School is as good a place as any. I love my school....I mean I don't love it in the way that I have any aspirations of becoming a teacher kind of love, but I really do enjoy the time I get to spend there. My teacher and students are wonderful and I have so much fun. One thing I am grateful for is the fact that my teacher uses me quite a bit. I do a lot of the normal things one would expect like fetching copies, cutting things apart, sitting with groups of children to keep them on track...I am lucky though because I am given the opportunity to do so much more. On several occasions I've gotten to take small math, reading and phonics groups out to work with individually. I've also gotten to decorate some boards, am currently designing and working on a target board, join in for gym, and go on field trips. I have learned many things at school such as...
1. How to throw, catch, and run with a rugby ball
2. there is a worship session for every child of every faith offered once a week. Even atheist children have a program set up for them.
3. Lunch is pretty much going to be a surprise every day even though I signed up for it in the morning. American English is not England English especially where food is involved.
4. I am absolutely not qualified at all to help with any sort of spelling lessons....ever. There are just too many funky letters stuck into random words.
5. I hadn't realized it until after the lesson was finished, but I am not exactly qualified for helping with phonics here either...I mean seriously, the way they pronounce things is just plain odd sometimes.
6. The kids are hilarious...I have to try really really hard not to laugh or smile when they do something funny but are in trouble with Ms. Bennett for doing so. Ahhh the joys of being in a classroom and not being the authoritarian.
7. They are actually excited when they are placed in a group with me which in turn makes me excited to teach them things...or them teach me....whichever way it happens. (plus they call me Miss which is way more cool than I had expected)
8. The teachers lounge is indeed the magical place we all thought it was while we were in school and not allowed to enter.
9. My classroom faces the street I walk along to get to the school, which I did not discover until just last Wednesday. The only reason I probably even know this is because it is lined by this huge graveyard. If there had been houses I probably still wouldn't have a clue...that is how disoriented this school and its maze of hallways makes me.
10. I have no hope of ever learning the Pakistani language even though my pupils have tried in vain to teach me some useful phrases including but not limited to...I am fine. Yes, I would like some tea. No, I do not like coffee. Goodbye.
Wednesday was just this completely and unexpectedly amazing day. First, we were scheduled to go on a mini field trip to Morrison's and the Range (a grocery store and an everything else store) to buy materials for their enterprise projects (I know, you are right, that is totally cool!) and research logos, slogans and advertising gimmicks. It is very tricky and stressful to keep track of 7 11 year olds with cameras who just want to scamper everywhere. Still fun though because they are funny and for some reason seem to like me. If that wasn't cool enough as it was I found out upon arriving at school that morning that a last minute trip had been added to the day's schedule. There was a festival in the town square (huge square I must add) called Positive Bradford which I gather was a celebration of some sort to celebrate their diversity and community and pretty much everything. A last minute call had been made asking for students to come and sing at the event...my lucky class was chosen. So we went to this event and just had a really great time. I along with the teachers and students stood in front of the stage and sang If You're Happy and You Know It. It is possible we ended up in either the local newspaper, tv news, or radio station...I have no idea though because I don't yet know where to find any of those things. I suppose it will remain a mystery. We split the children into their houses (it is kinda Harry Potterish which amuses me) and I went with the children of Capella to explore the different tents and activities. I am pretty sure they collected enough free pens and pencils to supply a small office for a year. They had so much fun! It was great seeing them smile and giggle and run all around even if it was a nightmare to keep track of 8 of them in the crowded square. One boy told me on the way back to school that this was the best day of school ever!
Definitely the funniest part of the day occurred when we met some of the local Rugby players who were signing schedules. One of them brought me a business card from their boss or coach or someone (hard to tell...trying to understand people with accents in loud places is impossible) and explained that they were available to do fundraisers of different sorts in schools and such. After he walked away a couple of the girls of the group just sorta looked at me before one asked, "did he just ask you on a date?" I laughed pretty hard and assured her that no he had not asked me on a date to which she replied, "Well, he just gave you a number didn't he?" I tried explaining that it wasn't that kind of number...they didn't seem too convinced.
Thursday (22) we went to a small gathering at the Methodist church to socialize and wrap boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The boxes from here go to Europe and Africa. Friday (23) we went walking with Angie and Nelly in the Moors....all I have to say from the walk is beautiful! Malcolm met us at a dog friendly pub later for 'American' portioned food. We had a chance to chat with the pub owner who actually remembered Angie, Malcolm and the Mennonites from the past year (we are referred to as the Mennonites pretty much wherever we go). Sunday (25) we had the opportunity to worship with the Anglican church for the first time...not only is the building this ancient piece of art made of stone and pillars and huge stained glass windows, but the service and rituals of the Anglicans are actually quite lovely (lovely hehe...I'm picking up on commonly used English words here). Sunday afternoon there was a meet and greet with tea at the Methodist church for people from both churches to meet and get to know us. We sang several hymns with them and even had a chance to teach them one (oddly enough it is the same hymn the girls from the past year picked for this same event). Sunday evening I spent watching Rugby with Barry and Val (I escaped Titanic and tears with Rachel and Kaihle--no offense you two but that is so not my thing). Barry is hilarious and Val is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. They will be leaving soon to spent time with family in America for 7 weeks...we are happy for them to see family, but sad to see them go. Monday (26) evening we went to our first choir practice (yes I know right! me in a choir...it is kinda funny...it will be even funnier when we actually have a show). Wednesday (28) evening we went to Compline (some part of Anglican worship I will have to explain when I understand better) and then to the Vicarage where Paul and Ruth served us and Alex (another Anglican minister) the first of many meals we will have together on Wednesday evenings. Paul and Ruth are so clever! They are feeding us by giving us a tour around the world. Wednesday night was Asian food (what we would probably refer to as Middle Eastern). We had yummy chicken curry and eggplant something or other...we also learned that words like eggplant and cucumber for example are not words used in the UK. Thursday (29) we had our first day of Footloose and Fancy Free...this is a group of older church members who show up every other Thursday to play games and have tea...turns out I'm the bomb-diggity at jigsaw puzzles. Being in the middle of an unexpected heat wave and probably the last few warm days of the season, Angie took us to the coast on Friday (30). We went to this place called Robin Hood's Bay...it is a town so old there is no vehicle access to most of it because the 'streets' are so tiny. They are also impossibly twisty, turney and confusing so instead of naming them, each house was given a name. How cool is that?! After church on Sunday (2) with the Methodists, a family from the church took us out to eat and then for a nice walk to a nearby Abbey as old as the hills...it lay in ruins, but was absolutely gorgeous and brimming with life.
This country is so beautiful - both the countryside and the people. We have so many wonderful people looking out for and wondering after us. I am loving my time here for so many reasons. I love living with Rachel and Kaihle...I love Angie making sure we see all the beauty of her country...I love my students and the amazing teacher I've been paired with...I love being able to walk places...I love the mystery of finding out what some oddly named food is (it's really fun if it turns out to be something you recognize)...I love that Barry uses 'soccer' instead of 'football' when he talks to me and always keeps me up to date on everything soccer going on...I love how sweet Val is...I love that Paul answers my millions of questions without second thought (good thing because I have toooons of questions. My dad would tell you I've had them from birth)...I love that Ruth makes such wonderful food and is always so nice when we visit...I love the people from both churches who ask how we are getting on and if there is anything they can do for us as well as inviting us out to enjoy the day with them...I love the kindness and interest of random strangers we come into contact with...I even kinda love the idea of trying something new like the choir...I just love Bradford...I also love all of you who I know are praying for me, reading my blog or asking my family for news. As I look back on the three weeks I've been here and remember all the wonderful experiences I've had and people I've gotten to meet in this short time, I know that you and God are the reason I am able to be here. :)
 |
| The Moors |
 |
| My class getting ready to sing |
 |
| Robin Hood's Bay |
 |
| Bolton Abbey |
No comments:
Post a Comment