So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu….

Although I have been a horrible blogger this year, it is now time to wrap up this blog. After 3 years of sharing my views on British culture, teaching and travelling it is time for me to pack my bags and move back home.

Everyone is asking if I'm excited or sad and truth be told, it's a bit of both. England has been a huge part of my life-I made incredible friends, loved and lost, experienced new cultures, filled up pages in my passport and ate a lot of fish and chips. Most importantly, I got to spend 3 years doing what I love- teaching. Even though it wasn't always easy, I never regretted any of it and have come through the experience a much stronger teacher and person.

This will be the toughest part of me going home- not teaching. Not to say I will never teach, but it is a possibility for my future. It is something I have worked towards since I was 5 years old and the only thing I've wanted to do (besides being a waitress for a short period when I was little). Facing the prospect that I may be giving it up for good is terrifying. So what do I want people know? I will get through it. I may be sad, mad and frustrated but it doesn't mean I don't want to be home, I'm just adjusting- be patient and I'll find my way again. The benefits of family outweigh my career aspirations.

I read all these blogs from people who spent years abroad and then return home and everyone says the same thing- the adjustment period is hard. When I left Canada my friends and I had just graduated and were starving students living with our parents indefinitely. Now I have friends who are married, engaged, in long term relationships, being their own houses or even just following dreams and scoring teaching jobs near to home. Heck, when I left my sister was a wife and now she's also a mother! But I've changed too. I'm excited and terrified to come back and see how my new life fits in with their new lives- but more excited to celebrate their accomplishments with them.

3 years. 17 countries. Unforgettable memories.

The Magic of February

I am a horrible blogger--not that I have many 'avid' readers but to my family who still check this--sorry that I haven't posted since October…oops!

Anyways, I came to the realization today that February is a magical month. And no, to my aunts who are one step away from arranging my marriage, not because of Valentines Day, but because of the amazing things that happen to me or occur in my life in February.

In my first February in England, I went on the most amazing adventure of my life. It was life changing, eye opening and clarified everything that I've worked my whole life for. I got to go to India, until I knew I was going, I never really thought about going there. However, its was the best thing I've ever done. For those who haven't followed my blog for the last 3 years, I got to go to India to help train inexperienced teachers on how to teach. I met the most amazing and selfless teachers who reminded me why I have wanted to teach since I was 5 years old. Not only was India magical because I'll never be the same after it (in a good way) but it also cured my 3 month battle with Bronchitis!

Last February was also a very magical time in my life. Not only did I get to go to Berlin, a city so filled with History, I could live there a year and still not experience everything but more importantly I got a nephew. In the very short time that I've got to spend with Collin I can promise you his laugh is like magic. It can make you smile in an instant and his charm and flirtatious ways are too adorable for his own good. If you are reading this you are probably bored to death of me talking about Collin so I wont spend anymore time--pretty much I love him to bits and miss him everyday.

This February, I got to experience some real magic--the magical world of Harry Potter. The film studio has kept everything possible in tact and today I got to see all the sets and designs and props that still exist. I was almost in tears just anticipating how amazing it was going to be. It was unreal seeing the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts Express, etc. I also got to taste Butterbeer and see some iconic props like the Sorting Hat. I grew up watching Harry Potter and after the first few movies, started reading the books and fell in love again. It was the coolest thing and I would go back everyday if possible and drink some more Butterbeer!

Overall, I LOVE February but if I had to chose one February as the best year--it would be last year when my sweet little Collin was born!

Hope everyone else has a magical February!

A Day for Thanks

I figure I should keep the tradition alive and post my 'Thanksgiving' blog about what I'm thankful for this year. 

1) I am thankful for my new job. I can't stress enough how happy I am in my new job and the motivation the students at this school give me to be an engaging teacher. I feel less stressed, more creative and more fulfilled. I leave school earlier, show up later and produce better lessons which is always a plus! 

2) Family and friends. I am thankful for everyone who continues to support me day in and day out. Whether it be offering encouraging words when I doubt being over here or sending me updating texts on life in Canada so that I know when I return it will be as if I did not leave. 

3) My iPhone. THis may sound materialistic but the reasoning for it is not. Since I got my iPhone I can FaceTime my sister and my nephew as often as I like and it is easier for her because she doesn't need to get the laptop out and have Collin sitting for me to talk to her. We can FaceTime while he plays, watches weird kid shows and attacks the phone while we talk. I miss him like crazy but FaceTime will suffice for now. 

I'm also thankful for my iPhone because it allows me to stay in contact with some many friends from home easily through messenger apps. My favourite mornings are the mornings  I wake up to 60+ messages because the girls from University have been messaging each other (while I was sleeping) so I feel very popular and get to start my day catching up on their chats and then responding hours later awkwardly. 

4) The family I currently live with. Moving to Bishops Stortford was a big change for me and even though I love my school, I moved to a city where I know no one. The family I am living with have done a great job of keeping me grounded and social by either chatting while dinner is cooking or inviting me to take part in some of their 'nights out', etc. 

5) Readers of my blog. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you because you make me feel somewhat important and popular by having avid and regular followers! Thanks for following my blog everyone :) 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

New City, New School

I have officially lived in Bishops Stortford for 3 weeks and have been a teacher at my new school for 2 weeks and I have to say I think it was a really good move for me.

Bishops Stortford is a great city. I feel safer than I did in Luton on a regular basis and enjoy not waking up to bar fights and crying drunk girls at 3am every morning. It is close to London, about 45 minutes on the overground and this train gets me even closer to my favourite shopping area- Oxford Street! The people I live with are very kind and helpful in my settling into a new city and school and they have a cat--which I obviously enjoy!

My new school is great. There is a lot of changes in policies and procedures that I have learn because they are very different from my last school. A major difference is the lack of work they do electronically. It is a very old school- over 100 years old and many of the staff have been working there their entire lives and are close to retirement so the IT technicians have ensured me that electronic ways of doing things are coming, just being phased in gradually to ensure all staff are comfortable with new systems. Now- I'm not trying to be agist here by saying those above the age of 50 are weaker electronically---I know plenty of 50+ers who can navigate a computer better than 18 year olds today; however, if I use my mom as an example (don't hate me forever), I understand the gradual approach.

The students are amazing, as its an all girls school until their A-Level (age 16-18, Years 12+13), they can be chatty but when I start counting down from 5, I normally only get to 3 before they are all silent. At the last school I would have have to add in 1/2s and 3/4s to my countdown because they could not be quiet on time. The students are helpful and LOVE my Canadian accent! That being said there are students from my old school that I do still miss and am glad I have contacts still to keep me updated on how they are doing. It is amazing how behaviour of students can affect your entire day. I feel that even though I have overwhelming amounts of work to do to learn everything at this new school, I am less stressed than I was last year because I don't have to worry about behaviour. When I spend hours planning creative and engaging lessons, I can actually get through the whole thing and the students are willing to participate in all activities actively--definitely encourages me to plan inspiring lessons.

Outside of work hours I have had a busy week- we had a Year 8 Parents Evening on Tuesday at night, a CPD session on Child Protection on Thursday after school and then this weekend I went to London on Saturday to meet my cousin Chris for lunch at my favourite fish & chips place and then to meet an old uni friend and new expat living in London for dinner and drinks at the Maple Leaf (Canadian pub in Covent Garden).

A Great Canadian Summer!

I can't believe how fast four week flew by in Canada. On one hand its the longest period of time I have been home since I left, but on the other hand it didn't seem long enough. 

As most of you know, my biggest goal for the summer was to meet Collin- my nephew. If your Facebook news feeds were not attacked with my pictures and posts of my time with him, then this blog will do that for you. If your Facebook news feeds were attacked, sorry but you are going to see it round 2! 

I had obviously seen thousands of photos of Collin before I came home from my sister and we had used FaceTime so I could talk to him but let me tell you, nothing is better than meeting him in person. He is actuality the happiest baby…ever! He looks extremely cute in photos but in person is even cuter. I know I have personal bias and not to upset any moms out there (your babies are all cute) but Collin is just a whole new level of it! I'm a little scared to have my own kids one day, because I don't know if I can compete with that level of cuteness. Even his personality is amazing. He is always happy and content. Eating chips made him laugh and spitting up on me made him laugh. Even as he started teething, was tired or hungry he would get fussy but still managed to smile and laugh through a fussy period. In case you haven't noticed, I love him! 

I had an amazing 4 weeks spending almost every day with Collin, whether it be him accompanying my sister and I on shopping trips, watching weird shows on Treehouse (Toopy and Binoo anyone? That show is messed up), sitting out in the backyard/pool, playing with his toys or just babysitting him while he slept. The most frequent activity that Collin and I shared was him spitting up on me and me cleaning myself off.

It really does suck not being in Ontario all the time with him and I know that when I come back in December for Winter Break he will have grown so much, be crawling and trying to walk and will have even more personality. Saying goodbye at the airport was just as hard as the first time I left.  It just makes me even more thankful for FaceTime, iPhone Messenger and cameras with the ability to take photos and videos just as good as old cameras did! 

Not only did I get to see Collin this trip home, I got to see my friends and family as well. At the December break it is so hard to meet up with friends because everyone is busy with family--so coming home in the summer really opened up time for that. To everyone who dealt with my crazy and ever changing schedule, thank you so much for taking the time to meet up with me. I miss everyone like crazy and it was great to see everyone and realize that for the most part, even after a year (or in some cases 3--I'm looking at you Ashey Horlin) it is as if a day has not passed since we saw each other last! 

What am I up to now?
After sleeping for what feels like 2 days due to jet lag, I have successfully unpacked and set up my room in Bishop's Stortford. I have gone into the town centre the last few days (in between the constant rain I came back to). Bishop's Stortford is definitely a nice city and way nicer than Luton. It is funny because the lady who owns the house I am living in was saying that she feels Bishop's Stortford has changed so much since she was a kid and is not as nice as it once was---but to me this is super posh after leaving Luton. I've pretty much been unpacking and lesson planning while finding thousands of ways to procrastinate both.

Missing everyone at home already! 

The End of this Chapter

This has been a pretty rough week as I said good bye to my first teaching position. Although I am leaving on my own and know that the next chapter will bring better things for me, it was definitely sad to say goodbye.

Over the past two years, I have got to work with some amazing colleagues. They have been supportive in my development and transition from the Canadian system to the UK system. It has been great to come into work everyday with people who really are some of my best friends. Spending breaks and frees in the staffroom having good laughs and sharing crazy stories  of our days will be missed. I'm not the only one leaving the school this year, as many of my Canadian teacher friends are also going. Although, most are returning to Canada which means that I will not see them as much and it will definitely be a transition in my social life. I wish them all the best of luck and hope that if they score teaching jobs they will get me one :)

I'll also miss the students. Over the past few weeks, as word has gotten around that I was leaving, the student reaction has been heartbreaking. It has been amazing to be honoured by the students with their thoughtful words, cards and even gifts. One of my year 9 classes all pooled together their money and with the assistance of our LSA, purchased me a bag of gifts. I was actually speechless. Even though there are some students whose behaviour I will definitely not miss- there are quite a few whose hard work, attitude, aptitude and respectful personalities I will miss greatly. I have kept every card given so I can always remember the students who made my first teaching position a good one and kept me going through the bad times.



This all being said, I cannot wait to go to my new school in September and meet a whole new load of students who will inspire me to be a great teacher! In the meantime, the thing I am most excited for is getting to Canada in 4 days and finally meeting my most adorable nephew- Collin!

North American vs. British Prom

Last week I got to relive the glory days by going to prom--- this time as a chaperone. While at the prom, I noticed some very big differences from prom back home and prom here. If you want to read about them, then keep reading on. If you can't care less, then feel free to exit your web browser now :)

Now, most of these differences I believe are cultural based although some (specifically attire) may be aged base---it has been 7/8 years since my prom! 

North American Prom

•people arrive at the prom in limos/cars with their date

•people take professional photos with their date before hand

•people sit at a table beside their date

•the DJ plays slow songs once in awhile for dates to dance to

•dates give corsages and boutineers

•prom king and queen

•limos return dates home/after prom party

•dresses are classy (short and long) 

• girls hair is normally up or down and curly

British Prom

•People arrive at prom in limos/cars with their friends / no dates

•some take professional photos before prom but most wait until after dinner

•people sit at tables with their friends of he same sex while their 'dates' sit elsewhere 

•DJ plays no slow songs inevitably making the concept of a date pointless

•no corsages or boutineers 

•no prom king or queen

•parents pick kids up from prom

•dresses are flashy with bedazzling, sparkles or scandalous skin showing 

•girls wear a forehead necklace, yes a forehead necklace

No matter the differences it was a fun night and great to see the kids all dressed up!