October 26, 2010

  • No time

    Wow, yeah, so I haven't updated for quite some time!

    Basically I have no time at the moment!

    Had a wonderful but very busy week last week... on Tuesday I finished at 8pm and went straight to the monthly Taize service, then on Wednesday I finished at 9pm and went straight to a presentation of photos from various parish trips this summer (including Taize) then back for tea at Carla and Renato's until late (got home about midnight..). Thursday I finished at 9pm and thankfully didn't have anywhere to rush off to.
    Friday was the busiest day. Got to school at 8am and we went off to a Cambridge Day (basically a conference for teachers with workshops about various things). The "day" itself was luckily just the morning. We left at 1.30pm, got back about 2pm and had an hour to prepare for the afternoon's lessons. I had lessons solid from 3-8pm (including two groups of teenagers). At 8pm I rushed off to choir, for the final rehearsal before singing on Sunday at the special service for Blood Donors.

    On Saturday both my lessons were cancelled, so although I was in school most of the morning preparing, I didn't actually have to teach anyone which was good! But then, instead of my usual total chill out routine on Saturday evening, I had another engagement... went and had chestnuts cooked in a washing machine (don't ask, I'm too tired to explain!) and then watched a brilliant film called Si puo' fare. This was again with my lovely new friends here (the same people)...so basically I was with them on Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Friday night, Saturday night and then of course Sunday happy

    On Sunday we sang at the service which was GREAT. I am absolutely loving being in a proper choir again! Then there was a buffet lunch, at which I accidentally drank quite a lot of red wine which went straight to my head... but this meant I was quite chatty (which for me in Italian is very rare!) so that was fun. Then I went to a place called Bibione with Carla and Renato, where we went to a gathering of various people which was good fun. Bibione is by the coast, but the weather was pretty miserable...it's a real tourist seaside resort, but in the rain walking along the sea wasn't so much fun. Still had a really good day though, and then when we got back to Udine we went back to the cousins' house for pizza which was lovely. SO much Italian practice talking to lots of different people, and making up for the fact that I spend my whole week speaking English!

    I'm pretty tired now and I've got a lot of preparation still to do for this week, so I think I'd better go to sleep now so that I can get up early and head into school and be there alllllll day from about 10am until I finish at 8pm. Long days, long hours, long preparation = tired tired Charis!!

    This weekend looks like it's going to be quite busy as well but the GOOD NEWS is that not only do the clocks go back so we get an extra hour in bed, but Monday is a bank holiday so I get an extra day off!!! Shame that Monday is my lightest day at work so I only "miss" two lessons!!  

    Oh and I almost forgot... I've started drinking coffee a LOT. From absolutely hating it and never drinking it, this week I have had at least one coffee every day, and often more. I mean, last year I drank it a few times but didn't really like it much, then last Sunday I had it at Carla and Renato's after lunch, and it wasn't that bad... then I accepted the offer of coffee from a colleague who was going to get one from McCafe...and that's been it, I've got one ever since (of all different types - mostly cappuccino, but also espresso, macchiato etc). We're "lucky" enough to have the McDonalds cafe right underneath the school, so I am able to get one on the way in every day now!! That's what working so much has done to me! All my colleagues were laughing at how I've only been there a month and they've already done that to me!! :P