREE!!!!! Well, technically it's not really free...but I am a scammer of the London Transportation System and I pray no one who works there is reading my blog...lol.

Well, I think that is just about it for now. I will post this weekend after a) I have worked both jobs b) I have my own internet! 

I hope all is well at home!

Much love

~amy~

Closing time - 11pm?!

I've been here now for just over a week. For some reason it feels like I've been here much longer. I am quite comfortable navigating my way around, although I still get disoriented because of the fact that they drive on the left side of the road. Thank goodness the words "LOOK LEFT/RIGHT" are painted on the ground at almost every crosswalk! I've already had a few close calls, but all is well! Also, when walking down a sidewalk, up or down stairs, or anywhere really, people pass on the left. I am trying to get accustomed to that as well. I got a dirty look from an old man when I moved over to the right hand side to let him pass...well sheesh. I'm Canadian and I'm workin' on bein' British. Gimme a break! 

Last night I went out with two Canadian friends I've met. Diana and Roger. Roger is from Brampton and a music teacher. We went to a few pubs and had a few drinks. I can't believe this...but on a Friday night pubs close at 11pm. We were shocked!! We were walking around looking for somewhere to go after we were kicked out of a pub and came upon a microbrewery. The bouncer stopped us at the door and said "no, sorry, we're closed." Frustrated, I ask where we should go then, and over the loud music he screamed at us to go to the "Cattle Piss". I was like, WHAT!??? So we kept on walking...and then we found a place called the "Cactus Pit". I am pretty sure that's what he was saying, but between the loud music and thick accent...I heard something else altogether!!!

I am somewhat, no, very frustrated with my current internet situation. I have to walk up the street to Mrs. Wilson's and pray someone is home to let me in to use the internet. There is wireless at my place, but for some unknown reason I can't get online - it says I am connected, but I can't get on to the internet. I am starting to lose my mind. I will get it taken care of, however. If anyone reading this has an idea as to why I can't get online - please leave me a comment (KEN!!!!) 

I had my orientation this week - it was excellent. School starts next week! Since my orientation was downtown London, I went to the Museum of London and St. Paul's Cathedral while I was there. What I really love about London is that entry to most museums and galleries are FREE. You just walk right in and they give you a map. How spectacular is that?! Canada, take a hint! It's a wonderful way to educate people because it's accessible to all. 

The weather here is certainly unpredictable. A beautiful sunny, warm morning? Pack your brelly and warm coat anyway. You will need it! Raining? Don't cancel your plans because it wont last long! I'm learning to have all those things handy at the door whenever I go anywhere. The last time I ran up to Mrs. Wilson's with my laptop I had just carried it in my hands, well wouldn't you know that when I went to leave I had to wrap it in a plastic bag and shove it in my coat because it was POURING rain!  

Anyway - I hope all is well for everyone back home! Once I get my internet sorted, I will be posting more often! 

lots of love 

~amy~