Hiya! The last week has been such a whirlwind! I’m sorry I
haven’t updated my status since my arrival to England… I literally have had no
time. Let me quickly run through all of the new things that took place this
last week.
Thursday August 30:
Mom and Michael took me to the airport… we had almost 2 hours at the airport to
wander and make sure I knew where I was going when I had to go through
security. We spent those 2 hours shopping, people watching, eating, and
praying. They sent me off through security a little after 5. So here I was on
my own… something I am learning may become a regular for me. After making a few
last minute texts, my flight left Toronto at 7pm. On the plane, I was seated
next to a young gent from Ireland- he was in Toronto to work with his older
brother. During the flight we exchanged some funny looks as the woman beside
him was much older and constantly needed his help- whether to turn on her TV,
put her food tray up, or open the wrapper. So within 1 hour of our flight, they
served us a hot dinner. I was not expecting this so I already had dinner – but
I couldn’t refuse to eat some more- I mean I didn’t really know if and when I
would eat again – but I suppose humans, unlike squirrels, can’t save it up.
There was quite a bit of turbulence – a lot more than I’ve experienced before-
which was a little nerve wracking. In
fact the crew couldn’t serve us full breakfasts when we approached England,
they did however, give us each a muffin. That night went by so fast… I tried so
hard to sleep so I was ready for orientation day, but with the interruptions by
the crew and with the turbulence, sleep for me did not really occur.
Friday August 31:
My flight landed at 7:30, a few minutes after the expected time of arrival. It
was really easy to follow the signs to arrivals and luggage pickup, so that was
nice. Before I picked up my luggage, I stopped in the washroom and quickly
changed my clothes for orientation day. After finding my luggage, I went to
arrivals, where loads of people were standing there waiting to collect their
correct people. I was told to look for a TimePlan sign with my name on it. I
couldn’t see one anywhere. I continued
walking along the ‘runway’ and finally saw a sign with OLLIES on it. I asked
the gent holding it who sent him and had to
trust it was the taxi driver I was to go with. After a 40 minute drive, we
arrived to my hotel to check in. Luckily they were ready for me. So I dropped
my bags off and this taxi driver then took me to the school for Induction day
with TimePlan.
Induction:
Jade and Paul, the people I was in contact with greeted me
and served me a cup of tea and some biscuits. Then I put on my excited face and was ready to make
friends with the others who were there before the day officially began. The
thing with teaching is that there is always something to talk about… so after
some introductions and discussing when
people arrived to the UK (I was the newest arrival, 2 hours before the day
started), we were discussing our expectations for teaching in England and why
we chose England. Many of them said that they eventually want to teach back in
Canada, but for the time being that wasn’t an option so coming to England only
seemed fit. I also found out that I was
in fact the only teacher through TimePlan in West Sussex. The others there will
be in Kent District. It doesn’t bother me too much, yet.
When most everyone arrived, TimePlan gave their
introductions, then we had loads of paperwork to complete, we opened our bank
account, had a British lunch of pastries and had some workshops on the
difference between the Canadian school system and the system in the UK. That
seminar was a little too short for my liking. There are so many difference, and
I don’t fully understand what’s what just yet. I’m hoping that when I have to
assess my students it will all make sense.
After a long day, they took all of us out to a local pub and
served all of us a glass of Heineken and kept giving out free drink passes. I
wasn’t even going to drink one because remember I had no sleep on the plane and
well the night before, I could barely sleep because of nerves. However, I did
have one glass. An hour or so later, they served us more pub foods. My table
was quite chatty and seemed like great teachers to connect with -they seemed
passionate to teach their students and to learn about the culture. Some of the
teachers that were there (there were like 30 in total) complained a lot about
TimePlan and just didn’t seem to be here for the job, but rather for the pubs
and clubs. Regardless, the crew I sat with were great! I collected their
contact info and if I ever visit Rochester, I have at least 3 people I could
stay with. Many of us were at the pub from 3:30 to 8:30 – and the time went by
so quickly. I found 2 others who were staying at the same hotel as I and knew
their way back so I walked with them, which saved me a lot of hassle. Once I
arrived back to my hotel room, I checked my email quickly and fell asleep
immediately.
Saturday September 1:
I slept in till 9, had a delicious continental breakfast and was off to buy a
phone. The guy at the counter of Carphone Warehouse helped me out so much.
Unfortunately because I don’t yet have an address, I couldn’t get a monthly
contract, so at the moment I’m using pay as you go, which is so expensive… it’s
like 20 pounds for 500 texts … with calls and such it only lasts about a week.
Mind you I have had to make lots of calls this week to view rooms for let and
such. Then I was walking back to the hotel and I was a little turned around so
asked a couple for directions. They instead offered to drive me back to my
hotel, which I was grateful for. An hour later, a taxi collected me and my
luggage to take me to the train station to go to Chichester. I arrived in
Chichester with no problem, walked to my hotel (only 5 minutes away) and
dropped off my luggage. Then I started to phone the rooms for let so I could
view them. I viewed a house of a friendly family – mum, dad, and 3 boys under 8
years of age (not sure about that). When I was walking back to my hotel, I
happened upon a Community Church, took a note of the location and a picture of
their contact info and decided I would go there the next morning.
Sunday September 2: I
made my way back to the church, but I was like 30 minutes early. A lady saw
that I was standing outside of the church and asked if I was interested in
attending the service. She told me that they now met at the school just down
the road and she pointed me in the right direction. As soon as I entered, I
heard some very familiar choruses, which made me so good. They were all very
welcoming, asking if this was my first time, where I’m from, what I’m doing ,
where I live and so forth. When I told them that I came from Canada for a
teaching interview in Selsey, they all thought I was crazy. When I told them
that I was currently staying at a hotel and didn’t have a permanent place to
stay, one young couple of 5 years (Tom and Emily) told me they would love to
host me until I could find more permanent accommodations…. Now that’s what the
church is supposed to be like! I told them I had a few houses I was going to
view and would give them a shout if I needed a place to stay. I met at least 4
couples who I am sure I will spend some time with over the next year or so.
Monday September 3: I
left my hotel nice and early and walked to the Chichester Canal to sit and
relax for a moment before I had to catch my bus to Selsey for my interview. I
was all dolled up in my new business skirt, a white blouse, and a scarf. I was
going to wear my blazer, but it was just too hot… and I remembered that the
week before when I had a telephone interview with the head, she said she would
be in shorts and a polo shirt. Anyway, after about a 30 min bus ride, I arrived
to the school with no hassle. In fact I was 30 min early. The interview was
with the head and the assistant head/head of the maths department. They were
both quite friendly. They took me on a tour of the school and kept talking as
if I had the job…. Yet they didn’t right out offer it to me until I was about
ready to leave. They asked if I would like to accept, I said yes, signed some
paper work and left 1.5 hours after I arrived for my interview with a job
(starting the next morning at 8:30)! See
what I mean by a whirlwind?!?!
I returned to Chichester ‘s city centre to take care of some
banking and called a few more places to let.
I also texted my new friends from church telling them that I got the job
and they were all thrilled for me. One of them, Michele, also had a room
available and asked if she could collect me to show me her house. When we
arrived to her house she had berries and cream ready. Her nice was very nice…
there was even a view of the water. We then went on a little bit of a walk and
then she dropped me back at the hotel. She was too kind. The reason I have
decided not to live with her is that it is a bit of a hike to get to the bus
station to catch the one bus to Selsey.
I’m hoping I will find other options.
That evening Tom and Emily came to collect my luggage to
bring them to their flat, though I still had one more night that I paid for at
the hotel. Their flat is quite lovely! They have a purple wall with a purple
accessories… I think I will get along quite well with them :).
Tuesday and Wednesday
September 4 and 5: Today was inset day at the school where the teachers at
The Academy, Selsey got back into school mode and prepared for opening day
which was Thursday. The teachers all seem very nice. All of them was ensuring
that I had a place to stay and told me to let them know if I needed a home.
They continual asked to make sure I understood what was happening and I felt
very excepted… though also quite lost. After school, I walked to Tom and
Emily’s and she had started to prepare dinner for us. They are both teachers
and so we had lots to talk about. I unpacked 1 suitcase and settled down as
soon as possible.
Thursday September 6:
Day 1 of school!!! For the first thing in the morning I have a Year 7
(Grade 6) tutor group. So far these students are very well behaved- mind you,
this is their first year at this school as well so they are a little timid. The
idea of the tutor group time is that these students have a teacher they can
speak to if they have questions or are concerned about a class, a teacher or
about how other students are treating them. During this time we also discuss
person learning and thinking skills. As you can imagine, I love having this!
Throughout the day I was introduced to the most challenging
groups at the school (according to many of the teachers) Year 11 set 5. Year 11
is equivalent to Grade 10 and set 5 means they are the lowest students academically
and behaviorally. In England they stream abilities groups in the secondary
schools but to the extreme. In Canada we
just stream applied and academic. In England they may have 6 different groups
of Year 11s for example. So while the students in my Year 11 set 5 class, are
in Year 11, they are really doing the same work as my top year 9s. And in
England, whether or not you passed a Year level, they still move forward.
Anyway, you don’t really have to understand, but I’m trying to paint a picture
of this class. After some brief introductions to myself and to my expectations
of the class, I wanted to begin the lesson. We were to discuss integers (whole numbers) and
adding and subtracting them. They didn’t know how to do that at all. No one
wanted to take down notes, or do any practice questions at all. The remainder
of the class was spent with me trying to manage behaviour. I felt as though I
was the teacher from “Freedom Writers” who entered into an intercity school and
the behaviour was atrocious. Somehow by the end of the movie, her students were
on her side and enjoyed her class. I hope that I can convince this class that I
am there to support them, that math is fun and that math is relevant.
I had a few other classes, but none as intense as my Year 11
set 5 class. If any of you have any idea of how to engage 15 to 16 year old
students who are at the bottom and who don’t care about learning, please do let
me know.
This day I also had an NQT period. At The Academy, Selsey, I
am considered a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) which means I get the privilege
of having extra time to observe other teachers and having extra planning and
marking time. I have a mentor and have lots of support by the teachers around
me.
Friday September 7,
2012: Day # 2 of school. Today was a little better. I had my tutor group
and then a top Year 8 class and a low Year 9 class. While these students were
testing me, their new teacher from Canada, I was able to deal with them and
reminded myself that it was only the first day. If we didn’t get many notes
down that’s not the end of the world, I always have next week and beyond.
Talking about telling my students I am from Canada… several of my students ask
if I fly from Canada every day. I even showed them a map and explained that it
was a 7 hour flight. These students just don’t seem to understand. I have my
work cut out for me that’s for sure.
Friday afternoon I could have had 3 hours to plan, because I had an
intervention time (meaning that it would be time that the maths’ department
meet to discuss a strategy or some other professional development activity).
Unfortunately, I was interrupted a few times to be a parking location for
students who were misbehaving during class.
The behaviour plan at The Academy: 1)Warning , 2)name on
board, 3)time out outside of class for 2
minutes, 4)Students are ‘parked’ in
another class, or with another teacher, 5) detention slips. I am not used to
having to deal with behaviour in this way. Prayers are much appreciated as I
learn to manage behaviour, but also learn to teach these students.
The first time I had time to feel a little home sick was
Friday after school. I had some free time as I didn’t want to plan lessons all
evening. Since I’ve just been here for a week, and that week was spent
preparing to teach, I’ve been so busy and didn’t have time to meet new people.
I didn’t know how I was going to spend my Friday night. So I texted Tom and
Emily and asked what they had planned. I hated to do that, because I know they
also needed time on their own, but they did tell me that if I was ever stuck
just to ring them. They ended up calling me then and invited me to go with them
to Bognor Regis (on the coast) and order fish and chips in newsprint. It was so
yummy! We ate it on the rocks along the coast. I should have taken a photo, but
I left my camera home… silly me! Oh well, I do believe I may do that again
while the temperature is still warm enough. Then we went for a bit of a walk on the coast
and talked about our families. This couple is so dear to me! I do hope that
they won’t get tired of me. I’m so grateful that they let a random stranger
(me) stay with them for the time being! What awesome friends!
Saturday September 8:
This morning my dad’s cousin, Andy from just north of London came to visit and
help me find a permanent place to live. We viewed at least 5 houses and flats.
The room was tiny in many of them and the house was unkept and needed lots of
fixing. Two of them were older men
(which we didn’t realize until we went to visit them) who on their post in the
paper said looking for mature female. How odd! One of them said he had a wife,
but there was no evidence of a wife and in the room I would be in, there was a
large picture of a nearly naked women… right away that was my clue to leave! I
was very glad Andy was with me! We visited the house I visited last Saturday
again so I could show Andy. I’m certain I am going to go with it. It’s in a
quiet area of town, it’s close to the centre, the Chichester family church, and
the bus stop. I’m waiting for one more viewing Monday night and on Tuesday I will
make my decision! After looking at some
houses, we drove to Selsey so I could show Andy where my school is and then we
walked along the coast. I love that I only ever have to drive like 10/15
minutes and I’m at the ocean. How perfect! :)
FYI, Andy told me that I appear to be calm about everything
and I do believe that is quite accurate. I do get a little stressed – more so
about my classes then about my accommodation, but I do feel God’s loving arms
surrounding me and giving me peace.
Anyway, that is my first week living in England. Don’t
worry, the rest of my blogs will not be this detailed or long. There was just
so much that happened this week!
I will let you all know when I move into a permanent
location and will hopefully post some pictures soon.
Peace, love and prayers,
Kristen
