Mood:  a-ok

I am not sure how to proceed with this blog.  Friends in the US have asked me to continue as they would like ot hear about life in the UK.  I must admit that  I have found writing about the mundane and peculiar a way of coping with the odd situations I have found myself in this year. 

So, I propose to continue for a while because I have decided to leave finding a permament appointment until next year.  It does mean that I will be living off a weekly wage through supply teaching and experiencing a lot of different schools which could be interesting. 

I have $4000 left in my account and have just spent a third of that on a Rover 214 iE - 47200 miles on 1999 form Four Lanes Garage in Marston.  Anyway a thank you to a Mr Carter who was amazed that I was even thinking about going back into teaching, ' behaviour is appalling...our generation blame the parents.'  The argument being why have children then place them in Day Care. I had spent the morning in Manchester looking at Vauxhall Corsas.  Why, I don't know - material for a song I suppose.  

I am amazed how much money I am putting into the phone and the car.  I have pumped 55 poundsworth of gas..this week!  Why haven't the petrol forecourts methods of paying for petrol at the pump?   I miss the drive in ATM's and the $2 cinema.  I miss the warm weather and friendly people.  I don't get the chat here, I feel that people are more judgmental.  I feel very restricted in my shoes, jumper and coat!

Work will start on Tuesday - so, will start the UK school post then.  Josh home from Leeds with a cold - welcome home!

Posted by emmasalisbury at 10:36 AM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 3 November 2007 10:40 AM EDT

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Mood:  not sure

Last blog from the USA.  We had a great farewell party last night and are now packing for the flight tomorrow.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all friends and relations for their support.  Reading emails and comments on the blog have made me laugh...made me cry and generally kept me in good humour and faith in myself and my abilities. 

I will blog at home because the story is unfinished.  The head honcho will be in touch today, so let us hear what he has to say.

Love Emma XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Posted by emmasalisbury at 1:23 PM EDT

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Mood:  caffeinated

Hotel off Broadway.  Jack at Lion King and View from Museum of Modern Art. 

New York was fabulous.  Standing on the observation deck of the Rockefeller building yesterday was definately an unforgettable experience.

Jack saw The Starry Night and I saw The Lion King!  Also Central Park and NBC Studio, Ripley's Believe it or not and every eating place in Manhatten!  The Lion King was fabulous. I cry at the opening to the film, so you can imagine what I was like when the elephant and zebras wandered so majestically through the audience.  The costumes and set design were stunning. 

Posted by emmasalisbury at 12:45 PM EDT

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Mood:  cool

Yard sales are good.  Furniture is being loaded onto trucks and Jack and I are back sleeping on the floor again.

Tomorrow we are off to NYC.  I have bought an explorer pass, so we don't have to wait for tickets.  Jack wants a boat trip to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and to see a Van Gough and Monet painting - because he has painted them at school!   I want to see the Lion King!  Staying in a very plush hotel off Time Square, so will blog next when I am there. 

 Still lovely warm weather.  Mum's tea parcel arrived today, so will put the kettle on and enjoy a cup of PG Tips!

Posted by emmasalisbury at 4:29 PM EDT

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Mood:  incredulous

I seem to be doing a lot of the incredulous emotion.

VIF have given me 24th October for my flight home, but I will question why I don't get the thirty days because after all I am a woman of leisure.  Oh yes I know it is only Wednesday, but after today I will not be going in ever again.  I know it is the crowning of the King and Queen and the Powder Puff football game tomorrow and the Pep rally and Football game on Friday and we are meant to be selling the tickets again!!  BUT I say no. I asked Administration for help with Mary and her side kick Krystal today.  Yes yes, they will not be in your lesson....................................I don't have to say it do I.  Can you say 'bollocks' on a blog.

I tried to do some Drama with them today, just to show how fun learning can be.  I want them to remember it when they are doing boring worksheets next week.  Cruel I know, but maybe they won't get it.

Did I tell you that my wisdom tooth is coming out, so put a bit of a dampner on me going out to celebrate my freedom as I can only eat mush!!!! Oh my god I will be coming home in a wheelchair.

Posted by emmasalisbury at 6:13 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 10 October 2007 6:14 PM EDT

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Mood:  not sure

A big fight in school this afternoon two doors down the corridor.  A yellow code which means that all students are locked in the classrooms and not allowed out for any reason. Shree was dying for a pee.  Well guess who I was lucky enough to be locked in a room with for 90 minutes - yes, you guessed: our friend Mary of the large mouth.  Oh joy.  Not only did we have homecoming nerd day and twin day we have the crowning tomorrow.  So, a lot of my Honours boys were out of class getting measured for their tuxedos - just in case!

It is 8pm and I have just come back from parent/teacher conferences.  So much positive feedback  that I am starting to feel guilty about leaving them.  I think I would feel worse if they had public exams though. 

A big shock last night.  I thought I would have 30 days from leaving school to leaving the country, but VIF (who control the re-scheduling of my ticket because they pay for the round trip) have said I must leave next week!  I thought Jack and I would have a mini adventure before we came home, but looks like I am being escorted out of the country before I become an undesirable; an alien with no work visa - running amock in their country!

I have to laugh, but  I am very sad about it all because these students are so I don't know "alive' - so much more aware of themselves - so much more annoying, but just fun and that word 'sassy'.

I started 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' today.  I am so interested in where the students idea of respect comes from.  We hear it in the gangsta rap and culture so much.  When pushed the students didn't seem to know what they meant by it; at heart they are so conservative.  They are street kids belonging to an urban culture.  A white woman sharing a dead white man's literature seems strange in a way -  talking about chivalry and knights of the round table.  Then I just want to mother them all and take them home - except Mary who would be too loud.

Posted by emmasalisbury at 8:54 PM EDT

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Mood:  sad

My notice has been given  .. I will be leaving on Friday.  Enough.

I am glad, but sad.

Posted by emmasalisbury at 5:09 PM EDT

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We went to a Beatles Tribute concert 1964 on Saturday night with our friends Howard and Delana.  Howard is a wealth of musical knowledge and I love listening to him play.  Sang to every song and embarassed Jack by trying to twist.  Remember listening to the old Beatles songs in Winnington Youth Club with Dad.  'I get by with a Little Help from my Friends" and "I do appreciate you being round...." just seems right today - because I heard from Alan, Linda, Julie, Claire, Caroline, Fiona, Jean, Marion, Robert and Theo  this week. Fantastic, thanks for all the advice.  Tomorrow will be a formal meeting with the Principal. 

It is also Homecoming next week; the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen; a major home Footaball game and what will be - I am told one of the worst weeks in the school year in terms of behaviour and motivation to work - oh joy!  'BRING IT ON...."

Posted by emmasalisbury at 6:05 PM EDT

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Rip Van Winckle wakes up in the 21st Century and wanders bewildered around a hospital, airport and shopping center.  He stares with disbelief at people speaking into small metal objects attached to their ears and elderly people with plastic or metal replacement body parts.  He looks in astonishment at games involving hitting objects in the air to make those on a screen participate in sport.  Van Winkle then goes into a school - he knows exactly where he is ..the only change since 1906 is the black board is green, not black.

Oh yes, but it is true isn't it!!

High level competence in traditional academic skills are sorely lacking in many schools, but also 21st century skills.  Knowing about the world; thinking outside the box -  interdisciplinary combinations that produce great concepts like Google and You Tube - maths and art- design and technology.  Why are we not smart about using new sources of information in schools?  In an age of overflowing information and media(knowledge and no wisdom) we have to teach our children how to manage, interpret, validate and act on it all.  Where are we teaching good EQ skills?  Isn't emotional intelligence as important as IQ ?  Languages - why are they seen as an option - the ability to work in large teams and with people from other cultures...? Global citizens......  Hats off to my friend Marion and to lots of people like her who take time to learn another language because they belong and work in a global organisation.  I am not talking smart here, I am saying what people say about schools every day and what the smartest think tanks have said for years.  So,  will someone tell me why today I could not find a packet of chalk to write my lesson objectives on a green blackboard when all the kids in my class have mobile phones.  I could have text them the objectives...... Oh my.   Mad world..

Posted by emmasalisbury at 3:14 PM EDT

Updated: Friday, 5 October 2007 3:34 PM EDT

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