Wednesday felt like a week, but it ended on a high note- with lots of up's and some down's in between - good food! Up's because today the student's really started demonstrating a lot of interest in our class lessons and down's because today it was my turn to miss home!
First, because I missed the staff briefing yesterday, I did not know about Year 7 photo day...so while I was expecting to teach Year 9 this morning, I discovered I was to keep my Year 7's for an extra "bonus" lesson! My reaction..."yippee!" Not. They are my biggest challenge; while loveable and little, it is high maintenance instruction with them. Thankfully, they were able to register in the library with their thumb prints - which is a required in order for them to check out a book. The system is sort of like the biometric scan we needed for our visa's and the students simply need to scan their book and put their thumb print on a scanner, and whala - instant check out! Take note Alicia, my friend, perhaps that's a wave we need to catch in our own media center!
Getting them ready for their "class photo" was a very interesting experience. The photographer - not our own Mr. Cassidy, but reminiscent of him - had a very efficient system of lining students in a symmetrical height centered pose. Form Tutors - in this case the English department were to check uniforms, straighten ties, tuck in shirts, straighten collars, etc and make certain everyone was neat and orderly. Of course, we were outside on a fairly chilly morning, and it did take a few minutes to get everyone posed just "so". Believe it or not, there were actually three English teachers in this photo...usually not the case as Miss Sheppard makes for the hills come photo time!
Up's with the students who, for the first time really showed a lot of interest in what we are doing in each class; downs because this week its my turn to miss home.
Up's with the Year 8 students, who were full oodles of questions about America. Also with one particularly fidgety student, who I finally had an opportunity to work one on one with and give him some much needed attention. Some even told me that I should visit before the end of Year 11 to teach them another class! How sweet they all are!
Up's with Year 11's who really responded to our lesson on To A Mouse - especially with audiotaped Scottish brogue, as well as Year 11 girls who stayed behind to chat at break and want help to organize a prom, which they want to plan for their end of year, which I did promise to help them with, also I suggested a real "high school" dance for upper grades which I would be happy to help with too. I had been asked last week to help them with a cheering squad, so I was fearing they would ask again... haha...I'm sure after reading this blog they will be reminding me of that! I'll be in a bit of trouble with that, as you all know back home, the girls were the experts; I was just the coach who kept them focused and motivated. So if any of you girls back home remember any cheers, write 'em up and send 'em! It's just nice to be included in a circle of girls again who seek out your advice... so thank you girls, you're all very lovely.
Up's with Year 7 students who finally finished all their work from the past few lessons and got to go to the library to get some books so now they will have books for registration!
Up's for Micaela who played "football in her boots" today and said she was going to miss her friends here and that she really likes it at Fairfield! Phew - load off my mind! If she's happy that's a BIG plus! P.S. - that's "soccer in her cleats" for all you Yanks.
Up's because we finally found a restaurant with good food! After two days of driving around in circles we finally found where we wanted to be...and had a good dinner!
Up's because people at Fairfield were very supportive today with my bit of homesickness and had all kinds of suggestions for me... thank you everyone so very much!
Up's because I really do feel confident in the material I'm teaching and, while, the assessment piece is still not clear, it is starting to come together as I reveiw other student work and have been given some work to "practice" with.
We won't talk about the downs...but suffice it to say that I am so very, very tired due to long days, long hours in the car, not enough of my favorite foods, and not enough sport, and a bit of feeling isolated from the center of the universe. I have lost seven pounds since I arrived and I really am missing my social network at home, Michael, and my pups. There is no doubt that embarquing on this path is a tough one, I never thought I'd actually do it, but I did, and while I am embracing every moment to learn everything I can, moments like these are to be expected. This week it's my turn to have a few "missing home" moments, since apparently Micaela is over all of that now, but you know what...
"you won't give a darn by Wednesday week..."
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I empathise with the homesickness; mine never leaves me.
ReplyDeleteAnd which restaurant, out of interest?
The Harvester in Pontypool that we went to with your parents the first weekend we were here...its the only place that is remotely close to an American one anywhere near here.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Ry and I love it there, though I would never trek there on a weekday! Most local people - including us - can only eat out occasionally. It's nice as a treat though :)
ReplyDeleteThe Bluebell Inn on the way to Crickhowell and The Bear in Crickhowell are nice, as is the Jolly Colliers on Llanelli Hill...and Aber's full of good places to eat. Also, you pass right through Llanfihangel Crucorney on the way home from school and the Skirrid Inn there (which is ancient and has a reputation for being haunted) serves good food too. Wetherspoons in Abergavenny is cheap and has burgers, steaks and chicken.
I'm afraid there aren't going to be many places in the area which are 'American' in style as there's not a market for it. With reference to your 'Tuesday' post, that's also why someone hasn't already set up one of the business ideas you suggest! That said, Aber has a dedicated nail salon in the High Street and larger towns and cities all have sports bars, although they're more likely to be Aussie than US themed; American sports aren't really known or popular in the UK.
I'm happy to hear Micaela is enjoying herself!!!
ReplyDelete-Michelle Frasca
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ReplyDeleteI taught school in England for a sememester and I too found that Wetherspoons (a chain pub), had really nice food. Of course, be prepared to pay for refills, ha! I'm enjoying your blog so much. Thank you for all the details; I feel like I'm back there once again :O)I also found it interesting that the Brits just don't eat out like we do. Even though I'm a teacher now and work really far from my school, it's not uncommon for me to eat out 6 nights a week, and just about all meals on the weekend.
ReplyDelete"If you build it, they will come." Famous lines - Kevin Costner. Field of dreams.
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