Posted 1:10 PM by Lodger
It's 9:25 PM Venice time. Melissa and I are at an internet cafe near the train station in Venice, which is also near where we ended up finding a hotel room. My first impulse was to return to Hotel Adua, where Sheilagh, Lindsay and I stayed in the spring, but we found a better deal just down the road. A room with a shower!!! Nothing but the best for my little sis.

Today was hot, but as they say in Kamloops, it's a dry heat. I honestly found London at 25 C far more uncomfortable. Melissa has been on this side of the Atlantic now for just over a week and we've packed in a ton of activity in a short time: two musicals (Chicago and Grease), Westminster Abbey, Parliament, The Tower of London, Hampton Court, a few pubs... I find I really get to know London much better when showing people around. I've just now figured out how Central London is put together... before this week if someone was to ask me how to walk from Covent Garden to the Embankment (about ten, fifteen minutes max., directly south), I would have been confused. But I have a pretty good excuse... the tube system. You never have to walk anywhere in London. There's always a tube station close by that will take you close to where you want to go. This leads to a bizarre, abstract, completely 'removed from reality' perception of how the city is actually laid out. You perceive the city as a network of tube stations, completely independent from actual geography... the city is cut into slices of time (how long it takes to get from Earl's Court to Victoria Station) rather than sections of land or slices of distance. Bill Bryson describes this phenomenon brilliantly in his travel book about the British Isles, Notes From a Small Island, which is a great read, incidently.

Venice has been been relaxing... lots of walking, soaking in the atmosphere. One odd thing happened today: we lined up to walk through Basilica San Marco, only to reach the front of the line and be told we couldn't go in... our best guess is I couldn't be permitted to enter because I had sandals on and Melissa couldn't be let in because she has a tank top on. I don't recall them being this strict in the spring. Tomorrow we shall return, Melissa in long skirt and sleeves and me in tan trousers and a collared shirt. (Should mention we were not the only ones turned away... but it did seem that the guy was making some rather arbitrary choices. We saw people exiting the Basilica in some fairly dodgy get-ups.)

Should mention our Stansted Airport experience last night. We had tickets to Venice this morning for a 6:20 flight, so we stayed over in the airport last night. Not so bad if you arrive before nine or ten o'clock... you have a slim hope of finding a chair or bench to sleep on then. Instead, we arrived at 11:45PM and were stuck with hanging out in a cafe until 2AM and then finding a piece of floor to crash on. Not pleasant, I can assure you. She got no sleep. I got about 1.5 hours total, non-consecutive, of course. I don't think I will do that again. It's not worth it to save a few pounds on airfare. Should be tired now but feeling surprisingly okay. Will sleep well tonight.

I'm going to sign off now. Ciao.

Posted 2:47 AM by Lodger
Hello. It is Thursday, 9:50 AM. I have a free period and am blogging from the staff room. The party in Stevenage was a good time... a little badminton (until we ended up knocking all of the shuttlecocks into the next yard), fatty foods and tasty cocktails.

Played cricket yesterday for the first time. It was a staff versus year ten match, and the kids really had no chance. A few members of staff are very good cricketers.

I enjoyed many things about it. I like that it is similar to baseball and that my fielding skills are an asset, and yet it is different enough that I get the buzz of playing an entirely different game with weird, wonderful rules. Batting is the toughest thing. Hitting a ball that it is bouncing up at you is completely different than hitting a baseball. And you don't have to run if you feel your hit isn't going to get you any runs, so batting has a very defensive element where you (should) find yourself protecting the wickets more than anything else and if you get a nice fat juicy ball, then you can take a big swing at it. I scored one run (better than some did, but not outstanding by any means) and I dropped the bat when I ran, a no-no in cricket that everyone found pretty funny.

I even got a chance to bowl an over (six pitches), which is really weird. Your arm has to stay straight and perfectly overhand. But my finest moments came in the field. I got a wicket (an out in baseball terminology) - I caught a ball hit to me in the air... it was pretty cool. I also fielded a couple of 'grounders,' one that was hit pretty hard at me. I thought playing without a mitt would be hard, or strange, but it was actually quite natural. Two hands on everything, of course... I'm sure though there are times when it is drilled right at you when just getting your hands on it is the best you can expect, and I'm sure it sometimes hurts. Alan, our Deputy Head, is going to hook me up with a team next year... I'm looking forward to it.

It's that strange time of the school year now, where everyone is just counting minutes... and divisions become apparent in the staff (no real animosity, just... differences). Some teachers do 'fun stuff,' parties and games etc, while others work the kids until the bitter end, with their students whining the whole time, 'But Mr. __________ is letting us do fun stuff!!!!' I fit somewhere in the middle... my form is having a party tomorrow morning (food, music), but no parties during lessons, but I am playing some games with some classes on my last day. I'm totally bummed about one thing... my camera seems to be on the fritz and I wanted pictures of all of my classes and clubs. I only have pictures of one year seven class and one year eight class. Oh well... maybe tomorrow.

I think teaching staffs are more social in the UK than at home. Or maybe it's just this school. We have regular sporting nights (tennis, badminton, teacher vs. student basketball/cricket, etc...). And often these type of things are followed by a visit to a pub. Actually, I guess it's not just schools, or my school, but the culture in general. I am always amazed at how packed restaurants and bars are on weeknights, often quite late. People really like to go out to socialize in this country, especially in London. I guess it's how crowded this city is... most people don't have really big homes or apartments, so having people in to socialize isn't as easy an option. By contrast, we Canadians seem to have that nesting impulse... hiding from the cold and all that.

Break time now. Should probably go be social. Bye.

Posted 5:49 AM by Lodger
I'm currently inside on a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon. Quick internet session at the library. Will soon be heading to North of London for a party tonight... should be fun. A cocktail party apparently, alcohol included. Can't beat that! (Sainsbury's close by as well in case supplies need refreshing).

Listening to a cd I just bought, Junior Senior: in my ears the chorus (what's your name? White Trash!!!!... repeat several times) is blaring in my ears. Very amusing. A fun cd. Kind of Go-Gos, meets the Ramones, meets Beck, meets early 80s dance pop, with a bit of Sandinista era Clash thrown in the mix.

Feel for the first time in several weeks that my weekend is entirely my own... no exams or assignments to mark, no reports to write or proofread. Only one more week to go! Reflecting on the my time at the school, I have to say it has been a success overall. I was observed Friday and it went quite well... I told my students on Wednesday that it would be happening and asked them for good behaviour and they came through for me. I feel like Sally Field (they like me, they like me, they really really like me!). Seriously though, if a class isn't on your side they can really create havoc just out of spite or maliciousness in such a situation. It was nice to fnd out they are on my side when the chips are down (I must mention that these are year nines, who as a year group are notoriously difficult). One of the girls in the class made me laugh during our afternoon session the same day (I teach them twice on Fridays). She said, 'Sir, that lesson was good... everyone was quiet and we were able to really learn something.' Wow, what a concept. When you pay attention and fully participate in a lesson you learn better! I teased her a bit about her profound realisation, but in seriousness, it is a realisation I hope more of my students come to next year. It is my first priority that before I leave this school, the majority of my students will internalise the notion that they are ultimately most responsible for their learning. Don't know how I'm gonna get there, but I'm sure as hell going to try... anyway, let's jump off this soapbox now Rick, shall we.

In a little more than two weeks time Meliss and I will be boarding a plane to Venice, to start our summer European tour. It still seems somehow unreal. I'm honestly still not that excited about it. Not that it isn't going to be an absolute blast, i'm sure. I'm just too involved in present things for now. I'm sure it will sink in soon.

Well, I see it is 1:40. Need to be at King's Cross by 2:30, so i should really get out of here.

Take care, all. Until next time... same bat-time, same bat-channel.

Posted 9:14 AM by Lodger
So it's been awhile. I'm currently in the staff room, it's almost 5pm and I figured screw it... I've been putting it off too long.

I'll work backwards.

Yesterday, as most of you probably know, was Canada Day. I was pleased to find out that London has the biggest Canada day celebration/gathering in the world outside of Canada. It was insane. Thousands of people packed into the sidestreet outside the Maple Leaf pub in Covent Garden. Most of them quite drunk, either on Molson Canadian or Mooosehead. Total rip-off though... £18 pounds for a six pack. Sheilagh and Jen decided to bypass the pub after our first six pack and went to Sainsbury's and bought some Stella tall cans. We got some looks (drinking a European lager amongst the patriotic red and white throng), but our wallets didn't suffer so much. Aside from Sheilagh and Jen in attendance were Carrie, an assortment of Canadian 'friends of friends' and some 'honourary Canadians' for the evening (actually a few Brits and Greek). A couple of observations:

Canadians get very, very, very patriotic when gathered for such an occasion abroad.

I didn't think it was possible for every individual in such a crowd to sing completely off key, but we managed it during a drunken bellowing of 'Oh Canada.'

Seeing old hockey playoff highlights on a big screen while living abroad is really cool and given enough beer, can bring tears to one's eyes.

Anyway... we ended up settling in at an Aussie pub just down the road to close out the evening so we could escape the crowds. This morning I felt tired, was a little grumpy during registration, but otherwise it was worth it.

Also... sang 'Oh Canada' to most of my classes yesterday in honour of Canada Day... some laughed, some looked at me like I was insane, some looked at me with grudging respect (very few, really), but they all applauded.

Work lately has been very heavy, with marking of exams, writing and proofreading reports and the regular planning and such. Next year I will be more organised. Go in with my eyes open, knowing what to expect. And I won't take no shit! (The mantra of every second year teacher I think). Should probably mention that I have a job next year. The school has hired me on full time permanent. I'm now officially a teacher in the British school system (as opposed to a hired gun/supply teacher).

Over last half term break I went to Devon and Cornwall with some workmates and had a blast.
(It is now Sunday and I am completing the entry... taking a break from marking).

The west coast of England is absolutely beautiful. Very rugged, mostly, but the vibrant colours of the wild flowers on the cliffs provide an interesting contrast. We had great weather the whole time, visited Glastonbury, Bath, St. Ives, Ilfracombe, Falmouth, Penzance, Zennor, Mortenhampstead, and the place where my grandfather was born: Drewsteighnton. Drewsteighnton is very small, very rural, very pretty. It's in a hilly, tucked away section of Devon, about a ten minutes drive from Mortenhampstead, where we were staying at a hostel. My mates and I had a drink at the local pub, 'The Drew Arms,' which has been there for generations. We tried the local cider, a poor choice... it was quite thick, which isn't unusual, but it had a horrid sickly sweet/bitter aftertaste that left us all grimacing after every sip. Next time, I'll get a bitter.

The trip was a road trip: two vehicles... Matthew (a fellow Edenham Science teacher) and Rachel's Citroen 2CV, and JV (also Science) and Verona's GTI. For those of you who do not know, a 2CV is an old model from the sixties that looks like a boxy VW bug and has a rolltop roof. A very cool car to travel in. We were also joined by Emma, who is another Science work colleague from Australia, and Jen, a Canadian friend of Rachel's. The hostels were all quite nice and we had a great time as mentioned, with evenings usually consisting of wine, some local cheeses and produce, and bread. JV also treated us to a spicy, but tasty curry in Glastonbury... the man loves to cook and is a wildman in the kitchen. He should have his own cooking show; he had some of the other hostel guests fascinated. There was also plucking on the guitar, sing-alongs in the 2CV, long walks in the country and along the coast (lighthouses, cliffs, beaches, etc..). We even walked out to an island in the sea in water to our waist (St. Micheal's on the Mount). Went swimming in Falmouth. Saw Devil's Mouth and Lizard point and Land's End (England's most southern point), Emma and I checked out a really cool little museum in Zennor (a tiny town between Penzance and St. Ives). I must say, this country has a lot to see, especially when one considers how small it is. Anyway...

Basically, it was a relaxing holiday and it was lovely getting to know some of my workmates better. Unfortunately, after becoming good friends with Emma, she has headed back home to Oz to a cushy job at a country high school (the same school she did her practicum at, I believe), but I know she will miss the hustle and bustle of London and her time at Edenham. We certainly all miss her.

I should finish off my account of easter break as well... Italy!!

I've realised I'm not able to blog as often or in as much detail as I would like, so I will recount this instalment from memory.

Venice: We stayed in a 1 star hotel near the train station which was recommended by a rather pushy but ultimately helpful man at the station. Venice is very picture postcard... like being in a timewarp. It's the kind of place you like to just wander about in, without any set plans or places to be... enjoy a coffee and a pastry, take in the public sculptures, street musicians... just relax. We had a wonderful dinner on a little sidestreet, a table outside... lots of wine and some amazing dishes (a set rule had been established early on that we would order quite a variety and share, an excellent way of doing things). We all agreed the pumpkin flan was one of the most amazing dishes any of us had ever tasted. (An aside... as I write this, Wimbledon is on the telly. Martina Navratilova and her partner have won the mixed doubles title, which gives Martina 20 Wimbledon titles for her career, tying Billie Jean King's record. Amazing! She is fourty-six years old and still going strong. Congrats to her.)

A highlight in Venice included the Guggenheim collection, a great collection of modern art from her personal collection. Peggy Guggenheim is also buried on site near the sculpture garden. Piazza San Marco and the Basilica were also amazing to see and experience. The weather was wonderful the whole time.

I'll sign off now, and continue again soon, probably with my diary as this installment seems slightly lacking in detail. Back to marking. Yuch.