Since coming back to London to teach I have only been at 3 different schools, each more lovely than the last. I truly can't believe the luck I have had so far this time around. Last time I was constantly in schools with terrible children and rude staff. Mind you, there was the odd occasion that I would go to a good school and have moderately well behaved children, which in comparison to the devil's spawn I was used to, they seemed like angels.
The past couple weeks I have made a regular appearance at this one school working in the Years 5 and 6 classes. The headteacher liked me so much that she requested to have me in for the entire last week of school, which was brilliant considering that was going to be a very slow week. I definitely considered myself fortunate for that opportunity, especially after talking to my other supply friends and finding out that they worked 1 day the entire week. Yikes!
Throughout the week I had access to all of the resources that a regular teacher would. I had the plans in advance and was able to design smartboard lessons to go along with them. I taught, built up relationships with the students and staff and marked a whole lot. I was there early in the morning, took time out of my lunch to help rehearse a group for the Christmas Assembly and stayed late marking and planning for the next day. Although it was only a week it felt like I was actually back to proper teaching.
The experience really made me long for my own class when I get back home. It even made me consider taking on a position here for the next term. There are times when I feel out of practice and I worry that if I were to get my own LTO I wouldn't know what to do or where to start with the planning and marking. Having a week like the one I just did helps me to put things in perspective and remember that I'm capable of doing this and when my chance finally comes I will do it brilliantly. Now all that's left is to keep my fingers crossed that the elusive LTO will come sooner than later.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Travel woes
Back home the longest amount of time I would have to commute to work was around 25mins. I was often unimpressed when they called me for schools in Whitby or Oshawa, especially when there are many schools in Pickering and Ajax that I would have gladly gone to.
Being back in London makes me miss those "long" 25 min commutes. Now not only are my commutes a minimum of 45 mins but I am faced with so many more obstacles. Driving in the suburbs was a synch! I was always going in the opposite direction of traffic and rarely ever had to use the highway. When there was traffic I would navigate myself around the back streets as I found a new route to work. I really never had much of an issue unless I was running late. I long for the simplicity of those drives.
Commuting in London is a constant battle with temperature, timetables, and ridiculous people. Let's run through a typical morning commute to work. Fortunately I work in the same area everyday so I've become accustomed to this route and the exact times I need to be at places. For this reason I have been able to minimize some of the annoying factors along the way. I start my journey to Central London around 7:17 when I leave my place in Catford. I have a short brisk walk to Catford station, always leaving myself extra time in case the train decides to come early (not likely). I never know how to dress because some mornings it feels like 15 degrees and others it feels like 5. The days I forget to bring my scarf are always the cold ones. I get on the train at 7:32 and am immediately faced with tropical temperatures as the heat is cranked to the highest setting. Like many other commuters, I open up my jacket and loosen my scarf at this time. Arriving at London Bridge around 7:47 I step out onto the platform where I then face the cold once again. Oops, I forgot to do up my jacket. Better get that in check as I hustle through the crowd to get inside to the underground. At this point I begin the battle with ridiculous people (if I haven't already encountered them on the train).
One of my biggest pet peeves in slow walkers, especially in crowded areas. These places are crowded because you walk so slow! I do not include the old or handicapped in this anger because they cannot help it. However, I have absolutely no patience for the average person who decides to hustle to cut me off when walking and then decides to slow down right in front of me and ultimately boxing me into a slow walk. As we all herd our way down the platform and into the station I am then faced with the challenge of getting across the hall with people coming from all directions. I must dodge and weave my way through annoying slow walkers, people reading train schedules, teenagers on their cell phones (who are they talking to at 8am?), and tourists who have a blank and lost look on their face. Get out of my way people, I have no time for this!
Once I finally make my way onto the underground I am again faced with the tropical heat. This is compounded by the bajillion people who are trying to cram into the car rather than wait for the next train which will be along in a minute or two. Once I was actually so squished in between people that I couldn't even move my arms to hold on. Fortunately the pressure of the other bodies against me kept me from stumbling when the train came to a stop. When I finally do get to my stop I squish past people to exit the car and join the mess of people making their way to the other lines. On some days I can zip over to the other side as that train hasn't come in and I can go up those stairs. However, on most days the trains arrive at the same time so there is no hope as I climb the stairs behind a thousand people who all need to get to the Central Line. My luck does change a bit once I reach that train as most people are going Westbound, further into the city, and I head Eastbound to my lovely East London schools. After two stops I reach my destination and begin my 10 minute walk to whichever school I'm at that day. Again, I must remember to do up my jacket and prepare for whatever temperature awaits me outside.
The journey home is quite similar to my morning adventures. The only difference is that my departure time is constantly changing depending on the amount of marking I have to do. This makes it difficult when I reach London Bridge and I try to find a train back home. One of the biggest annoyances during this time is when people don't adhere to the escalator rules. There are signs that clearly say "stand right." As I struggle to either run up the escalator quickly to catch my train I am more often than not having near collisions with people who don't know how to stand on the right. Or there's the people who walk exceedingly slow up the escalator; if you're going to be that slow you may as well stand on the right. Once I finally reach the top I quickly check the board to see which platform the next train is on (it's never the same one) and frantically race through the crowds coming the opposite direction to make my train. If I'm lucky I actually make the train, am able to get a seat, and will be back in Catford in 15 mins. If not then it's back to going against the current, checking the boards, and racing to the next platform.
My journey finally comes to an end after another 10 min walk home and I get to rest. I leave the cursing of stupid people for another day and put begin my relaxing evening.
Being back in London makes me miss those "long" 25 min commutes. Now not only are my commutes a minimum of 45 mins but I am faced with so many more obstacles. Driving in the suburbs was a synch! I was always going in the opposite direction of traffic and rarely ever had to use the highway. When there was traffic I would navigate myself around the back streets as I found a new route to work. I really never had much of an issue unless I was running late. I long for the simplicity of those drives.
Commuting in London is a constant battle with temperature, timetables, and ridiculous people. Let's run through a typical morning commute to work. Fortunately I work in the same area everyday so I've become accustomed to this route and the exact times I need to be at places. For this reason I have been able to minimize some of the annoying factors along the way. I start my journey to Central London around 7:17 when I leave my place in Catford. I have a short brisk walk to Catford station, always leaving myself extra time in case the train decides to come early (not likely). I never know how to dress because some mornings it feels like 15 degrees and others it feels like 5. The days I forget to bring my scarf are always the cold ones. I get on the train at 7:32 and am immediately faced with tropical temperatures as the heat is cranked to the highest setting. Like many other commuters, I open up my jacket and loosen my scarf at this time. Arriving at London Bridge around 7:47 I step out onto the platform where I then face the cold once again. Oops, I forgot to do up my jacket. Better get that in check as I hustle through the crowd to get inside to the underground. At this point I begin the battle with ridiculous people (if I haven't already encountered them on the train).
One of my biggest pet peeves in slow walkers, especially in crowded areas. These places are crowded because you walk so slow! I do not include the old or handicapped in this anger because they cannot help it. However, I have absolutely no patience for the average person who decides to hustle to cut me off when walking and then decides to slow down right in front of me and ultimately boxing me into a slow walk. As we all herd our way down the platform and into the station I am then faced with the challenge of getting across the hall with people coming from all directions. I must dodge and weave my way through annoying slow walkers, people reading train schedules, teenagers on their cell phones (who are they talking to at 8am?), and tourists who have a blank and lost look on their face. Get out of my way people, I have no time for this!
Once I finally make my way onto the underground I am again faced with the tropical heat. This is compounded by the bajillion people who are trying to cram into the car rather than wait for the next train which will be along in a minute or two. Once I was actually so squished in between people that I couldn't even move my arms to hold on. Fortunately the pressure of the other bodies against me kept me from stumbling when the train came to a stop. When I finally do get to my stop I squish past people to exit the car and join the mess of people making their way to the other lines. On some days I can zip over to the other side as that train hasn't come in and I can go up those stairs. However, on most days the trains arrive at the same time so there is no hope as I climb the stairs behind a thousand people who all need to get to the Central Line. My luck does change a bit once I reach that train as most people are going Westbound, further into the city, and I head Eastbound to my lovely East London schools. After two stops I reach my destination and begin my 10 minute walk to whichever school I'm at that day. Again, I must remember to do up my jacket and prepare for whatever temperature awaits me outside.
The journey home is quite similar to my morning adventures. The only difference is that my departure time is constantly changing depending on the amount of marking I have to do. This makes it difficult when I reach London Bridge and I try to find a train back home. One of the biggest annoyances during this time is when people don't adhere to the escalator rules. There are signs that clearly say "stand right." As I struggle to either run up the escalator quickly to catch my train I am more often than not having near collisions with people who don't know how to stand on the right. Or there's the people who walk exceedingly slow up the escalator; if you're going to be that slow you may as well stand on the right. Once I finally reach the top I quickly check the board to see which platform the next train is on (it's never the same one) and frantically race through the crowds coming the opposite direction to make my train. If I'm lucky I actually make the train, am able to get a seat, and will be back in Catford in 15 mins. If not then it's back to going against the current, checking the boards, and racing to the next platform.
My journey finally comes to an end after another 10 min walk home and I get to rest. I leave the cursing of stupid people for another day and put begin my relaxing evening.
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