Greece in 2 weeks
Ireland in 6 weeks
Home in 175 days!
Best countdown--EVER.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Back To...
Back to work, back to routine. Back to convincing myself that it is a good idea to get out of my warm bed at godawfulearly o'clock in the morning to get showered and ready for work. Back to walking to work in the dark and walking home in the dark.
Dammit I'm ready for winter to be over. Or I'm ready for it to be proper winter so my cold-climate body can accept it and adjust to the fact. There is no snow on the ground, it's been above freezing (well above--I'm talking like 12 degrees above some days) since I came back from Canada and in my mind, that means spring. No snow? Spring. Warm temperatures? Spring. Mud on the road when I walk to work? Spring. Damn loud birds? Spring. It's the middle of January and, to me, it feels like it should be March or April. I'm not used to having only 2 seasons in England--summer..and not summer. I may be being a little patronizing here, which isn't really my intent. I think I'm just finding it hard to adjust back to the climate. Before I know it, 'spring' will be here and the days will be getting longer and the calendar will finally catch up to the weather here.
School has been going well, I'm (mostly) back into the routine of work. My year 10 class, upon receiving their latest piece of coursework (basically an end-of-unit test) have decided that I am a very tough teacher to impress and "you basically have to be perfect" to get a high grade in my class (their words). To that...so what? I have high expectations for them. They'll appreciate it someday. I love teaching them, I like challenging them and seeing their pride when they accomplish something to be proud of. There is a method in my madness...I swear.
I've also decided to start taking BSL (British Sign Language) classes at school. A support worker at school offered to teach staff members basic sign language and I signed up. It would be really helpful to be able to communicate with my hearing-impaired students...and a good skill to have, regardless of what field I work in. Here's to hoping I don't accidentally mix up some hand gestures and say something incredibly rude. ...knowing me, it would happen.
The count-down is on again...less than a month to go until half-term holidays. Destination? Yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
Dammit I'm ready for winter to be over. Or I'm ready for it to be proper winter so my cold-climate body can accept it and adjust to the fact. There is no snow on the ground, it's been above freezing (well above--I'm talking like 12 degrees above some days) since I came back from Canada and in my mind, that means spring. No snow? Spring. Warm temperatures? Spring. Mud on the road when I walk to work? Spring. Damn loud birds? Spring. It's the middle of January and, to me, it feels like it should be March or April. I'm not used to having only 2 seasons in England--summer..and not summer. I may be being a little patronizing here, which isn't really my intent. I think I'm just finding it hard to adjust back to the climate. Before I know it, 'spring' will be here and the days will be getting longer and the calendar will finally catch up to the weather here.
School has been going well, I'm (mostly) back into the routine of work. My year 10 class, upon receiving their latest piece of coursework (basically an end-of-unit test) have decided that I am a very tough teacher to impress and "you basically have to be perfect" to get a high grade in my class (their words). To that...so what? I have high expectations for them. They'll appreciate it someday. I love teaching them, I like challenging them and seeing their pride when they accomplish something to be proud of. There is a method in my madness...I swear.
I've also decided to start taking BSL (British Sign Language) classes at school. A support worker at school offered to teach staff members basic sign language and I signed up. It would be really helpful to be able to communicate with my hearing-impaired students...and a good skill to have, regardless of what field I work in. Here's to hoping I don't accidentally mix up some hand gestures and say something incredibly rude. ...knowing me, it would happen.
The count-down is on again...less than a month to go until half-term holidays. Destination? Yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Long Road Home
So here I am, back in England, and it's been just less than a week since I've left home. I really miss home, I miss my friends and family, I miss the people that mean so much to me.
My first flight from Presque Isle took off from an icy runway and landed safely in Boston. Had just enough time for some Skype, last minute gifts and buy some supper before I boarded my connecting flight to Philadelphia. After boarding my flight to Philadelphia, the captain came over the speaker system to say that there would be a slight delay and he would update us when more information became available.
...3 hours later, bored and wondering what the hell was going on, the captain told us that there was a mechanical problem with one of the engines, a replacement part was in New York and by the time it arrived in Philly, the plane was fixed and we were on our way, the crew would have exceeded their legal amount of working hours. Long story short...flight was cancelled, get off the plane and come back tomorrow night. We were given hotel vouchers...which were cancelled by the hotels about 15 minutes later.
It's about 2 in the morning, and I'm dragging around a 50 pound suitcase that is half as tall as me. I'm tired, I'm cranky and I just want somewhere to sleep. I ended up getting a room in the hotel airport, sharing with the guy I had been sitting next to on the plane. It was about 10 minutes into this when I realized that having a strange man staying in the same room with me was definitely the stupidest idea I'd had so far into 2012. Woke up the next morning with all vital organs intact, which I was definitely happy about. Oskar (my Norwegian roommate for the night) left to go see his girlfriend and I spent the day passing the time until it was time to board my final flight.
Made it back to England, and arrived back in Northampton around 2 in the afternoon. I missed staff training on Tuesday, and have spent the last few days trying to catch up on sleep and get adjusted to the time...oh, and working somewhere in between there. It felt great to finally get some sleep this morning. Seems like it's back to normal here.
193 days to go.
My first flight from Presque Isle took off from an icy runway and landed safely in Boston. Had just enough time for some Skype, last minute gifts and buy some supper before I boarded my connecting flight to Philadelphia. After boarding my flight to Philadelphia, the captain came over the speaker system to say that there would be a slight delay and he would update us when more information became available.
...3 hours later, bored and wondering what the hell was going on, the captain told us that there was a mechanical problem with one of the engines, a replacement part was in New York and by the time it arrived in Philly, the plane was fixed and we were on our way, the crew would have exceeded their legal amount of working hours. Long story short...flight was cancelled, get off the plane and come back tomorrow night. We were given hotel vouchers...which were cancelled by the hotels about 15 minutes later.
It's about 2 in the morning, and I'm dragging around a 50 pound suitcase that is half as tall as me. I'm tired, I'm cranky and I just want somewhere to sleep. I ended up getting a room in the hotel airport, sharing with the guy I had been sitting next to on the plane. It was about 10 minutes into this when I realized that having a strange man staying in the same room with me was definitely the stupidest idea I'd had so far into 2012. Woke up the next morning with all vital organs intact, which I was definitely happy about. Oskar (my Norwegian roommate for the night) left to go see his girlfriend and I spent the day passing the time until it was time to board my final flight.
Made it back to England, and arrived back in Northampton around 2 in the afternoon. I missed staff training on Tuesday, and have spent the last few days trying to catch up on sleep and get adjusted to the time...oh, and working somewhere in between there. It felt great to finally get some sleep this morning. Seems like it's back to normal here.
193 days to go.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
So Long, Farewell...
So here it is, my 75th post on my blog, and I find myself saying goodbye, yet again. It's the last day of my vacation home, I head back to England tomorrow and start work on Tuesday morning. (Thank God I don't teach until Wednesday morning, the jetlag will be bad enough on Tuesday for staff training.)
This holiday has been full of friends, family, coffee, hockey, snow, lots of food and times that I'll always cherish. This is a rather reflective post already, look at me go. Saying goodbye seems much harder this time then when I left in July. There are many people, and some in particular, that I am going to miss so much when I'm so far away from home. This is the part about living abroad that I don't like. I know that I'm supposed to appreciate being home even more because I get here so rarely, but saying goodbye and leaving these people behind...it never gets easier.
Instead of an all-inclusive and detailed list of every single thing I did over the holiday, I'll sum it up with: family dinners, late-night drives & movies, coffee, hockey, snow, family, friends, saying goodbye, laughing and crying, and talk about 'what comes next.' I'll be home in the summer, I keep saying, and yet that seems so far away. 7 whole months. I know I'm so lucky to be able to live in Europe, travel and see so many amazing places...but I have given up a lot. I've left a lot of people and things behind that I never realize how much I miss until I'm faced with saying goodbye, yet again. The goodbyes never seem to get easier, just more numerous in number.
So, Happy New Year to friends on both sides of the ocean. Due to the winter weather (that I admit, I missed a lot), I have to stay home tonight. I wish I could ring 2012 in very differently, but I've already had my kiss & that'll have to do. So, all my friends, I'll be back in 7 months...hope you'll still be waiting when I get back. I already miss & love everyone; all those I saw and spent (not enough) time with, and those who I didn't get to see this visit home. I'll be back soon, please know my heart is with you all when I leave tomorrow.
England, be warned...I'm gonna be one cranky little Canadian come Monday morning when I touch down in London.
This holiday has been full of friends, family, coffee, hockey, snow, lots of food and times that I'll always cherish. This is a rather reflective post already, look at me go. Saying goodbye seems much harder this time then when I left in July. There are many people, and some in particular, that I am going to miss so much when I'm so far away from home. This is the part about living abroad that I don't like. I know that I'm supposed to appreciate being home even more because I get here so rarely, but saying goodbye and leaving these people behind...it never gets easier.
Instead of an all-inclusive and detailed list of every single thing I did over the holiday, I'll sum it up with: family dinners, late-night drives & movies, coffee, hockey, snow, family, friends, saying goodbye, laughing and crying, and talk about 'what comes next.' I'll be home in the summer, I keep saying, and yet that seems so far away. 7 whole months. I know I'm so lucky to be able to live in Europe, travel and see so many amazing places...but I have given up a lot. I've left a lot of people and things behind that I never realize how much I miss until I'm faced with saying goodbye, yet again. The goodbyes never seem to get easier, just more numerous in number.
So, Happy New Year to friends on both sides of the ocean. Due to the winter weather (that I admit, I missed a lot), I have to stay home tonight. I wish I could ring 2012 in very differently, but I've already had my kiss & that'll have to do. So, all my friends, I'll be back in 7 months...hope you'll still be waiting when I get back. I already miss & love everyone; all those I saw and spent (not enough) time with, and those who I didn't get to see this visit home. I'll be back soon, please know my heart is with you all when I leave tomorrow.
England, be warned...I'm gonna be one cranky little Canadian come Monday morning when I touch down in London.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Grey Cloud
I've had to start the 'goodbyes' already, and it's the worst part of the holiday. Family, friends, all of the special people in my life that are so far away, I hate to say goodbye.
Back to England in just 3 days.
Back to England in just 3 days.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Like Night & Day
This best describes my experience getting home for Christmas this year. Compared to last year, I had a dream trip. The last week of term seemed to drag by a little bit. I wish that the show had been only the week before so I'd only have one musical-free week to contend with. Either way, classes came and went and I impatiently counted down the days, hours and minutes until I was able to come home.
As excited as I was, I really procrastinated on the whole 'packing' thing and finished that a healthy 10 hours prior to departure. Well...8 hours. Ok, 15 minutes before Nikki picked me up at 4AM on Saturday morning. Either way, I was packed and out the door at 4AM. Some mile-long traffic queues aside, the drive to Heathrow was very uneventful.
Drop off, check baggage, security check, one last English breakfast and I was on my way home! An hour delayed leaving Heathrow but, compared to a 72 hour delay last year, it didn't even matter. I was sitting next to a guy who was 6'6 on the flight and the poor man looked like he hated his life. He was wedged into that seat so tightly it looked like his back was welded to it. Pretty sure he was jealous of my 5'2 self and all the ample leg room I was privy to. Gotta admit, it makes 8 hour flights much more comfortable. (Wouldn't have minded another upgrade, mind you.)
My layover in Boston was uneventful. It was really great to meet up with Sarah & Kristian and have company for the final leg of the journey. We all fell asleep on the flight to Presque Isle which was absolutely freezing...a nice little preview for the weather waiting for us in the true north strong and free(zing). Dad & Susanne were waiting to pick us up and it was only an hour after landing that I was sitting on the couch with my Dad watching hockey for the first time in months. I was home :).
The next day was a family dinner in Fredericton and I got to enjoy my first Tim Hortons coffee & Timbits on the way. Aaaaamazing. It was nice to see all the family again and eat so much I felt like I could've been rolled home.
The rest of my holiday has been spent with family and catching up with friends. Lots of hockey, coffee & snow. It has been just perfect :). 3 days until Christmas and it's been a great holiday so far. Looking forward to the rest.
As excited as I was, I really procrastinated on the whole 'packing' thing and finished that a healthy 10 hours prior to departure. Well...8 hours. Ok, 15 minutes before Nikki picked me up at 4AM on Saturday morning. Either way, I was packed and out the door at 4AM. Some mile-long traffic queues aside, the drive to Heathrow was very uneventful.
Drop off, check baggage, security check, one last English breakfast and I was on my way home! An hour delayed leaving Heathrow but, compared to a 72 hour delay last year, it didn't even matter. I was sitting next to a guy who was 6'6 on the flight and the poor man looked like he hated his life. He was wedged into that seat so tightly it looked like his back was welded to it. Pretty sure he was jealous of my 5'2 self and all the ample leg room I was privy to. Gotta admit, it makes 8 hour flights much more comfortable. (Wouldn't have minded another upgrade, mind you.)
My layover in Boston was uneventful. It was really great to meet up with Sarah & Kristian and have company for the final leg of the journey. We all fell asleep on the flight to Presque Isle which was absolutely freezing...a nice little preview for the weather waiting for us in the true north strong and free(zing). Dad & Susanne were waiting to pick us up and it was only an hour after landing that I was sitting on the couch with my Dad watching hockey for the first time in months. I was home :).
The next day was a family dinner in Fredericton and I got to enjoy my first Tim Hortons coffee & Timbits on the way. Aaaaamazing. It was nice to see all the family again and eat so much I felt like I could've been rolled home.
The rest of my holiday has been spent with family and catching up with friends. Lots of hockey, coffee & snow. It has been just perfect :). 3 days until Christmas and it's been a great holiday so far. Looking forward to the rest.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Beware...
There is snow in the forecast for tomorrow in both Northampton and London.
England, I swear, by all that is holy...If you delay my Christmas holiday for a second year in a row, you will need something much more threatening than 3 inches of snow on the roads to deal with the wrath that is an angry little Canadian trying to get home for Christmas.
Sincerely yours,
Jessica.
England, I swear, by all that is holy...If you delay my Christmas holiday for a second year in a row, you will need something much more threatening than 3 inches of snow on the roads to deal with the wrath that is an angry little Canadian trying to get home for Christmas.
Sincerely yours,
Jessica.
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