Homeward Bound!

For a visit, anyway!

The last few weeks have been relaxing and hectic all at the same time. Between day trips to the coast and Oxford and softball games, the decision has been made about next school year - going to give teaching here another go! As much as the children here are nutty enough to drive anyone mad, I feel like right now this is the only certain teaching job I'll have, but, I can almost guarantee this will be the last year. My visa will be up and I will have two solid years of experience, but until then, I will remain in the asylum of London schools. And that means it's time for a visit home! I will be landing in Toronto on July 30th with Barret and will be up in the Sault for about two weeks before heading out east to Fredericton for a visit to his family. I can't wait to be home. As much as London is fabulous and exciting and vibrant, nothing beats home. I hope to show Barret all that is wonderful about Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario (haha so thank goodness this visit is coming in peak weather time!) I also can't wait to see my little nephew and meet my niece! I can't believe she is 8 months old and I haven't met her yet... I'm so glad to be going home to visit, for so many reasons.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I took a day trip with Diana to Oxford. What an amazing experience! It was during exam time and students were walking about to and from their exams dressed up in full regalia! The city itself is quite small and nearly everything is accessible by foot. Many famous literary figures, such as Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), TS Eliot, CS Lewis, Oscar Wilde, and Dr. Seuss, as well as political figures such as David Cameron (newly appointed Prime Minister of the UK), former US president Bill Clinton as well as former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and also the world famous architect Christopher Wren (St. Paul's Cathedral) have all studied at Oxford. However, I was most excited when I learned one of my favourite childhood characters also roamed the grand buildings during his studies. I laughed picturing Rowan Atkinson as his ridiculous character Mr. Bean shifting about through the ancient buildings causing mischief! Also, there is SO much of Harry Potter that is filmed at Oxford! I have certainly seen a lot of those movie scenes around here...!

Barret and I took a day trip out to the east coast of England to a place called Broadstairs. From here we hiked along white, 100 foot cliffs with beautiful bays tucked alongside. We hiked about 13km all the way to Margate just taking in the sun and the scenery. Sometimes we forget how beautiful and accessible the rest of England is when we are always thinking about going elsewhere in Europe. Speaking of which, I think I might be planning another visit to the family friends my sister and I spent Christmas with before I head back for summer holidays. Between weekend softball tournaments, concerts, and sorting my life out, I will definitely have to pencil that in!

Well, I think that is just about it. Only 1.5 months and I will be back on Canadian soil for the first time in just short of a year (wow...) It's scary how fast the time is passing, but I am constantly trying to live it to the fullest!

All my love,

Amy