July 2, 2011

  • Journey's End

    I have neglected to return to this blog to say that summer school number one was really good fun! Sleep wasn't a problem after the first couple of days, and everything else went well. The kids were a great group and we did some fun stuff. Honestly loved it!

    Not so convinced I'm going to *love* the next one after getting the 100 page handbook to read. I mean, I knew when I applied to do residential summer schools that it was going to be tough, but I think I had conveniently forgotten quite how bad it could be... it's going to be pretty intensive.  There's a prescribed routine which I guess will help us all get settled into the experience, but it means there's very little time to do other things or even to plan... we have to teach 4 x 1.5 hour English sessions a day and then do all the other required duties (wake up at 7am, mealtimes, evening stuff and put to bed)... I'm really not sure when "planning" happens yet! Which would be okay except for the fact that we have 3 observations (one in the first week, one a bit later and one is a British Council inspection), so lessons really do need to be properly planned with a plan that's presentable to the observer (or inspector at any time). Yeah. 
    Then at the weekend we go on trips (they go to London one day and around the country on the other - we get one day off so just do one each week). I'm quite looking forward to that part. It'll be nice to see some different places, even if there is the slight hitch of having potentially 100 kids to monitor! (They expect 180 students per week for the first four and a few fewer the last 2 weeks). 
    Anyway, here's hoping that I do survive, and not only survive but actually enjoy it. It's going to be an experience whatever happens!

    Everything else here has finished. Can't believe it! I'm all packed and ready to come home (leaving on Monday). 
    I have to say, it's the NICEST feeling to know I'm coming back here next year! It's the first time in so many years that I'm staying in the same place 2 years running, and that's amazing. Being able to leave most of my stuff in my room here and really feel like this is "home", my second base. I'm looking forward to going home home to see all my books and other long lost possessions too though! But just so glad to be coming back here to a place where I feel really settled. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I work for a brilliant school where I've got fantastic colleagues, great students and I live in a beautiful town where I've got some wonderful friends. It couldn't be better!

    I was reminiscing today about the day I actually applied for this job. I read the advert while staying with host family number 1 in Cognola, Trento - sitting on the camp bed with my laptop under the skylight window (which I accidentally left open one day when there was a torrential downpour - oops!). I saw the advert and wasn't sure whether to apply as I had already got 2 interviews fixed up for the week summer school finished, and I wasn't convinced I was keen on applying for another one. Then I did, and heard back quickly and decided to go for the interview, which happened to be before the others I'd arranged. Went and wasn't sure they'd even offer it to me after the test I produced, but they did, and I'm SO GLAD!!! 


    Next movements:
    Monday 4th July - Saturday 9th July: Taunton
    Saturday 9th July - meet my baby nephew for the first time
    Sunday 10th July - Induction at summer school
    Monday 11th July - Monday 22nd August - Summer School (a.k.a. don't expect to hear from me at all!)
    Tuesday 23rd August - Saturday 27th August - Taunton
    Saturday 27th August - Monday 12th September - Taize trip (coach to Paris, train to Taize, 2 week stay there)
    Monday 12th September - Monday 19th September - Taunton
    Tuesday 20th September - Back to Udine