Well, pub job out the window! It served it's purpose. It allowed me to meet people while making money rather than spending it, and it kept me busy, very busy! However, now that I'm a little bit more established I want my weekends to to do other things! Last Saturday was my last shift and I have already been taking advantage of my newfound time, like going to Canterbury for a Canadian Thanksgiving! Last Sunday I went to a teacher's house who I had never met before but had been put in touch with. I had a wonderful time and met some Canadians as well as some Brits, as well as enjoyed the biggest spread of Thanksgiving food I've ever seen in my life (It rivaled those at the farm!) I didn't have much time to explore the town, but it is definitely on my list of places to return to! Last night straight after I work I went to Russell Square to a German Opera with a friend of Anthony's! It was a really enjoyable night and I kept thinking to myself, "oh darn...I could be pulling pints instead!" Haha!
I LOVE my job. I have had such a good experience at this school. The people I work with are fantastic and the children are wonderful, they are so affectionate! I have set a routine for myself which makes the most sense for my day to day experiences in the classroom. I do not shower in the morning or right before I go to bed. As soon as I walk in the door I go straight to the washroom and (loo/toilet I'm getting used to saying...lol) clean off all the grime I end up covered in daily. Honestly, I have slimy hands in my hair and touching my face, paint splattered clothing, clay crusted blouses, playdough stuck to the bottom of every pair of shoes, snot on my sleeves (and not my own!), and probably every kind of cold virus lurking on my hands that they are now dry and cracked like sandpaper from constant washing!! So, needless to say, what I wear to class and what I look like in the morning really doesn't matter. I usually end up in dress-up clothes for the majority of the day anyway!
My housing situation is still working out very nicely! It is so affordable and comfortable and my Scottish housemate cracks me up! Last night when I came in around midnight he was up and we drank some wine and enjoyed some music until 3am. Please don't think this is weird. Well, nevermind, I guess it is weird. I can't really explain it, but we have so much in common and he has the most interesting stories! I just learned that he was friends with Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid from Harry Potter!) and Hagrid, obviously, knows Brad Pitt. Really, this could be my opportunity! They say between everyone is 6 degrees of separation - but that's only 3!
My sister Ali has booked her flight for Christmas! I am SO excited she is coming here! I am beginning to compile a list of FREE things to do, as well as another list with cheaper things we should do while she is here. The free list has to be the longer one, however! It will be really nice to show someone around and see a family member! As much as I am independent I LOVE the idea of people coming to visit from home!
Scotland in a week! Still...no solid plans have come to fruition...merely our beginning and ending points and an idea of what is in between! John (Scottish housemate) is planning on cooking me haggis this week so I am prepared. I will get the entire scoop from him! But, really, this is how I like to do things. Diana is on the same page as I am so we know it is going to be a fantastic, spontaneous, and random adventure! (She hasn't left any students at the swimming pool or elsewhere lately either, so she is doing well!)
Well I hope this post finds everyone enjoying a crisp autumn day back home. You can be rest assured that is what I am "enjoying" here! You can even tack the word "wet" on that phrase!
I am very well and very happy! I hope you all are too!
All my love,
~amy
Amy, Congratulations on your adventure!!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous that you are in England, and now you have a full time job teaching(even if it is temporary). I don't read your blog regularly, but I was tired today of searching for jobs on Apply to Education and Board websites. Your blog helped me smile and gave me more than one chuckle!! I am doing a lot of volunteering (3 different schools), and hoping that some supply work will come my way before Christmas!! Take care, Janet Simmons Megraw
Hello again Amy. I am very happy for you and a lot jealous. You are somewhat remaining sane with the children and have the ability to laugh at your situations with the kids..wonderful. Okay I have to meet your roomy and would love to drink a glass (or two) of wine at midnight...book my flight Dano...Uncle Peter and I will be going to Holland this spring so if you make it there let us know for sure what Amsterdam is really like. In Glasgow try to see the Art Gallery. We spent two days there and loved it. There were students practicing their sketching skills with fantastic original paintings...that may be classified as forgery...okay we did not see that. Georjean will show you the best places and also out of the way places. She also loves Ireland so she is a great resource for Dublin, Spain and a few other places. I really hope you get to visit Aunt Jessie Cameron. If you do give her a really big hug and kiss for me and tell her I think about her a lot. She is getting up in age and I would really like to visit her one more time. Glad to see Ali will be visiting in December. I think of Brandon often in Afghanistan and keep him in my prayers. On a different note I finally got the reading program going with the dogs at Northern Heights. I will be working with grade 3 and 4 starting next week...should be fun. Okay now that I have talked your head off keep happy and healthy.
ReplyDeleteLove
Aunt Lynne
ah. canterbury and the cathedral. i was once drunk and lost in its crypt. beneath the compass rose.
ReplyDeletehey, have a bishop's finger next time you go.
shane
Ahem. So you talk about one sister but not the other...sure we aren't coming for a christmas visit but isn't there something happening that you are excited about?! (hint - the birth of your second nephew or first niece!)
ReplyDeleteYou need to find a photo site to post some pictures...we wanna see some. I should probably get skype too so you and Ali can see the baby when he/she comes.
Alrighty keep blogging
Peace out
Erin (for the 4 of us!)