So Holly and I have been here 3 weeks now. School is 2 weeks in. Things are going great, but it has been very busy!!

I have a class of 20 kids who are all 9 and 10 years old, which is called year 5. They are pretty great, if a little crazy! I have a class that is generally very good. But they are so chatty and can be very rude! Little things, like interrupting me when I'm talking, but that drives you nuts when the whole class is doing it. So we're working on that. I have a couple kids who cause problems, like one who comes from the worst kind of home life, but I have a TA and the rest of the staff are so supportive, so we'll find ways to get through to her. I had one kid call another student a "ginger f*@k" last week...not a good day. Then a few days later he got kicked in the face...also not a great day. They can be a really exhausting struggle sometimes!! But I can't think of a job I'd rather be doing!

School is very different here. I get a whole afternoon a week to just do planning, so someone ese teaches my kids a couple of classes. Each teacher has a TA which is someone to help with the lower abiity students, but they are also there to do photocopying and put up stuff on the walls. It's so strange asking them to do stuff, becuase we don't have that in Canada at all. They have a real literacy and math problem here, so it's a huge focus. I've basically been told by the head teachers that as long as we teach enough math and english, they don't care how much of the other subjects we teach. Obviously we try and fit it all in, but it is actually a huge challenge. But the school is great, the parents are very supportive, and with a staff this great I know I'll have a good year. They think it's cool that I'm Canadian. They make fun of the things I say differently, like how I call "trousers" pants...because they call underwear "pants". Which gets some laughs. The bell for break and lunch is a teacher literally standing there and waving around a hand held bell, which is hiarious to me. But then there is a smart board in every classroom, which are super expensive. So there is some backwards-ness...but I'm loving it!

The flat is feeling more like home. We've slowly been getting things that make it feel better, like a couple of pillows for the couch, and pictures for the walls. The commute is long for me, but Holly has often thought about, and even made dinner before I get home, which is really helpful and appreciated. And we've made a few trips into London. Yesterday we met a friend from teachers college and had dinner and a few drinks in Covent Garden.

Already looking forward to the half term break though! It's the last week in October. We have tickets to go see Sister Act with Whoopi on the 23rd!! Then we're talking about heading to Paris the next morning for a few days, then continuing on to Holland to stay with my family for a few days, before coming home. I'm so excited for that!! Also very much hoping friends and family find a way to make the trip to visit here! It's a free room, so a fairly good excuse for a cheap trip!!

Well, off to bed! Manic Monday tomorrow!!