And just like that, I'm back in the classroom. It feels like I've been away for a long time, and I have. I haven't taught a class for 7 weeks, and I haven't taught a high school class for getting on for 3 months, so it was nice to finally get back to work today. My students are much the same as last year, the third graders are on the whole very pleasant to teach and now have the very serious air that most students adopt as they enter what is probably the most important year of their lives. The second grade is far more rowdy, and are going to be hard work to keep in check this year. They are a lot of fun though, and I'd rather have an energetic class than one that sits mopily refusing to do anything. On the basis of one class my first graders are going to be good. Their level seems to be quite high and they are, for the moment at least, passive enough to control and relatively keen to get involved.
It's going to be a brutal term as far as workload is concerned. The province I work for cut the number of native speaking teachers by 25% this year, and left the rest of us to pick up the slack. I'm now working at four schools, two elementary, one middle as well as the high school. I've also been accepted on to an MA TESOL and Applied Linguistics course with the University of Leicester. With planning, teaching and studying it's not looking like I'm set for a lot of free time this year.
In an attempt to avoid thinking about the fact I'm probably going to be working 12 hours a day solid from now until June, I'm casting my mind back to the time I spent in the UK. It was great to be back, especially as a semi-tourist. Having the freedom to go out most nights and mope around all day made my trip all the more pleasant. Almost as soon as I was back in the UK I was making the long trek up to Edinburgh to catch up with Rory, Kate and Leanne, two of whom I owed serious visits to since they came to see me in Guatemala. The occasion was Rory's birthday, and a Mad Men / cocktail party. Basically and excuse to dress up nicely, or ridiculously in my case. Here we go then...
Hat fashion parade.
Checking out Rory's entrance.
The labradoodle.
Fetch!
Just playin'
Pre-party bonding time.
Barmen at work.
And the fruits (no pun intended) of their labours.
I'm not sure that's quite what the glitterball is for Rory.
Steve self-portrait.
Me and Steve, possibly scared by something.
Leanne & Claire
Partygoers.
Mark.
Rory & Kate.
The dancefloor was packed.
After all the party related excitement we spent a day recovering and drinking all of the leftover beers. We then ate a huge Chinese meal (I miss English Chinese food. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to Korean Chinese food, though this probably doesn't come as a great surprise to any of you.) The following morning, charged up on tea and bacon sandwiches I headed to Manchester to watch the Halle Orchestra perform, which was the cultural highlight of my trip. Sat waiting for the concert to start reading my copy of Crime and Punishment made me feel very cultured indeed. Going to several pubs and a curry house the following day less so.
And that was it for my weekend of touring. Thanks to Rory, Kate, Leanne, John and Natalie. See you all next year perhaps.
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