A typical Sunday...

Sundays are always used for lesson planning. All day. And the time always goes by extremely fast!! It is already 2 pm and I have SO much to do before another week with the kiddios begins tomorrow. I was going to go in to town and do some shopping today, but I don't think I will have time!! I need to finish planning, laundry, cleaning my house and getting some groceries from the local Co-op!

The weekend went by WAY to fast. Friday night, I went out to dinner with another teacher from school to a new restaurant in Camberley called Bills. It was so good!! Then we went to a pub for a bit but were both so exhausted from the week we decided to call it a night.

Saturday morning I went to London to meet up with Jess! We went to the Tower of London and explored in their for over an hour! So much history. Finally, I was able to see the poppy exhibit for the anniversay of the World War. There are almost 1 million ceramic poppies around the outside of the tower. It was amazing and so so pretty. You can buy the poppies for 25 pounds and they send them to you after the exhibit stops. I am not going to buy one but it did look really cool.

Then, we went to buy tickets for a theatre show... we decided on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We then explored around Covent Garden where all the shops were. Then, naturally we found ourselves looking for a wine bar for dinner. We didn't go to an actual wine bar but we did find a nice restaurant with tapas style plates. We shared a few and split a bottle of wine. So good to spend time with a close friend from home! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was SUCH a good choice! We both really enjoyed it. After the show we parted ways to different train stations and made our way home.

Pretty much everyday I have been face timing somebody from back home and it is so wonderful. If ever I feel homesick I can just pick up the phone and somebody is always there. The time change makes it a bit tricky but last night I was able to face time three people because I was home so late! Anyways I have too much work to continue this post. Until next time :)

Caterpillars and Butterflies

This has been a calmer week at school. No special visitors and no more open house days! We had a lot of fun last Friday and all of the children loved the teachers costumes. We are continuing to work on settling in to routines and I am so lucky to have such a lovely class. Since we are learning all about the life cycle of butterflies/caterpillars, which fits perfectly in to our theme, one of the children brought in a caterpillar today! He is big and green and we named it Ash, since we are Ash Class!! The children and I both think it is so interesting, and it looks as though he is starting to turn into a Chrysalis! It was an exciting day in Year 3 and the children will be so excited to see him tomorrow.

This week, I have been spending 12 hours at school everyday and coming straight home to plan some more. It is a lot of work but I love it! And it is keeping me busy so I don't get as homesick. A fellow teacher and I went to Tesco last night (like a SuperStore) and we bought some clothes and candy and crackers! Tomorrow is curry night- obviously.

On Saturday I am going in to London with Jess and her roommate. We are going to the Tower of London and then to see a play at night!

It is so crazy that next week is October ! Where has the time gone. I have started wearing boots to school this week as it is starting to get chilly in the morning. For the most part though the weather is beautiful and I couldn't ask for better weather! It has been sunny and only rained briefly today.

Time flies when you're having fun!!

It is SO crazy to think that exactly one month ago I left Canada for my new adventure.

I could not be happier here. Everything (so far!) has been absolutely amazing and I am so thankful for my wonderful students, staff and new friends I have made.

Some highlights: For the past two Wednesdays, a LSA at my school has invited a fellow teacher and I over for dinner and wine at her place. I have met her whole family and they are so welcoming. She has dinners/events every Wednesday and I am so happy she invites me. It is so much fun that we don't even realize the time and I find myself leaving around 10... which is late for a teacher!!!

Thursday curry night is my favourite thing. Ever. 4 pounds for a huge curry meal and a cider.

Last weekend, I went to Paris with two lovely ladies I met back in June at the interviews. We went to see the Beyonce and Jay Z concert!!!! We flew out of London Friday after work and arrived late to Paris. After a 1:30 am Wine and cheese run, we made it back to our hotel around 3:30 and planned to wake up early to sight see the next day. We actually did end up waking up early and explored Paris. We went to the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysees. We had lunch at a restaurant with a view straight to the Eiffel Tower... .it was expensive but so worth it. After filling up on macaroons, we went to get ready for the concert. It was AMAZING and there was 75 000 people there! On Sunday, we did some more exploring and then it was time to fly home. It was a whirlwind weekend but so much fun!!

This week at school has been INSANE. I feel like I am constantly playing catch up. It is an exciting week so far with lots of visitors from the trust and various head teachers. Tomorrow is the "re-opening" of our school as part of the trust. In the afternoon, parents are invited to come into classrooms and participate in activites with their children. Then we have an assembly where the mayor will speak as well as our headteacher. Then as a surprise, students have been working so hard practicing a song to sing to their parents. And as a surprise to the students, all staff are dressing up based on their theme. With mine being Wonderland, I am definitely going as Alice!! They also don't know that every staff and student is being given a balloon and we are all releasing them in the back field at the same time. It will be an exciting day in our school! Media will be covering the event, so I will post a link if I can find an article.

I just can't get over how well everything is going over here. I am settled in and loving my new life. I miss my friends and family but luckily my little ones at school keep me busy and keep me smiling and laughing all day! :)

Best Macaroons Ever.

At the concert!!!

Soooo many people. 

I survived my first week!

A lot has happened in the past week and a half since I last posted.

Some highlights:
- Moved into my new house and LOVING IT
- Started the school year and got to meet the lovely 26 seven year olds that I will be spending the year with
- Had adventures in London with Jessica and Rihana
- Getting to know the amazing & supportive staff I have around me at the school.

I will start with my house... I am so in love. It is only a five minute walk to my school which I appreciate every morning when I don't have to get up as early! It also provides flexibility when I leave the school at the end of the day.. I am not tied down by a bus schedule. Here are some pictures!

It is the perfect size for me and I already feel very comfortable here.

On Sept 3rd, I started teaching and met my class of year 3s :) They are all so sweet and I was very impressed by their kindness and willing to help. I have 25 children in my class and I know it is going to be a great year. We spent this week having a "Stunning Start" which involved a lot of activites around the theme of Wonderland. We made mini caterpillars, decorated tea cups, worked as a team to create giant flower collages and a giant caterpillar. We went on a scavenger hunt to find out who stole the tarts in Alice in Wonderland. We also spent Friday afternoon watching the film (have to get used to saying film) and had our weekly celebration ceremony in the hall (gym) with the other years. This week we are starting with our English and Maths plan and doing more theme work. 

Decorating my classroom was a lot of work but SO much fun and I am so happy with the outcome. It will continue to look better as we put examples of work up on display. 

Our reading area.

This is the rabbit hole that the children have to crawl through. They love it!

Front of the class.

I am so thankful to be working with a staff who are so kind and supportive, not only professionally but personally as well. The LSA (learning support assistant) in my class is fabulous and we get along great. I have made so many friends on staff already and so thankful that some of them live so close to me! 

Last Saturday, I had such a fun day in London with Jess and Rihana. We went to a wine bar in a cave and then met up with the other Engage teachers at a bar for some drinks. So blessed to share this experience with familiar faces from Winnipeg. 

Decided to take one of these instead of the tube.

I have a lot of exciting trips planned. I'm going to Paris next weekend for the Beyonce and JayZ concert! I leave Friday right after work and am meeting up with two girls I met on my interview trip back in June from Newfoundland. We are flying into Paris from Gatwick and will spend the weekend there! So excited.

I just booked my October holiday to Belgium with Jess! Neither of us really cared where we went to we tried to find the cheapest flights and it led us to Belgium! 

I am missing my friends, family and life back home but have had the opportunity to connect with them via face time and skype. I am already loving my life here and my school. I could see myself staying here for a while (sorry Mom!) 

Lots of love from England xoxo

One week update!

So I have been out of Canada for officially one week! I have accomplished a lot over this past week and this upcoming week will be just as busy.

Last Friday, my dad and I went to Ikea in London to pick out furniture I will need for my house, as it is not furnished. I was able to pick out some nice furniture for fairly inexpensive. My dad will go back to Ikea on Friday to pick it up- as Friday is moving day! I am just counting down the days... it sucks living in a hotel and out of 4 suitcases. I can't remember where I put everything so everyday I struggle to find things.

Saturday has been the best day of the journey so far.... I got to spend the day in central London! It started with a train ride from Camberley into Waterloo station and then to buy theatre tickets for the night. We decided on "The Mouse Trap" a London classic that has been playing for over 60 years. Then... the best part of the day.. we went to walk around Chelsea! I am obsessed with the show "Made in Chelsea" so I just needed to see it in person. As we were walking, I walked past a pop-up store of a clothing brand designed by one of the cast members... and she was inside! I went in and introduced myself and she was so so nice! And took some pictures.

Then we met up with Jessica and her mom for dinner! It was SO nice to see another familiar face and I couldn't do this without her. Well I could but it would not be as easy and I am so thankful she is here with me!!! Dinner and the play were fabulous and then we took the train back to Camberley.

I have just been preparing and brainstorming ideas on how to transform my classroom into the year 3 theme of "Wonderland". It will be a lot of work but the results will be worth it and the children will love it. I work all week this week; planning and setting up my class. Then the little kiddos come on Sept. 3! So excited.

Caggie and I in her store! 

Dinner at Jamie Oliver's restaurant

I live in the cutest town ever.

Camberley is absolutely adorable. We are staying at the Premier Inn, which is in downtown Camberley and the town centre. In the town centre, there is a huge mall... which could be dangerous!! H&M, Topshop and so much more!

Yesterday when I arrived I went to get a UK phone number, which is way cheaper than back home in Canada! Then scheduled some apartment viewings with the only two apartments that were available to rent basically. The first one was horrible. It was in a sketchy part of town, and was above a Subway sandwich shop... so the whole place smelled like subway. It was a two bedroom but the walls, carpets and ceiling was stained and I would have hated to live there. The second flat we looked at was a one bedroom house and a five minute walk from my school (perfect!). I fell in love with it and it is absolutely perfect. It has huge windows and is two stories. The living room and kitchen on the main level and the bathroom and bedroom on the second floor. I don't get to move in until August 29th because it takes a week for paperwork to process and they are doing renovations on it. I signed a lease yesterday!!! The first day in the UK and I have a house and phone! Today, the second day, I opened up a bank account, found a doctors office to register with, and applied for my National Insurance Number.

Camberley is so beautiful. The houses are all old fashioned and made of brick and there are even hiking trails through the wooded areas by my school.

Here are some pictures of my new house :) It is still under renovation so I will post more when it's all cleaned up and once I decorate it. The theme will be pink, white and cream... obviously.

This is the view from the main street. 

The renovation trucks block the door, but this is the front!

Front door with a BEAUTIFUL bay window.. where I will have lots of coffee :)

This is upstairs in my bedroom!

Living room with the kitchen behind it. 

And so it begins!

I have made it to Montreal and have 4 more hours until my flight to London, England! It was a strange feeling leaving home and saying bye to my amazing family and friends. I packed my life up into four (very heavy!) bags and am ready to pursue my dream in England. I am so excited, nervous and anxious to start my new adventure. My next post will be from my new home in Camberley!
Lots of love to my family and friends, I couldn't do this without you! xoxo.