I've just returned from an extremely nice evening out with G. and Daz. We went to the pub that no one knows about and had dinner and now we're all enjoying the peace and quiet of our new home since the kids are in London for Mamma Mia and won't return till about midnight. Tomorrow night we're all on duty, so the cool trio's gonna be in charge of the casino night and we get all glammed up for that.
We're still very busy, so I don't get much done apart from my planning and the lessons and the activities and this feels like a 24/7 job, but it's lovely. Next week is the last week for this bunch of kids and then we start all over with new arrivals. I hope I don't have to dress up as a man again!
TaTa
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Hawaiian disco, pubs and boys vs. girls night
I’m getting very settled in over here and I’m starting to think that I will hate leaving. For one I’ve had very good feedback from my superiors and I get along with the students, so my work is not that difficult. After lessons us, teachers, usually stay on for another shift and help out with the afternoon activities and this week that included the Hawaiian disco, where students and staff had to dress up Hawaiian style, and yesterday we had boys vs. girls disco, which included cross-dressing, so boys dressed up as girls and girls as boys and I must say some made a real effort and it took me a long time to remove the nail varnish from boys’ fingers.
On Monday night I went to a local pub with a co-teacher and our boss and we ended up having a fantastic time. The pub was in the old part of Headington and the area really gave us the feeling of being in the Cotswolds. It was really pretty and the pub even had a gorgeous beer garden, so we stayed for quite a bit, talked about work and other things. I love the fact that the team of teachers gets on like a house on fire (with some exceptions to the rule, of course). Yesterday I spent quite some time with the boss transferring things between our computers, so I’m now well-equipped with additional materials and books and so is he and today I’ve had co-teachers coming to my room for a chat all the time, so we’ve really become a small family.
Tomorrow I’ve quite an easy day as the kids are off to London in the afternoon, so I might end up at the gym again (congratulations to myself for dragging my bottom back to the gym!!!).
Off to bed now. Good night!
On Monday night I went to a local pub with a co-teacher and our boss and we ended up having a fantastic time. The pub was in the old part of Headington and the area really gave us the feeling of being in the Cotswolds. It was really pretty and the pub even had a gorgeous beer garden, so we stayed for quite a bit, talked about work and other things. I love the fact that the team of teachers gets on like a house on fire (with some exceptions to the rule, of course). Yesterday I spent quite some time with the boss transferring things between our computers, so I’m now well-equipped with additional materials and books and so is he and today I’ve had co-teachers coming to my room for a chat all the time, so we’ve really become a small family.
Tomorrow I’ve quite an easy day as the kids are off to London in the afternoon, so I might end up at the gym again (congratulations to myself for dragging my bottom back to the gym!!!).
Off to bed now. Good night!
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Day off and a bundle of wet clothes
This is going to be a rather short blog entry since I'm not in the writing mood. I'm in the middle of preparing a project for tomorrow's class and it's all about Cadbury's as they're going on a trip to Birmingham on Tuesday.
As I did my laundry yesterday and since it hasn't really dried till this afternoon, I decided I'll put everything in the dryer anyway. And after having done it three times today I must admit I neither see nor feel any difference in the dryness of my clothes. After the first hour in the stupid machine they were still really moist, so I put them in again. I came back an hour later and... no difference. I thought that third time lucky might apply in this situation... well, it doesn't as my tracksuit bottoms and T-shirts are still wet. I really do NOT understand it! After all it is a very simple machine to operate.
Apart from the dryer wars all's fine. I actually dragged myself to the gym (as we have free gym access) and worked out for an hour. I almost died on the treadmill (where are the days when I was able to run for 60mins without stopping?!) and I shouldn't even mention my non-existing willpower when it comes to weight training. I used to be able to do a few repetitions, but now I just think "Ouch, that hurts." and stop. Ah well, at least I did something! And it's a start. And you should never overdo it at the gym! And ... I hope I get back in shape in time.
Back to my chocolate lesson plan now :-)
As I did my laundry yesterday and since it hasn't really dried till this afternoon, I decided I'll put everything in the dryer anyway. And after having done it three times today I must admit I neither see nor feel any difference in the dryness of my clothes. After the first hour in the stupid machine they were still really moist, so I put them in again. I came back an hour later and... no difference. I thought that third time lucky might apply in this situation... well, it doesn't as my tracksuit bottoms and T-shirts are still wet. I really do NOT understand it! After all it is a very simple machine to operate.
Apart from the dryer wars all's fine. I actually dragged myself to the gym (as we have free gym access) and worked out for an hour. I almost died on the treadmill (where are the days when I was able to run for 60mins without stopping?!) and I shouldn't even mention my non-existing willpower when it comes to weight training. I used to be able to do a few repetitions, but now I just think "Ouch, that hurts." and stop. Ah well, at least I did something! And it's a start. And you should never overdo it at the gym! And ... I hope I get back in shape in time.
Back to my chocolate lesson plan now :-)
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Challenge: Let's do the laundry!
It’s lesson preparation time (well, basically it is my time off, but over here that means that this is your time in which to prepare for the lessons, which I still don’t really understand as the activity organisers have time off as well and in that time they’re just off), so I have time to update my blog.
I’m feeling more and more at home (despite the food and the room), but at the moment I’m actually having a cup of coffee in my room and that is a first. Of course I had to buy a flask in Starbucks (where else ;-)) but it at least means I don’t have to be in the office if I want coffee as that means that you get pulled into working (don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind working, but when I’ve been on duty from 7am to 5pm, I really want some time off). Another good thing is that my clothes are in the washing machine and will be all fresh and clean in 25 minutes (I hope, because the machine looks a little bit dodgy and I bought some gorgeously smelling detergent only to realize that the machine uses its own (?) which again I don’t understand, so I hope my clothes smell of my stuff and not the suspicious pinkish liquid from the plastic tank next to the washing machine. It is quite typical that I only discovered the pinkish liquid after I had pressed start.)
I went into town today with another teacher and we had a really nice morning/afternoon and even managed to grab some delicious pub food from one of the pubs in Oxford I actually know and I had Pimms for the first time in 2 years :-) So, you can understand how happy I am at the moment. Plus the kids aren’t here, which means it’s really nice and quiet. Swindon Oasis day is the reason why the only people left on campus are the teachers.
As for Oxford... It is packed!!! There are so many people here that it’s difficult to walk on the pavement and it’s sales time, so it’s not only tourists who crowd the streets. But I love this town! It’s got history and magnificent buildings and I love the atmosphere.
And work? I can honestly say that I expected to be teaching according to a program and would not spend too much time on the activities. But it turned out that besides not having a program to follow I keep being on duty in the afternoon or evening, so I tend to stay up late or get up early to finish lesson planning which is also more complicated than the usual mainstream school. Not having a program and a coursebook to follow everything is pretty much left to me so each lesson requires more time to plan. The students also have no own books which means I need to photocopy materials and that takes ages. I do love teaching and I got a very positive feedback from our DoS who observed my lesson on Thursday, but at the end of the day I feel drained. And I haven’t done any sport in months now, so I’m not only being tired most of the time but I’m also gaining weight and it’s driving me insane. ARGH!!! And on top of everything I was really in a hurry going to work in the evening yesterday and I managed to break the buckle on my favourite high-heeled sandals. Which almost made me cry. Hawaiian disco was a success though and I did look extremely elegant in my try-not-to-breathe dress :-) After the disco we put the kids to sleep and gathered in the office for wine and cheese. I loved it! It’s great how all the staff gets together and the atmosphere changes - it almost felt like being home on the couch, your feet up and a glass of white wine in your hand. It’s a wonderful bonding opportunity and the newest clever idea is that all schools should put sofas in the staff room :-)
Now, my clothes have been washed and they don’t smell of my lovely detergent but of some mixture of my detergent and I assume the pinkish liquid used for washing masses of campus sheets and stuff. :-( The new challenge is to dry them as most of them should not be put in the dryer. Now I have wet clothes hanging in my wardrobe and I hope they will eventually dry. The sooner the better.
Cheerio!
I’m feeling more and more at home (despite the food and the room), but at the moment I’m actually having a cup of coffee in my room and that is a first. Of course I had to buy a flask in Starbucks (where else ;-)) but it at least means I don’t have to be in the office if I want coffee as that means that you get pulled into working (don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind working, but when I’ve been on duty from 7am to 5pm, I really want some time off). Another good thing is that my clothes are in the washing machine and will be all fresh and clean in 25 minutes (I hope, because the machine looks a little bit dodgy and I bought some gorgeously smelling detergent only to realize that the machine uses its own (?) which again I don’t understand, so I hope my clothes smell of my stuff and not the suspicious pinkish liquid from the plastic tank next to the washing machine. It is quite typical that I only discovered the pinkish liquid after I had pressed start.)
I went into town today with another teacher and we had a really nice morning/afternoon and even managed to grab some delicious pub food from one of the pubs in Oxford I actually know and I had Pimms for the first time in 2 years :-) So, you can understand how happy I am at the moment. Plus the kids aren’t here, which means it’s really nice and quiet. Swindon Oasis day is the reason why the only people left on campus are the teachers.
As for Oxford... It is packed!!! There are so many people here that it’s difficult to walk on the pavement and it’s sales time, so it’s not only tourists who crowd the streets. But I love this town! It’s got history and magnificent buildings and I love the atmosphere.
And work? I can honestly say that I expected to be teaching according to a program and would not spend too much time on the activities. But it turned out that besides not having a program to follow I keep being on duty in the afternoon or evening, so I tend to stay up late or get up early to finish lesson planning which is also more complicated than the usual mainstream school. Not having a program and a coursebook to follow everything is pretty much left to me so each lesson requires more time to plan. The students also have no own books which means I need to photocopy materials and that takes ages. I do love teaching and I got a very positive feedback from our DoS who observed my lesson on Thursday, but at the end of the day I feel drained. And I haven’t done any sport in months now, so I’m not only being tired most of the time but I’m also gaining weight and it’s driving me insane. ARGH!!! And on top of everything I was really in a hurry going to work in the evening yesterday and I managed to break the buckle on my favourite high-heeled sandals. Which almost made me cry. Hawaiian disco was a success though and I did look extremely elegant in my try-not-to-breathe dress :-) After the disco we put the kids to sleep and gathered in the office for wine and cheese. I loved it! It’s great how all the staff gets together and the atmosphere changes - it almost felt like being home on the couch, your feet up and a glass of white wine in your hand. It’s a wonderful bonding opportunity and the newest clever idea is that all schools should put sofas in the staff room :-)
Now, my clothes have been washed and they don’t smell of my lovely detergent but of some mixture of my detergent and I assume the pinkish liquid used for washing masses of campus sheets and stuff. :-( The new challenge is to dry them as most of them should not be put in the dryer. Now I have wet clothes hanging in my wardrobe and I hope they will eventually dry. The sooner the better.
Cheerio!
Friday, 16 July 2010
High-heels? How to get out of wearing them....
This is getting ridiculous! Now that I’m paying a small fortune to have my own, private, unrestricted Internet access, I do NOT have the time to use it. And on top of that my USB hub that I got from WH Smith (cos all the other shops like Curry’s, Argos, Sonny, etc. have run out of them) is acting weird and keeps disconnecting from my computer so I’m getting really worried my brand new computer is going to crash! Yikes!
I only have 20 minutes before I’m on duty and it’s Hawaiian disco tonight, so I’m wearing my tight dress as it is the only piece of clothing with big flowers in my wardrobe. I’m thinking if I try not to breathe or sit down between 7pm and 11pm, I should be fine. And I have to be wearing heels, so somebody shoot me now, please! I usually don’t mind high-heels, but I’ve been standing up all day today and my feet are already requiring (no, they are screaming for) a bit of a break, so if you have any ideas how to join the tight dress (in which I cannot sit down) and high-heels (which are only good for sitting down), let me know asap, please.
I don’t even remember if I have written about my job here, but as I gotta run now, it’ll just have to wait till the next time!
Take care y’all!
I only have 20 minutes before I’m on duty and it’s Hawaiian disco tonight, so I’m wearing my tight dress as it is the only piece of clothing with big flowers in my wardrobe. I’m thinking if I try not to breathe or sit down between 7pm and 11pm, I should be fine. And I have to be wearing heels, so somebody shoot me now, please! I usually don’t mind high-heels, but I’ve been standing up all day today and my feet are already requiring (no, they are screaming for) a bit of a break, so if you have any ideas how to join the tight dress (in which I cannot sit down) and high-heels (which are only good for sitting down), let me know asap, please.
I don’t even remember if I have written about my job here, but as I gotta run now, it’ll just have to wait till the next time!
Take care y’all!
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Teaching and working at a boarding school
My writings have become irregular and I really hope I’m not repeating myself cos I keep forgetting what I’ve already written and what not. Today’s supposed to be my day off, but I need to plan the lessons as I have absolutely no idea what I want to do in classes.
As for the teaching bit... The summer courses over here include a lot of (and when I write a lot of I mean seriously a lot of) excursions and activities, so it sometimes feels like English classes are just a secondary activity and us teachers are sometimes treated like that as well. For example, today we had a fire drill (yes, it was my day off and my only chance to sleep in since beginning of July and no, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have to participate in the fire drill) but none of the teachers was told what to do, so I asked our CD what my duties are and she told me and then this morning a AO gave me completely different instructions, so who do I listen?! Most teachers believe that we’re not informed enough, especially cos it’s our first summer here. Ah well, I guess we’ll all survive.
Yesterday I bought Dongle at the 3G shop, so now I have expensive Internet access in my room. Lucky me! And it’s not restricted. I got so frustrated with the restricted Internet at this school that I now totally understand why some girls lose it when they leave a Catholic school! Sport web-pages are restricted (it seems like a good Catholic girl is not into sports) and so is “The News of the World” (apparently it has low quality content) and that’s far from all the other restricted or simply put BLOCKED web-pages. In today’s day and age that’s an utterly and completely insane if you ask me! I understand some schools blocking Facebook as it can be dangerous since children add people they don’t know as their friends, but news and sports and even teaching resources web-pages?!
The school itself is nothing special. I have always imagined British boarding schools in almost a romantic way, but working at one has opened my eyes. The rooms have no bathrooms, so you share (I really hate the fact that I am sharing a bathroom and toilet with students!!!), a lot of rooms have no desks or chairs, so you write on your knees (which I am sure is very good for your back and general health) and students’ rooms do NOT lock (which I guess would make it easy for valuables to disappear). As for the classrooms - they are in different buildings and whereas most of them are equipped with an IWB (which have been taken off, so we cannot use them) the rest of the equipment and furnishings would make most of the teachers I know back home cry (and those wouldn’t be tears of joy). But we’ll manage! Teachers are the toughest breed I know!
Here are some photos of my room, so you get a taster (keep in mind that my room used to be an office and it is much bigger than your normal single room!).
And I still haven’t planned the lessons....
As for the teaching bit... The summer courses over here include a lot of (and when I write a lot of I mean seriously a lot of) excursions and activities, so it sometimes feels like English classes are just a secondary activity and us teachers are sometimes treated like that as well. For example, today we had a fire drill (yes, it was my day off and my only chance to sleep in since beginning of July and no, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t have to participate in the fire drill) but none of the teachers was told what to do, so I asked our CD what my duties are and she told me and then this morning a AO gave me completely different instructions, so who do I listen?! Most teachers believe that we’re not informed enough, especially cos it’s our first summer here. Ah well, I guess we’ll all survive.
Yesterday I bought Dongle at the 3G shop, so now I have expensive Internet access in my room. Lucky me! And it’s not restricted. I got so frustrated with the restricted Internet at this school that I now totally understand why some girls lose it when they leave a Catholic school! Sport web-pages are restricted (it seems like a good Catholic girl is not into sports) and so is “The News of the World” (apparently it has low quality content) and that’s far from all the other restricted or simply put BLOCKED web-pages. In today’s day and age that’s an utterly and completely insane if you ask me! I understand some schools blocking Facebook as it can be dangerous since children add people they don’t know as their friends, but news and sports and even teaching resources web-pages?!
The school itself is nothing special. I have always imagined British boarding schools in almost a romantic way, but working at one has opened my eyes. The rooms have no bathrooms, so you share (I really hate the fact that I am sharing a bathroom and toilet with students!!!), a lot of rooms have no desks or chairs, so you write on your knees (which I am sure is very good for your back and general health) and students’ rooms do NOT lock (which I guess would make it easy for valuables to disappear). As for the classrooms - they are in different buildings and whereas most of them are equipped with an IWB (which have been taken off, so we cannot use them) the rest of the equipment and furnishings would make most of the teachers I know back home cry (and those wouldn’t be tears of joy). But we’ll manage! Teachers are the toughest breed I know!
Here are some photos of my room, so you get a taster (keep in mind that my room used to be an office and it is much bigger than your normal single room!).
And I still haven’t planned the lessons....
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
No Internet?! You must be joking!
“This is going to be tough,” was the first thing that went through my mind when I heard that I (or any other member of the staff) won’t have Internet access while working here. The second thought was “Why?” The school has WiFi, but they don’t give us the password which in today’s day and age is like forbidding a person to breathe. Internet is almost a basic human right, isn’t is? I’m still recuperating from the shock that news caused. I depend on being able to keep in touch with people, who aren’t here, and now I feel like 2 months of my life will rush by while I’ll be cut off from the world. I almost feel like Robinson Crusoe.
Apart from that my one day in Oxford was lovely. I didn’t sleep in as I keep waking up around 6am, which is completely insane considering I love sleeping in. The B&B I was at Thursday night was absolutely fantastic and so was the breakfast. They had a normal continental breakfast and while you were nibbling on your croissant they offered a proper English breakfast, so once you got out of the dining room, you were nicely full. After breakfast I had to pack (for the third time in five days) and then I left for the city centre. The bus ride to town sets you back around 1.90 GB and the return one 2.90 GBP and the bus takes you to Magdalen street (sorry if I misspell anything). The first thing I did was buy a new watch, because I have a feeling I might need it, and then I set into my usual routine - glossy magazine, grande latte and an armchair at Starbucks. My feet and my back were hurting quite badly, but you would understand what I mean if you saw all my luggage (or what has become of it after two days of shopping sprees. At around 1 o’clock I had to be at school’s premises for lunch, so I took the bus back and went for lunch. The first impression: a lot of people know each other from previous years and it seems like this is going to be a nice place to work. The food was actually quite good, I really cannot complain - four choices for the main course and veggies, potatoes, buns, etc. for sides. After lunch there was induction, dinner and an hour worth of a break which we spent at the pub. In the evening we moved to the course site and to finish the day we had crisps and wine. For the first time ever I managed to eat salt and vinegar crisps - I tried and tried before, but it always grossed me out, so I don’t know what’s different this time.
The evening and most of the night over, I returned to my room. Remember my rambling about hotels? Then you probably understand that I’m not exactly jumping of joy at the sight of my room. It’s big enough, with a bed and a wardrobe. Thats’s all some of you might ask. Yes. There is no desk! And that was even more of a shock than the lack of Internet access (argh..... we live in the 21st century and I cannot get online?!) How am I supposed to get any work done if I don’t even have a desk?! Whereas it is OK to force everyone go into the staff room so people are forced to mingle, it isn’t OK to deprive people who can concentrate much better when they are in a quiet environment and not disturbed. I can manage sitting on the bed and working for a short time, but it’s not comfortable or very efficient.
On the bright side, the people I work with are a good bunch and there ‘s a swimming pool on the site. There are also loads of excursions around England and we get fed a lot :-) I hope I get to go to a few shops soon to get some essentials and explore this area a bit.
Apart from that my one day in Oxford was lovely. I didn’t sleep in as I keep waking up around 6am, which is completely insane considering I love sleeping in. The B&B I was at Thursday night was absolutely fantastic and so was the breakfast. They had a normal continental breakfast and while you were nibbling on your croissant they offered a proper English breakfast, so once you got out of the dining room, you were nicely full. After breakfast I had to pack (for the third time in five days) and then I left for the city centre. The bus ride to town sets you back around 1.90 GB and the return one 2.90 GBP and the bus takes you to Magdalen street (sorry if I misspell anything). The first thing I did was buy a new watch, because I have a feeling I might need it, and then I set into my usual routine - glossy magazine, grande latte and an armchair at Starbucks. My feet and my back were hurting quite badly, but you would understand what I mean if you saw all my luggage (or what has become of it after two days of shopping sprees. At around 1 o’clock I had to be at school’s premises for lunch, so I took the bus back and went for lunch. The first impression: a lot of people know each other from previous years and it seems like this is going to be a nice place to work. The food was actually quite good, I really cannot complain - four choices for the main course and veggies, potatoes, buns, etc. for sides. After lunch there was induction, dinner and an hour worth of a break which we spent at the pub. In the evening we moved to the course site and to finish the day we had crisps and wine. For the first time ever I managed to eat salt and vinegar crisps - I tried and tried before, but it always grossed me out, so I don’t know what’s different this time.
The evening and most of the night over, I returned to my room. Remember my rambling about hotels? Then you probably understand that I’m not exactly jumping of joy at the sight of my room. It’s big enough, with a bed and a wardrobe. Thats’s all some of you might ask. Yes. There is no desk! And that was even more of a shock than the lack of Internet access (argh..... we live in the 21st century and I cannot get online?!) How am I supposed to get any work done if I don’t even have a desk?! Whereas it is OK to force everyone go into the staff room so people are forced to mingle, it isn’t OK to deprive people who can concentrate much better when they are in a quiet environment and not disturbed. I can manage sitting on the bed and working for a short time, but it’s not comfortable or very efficient.
On the bright side, the people I work with are a good bunch and there ‘s a swimming pool on the site. There are also loads of excursions around England and we get fed a lot :-) I hope I get to go to a few shops soon to get some essentials and explore this area a bit.
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