The Redhead Jumped Over the Pond (And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon): February Fun and March Madness

Hard to believe it's been 2 months since my last post! To say I've thought of this blog every day would be a lie, but it has been on my mind. I've thoroughly enjoyed going back and reading my previous posts-- and to think of the growth I've been able to have just since September. As I write this, I'm alone in the house. Alex left for Sheffield (and to spend her Easter break with boyfriend Ben); Hannah, Liz, and Jesse has just left about an hour ago for their flight to Northern Ireland; and I am packing my bags in anticipation of my flight to Greece tomorrow with Zoe and Ryan. But before I can talk about future plans, we should flashback first...

So last I posted it was the beginning of February. The month of February (though short, brought lots of fun!). During the midterm break, the girls and I went to Scotland!! It was absolutely amazing! I couldn't have asked for a better time! I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my experiences with my friends from home (which included a 1AM phone call home to Anne). Maybe it was because of her recent travels to Scotland in the fall or that she is so proudly Scottish, but I could FEEL Anne with me during this trip. I could just imagine her walking the routes that we did and experiencing the sights and sounds. The first morning we were there, we were up at 5 to hike Arthur's Seat (I guess it's a mountain). So many people suggested it to me so we decided it was a MUST! It was a dark climb and we were all heavily breathing, but, my gosh, when we got to the top it was breathtaking and it wasn't even bright out yet! The sun didn't rise as brightly as we thought it would but we still managed to all share that together!
We spent our days wandering around and seeing the sights. I found out there was a labyrinth at the University of Edinburgh so we found our way to it and enjoyed finding our "inner peace". Anne told me she wasn't aware of it's existence, so it was kind of cool being the one to share that with her! We walked the Royal Mile, enjoyed a pub crawl at the hostel, as well as taking a walking tour (in the rain!-- Just Hannah and I decided to brave that one!)

Let's see, what else happened in Scotland worth posting... Most of you who I chat with regularly will already know this.. But I got tattooed in Scotland! Hannah and Liz were looking into adding onto theirs and I've been pondering one for a while. And where better than Scotland? So we went to the parlour on the Wednesday we were there and Liz and I made appointment for Friday. Hannah then decided she wanted to add on to hers, as well. Unfortunately they only had an opening later that afternoon but it wasn't long enough for what Hannah wanted done. Then hesitantly, I offered to take the afternoon spot so Hannah could get hers done on Friday with Liz... From that decision point, we had one hour to kill. Probably for the best it was a whirlwind or I might've thought too much into it! We left Scotland definitely not wanting to! Actually, funny story, I was chatting with Anne a few days before our flight left and I got thinking of it and went to check the text the airline sent me. I then realized that I'd booked my return flight to Southampton for MARCH 21st NOT February 21st! Though that would have been amazing, it sadly wouldn't work.. So while on the phone laughing at my stupidity, Anne helped me to fix the situation ahah

It was tough returning to school. At times I felt like a week wasn't long enough. However, knowing that I was done my contract at the beginning of April helped me to survive. I wasn't even back a week and I'd already started the countdown to being off again.

Other happenings of February included going to London with Zoe and Ryan! I had the amazing experience of touring around London with two of the best tour guides I could have asked for! We saw Buckingham Palace, The River Thames, Leicester Park, The London Eye, Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Camden Town Market and 'The Book of Mormon' live! It was a whirlwind weekend filled with so many amazing memories! I met their friend Courtney who had done her teacher training in Scotland. Her sharing got me thinking of perhaps working in Scotland after my contract here is done.. Hmm... It was during this trip that as we were touring around, I got to jump off and off the London tube for the first time! Pretty cool! As a stubborn redhead, I tell myself that I could have followed the maps and found our destinations without Ryan and Zoe, but let's be honest (between you and I), I definitely wouldn't have been able to.

School was consistent, I was in Year R (Canadian JK-- 4 year olds), for the two weeks leading up to our February break. Once I got into the groove, I really enjoyed it! Once back after break, I was back to hopping around, not too much to report there ( or not too much that I can remember now!)

MARCH:

Maria and I had a great Skype catch up at the beginning of the month. It was so good to chat with her and hear of her plans and to motivate each other (though mostly she motivated me!) I miss my Thunder Bay friend but am so glad we can make use of technology and see each other's faces... It's almost like we're face to face again!

Liz, Hannah, and I were able to go to a country concert in the UK (imagine!) It was called "Country 2 Country" and we got to see Brandy Clark (mostly a song writer, I was surprised by which songs of hers I knew!), Sam Hunt, Sam Palladio, Lee Ann Womack (such a classic voice!), Florida Georgia Line (to make Allan jealous!), and Luke Bryan (no words needed there!). It was such fun (in the memorable words of Miranda's mum from the British tv show "Miranda"-- if you haven't seen it, find it! It's hilarious!)

March has been a month of lots of thinking and planning. As the contract that I signed on with originally ends on April 2nd, that means I need to start figuring out what I'm doing with my life! I was hoping that I'd just know what to do once my contract ended.. However, that "aha" moment hasn't happened.

Looking back, my time at the school has gone by quickly. There were tough days (when I had numerous Year 3 children sulking and hiding under tables-- yes, again!), and other tantrums (a student wanted to throw a pear at my face in year 2!). But mostly, it's all been good! I have a whole wall of cards and hand made drawings from students and there's a few that have weaselled their way into my heart! A few of the boys in Year R have wicked sense of humours and the biggest hearts! Speaking of Year R, while I was spending my last few days in that class, we got the kids ready and over to the hall for lunch. I was walking back into the classroom with one of the other teachers who I've befriended (she's super funny and awesome!). We get through the door and I see one of the little girls standing there with her lunch box. I walked over to her to ask what she was doing inside and she broke down crying. Turns out she'd been left behind! My heart broke! Now, there had been adults in the building as it's also the Early Years Staff room, but she'd been so quiet. I picked her up and we asked where she wanted to eat her lunch. She decided on her "special spot" (under a table with a blanket) and I asked if I could eat with her. We had a great picnic and she told me all about her travels (her dad is Canadian!), her lunchbox and the tv show its based on, and numerous other things. The kids came through from their lunch to go outside and were all wondering why we got to have a picnic! haha. I felt horrible for her but I think we managed to save the day.

So as I write this it's Sunday evening and I am catching my flight tomorrow to Greece. I've loved getting Emily's updates as she's toured across Europe and I was sad she had to go home before our paths crossed. I've been searching for jobs and had a few leads to follow up on. I'm finding it a tough balance due to timing and location. If I want to try to have an Ed job for the fall, that means that I will only be looking for specific month in the summer! But if I'm looking at nannying/ being an Au Pair, that could be different timeline entirely. I still haven't figured out my plan, though I've been pondering for a while! I'm a little surprised that I'm not more bothered by the fact that I don't have a concrete idea yet.. However, sometimes when I wake up and think that there's children in my room and I need to entertain them, that's a sign to me that I do have a low level of anxiety from all of this!

So March seemed like I was reaching the end of my marathon of working here. In hindsight, it's gone rather quickly and I've grown a lot! In September, when I began, I couldn't even imagine reaching this point. And being in a consistent school really helped me! I was able to form relationships with students and staff alike. I will really miss everyone! Wednesday was my last day with the kids (April fools, how fitting!) and Thursday was my last day with the staff as it was an INSET day (a PD day). There's one little boy who has a special spot in my heart in Year R. And a lot of times, he would come in and say "April Fools!" It was so much fun to be with him on April 1st and get to say April Fools to each other! I told them the interrupting cow joke and they loved it!
This past weekend, the Fun Fair came to the common. It was basically like the exhibition but smaller and only with the rides and the food stands. Had lots of fun wandering around, seeing a student, and riding some rides! Hannah, Liz and I rode the scrambler. However, the attendant had us all in one car. I wasn't even sitting flat as my hips wouldn't fit. And every time we swung around, I had both girls sliding into me. Nevertheless, we had fun, as the pictures from Alex's camera clearly show!

** A little sidetone. As I wrote this, I looked up from my computer to see a man walk past my window (walking on the sidewalk), I could tell that he held a bottle of alcohol as he walked. Did you know that the liquor laws are so different here! They don't care if you wander around with with open alcohol outside or not! You can be drinking on the train or the bus! Still throws me off! haha

All for now,
Jenna