Bus Spotting

 


Spent much of the day waiting for a bus that didn't show--calling this hotline posted at every bus stop(all stops have a number, too posted)to change travel plans. I am practising patience. Zen Lisa. Deep breaths--a glourious day between storms. Trees are turning and the air is crip.

Today: walk, run, bus, no bus, taxi, walk, bus, no bus, bus, train, ride, ride, train, bus--1.5 hours to get to the third appointment of the day, bus, then walk home. Still had three professional appointments, and one costume design appointment, at the pub where Wilem and I had a lovely dinner.

Wilem --A Burger Finally

 

Wilem has been missing a hamburger and fries--it has been a bacon butty breakfast daily, a sandwich or so for lunch, and lots of fish in cake, finger, fillet form. Not that we are complaining, but sometimes a taste of home is needed.

Lunch

I ate lunch today with a university professor at a nearby workshop/college for adults with autism and Asperger's--they are supported in using artistic skills to create things they sell in a gallery and those who can also work the adjoining cafe--I had homemade spinach and goat cheese pasties and organic lemon cake as I watched them all make more food--roll dough, etc. They had handforged knives(wow) and marbled paper planners and some other metalwork things in cases all made by the students. Pretty neat. Although sp ed is not my topic of study, I have been able to find out alot about mainstreaming while here, and there are many resources for teaching students with dyslexia and other disabilities.

Throwing Down !

 

I was warned: "It will soon be throwing down!" So I asked--"Throwing what?" "Rain, of course!" and it did for nearly 10 minutes, then it was light, intermittent showers.

Skype Time!

 
I use Skype to talk to those at home for free. Here is Michael and Biskit during our morning chat: 5 PM my time/9AM his time.

Afternoon Tea

 

While coming back from the school visit I stopped halfway for tea: homemade brown bread and butter, apple and parsnip cream soup with pepper(I added!) and a pot of Earl Grey for 4,20 pounds. I walked nearly 2 miles coming home.

Sheffield Methodist Church

 

Here is one of the many Methodist churches in Sheffield. This one was dedicated in 1928, and the front windows are full-on Art Deco.

HP pic

 
Here is a picture from the Houses of Parliament, side entrance. This is where I was at last Thursday while in London.

School Visit

Today I went on my first school site visit-- just a walk-through the halls and a meet and greet of key staff. The school has 7 grades and around 1000 students. The Year 7--11-12 year olds--are "big" classes with upper 20s in class size--yes that means around 29-30 students! The upper classes have smaller sizes as the courses are more specific.

Most of the BMW/EAL students here(the minority and ELs) are Pakistani, there are many diverse Arabic speaking, and there are many languages and ethnicities(they gave me general data) in each school. One thing I gather from talking to educators is there is an approach of bilingualism--supporting the first language in many ways: community resources and weekend day schools. Many English-only speakers are keen to learn other languages and there are lots of classes for Japanese, Arabic,and European languages. There are at least three big secondary schools nearby that focus on language acquisition!

Just like in the US, education finances and government changes are top concern. They have standardized tests like "No Child Left Behind" and then the GSCE--for preparing for O-levels. And budget cuts--the global bane.

Wilem is taking 9 classes: English, math, physics/science, electronics, music/composition, religious studies, Spanish, PE, and world history. He walked in on the unit that was about American cowboys and Native Americans--so he explained a "tomahawk" to everyone.

The classes are 1 hour long and rotate through every day in a cycle. So Wilem has had math twice in three days, etc. There are clubs and additional classes after school, too. At both schools(his and the one I observed nearby) there are Halal, vegetarian, and hot meal choices like a cafeteria-style restaurant. Everyone apologized for the "poor" quality, and I was looking at it all thinking I would gladly eat lunch there! Imagine hot, fresh cooked lunch daily? Nothing was shrink-wrapped or processed.

Rayburn Range

 
So, cooking is slightly different, I mean the appliances used are unfamiliar. Here is a "Rayburn Range and oven" that can also heat the house(clever), and I have used the "two hobb stovetop" on top of a countertop convection oven to make tonight's dinner of shrimp scampi. I also bought an electric kettle to make tea in less than two minutes--cost under 5 pounds for the kettle.

Wilem at WalkAbout

 

This former Methodist Chapel--complete with graveyard surrounding it--is now a club/restaurant. Imagine adults having drinks in a cemetary! A little odd.

Milk Delivery

 

My AM cup of tea with fresh milk delivered in a glass bottle to our front door!

Wilem in Downtown Sheffield

 

My Room View

 

Here is the view from my attic room--if only these walls could talk! I can imagine how horrific it must've been during WWII--these windows would've been covered up, but still facing the city center(that was completely bombed)it must've been something awful.

Loo Literacy

 

I think, perhaps, the British are so literate(beyond inventing English) because one can't help reading--language is everywhere--I mean, here is a simple advisory statement in a public toilet.

UK junk food

 

So bad, yet so good--corn and rice bacon-flavoured and shaped snack items. Yes, "bacon rashers," like cheese puffs but bacon flavoured.

British Museum

 

We went to see the Rosetta Stone and the Reading Room. I will go back again to see more.

Wilem's Room

 
So, Wilem has to travel nearly 6500 miles to get his own room! No TV, no computer, but it does have a skylight. Tomorrow he starts Year 10 at Silverdale School--today we had to buy all black school uniform trousers, polo, and trainers at Marks and Spencers. He will be taking Spanish, history, music, religious studies, math, science and English, plus some PE. His school cafeteria is caled "The Restaurant," and its menu is online. His school also has a Deaf program.

"home" until December

 
A view of my attic room: home until Dec! Wilem has a room, too.

Millennium Bridge, London

 
Our Fulbright Scavenger Hunt group on the Millennium Bridge heading toward St Paul's Cathedral.

UCL Dorm room

 

Here is a view of my room while in London for orientation: my first time ever staying in a dorm!

See You Next Year!

"Group hug!" That was part of my final day teaching before starting my Fulbright. Like they say, "priceless." Gave out my blog info and hope the students will check-in on me. So, given it was a "last day" of sorts, I did end up teaching an awesome lesson on delineating a character in a short story. At bell-ring, said "Bye, see you next year," giggle, giggle, as only 11 year-olds can do at dumb, old jokes. True, some shyly shook my hand because it isn't "cool" to hug your teacher or maybe it just isn't, well, something that is supposed to happen anymore sadly, well . . . but that group hug-- a spontaneous giddy, good-bye-mosh-pit next to the doc camera and media cart.

I promised to bring everyone back a British penny: " Will it be worth lots of money here?" "Yea, it'll be worth 2CENTS here." "Dang--oh well." Hey--I have to bring back 175 souvenirs! What better than a shiny penny for good luck? Everyone needs a good luck penny.

In teaching we are told things like, "Remember, they may forget what you say, but they will remember what you DO--and what they DO." So, today was a day to remember. A final day that was a good ending--and a good beginning at the same time.

Now home and feeling the nervous excitement that goes with adventure--a juxtaposition of happy/anxious. Saturday is booked solid with "things to do": prescriptions, pedicure, buttons on the overcoat,and actually, filing in my classroom. Shhhh! Don't tell that today really wasn't my "last day" since I have to be doing classroom filing tomorrow.

In Brazil, they have a word: saudade, which is the feeling of emptiness in missing what should be there and that one longs for-- the feeling "saudade" even gets its own day: January 30. For me, it is tomorrow: I will be filing alone and feeling saudade--the group hug still warming my heart.

Countdown

"Melancholy": second dictionary definition: "pensive reflection or contemplation." Ironically, this was a word my 7th grade students wanted to use on Friday to describe the tone of the autobiographical narrative we were reading in class. Melancholy--a mood.

One student suggested it, and everyone wanted the definition. First definition is "sadness/depression," but, the second meaning is apropos to my own mood. My "Fulbright Announcement" letter to parents has gone home. I have Sept-Dec lessons and copies of handouts in order. My first 6-week grades are done--in the computer, sent home. My "intervention/tutoring” list has been distributed to all the important people at school--it is now up to them to follow up and make sure these students succeed. I told them I will miss them, and I will. I leave behind mostly 11 year old students, but will come back to young ladies and boys with mustache beginnings! In 7th grade, they change MONTHLY! I leave them in good hands, and I hope they can check in on my blog.

At home, I have "packed my knives to go" in my kitchen chef kit--stored in my soon-to-be checked luggage and soon to tuck into a pork pie from Harrod's food hall, which I will return to once in London and buy for a picnic lunch. Pork pies--so good, yet so bad! I plan on cooking, of course, during my five months away and need my "tools." I will miss all of the major family dinners at home: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, plus birthdays. I know the San Diegans will go on without my cooking, but cooking for two is not the same as for twenty. Wilem and I might just have to find fast-friends for holidays in Sheffield.

I bought "gum boots"/black Wellington boots so I can trudge around Sheffield in the rain--rain a real novelty for someone from sunny San Diego. I have Scotch-guarded my London Fog trench coat, packed the warmest sweaters and scarves, and now the suitcase sentinels wait for the adventure.

My son, Wilem, is less prepared, less preoccupied--I mean, he IS 14 and leaving California is just something his mom is making him do, more or less. No opinions shared, no need to "talk about it," just packed his bags and said, "I'm ready." No worries, or as they say in the UK, "I'm not bothered."

Everything is in order: visa, passports, the university advisor and I have regular e-mail exchanges, the paperwork is waiting for me to arrive, the small apartment--much thanks to my father-in-law Geoff-- is secured. So pensive and reflective I sit saying “bye” to friends and colleagues in phone and quick, over-coffee conversations. Just checking in--while waiting . . .