On Saturday, my last day in Edinburgh, I went to the zoo. It was expensive but I did enjoy myself. You just can't get a better value than St. Louis's free and wonderful zoo. Then I finished packing when I got back.
Yesterday was a crazy flying day. Got up at 6:00 am and my cab picked me up at 7:00. Glad I had no problems with that. Use City Cabs - they were great. Only cost me £20 to get to the airport. No problems getting to London. At Heathrow I had to recheck my bags. By the time I got to my gate, they were boarding for Boston. So no problems with that long flight - 6 hours I think it was. Just crowded, but no big deal. Customs in Boston was easy peasy. And man was I excited to be back in America. Giddy is more like it. Oh, I also had to recheck my bags in Boston. Yuck. My flight to St. Louis was a bit delayed but it worked out because we were able to pick my cousin up at the airport as well. So when we landed I practically ran to meet my parents and boyfriend. So excited!
So I went to bed at 11:00pm which meant I was up for 23 hours that day with only about an hour of sleep. And did I sleep in? Nope, I woke up at 7. For no good reason. And now I'm enjoying the beautiful weather by my pool until the storm comes through in a couple hours. Oh, and doing laundry :P
Monday, June 4, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Last Day Student Teaching
I can't believe this all went by so fast... today was my last day of student teaching... ever. I got cards for all my cooperating teachers and a St. Louis cup for the teacher that I worked with the most. The maths department also got me a card and a big box of chocolates. I'm going to miss the staff, they really are wonderful people. I also had a lot of fun teaching my last lesson. I have been doing logic puzzles with my first year students all week and it's great to see the students surprise you - some of the students who aren't strong at maths were great at the logic problems. Even though the students were very talkative here, I am going to miss them. They really taught me a lot about teaching and about myself. Even though it was hard being away from my family, friends, and boyfriend for this long, I don't regret it one bit. This has been an absolutely wonderful experience and I really think it helped me grow as a teacher and as a person.
Alright, so the rest of my day... I went to the police station to report my camera missing. Hopefully they will find it and it will get mailed to the US. If not, I will just buy a new one... worse things have happened. After the police station I went to The Edinburgh Dungeon. Actors led us through underground Edinburgh telling us the deep dark secrets of the city, but they did it in a fun and scary way. There were also 2 short rides. I had a lot of fun there. These Dungeons are in several European cities, so if you're near one I would recommend checking it out. The price was a bit steep, but discounts are very easy to find (online, on a Lothian bus ticket). Then I went to a pub and had a drink and now I'm going to spend the rest of my night relaxing and packing... zoo tomorrow!
Alright, so the rest of my day... I went to the police station to report my camera missing. Hopefully they will find it and it will get mailed to the US. If not, I will just buy a new one... worse things have happened. After the police station I went to The Edinburgh Dungeon. Actors led us through underground Edinburgh telling us the deep dark secrets of the city, but they did it in a fun and scary way. There were also 2 short rides. I had a lot of fun there. These Dungeons are in several European cities, so if you're near one I would recommend checking it out. The price was a bit steep, but discounts are very easy to find (online, on a Lothian bus ticket). Then I went to a pub and had a drink and now I'm going to spend the rest of my night relaxing and packing... zoo tomorrow!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Last College Assignment
Here's my last ever college assignment... a journal of my student teaching experiences here in Scotland. This is something I have had to do every week since I've been here, but here's the last one.
Topic: CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES!
I have learned how to accept different ways of doing things. It has opened my mind up to listen and accept others’ point of view.
I have learned how to adapt my lessons to specific classes. Since I was teaching the same thing to two classes, I learned how to plan what the characteristics of the students were and what I should teach them during class periods. I am not sure if this experience is unique or not because at my US placement I would make sure both classes learned the same thing every day, but I also had to adapt lessons when things didn’t work.
I have learned how to behave appropriately to match the country I’m in. It has helped me to understand this part of the world and hold a true appreciation of it. I was not very knowledgeable of the Scottish people before I came, but I feel I know a great deal now. It’s been good to live outside of the US for awhile and see how people view the US. I have seen that there’s not just one way of doing things and that although the educational system here seemed weird to me at first, now I can see its value. This will allow me to be a more understanding and adaptable teacher. I will be able to help my students better by teaching them in different ways and appreciating their diversity.
A professional success happened during my first lesson to 1Y1. I thought I was teaching the fourth lesson in the chapter, but I was supposed to teach the whole chapter starting with the first lesson. I was able to plan my lesson quickly and teach the first two lessons in the chapter during that class period successfully. Personally, I found myself successful getting around the UK independently. Not having a phone or a friend with me, I was able to use maps and buses to get around to different parts of the country. The first experience will teach me to plan better, but since I will have my own classroom in the future, that shouldn’t be a problem. I will also be able to share my experience with my students to encourage them to go to college and study abroad.
Topic: CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES!
1.
Describe
how this experience has influenced your teaching or mindset as a teacher, or in
general.
I have learned how to accept different ways of doing things. It has opened my mind up to listen and accept others’ point of view.
2.
What
unique teaching skills have you gained by choosing to student teach in an
international setting? How are these skills unique to your experience overseas?
I have learned how to adapt my lessons to specific classes. Since I was teaching the same thing to two classes, I learned how to plan what the characteristics of the students were and what I should teach them during class periods. I am not sure if this experience is unique or not because at my US placement I would make sure both classes learned the same thing every day, but I also had to adapt lessons when things didn’t work.
3.
Describe
any personal influences from this experience. How have you grown as an
individual in your thinking and perceptions of the world? How have your
perceptions of the United States changed? How will these personal influences
impact your teaching, and ultimately the students in your classroom?
I have learned how to behave appropriately to match the country I’m in. It has helped me to understand this part of the world and hold a true appreciation of it. I was not very knowledgeable of the Scottish people before I came, but I feel I know a great deal now. It’s been good to live outside of the US for awhile and see how people view the US. I have seen that there’s not just one way of doing things and that although the educational system here seemed weird to me at first, now I can see its value. This will allow me to be a more understanding and adaptable teacher. I will be able to help my students better by teaching them in different ways and appreciating their diversity.
4.
Describe
one professional and one personal success (or special moment) that you had
while abroad. Tell how this will impact the way you will teach and interact
with colleagues and students in the future.
A professional success happened during my first lesson to 1Y1. I thought I was teaching the fourth lesson in the chapter, but I was supposed to teach the whole chapter starting with the first lesson. I was able to plan my lesson quickly and teach the first two lessons in the chapter during that class period successfully. Personally, I found myself successful getting around the UK independently. Not having a phone or a friend with me, I was able to use maps and buses to get around to different parts of the country. The first experience will teach me to plan better, but since I will have my own classroom in the future, that shouldn’t be a problem. I will also be able to share my experience with my students to encourage them to go to college and study abroad.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
My Last Full Weekend in Edinburgh
Well, I'm completely exhausted... it's been a long weekend.
FRIDAY
At school, the S1-S3 students participated in the Olympics! I helped out with the biathlon (swimming & running). Luckily I finished early and got to watch [field] hockey and football (soccer). I really enjoyed watching the hockey and cheering for my students. I am looking forward to seeing the results tomorrow.
After school I went to Calton Hill. That's this big hill with some monuments and great views of the city. Then I walked down the Royal Mile and headed to the National Museum of Scotland. I found that extremely boring so I didn't stay long. Maybe it wasn't so boring, but I had been to London's wonderful museums the week before and it was 4:00 by the time I got there so I was already tired. Then I went to Elephant House to have a mocha and a sweet. This is where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. No big deal. There were elephants everywhere though, it was wonderful. Then I headed to Greyfriar's Cemetary to get a proper look at Greyfriar's Bobby since last time I was there it was dark. Then I headed back to my room and called it an early night.
SATURDAY
I spent most of my day at Cramond Island. When the tide is low, you can walk to the island by a path or through the sand. I walked through the sand on the way there and the path on the way back. I saw lots of little crabs in the sand, which was really cool for me. The island itself was not very interesting. I sat down and read a book for a little bit. The tide was coming in so I headed out and went back to my room for the rest of the night. I took some wonderful pictures, but I lost my camera so unless I get it back, you will never see them.
SUNDAY
Today I went to Holyrood Palace, the Queen's Scotland home. It was very nice. Then I walked up Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano. It took me about 3 hours to walk to the very top and back down with only a couple short breaks. It was great because I had a 360 view of the city and the firth. Then I had dinner at World's End - haggis, neeps, and tatties and cranachan for dessert. How Scottish of me!
I will add pictures tomorrow probably (for Friday and Sunday). My computer is being goofy and I'm very tired.
FRIDAY
At school, the S1-S3 students participated in the Olympics! I helped out with the biathlon (swimming & running). Luckily I finished early and got to watch [field] hockey and football (soccer). I really enjoyed watching the hockey and cheering for my students. I am looking forward to seeing the results tomorrow.
After school I went to Calton Hill. That's this big hill with some monuments and great views of the city. Then I walked down the Royal Mile and headed to the National Museum of Scotland. I found that extremely boring so I didn't stay long. Maybe it wasn't so boring, but I had been to London's wonderful museums the week before and it was 4:00 by the time I got there so I was already tired. Then I went to Elephant House to have a mocha and a sweet. This is where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. No big deal. There were elephants everywhere though, it was wonderful. Then I headed to Greyfriar's Cemetary to get a proper look at Greyfriar's Bobby since last time I was there it was dark. Then I headed back to my room and called it an early night.
SATURDAY
I spent most of my day at Cramond Island. When the tide is low, you can walk to the island by a path or through the sand. I walked through the sand on the way there and the path on the way back. I saw lots of little crabs in the sand, which was really cool for me. The island itself was not very interesting. I sat down and read a book for a little bit. The tide was coming in so I headed out and went back to my room for the rest of the night. I took some wonderful pictures, but I lost my camera so unless I get it back, you will never see them.
SUNDAY
Today I went to Holyrood Palace, the Queen's Scotland home. It was very nice. Then I walked up Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano. It took me about 3 hours to walk to the very top and back down with only a couple short breaks. It was great because I had a 360 view of the city and the firth. Then I had dinner at World's End - haggis, neeps, and tatties and cranachan for dessert. How Scottish of me!
I will add pictures tomorrow probably (for Friday and Sunday). My computer is being goofy and I'm very tired.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Homesick
Well it took me about 7 weeks, but I'm finally homesick. It's absolutely gorgeous here today (I wore a dress!) and so I sat at the park for a while after school. When I got up to start walking back I smelled someone grilling. Then it hit me. All the smells and summer feelings made me miss home. I think I've lasted so long because the weather and overall atmosphere here is very different from what it is like back home. Now that the weather here is catching up, all I want to do is go home, sit by the pool, grill some delicious food, and drink margaritas. Only 10 more days til I'm home! I can't wait!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Masterchef Competition
School went just fine today. I did get to eat lunch outside, which was awesome. Today was the nicest weather in Scotland since I've been here! It was in the 70s (Fahrenheit), which is about 30 degrees higher than it has been... awesome!
The real fun, though, started after school. I got to be a judge for the school's Masterchef competition. There were 13 applicants (4 of my students). The students could either choose a sweet or a savoury dish to make in 1 hour and 15 minutes. What all did I eat? Let's start with the sweets. Chocolate brownies, Dorset chocolate mousse cake (finalist), chocolate caramel slice, chocolate tart (finalist), profiteroles (finalist - my student!), strawberry tart, fudgy banana muffin (finalist). So 4 of the students who made sweets are moving on to the finals. The savoury dishes: cheese and bacon pasta, fish and chips (my student - almost made it), potato curry with rice (finalist), salmon and broccoli tarts (finalist - my student!), Indian chicken curry (finalist), veggie curry (finalist - my student!). That means there are 8 people that made it to the finals. Why 8? Because the judges couldn't compromise on 6. The finals were supposed to be next week but since lots of the students are in France, it's the following week. Damn, that means I won't be here for it. It was a fun experience, though. Plus, I got a free dinner out of it!
When I got back "home" I checked my e-mail and I got some wonderful news. I have been selected for the Southeast Student Spotlight! I answered a bunch of questions about school and my life for them. Not sure when that will be posted, but I will attach it when that happens. Here's the link to the recent Student Spotlights so you can get a feel of what it is: http://www.semo.edu/spotlights/students.htm
The real fun, though, started after school. I got to be a judge for the school's Masterchef competition. There were 13 applicants (4 of my students). The students could either choose a sweet or a savoury dish to make in 1 hour and 15 minutes. What all did I eat? Let's start with the sweets. Chocolate brownies, Dorset chocolate mousse cake (finalist), chocolate caramel slice, chocolate tart (finalist), profiteroles (finalist - my student!), strawberry tart, fudgy banana muffin (finalist). So 4 of the students who made sweets are moving on to the finals. The savoury dishes: cheese and bacon pasta, fish and chips (my student - almost made it), potato curry with rice (finalist), salmon and broccoli tarts (finalist - my student!), Indian chicken curry (finalist), veggie curry (finalist - my student!). That means there are 8 people that made it to the finals. Why 8? Because the judges couldn't compromise on 6. The finals were supposed to be next week but since lots of the students are in France, it's the following week. Damn, that means I won't be here for it. It was a fun experience, though. Plus, I got a free dinner out of it!
When I got back "home" I checked my e-mail and I got some wonderful news. I have been selected for the Southeast Student Spotlight! I answered a bunch of questions about school and my life for them. Not sure when that will be posted, but I will attach it when that happens. Here's the link to the recent Student Spotlights so you can get a feel of what it is: http://www.semo.edu/spotlights/students.htm
Monday, May 21, 2012
A Truly Magical Day
Today I went to WB Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter. In no words can I describe to you how absolutely fantastic this place is. If you in any way even like the Harry Potter movies you need to get there as fast as you can. I'm sure it will be open for a long long time though.
I got to see original sets, props, and other magical things. I even tried some [delicious] butterbeer. It is just absolutely incredible how they were able to create such a magical world.
Pictures are worth a thousand words right? (Maybe more when these are your pictures.)
When I got back in the city I decided to check out Westminster Abbey with my spare time. I got to see it on Easter but it was great to be able to walk around and spend more time looking at the sites. I also sat by the river for a bit.
Then I went back to the hostel to pick up my suitcase. My coach left on time but due to construction, I got into Manchester later than expected. It worked out just fine though. So I spent pretty much 12 hours on a coach bus. It was awful, but cheapest way to travel I could find.
My trip was absolutely fabulous. I am very lucky to be able to do these things (and grateful I had the money saved up).
I got to see original sets, props, and other magical things. I even tried some [delicious] butterbeer. It is just absolutely incredible how they were able to create such a magical world.
Pictures are worth a thousand words right? (Maybe more when these are your pictures.)
Then I went back to the hostel to pick up my suitcase. My coach left on time but due to construction, I got into Manchester later than expected. It worked out just fine though. So I spent pretty much 12 hours on a coach bus. It was awful, but cheapest way to travel I could find.
My trip was absolutely fabulous. I am very lucky to be able to do these things (and grateful I had the money saved up).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)