Hard Day's Work.

Teaching, marking, writing reports... or white water rafting in Italy?

Don't have to ask T twice!

This was the boys' favourite activity and it was pretty high on the list for T as well. The rapids were fun and frequent but not too scary and the weather and location were pretty perfect.

Funniest part?

We rafted the whole day with two hours in between for lunch and the boys were instructed to drink about a litre of water over lunch to make sure they were hydrated. Before they were suited up again, T warned them all to visit the bathroom. Half an hour later, T was faced by a panicking boy and the following conversation:

Miss, Miss, please help me take off my life-jacket, I need to go to the toilet.

Sure, sure; you know, I did tell you boys to go before...

I did! I need to go again!

{both T and boy are working quickly to release him from the sticky, wet jacket}

Oh no, Miss! I'm going to go....I can't hold it! It's happening!

Needless to say, the poor kid didn't live that down for the entire trip.

Pizza love.

T's back from her adventure.

Best. School. Trip. Ever.

The evidence speaks for itself; here's a photograph from their night out in the Italian Alps at a local pizzeria. They were in a teeny town called Villeneuve where little English was spoken and the pizzas cost around four euro.

Besides food, the adventure had it all - sunshine, hot temperatures and the beautiful backdrops of the Italian Alps and the south of France.

Practice makes perfect?

Today, Traveller was involved in her very first genuine fire evacuation.

After over 20 years of being 'at school', T has participated in her fair share of fire drills.

She remembers being in primary school, in her green chequered uniform with a big green sunhat, wishing that she could go inside because the sun was hot and the concrete was hard. Not too many years after that, she remembers laying in the sun on her high school oval praying that it was a real fire so she could skip class for the rest of the day.

Now, being a teacher, fire drills are a little different. In England, she usually dreads them. Firstly, it is freezing outside. And secondly, it usually happens during an important test or one of those rare 'spare' lessons.

Today, Traveller learnt that like running drills for a half-marathon can't prepare you for the gruelling race, fire drills don't quite prepare you for an actual fire.

Firstly, the cooks left the ovens on and the beetroot boiling.

Seriously.

Secondly, as fire drills never happen during that sacred time known as lunch, Traveller wasn't quite sure what to do. She was halfway through making a ham baguette and deliberated, 'Take it? Leave it?' and since she had never actually 'waited out' a fire before, she made the rookie mistake of leaving her precious morsels of food behind. After that brief moment, food became a most precious commodity that no-one seemed to have. Traveller will never forget the incredulous look on the boys' faces as they pondered leaving their plate of chicken curry and evacuating the building.

T knows how they felt.

Cut to four hours later, Traveller was sitting in a park, freezing (for there was no time to collect her coat) and famished, with nary a sandwich in sight.

The good news? No one was hurt. No school buildings were damaged. The kitchen didn't burn down. The children eventually received crisps and kitkats and the teachers returned to their lunch at around four pm.

{oh, and the sun was shining the whole time!}

{image}

Thankful.

Traveller is feeling thankful for her boys.

Today was the first day back at school for summer term and it was just so fun to be back in the classroom. T really is blessed with boys who want to learn, who have dreams and want to do the right thing. They are respectful, chivalrous and bright.

T was reminded of her luck in teaching her boys whilst running with RF today. We were running back from Regent's Park when we had a brief encounter with some young boys. Barelyteenagers, they were so tough and confident for their age. They began to cheer us on, yelling 'Run faster!' Then, as RF passed them, one hit her over the head!

T could not believe it.

When and how did things like that begin to happen?

You hear horror stories of children in the classrooms here throwing chairs, hitting teachers and swearing at anyone who will listen.

T is ever-so-thankful for her lovely boys.

Running friend is fine and even was brave enough to confront them and their minder

{unbelievably they had a minder!}

{image}

Easter Love.

Traveller is officially on holidays!

Two and a half weeks of bliss.

T is looking forward to sleep-ins, catching up on a few novels, watching some movies and finally starting her running again. She has been very slack!

Today T received some chocolately loot from her littluns and also a super sweet card.

Teaching little kids rocks.

Opening Night Jitters.

The musical opens tomorrow night and Traveller is beyond excited.

The show has really come together in the last few rehearsals, even to the point where T has had goose bumps in some of the really catchy songs or pertinent moments.

It's moments like that that make all the work worth it.

T hopes her boys don't suffer too badly from opening night jitters.

Wish us luck!

photo from weheartit

In need of a little inspiration....

Traveller has been an English and drama teacher for four and a half years and has had many interesting, hilarious and memorable experiences.

She has, at times, loved her job.

And, at other, less favourable times, she has likened it to a visit to the dentist: painful and damaging to the bank account.

Currently, she works with boys. Prep school boys. They are young, boisterous, well-mannered and interested {mostly}. They come from all parts of the globe and are very well-travelled.

They are generally a pleasure to teach.

Nevertheless, Traveller sometimes feels exhausted.

Not just tired, but exhausted of creativity, warmth and compassion.

Traveller imagines that most people feel like this in their chosen profession at some stage.

Any wise words?

Any tales of fabulous, inspiring teachers to motivate Traveller?

And for those teachers out there: any triumphant lesson stories?

photo via weheartit

The Bulge.

Traveller recently had a very truthful conversation (via skype) with her father.

It went something like this:

Dad: What is that your eating? Cereal?
Traveller: No, icecream. It's 10pm.
Dad: (pause) Oh, it's winter over there isn't it?
Traveller: Yes.
Dad: Mmm. You're looking a little fuller in the face.
Traveller: (gasp!)

As cruel as that may have seemed at the time, it's perfectly correct that 'the truth hurts'. Traveller simply can not help herself at this time of the year. And hey, a trip to France with bottomless wine, cheese and bread didn't really help!

The worst (or best) part is that school really pulls out all the stops this time of year. Most of you know that T eats a free lunch at school, and at this time of year, the options to increase your calorie intake are substantial!

Let's look at today's lunch for example:
Roast chicken with all the trimmings (and gravy! oooh gravy!), followed by a delectable apple crumble with warm custard. Let's face it - nothing warms you up like hot custard!

Oh dear.

T really needs to face the cold, hard truth.

Nothing warms you up like a muffin-top, saddle-bags and bat-wing arms - but that doesn't mean it's appealing.

It's time to say, 'No!' to all {upbeat euphemism for 'some'} things fatty!

Now, just before the afore-mentioned lock-down on fatty food kicks in, T would like to introduce you to the Churro.

A churro is a Spanish donut, usually served with hot chocolate sauce.

If you have never had the distinct pleasure of eating one of these scrumptious little morsels - get thee to a supermarket!

One of T's favourite food blogs, cannelle et vanille, just posted a delicious recipe for cooking the little darlings and T suggests you get cooking!

Traveller and 'best gal' at the Portobello Road Markets, indulging in Churros.

The churros on Cannelle et Vanille

photo courtesy and copyright of Aran Goyoaga

Traveller's best gal.

Traveller is positively bursting with excitement.

In just four sleeps she will see one of her dearest friends - in London!

Newly married friend is on her third honeymoon {yes, you did read that correctly} and is currently footloose in Europe.

Next week she will arrive in London for two weeks!

{sooo exciting}

During this visit, Traveller and husband are also going to do some more travelling...

T will give you a hint as to the destination - Bonjour le fromage et le vin!

T should also mention that, in just two days, she is once again on holidays.

Lovin' London {and it's prep schools!}

Cough. Splutter. Sneeze.

With just over four days until the big event,

Traveller can feel herself coming down

with some sort of dreaded sickness.

Noooo!

She is also racing her fellow teachers

in the 'beep test' tomorrow...

The beep test is a fitness test which many would regard

as horrible and unnecessary, but nerdy T is a little excited.

Please cold
go away.
Traveller does not want you to stay.
Leave at once - without delay!


photo via flickr

Is it over already?

Nine weeks of holiday have passed, and Traveller is back in the classroom tomorrow.

She's a little nervous.

Nine weeks is a long time.

Nine weeks of sleeping in, enjoying novels, watching films, seeing old friends and learning new things.

Now she has six weeks (before two week's half-term holiday).

Six weeks of teaching, marking, using her smartboard (woo!), planning and learning new things.

She is a little excited to see the kids tomorrow.

To hear of their holiday adventures, their new experiences and their goals for the year.

She hopes she can manage to get out of bed before 6:30am.

Better set the alarm.

Wish T luck.

She hopes to back soon.

photo via flickr

D'ya think the boys will mind?

So........ Traveller may have gotten a little carried away today.

Unbelievably, T's nine weeks of school holidays are almost over. So, she went into school today to fix up the classroom a little and get organised.

T teaches at an Independent boys' prep school in North London. A prep school is a school where children aged 4 - 13 years attend - in preparation for their secondary schools. The boys sit many important examinations in Form VI (Grade Eight) and this determines what kind of school they will attend from Grade Nine onwards. The boys work really hard and T genuinely enjoys working there.

Today, in a flight of fancy, Traveller decided to make all of the English display boards (in the school) pink! It sure makes her feel cheery, but she's not sure what the boys are going to think.
Hubbie has suggested that making pictures of robots and putting them up would have resulted in a more enthusiastic reaction.

Wisdom that came five hours too late.

What do the boy readers think? .... Pretty?