Sunday, September 03, 2006
Uxbridge (probably drunken) piccies
Derek and me
Derek and me
Komal
Derek, me and a very drunk Steve
Emma and Simon
Stafford House Angels (don't ask)
Monday, August 21, 2006
I fully intended on keeping an up to date weekly blog but with the long hours, one day off per week, no access to a computer and the drinking and partying I just couldn't do it. I will try to sum up my 7 weeks as quick as possible. I have already done the first and second week so....
After leaving peaceful, tranquil Gloucester, I was sent to Uxbridge (a complete hole that looks like on big council estate), supposedly in London - my arse London!! It is the last stop on the western Picadilly line. It took about 1.5 hours to get to the centre of London. Luckily it was too expensive to go in so I stayed in Uxbridge most of the time.
I arrived at the centre 3 weeks into its starting date where I was hit automatically by the site of over 500 kids. It was total mayhem. I was bascially thrown in and I must admit the first couple of days were real hard for me. The teachers had already known each othere for 3 weeks so everyone had already established friendship circles. The first class I was given was just evil. I was warned it was going to be be bad, but I was not prepared for what I would see. I arrived into my class and was faced with 20 psycho 15 year old Italian kids who acted like little monsters. It was aweful!! It was like babysitting but this time the kids were not really kids. I couldn't control them and any lesson planning I did basically went out the window because I couldn't implement it. I very nearly quit, but by the 2nd day I had had enough and decided that if I couldn't beat them then join them. The kids weren't bad like you get in UK schools, it's just that they were high spirited/ boisterous/ don't know how to channel their energy (teacher talk for they were little sh!ts). I also forced myself into the established teacher circles - how??? Through alcohol. I quickly discovered the teachers liked to drink into the wee hours so I just joined in. From that day on in Uxbridge I averaged 4 hours a night on sleep, but I had fun.
The staff were great and came from all walks of life. Truely international people from UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Poland, Greece, Finland, Italy, India, and of course Canada. I met some great people - Simon, Emma & Komal from the UK, Karita from Finland, Tim from Hong Kong and Steve from NZ. I also made great friends with 2 guys from Spain, Pablo and Miguel. They were just amazing guys and I fully intend to visit them next year.
An interesting fact I discovered on one of our drinking evenings: I am 10.5 Carlsberg (330ml) cans tall. I will upload the picture when I get access to a scanner.
Anyway, I finished on August 18th. Although sad that it's over I'm happy to be in the real world and unemployed.
After leaving peaceful, tranquil Gloucester, I was sent to Uxbridge (a complete hole that looks like on big council estate), supposedly in London - my arse London!! It is the last stop on the western Picadilly line. It took about 1.5 hours to get to the centre of London. Luckily it was too expensive to go in so I stayed in Uxbridge most of the time.
I arrived at the centre 3 weeks into its starting date where I was hit automatically by the site of over 500 kids. It was total mayhem. I was bascially thrown in and I must admit the first couple of days were real hard for me. The teachers had already known each othere for 3 weeks so everyone had already established friendship circles. The first class I was given was just evil. I was warned it was going to be be bad, but I was not prepared for what I would see. I arrived into my class and was faced with 20 psycho 15 year old Italian kids who acted like little monsters. It was aweful!! It was like babysitting but this time the kids were not really kids. I couldn't control them and any lesson planning I did basically went out the window because I couldn't implement it. I very nearly quit, but by the 2nd day I had had enough and decided that if I couldn't beat them then join them. The kids weren't bad like you get in UK schools, it's just that they were high spirited/ boisterous/ don't know how to channel their energy (teacher talk for they were little sh!ts). I also forced myself into the established teacher circles - how??? Through alcohol. I quickly discovered the teachers liked to drink into the wee hours so I just joined in. From that day on in Uxbridge I averaged 4 hours a night on sleep, but I had fun.
The staff were great and came from all walks of life. Truely international people from UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Poland, Greece, Finland, Italy, India, and of course Canada. I met some great people - Simon, Emma & Komal from the UK, Karita from Finland, Tim from Hong Kong and Steve from NZ. I also made great friends with 2 guys from Spain, Pablo and Miguel. They were just amazing guys and I fully intend to visit them next year.
An interesting fact I discovered on one of our drinking evenings: I am 10.5 Carlsberg (330ml) cans tall. I will upload the picture when I get access to a scanner.
Anyway, I finished on August 18th. Although sad that it's over I'm happy to be in the real world and unemployed.
Week 2 - Gloucester
Well Itlay won the World Cup of course. It was mayhem. The Italians and the French were kept in separate venues and when Italy won I thought there was going to be a war. It was crazy. I was in charge of keeping the Italians away from the French but after the final penalty there was no way I was going to stand in a front of 100 charging Italian kids!! No trouble arose beyond shouting but it was pretty scary.
We had a cross dress disco which was fun. We got the male teachers to dress as women. My mate Gemma and I thought it was the funniest thing in the world and had a blast dressing them up!! the whole campus could hear us howling with laughter as we got them ready for the dance.
Beyond that the week was quite and nothing really happened.
Well Itlay won the World Cup of course. It was mayhem. The Italians and the French were kept in separate venues and when Italy won I thought there was going to be a war. It was crazy. I was in charge of keeping the Italians away from the French but after the final penalty there was no way I was going to stand in a front of 100 charging Italian kids!! No trouble arose beyond shouting but it was pretty scary.
We had a cross dress disco which was fun. We got the male teachers to dress as women. My mate Gemma and I thought it was the funniest thing in the world and had a blast dressing them up!! the whole campus could hear us howling with laughter as we got them ready for the dance.
Beyond that the week was quite and nothing really happened.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
First Week Adventure
First week at summer at summer school
Supposed to start my job in Uxbridge, London. One day before I was due to fly to UK am called by my new employer. Informed that I must start one week later in a place called Cheltenham for two weeks before I can go to Uxbridge. Panick cos no idea what I plan to do in that one week. Finally sort myself out and stay with my brother for a few days before going to Manchester to house sit some rich dudes house.
Look at the map to work out where the hell Cheltenham is. Look at a map and the college I'm working at is in fact located in Gloucester. No let me re-phrase, actually 6 miles out of Gloucester in the country side. Only sheep and fields.
Sat, July 1 Day 1
Wake up at 7am and get taken to the train station by Net. Work my way down to Gloucester with the heaviset suitcase ever.
Get to the train station and am met by my new line manager, a really tall, posh talking teacher called Dave. Meet another teacher and an activity leader. Get taken to the college, which really is in the middle of nowhere.
Sit through the most boring induction that doesn't finish till after 10pm. Exhausted.
Sun July 2 Day 2.
Get given a day off???? (Real pointless since just started) The kids arrive. About 140 in total. Do very little. Manage to go to the on site pub (the only thing the kids can't go and do!!)
Mon July 3 - Friday July 7
Basicially this is how my day goes on a daily basis - Wake up at 715. Get breakfast. Teach. Eat lunch. Do lesson prep during any free time I have. Do afternoon activities with the kids. Eat. Do lesson prep at any availbale free moment. Do evening activities. Depending if I am on night duty or not go to pub. Night duty is at 11. No drinking before. Pub closes at 11. You do the maths. Not much opportunity to go. Get to bed by 1am. Start again. Simply exhausted now and it's only my first week.
It's been the busiest week I have had in a long time. We have Italian, French and Spanish kids. Some are real sh!ts! The Italians are the craziest bunch of kids. We have a group of 5 girls who us teachers have nick named the Lolitas. They just tart themselves up and wear ghastly makeup and whore-ish clothes and always want to smoke. "Teacher, do you have a cigarette" (must be done with an Italian accent). Caught one of them stripping at the school disco the other night. They drive me nuts!! The other Italian kids are just horney. All they do is go around attached to each others faces.
Anyway France vs Italy tonight for the WC final. There will be tears, I gurantee!!!
Supposed to start my job in Uxbridge, London. One day before I was due to fly to UK am called by my new employer. Informed that I must start one week later in a place called Cheltenham for two weeks before I can go to Uxbridge. Panick cos no idea what I plan to do in that one week. Finally sort myself out and stay with my brother for a few days before going to Manchester to house sit some rich dudes house.
Look at the map to work out where the hell Cheltenham is. Look at a map and the college I'm working at is in fact located in Gloucester. No let me re-phrase, actually 6 miles out of Gloucester in the country side. Only sheep and fields.
Sat, July 1 Day 1
Wake up at 7am and get taken to the train station by Net. Work my way down to Gloucester with the heaviset suitcase ever.
Get to the train station and am met by my new line manager, a really tall, posh talking teacher called Dave. Meet another teacher and an activity leader. Get taken to the college, which really is in the middle of nowhere.
Sit through the most boring induction that doesn't finish till after 10pm. Exhausted.
Sun July 2 Day 2.
Get given a day off???? (Real pointless since just started) The kids arrive. About 140 in total. Do very little. Manage to go to the on site pub (the only thing the kids can't go and do!!)
Mon July 3 - Friday July 7
Basicially this is how my day goes on a daily basis - Wake up at 715. Get breakfast. Teach. Eat lunch. Do lesson prep during any free time I have. Do afternoon activities with the kids. Eat. Do lesson prep at any availbale free moment. Do evening activities. Depending if I am on night duty or not go to pub. Night duty is at 11. No drinking before. Pub closes at 11. You do the maths. Not much opportunity to go. Get to bed by 1am. Start again. Simply exhausted now and it's only my first week.
It's been the busiest week I have had in a long time. We have Italian, French and Spanish kids. Some are real sh!ts! The Italians are the craziest bunch of kids. We have a group of 5 girls who us teachers have nick named the Lolitas. They just tart themselves up and wear ghastly makeup and whore-ish clothes and always want to smoke. "Teacher, do you have a cigarette" (must be done with an Italian accent). Caught one of them stripping at the school disco the other night. They drive me nuts!! The other Italian kids are just horney. All they do is go around attached to each others faces.
Anyway France vs Italy tonight for the WC final. There will be tears, I gurantee!!!
