One of the Best

In my Year 9 English class, I have a certain Scottish lad--we'll call him Angus, just to be stereotypical. Angus, dear Angus, was the only student who absolutely hated watching the Lion King because he had an "issue" with the fact that the animals--namely the monkey, Rafiki--spoke, sang and acted human.**

So, knowing Angus' aversion to talking animals, I was hesitant (by hesitant, I mean spitefully gleeful...but in a nice way) to tell him that he was going to be watching Alice in Wonderland as an end-of-year treat while they worked. So, when the little mouse appeared on screen, complete with a miniature rapier, one of the girls leaned over to Angus and said, "Angus, do you have an issue with the mouse having a knife?"

And Angus...dear, sweet, Angus, replied: "No! Of course the mouse has a knife...he needs it to cut his cheese!"

I laughed so loudly that the students couldn't hear the movie.

**I know what you're thinking. Yes, we watched the Lion King during school. It was related to the curriculum. The students had to produce a piece of writing comparing the plot of the Lion King to Hamlet. English win in your face.

**I also realize that I really need need to teach Angus the meaning of "anthropomorphism."

For Lack of a Witty Title...27 Days to Go!

...I already think I used that title, while counting down yet another return to Canada. I swear, by all that's holy and by all the Irish cider in the United Kingdom, if any snowstorms, volcanoes, airline strikes or being (falsely, I assure you) accused of treason against the Queen prevent me from getting on that plane the morning of July 23...heads are gonna roll (Lizzie, I'm lookin' at your bejewelled head first).

Today was a most marvellous day of days. A group of us headed to Ravensthorpe to spend the day sitting in the breeze off a lovely lake (my, I'm full of alliteration tonight). I didn't think to take pictures while I was there and it just finally occurred to me on the drive back through the countryside that reminded me so much of home.

Now that I'm creeping up on the one-year mark of living in England, I'm really starting to realize that England isn't so different after all. While some stereotypes do definitely hold true --man those British are serious about their tea!!--there have been many pleasant surprises. It can go days, even a full week, without raining! While I still find the driving-in-the-opposite-direction thing confusing as hell, England is starting to become more familiar to me. I am sure there are plenty other that I could list on here, much to the delight of my new-found fans in Germany and Poland (really? Who do I know in Germany?...or Poland?), but my day out in the sunshine has left me shattered--there, a little English slang for you. There is plenty different about Canada and the UK, but I am slowly starting to learn my way through the cultural gap.

Nice as that may be, I am more than ready to get back to Canada for a vacation! Watch out Tim Hortons, driving-on-the-right-side-of-the-road and lemon gin, I'm comin' home soon!

Sorry, Little Blog.

I have been ignoring you..how rude of me.

Really, it's not that I have been ignoring my dedicated fans (all 7 of you...8 on a real busy day), it's just that nothing of note has been happening in my life as of late. I've been steadily counting down the days until I make my glorious return to Canada (32!!!) and the end of term. While I still have just over 4 weeks to go, I've got that end-of-school-feeling. We're moving all the year groups up at the beginning of July, just to get them off to a smooth start in September, so it feels like a I have a really short term to get through through July.

I'm finding myself struggling to stay motivated and dedicated in this wind-down period. But, it's the little things that make me realize that I've made the right decision in becoming a teacher...

...it's reasons like this. Finding notes like this left on my whiteboard, from a student who, weeks earlier, told me what she thought of me...and it wasn't on the similar wavelength as this note.

It's realizing that, after only a few months, I'm no longer that pain-in-the-ass English teacher. I'm someone constant, someone to depend on.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Either way, I was "well pleased" (to sound a little British) to find this note at the end of a busy day.

Cracking a Smile

My year 10s...God love them (because somebody has to)...came up with this gem of a quote:

Student: "Who the hell is that with the glasses? Is that Jesus?"

Me: "No....That would be Eric Clapton."

And thank my Year 9 boys for...

Me: "Bobby**--pick up the marker and paper you just threw on the floor, please."

Student: "Racist."

Student: "Miss, what's your password?" (To log onto my account on the computer system)

Me, laughing: "Not a chance I'm telling you."

Student: "...It's cause I'm Albanian, isn't it?"

I've also lost count of students who call my country "Canadiana." Whether they are trying to get a rise out of me or genuinely don't know the difference...I can't be sure which it is. But, considering I had someone ask me at 3:30 this afternoon if it was already tomorrow in Canada (because of the time difference), I'm leaning towards not knowing any better.

**Name has been changed

Wasn't I Just Here??

Another adventure, another first-day-back-at-school-exhaustion awaiting me today.

My trip to Norway was so much fun. Arrived on Friday night, bedtime, and up on Saturday to prepare for Sarah's Sex and the City-themed bachelorette party! Michelle, Sarah's colleague, and I were out running errands and doing the last-minute stuff. It all came together and about 20 of us were there to celebrate. We ate, drank, played some fun games, danced and had a blast. Some of the girls went downtown for some more dancing. Sore feet from heels, a drunk Norwegian hitting on me and a cold wait standing in line for a cab, it was back to Sarah & Kristian's just before 3AM.

The next morning, in the light of day, it looked like a pink, glittery bomb had gone off in the apartment. So, all in all, the party was a huge success. Many a Facebook picture to come...stay tuned for sure.

The rest of my stay (save for Tuesday, the day that the holiday heaves struck again and I was left sick for the day) was fantastic. I spent a lot of time with Michelle and her adorable 7 month son, Jesper, and had a great time hanging out with Sarah & Kristian. Lots of eating, went to the movies a couple of times and having a great BBQ in the great weather. Perfect vacation to me.

Saturday was Kristian's bachelor party and, despite waking up with a fever and feeling generally gross, Kristian was a trooper and pulled through. When we saw him again on Sunday, he sounded like he'd been gargling whiskey (probably accurate) and chewing gravel. So, I think his party was a success as well. I packed up, got on my plane and landed in rainy, rainy London town. 3 train changes later, I was back in Northampton.

And we've come full circle. Welcome back to reality kiddies.