I cannot even believe that I am halfway through my sixth week in London. Time has been absolutely flying, so much so that I barely feel as if I've had time to take a breath. Every time I blink, I'm bombarded by new needs and information from planning to reflecting to museums to going out to meeting people to trying to sleep to...and the list goes on and on!
So, naturally, I have so much to cover in this blog post! Hang on tight...
My first week of teaching was easily my longest week of teaching and successfully managed to both terrify me and make me feel so tiny and unimportant. My mentor is part time and doesn't work Mondays, the department head was out sick, and no one else had any idea what I was supposed to do. I spent a few days being confused (my mentor was out Tuesday due to her son's first day of school and seemed a bit standoffish when I first met her) and feeling rather like a very small ant dropped in a very large puddle having a hell of a time trying to doggy paddle out of it. By the end of the week, however, I had done that with the help of a department that was actually caring, sweet, and lovely, albeit a bit crazy and frazzled. I left with a time table, some observations of the adorable year 8's, and a mind buzzing with excitement and confusion. I was ready to go and see and do...well, sort of.
Looking back, I remember the fear muddled with confusion and, at times, even boredom as I had no work yet. I was trying to get everything under my belt and spent more time than you can possibly imagine with my nose shoved in an AQA exam document trying to memorize every requirement of every unit I might be dealing with. Terms and marking and names and classes and requirements swam in my brain to the point that Saturday was a beacon of utmost desire. I was happier, but I was fried to my very core.
The group of us began our day of freedom, Dr. Who, and the National Lottery's Secret Fortune with a trip to the Dr. Who Experience. All I can say is: nerdgasam. Actual set of Tennet's TARDIS? Check. New episode with Matt Smith to live through? Check. Lots and lots of Daleks? Check and check. Outfits and set pieces galore from new Who to old Who? Check!
Despite nearly being late due to getting lost - thank you for nothing you useless google maps - we made it and it was one of the happier moments of my incredibly geeky existence.
Chillin' with the TARDIS and Matt Smith (well, a wax Matt Smith)
On Sunday I lamented greatly to be up with sun and unable to sleep in, but the prospect of going to the beach loomed ahead! The two hour bus ride to Brighton was filled with our tour guide chatty incessantly as I tried to cram-read The Crucible. As we neared, I felt a change in me; I filled with excitement and longed for the sea air. My lungs and legs stretched as gulls soared and the sun tried weakly to fight out from behind the gray clouds. We headed up hill and through the trees poked the Middle East inspired spires of The Royal Pavilion. Inside this grand palace were the grandest rooms and chandeliers I had ever seen. It was awe-inspiring.
Royal Pavilion
We spent the remainder of the day having a seaside pub lunch, exploring the Brighton Pier, and relaxing on the beautiful stone beach. The waves crashed below a blue-sky sky and when the sun popped up, it's bright rays were warm upon our skin. Even the water sparkled and when it tickled our toes it was relatively warm to the touch. I have always believed that sea air has a revitalizing effect. That and the many charms of that seaside town wormed their way into my heart and brighten my memories of the cute stone buildings craning towards the water.
Emily and Piper edging towards the waves
The weekend was over, but I entered my second week of teaching with more excitement and optimism than I had had before. I was going to get to see all of my classes, start taking register in my form, and teach my first half lessons! It was an exciting and nerve-wracking week. Thankfully I began to find comfort in my department and discovered my mentor to be both extraordinarily kind and amazingly helpful. I can honestly say I had never expected to teach either texting language or website conventions to a bunch of year 10's, but teach them I did. While behaviour wise, they're tougher, there's something fun about teaching the beginning of upper school and the utility of teaching non-fiction due to their exposure to it. The week, once it began, started flying past as I began to have things to plan and the classroom teachers to meet with. The following week would bring full lesson teaching and I had to be ready...fighting with smartboard programs and trying to remember everything commenced...and was only broken by Friday afternoon.
I had sent off my lesson plan ideas to my mentor, had spoken to my year 12 and 13 teachers and had mastered the photocopier. I was ready to Skype three people and pack for my first trip: visiting the family in Scotland! My mind still spun with school planning as I tried to throw things together while speaking to my grandparents, my parents, and Julia. It was whirlwind-like in retrospect, but soon I was off to find Victoria Coach Station.
My thoughts on the bus journeys: super affordable but also super long. I wish the sleeper buses were ready now...8 hours on a bus? Not exactly the greatest.
But, getting to spend the weekend with your family wandering around, relaxing, playing with a puppy, and chatting? The greatest.
Lunderson Bay in beautiful upheavel
The two days felt both like they were gone in 5 minutes and that they had lasted for ages. It was like I was temporarily transported into another universe. A weekend visit wasn't anything I had ever had before; it was a welcome break from the city. I admit that I always love getting to see the beauty of Scotland, but this was particularly special. I had no agenda, no where to go, just family to see and time to do with as I pleased: so I walked, I got real fish and chips and steak pie, I slept in a big bed, I read my book, I played more games of cribbage in a row than I think you should, and I had such a wonderful, wonderful time. I was excited to get back into teaching; however, I was sad to go.
Ruby in chase mode along with a peek at all of the other folks braving the moody weather for a breath of sea air and time with their dogs.
This next week at school sure picked up pace with 5 (7 if you include that 2 were doubles) full lessons and a half lesson with my form loomed ahead. I was busy with planning, reflecting, and teaching. It was a busy, busy week but I felt much more settled in and a part of the atmosphere. I was now just another "Miss" in the English Department who'd glare at stray curse words in the hallway and occasionally shout out "Top button!" to a passing student in disarray. Classes picked up, got more used to me, and got more fun. I remember this week fondly as I struggled and analysed and asked so many questions of my cooperating teachers. I got into The Crucible and so excited to teach it and finally began to wrap my mind around text transformations while simultaneously thinking about filming techniques. It is most humorous, perhaps to me now, to realize how much my mind still swims in reflecting just for the purpose of blogging. These weeks feel like so much longer has passed and yet they have gone so fast. I often find myself wondering just what to think as I drift off to sleep.
I found myself happily looking forward to the weekend. I adore my placement but I also adore getting to experience London with good friends. It is a nice mix: the more productive I am during the week, the more relaxed I can be at the weekend. This weekend; however, was particularly special: it was Emily's 21st Birthday on Saturday!
After some early morning laundry on my part, she'd gotten up and received our gifts with her cereal. The day, overall, was filled with errands and normal person things like, well, okay, I totally and completely went shopping. I also, in my defense, walked/biked somewhere in the nature of 10 miles, figured out the Barclay bike rental system, bought much needed groceries, ended up in Hyde Park, and journeyed with Emily and Piper - after the most difficult attempt at meeting up - to the "place with the postcards" before essentially crawling home to rest/grab dinner. For that was also THE SEASON FINALE OF DOCTOR WHO. I do not endorse spoilers but WOW! It was quite the ending and left much room for debate and chatter as we waited to try and fail miserably in our attempt to win the lottery.
Waiting for the Tube to head out!
Shrugging off our losses we changed our clothes and re-met up for an adventure out to Camden. It was time to brave the bar/club scene again in a new area with a funky and hip reputation. It was much more relaxing this time around as we found a cheap, cute, and small bar/club where we were able to do some dancing! When our feet were protesting, we went for a walk through the bustling and live neighbourhood. The Indian Summer weather had brought out the masses for the end of the warm season. We ended up at an interesting bar situated overlooking the Camden Locks. The view was great, the cover was affordable, the music was fun and eurotrash at its best, and the drinks were tasty. We sat and chatted about who knows what, just enjoying the feeling of being out in good company. It was overall a fine evening.
Piper and I approved! ;)
Sunday morning I was once again up bright and early - the sun and I are becoming the most intimate acquaintances this semester - as I was set to meet my uncle, who I hadn't seen in years, to explore the British Museum. The time spent in the museum passed quickly in a whirl of interesting artifacts from random places around the world from the famous Rosetta Stone to beautiful pocket watches to the extraordinary architecture of the building itself. Our conversation ebbed and flowed from life to the things before us as we found our way through almost every room that we could find. As the afternoon came on, we listened to our grumbling bodies and headed for some tasty Italian food before parting with plans to meet again soon.
Uncle Phil and I in front of the British Museum
With that we have reached this week! Another busy and exciting week of teaching has followed, of course. On Monday, I was able to chaperon a year 8 field trip to Neasden Temple - a beautifully ornate Hindu temple where we saw the aarti prayer ceremony. While I was not with my form, it was a great experience to learn how to manage and get a glimpse at the massive undertaking that is a school trip. It was, however, a long day as I taught a double after coming back and then sunk into planning before an hour long Zumba session! I came back thoroughly knackered though happy. The lesson was enjoyable to teach and I look forward to continuing it tomorrow.
Tuesday brought my first experience with conferencing in addition to loads of meetings. It was also Saiya's 20th birthday and another chance to celebrate! It also brought the arrival of my new camera to replace my old one who's memory card reader had fried in an earlier rainstorm. I did my best to finish all of my work before we all met up for a crazy Italian dinner. The restaurant was cute, the atmosphere friendly, the waiter the most Italian man ever, and the food delicious! While the service was slow and we were left to our own devices there for nearly 3 hours, I was utterly contented by good food, good wine, and good conversation so as to walk away with a good impression and laughter.
Emily, Piper, Katie, Sarah, Saiya, and Jess in the cute alley as we waited for our table
Piper, Saiya, and I inside Bella Italia
Wednesday brought on my first experience with my lack of the developing teacher's third eye as I set my sights upon improving chatty-management and classroom focus! I also glimpsed the school play and discovered, to my delight, that several of my students are involved! Monday afternoon is the next rehearsal and I look forward to seeing how I can get involved. It also was the day my care package basket arrived from my parents. The adorable and thoughtful gift was composed of a girl's best friends: red wine and chocolate!
The basket of love!
Today, unfortunately, instead of planning, doing EAL support, and seeing open night, I fell prey to the stomach flu going around my department and spent the day resting and getting ready for tomorrow's lesson as best as possible.
Of course, I must also get better before Saturday's trip with Emily and Piper to Amsterdam! I am super excited as almost everyone in my family and family friends have been aside from me and I have heard nothing but good things about how interesting, fun, and quirky it is. Despite this excitement, I must temper it with anxiety - there are also lessons to be planned, reflections to write, a class to do work for, and Mass standards to address...I always knew this would be a tough semester, so I will simply carry on and hope for the best.
If you've made it this far, congratulations! I am very glad you care this much about my existence. Honest. I, well I'll try, to promise not to be so neglectful in the future but it's tough.
I send you love to wherever you are and hope things are as eventful for you as they are for me.
Cheers,
Fallon
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