There are Some Quirks

Reflector coats.  Turns out if you live in the English countryside, you do all of your romantic Jane Austin Frolicking in a huge orange or yellow reflector coat.  The streets out her have no lights – literally.  No street lights AT ALL unless you are in a city.  So when the sun sets at 3:30 –I know…a little depressing, but it is getting better- all the little villages go pitch black with the exception of the bit of light that spills out from living rooms and pubs.  So these construction-worker-looking coats are everywhere.  It seems that they are only sold in size-XXL.  Size huge fits all.  But the village folk do get about.  I’ve seen more people out walking their dogs and mothers pushing strollers on Sunday mornings. 

Turns out bed bugs are a “usual” thing to have in these parts.  No, there are no bed bugs here at the dorms, but I did get attacked while staying in London.  I itched for WEEKS after and my pinkie swelled up like a sausage about to explode from the bites. 

The toilet paper in public bathrooms (that you have to pay to use, by the way) is usually not on a roll, but more like a tissue box screwed to the wall.  It feels strange to have to pull one or two Kleenexes out to finish my business rather than being liberal with a spinning roll of toilet paper.  The tissue pulling makes me far too aware of just how much paper I’m using in the toilet.

Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Roast of the day, Sunday Carvery, Shepherds pie - regular meals all of the time....and 10 time out of 10 they will come with peas. Mushy peas, baked peas, boiled peas, and even cold peas.  Peas, peas, peas. 

I’m cold – let me rephrase that – I’m FREEZING all the time.  When I started telling people I was moving here for a time, they told me that it was quite cold and I thought I was prepared: blankets, wool socks, and even thermal underwear. But this cold is far different than any I have ever experienced. This cold goes straight to the bone!

I’m really having fun discovering all these silly little quirks of a different country! 

In Session

My last classroom practicum experience was one that left me with a broken heart from the harsh realities of a poverty stricken area.  With the exception of a select few, those students wanted for so much: breakfast, positive adult interaction, safety, & love.  These children required so much & because of it, learning was superficial.  I can’t say that I blame them.  I loved that class.  If there is anything I learned while at that school, it was classroom management, ulcer management, as well as complete and utter unconditional love. 

Teaching at the intermediate school here on base is an incredible experience.  The resources for these pupils are endless!  My students are attentive and very respectful – a complete 180 form my last classroom.  It has rekindled my love for education; moreover, I get to spend my time actually teaching rather than attempting to manage.  While these children want for very little, they too live with harsh realities.  Being a child in the home of an active military service person is no easy lot.  While most of the children are healthy and very happy, a good deal of them ache for the love and attention of that parent or family member who is currently deployed.  My heart weeps as I watch the struggle.  I love these children and let them know that everyday, wishing there was more I could do.  Interacting with these particular students has really taken my love for our service men and women to a much deeper level.  It is easy to say that we appreciate what they do for our freedoms and our country, but so few truly understand the selfless lifestyle they take upon themselves; furthermore, the affect it has on their loved ones.  I am proud to be teaching their children.

…On a lighter note…

On the weekends, England continues to enchant me.  There is so much history every place I go.  I spend my time recalling what I know, gushing over what I see, and making attempts to connect the two.  Plans have been made for Paris over President’s Day weekend, St. Patrick’s day in Ireland, and possibly Italy for spring break.  It really is a dream getting to travel like this! I feel so exhilarated as I hop from bus to train to taxi.  I cannot express the beauty of these land & cityscapes that are all but foreign to me know.  I am in love with this life – and for a time, it seems to be fancying me as well.  

Wet & Windy Weather

My first week in England has been a real treat! Because none of the other student teachers will arrive until the 23^rd, I have really been given the royal treatment by the school staff and others: dinners out, personal tour guides, and all-knowing locals to drive me about.  I’m glad to get to experience a lot of the simple local culture of the countryside as well as partake in the touristy hot spots. 

I love it here.  The wet and windy weather means its always time for hot cocoa or a tottie.  England is aged to perfection: stone walks, flint houses, & iron gates all seemingly older than time tell the stories of the lives lived here long before my own.  It is all hoped it would be as ancient traditions seem to collide with what modern fads have to offer for a time.  The streets, though narrow & bumpy, are filled with cars and lorries where once where simple carts and carriages -there hardly seems room for so many vehicles in such a place.  And while the shops and villages look similar to those in Harry Potter, sadly, mom jeans and bad lipstick run untamed.  I can say that Suffolk is a perfect balance between Pride & Prejudice combined with Bridget Jones. 

The air force bases are lovely and I am quite impressed with the schools and the curriculums I am to teach.  The staffs from all the schools on all three bases are one big family that has very quickly taken me under wing.  I feel confident that my student teaching experience is going to be so much more than I thought it could be & I can not wait to get started.  

Collect Moments Not Things

My family has always thought me a bit of a silly or foolish person for wanting to live my life with the soul purpose of enjoying the now to create one-of-a-kind memories - rather than surrendering to the complacency of being a stodgy adult, like so many do.  Having the heart of a gypsy with an insatiable travel lust fueled many of my life endeavors.  I now know that said purpose in life was a desire of a young and callow heart blamelessly blinded by desire.

             While I thrived on living “wild and free”, I admit, there were times when my personal decisions were not the most conducive to flourishing finances, successful relationships, or a well planned future; however, I regret little.  Every feeling, thought, choice and action has lead up to this very moment.  Every hour punched on a clock, every den of depression, every musical performance, every frustrated tear has helped me to learn that I don’t have to be complacent, nor does adult life require me to be stodgy.  I began to think more of my future, rather than only living for the now.  I turned to one of my many passions to create a guideline for where it was I wanted to go.  Furthering my education in being a general educator was the foundation for creating a personal life map. 

A huge part of building a plan for my future was a vow to love the people I meet while collecting moments rather than things.  This has been a beautiful undertaking.  I do not own much and live quite simply, but my “moments” collection is vast: individuals met, places visited, facts learned, stories heard, nature seen, food tried, books shared, men kissed, songs sung…the list truly go on & on & on & I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything!

I’m about to add a whole new chapter for collecting new experiences in my compilation of moments, and it has an accent!  Packing and readying myself for my move to England has made me thankful that I really don’t accumulate things.  The few items I own are worth little to me as I pack only what I NEED into two cases and a carry-on.  With luggage in tow, I’m ready to go forth collecting moments with a few simple guidelines to make this chapter as enriching as possible:

1. Be progressive: I will strive to do things differently than most, more creatively, more passionately.
2. Take action: Collecting moments holds no boundaries.
3. Miss Frizzle: I’m prepared to “Take chances, make mistakes, & get messy!" 

As I travel onto Suffolk, I hope to instill these guidelines into my students to encourage a generation fueled by collecting meaningful moments rather than things.