This has been a fairly uneventful week, the week before school starts--FINALLY. My new friend, Jane, brought it to my attention that I hadn't written anything in my blog lately which, on the one hand, was very flattering because it meant she was reading it! But on the other hand, I was thinking that I hadn't "reported out" this past week because I hadn't done anything that could top Ireland. But then I thought, that's not what this experience is about. It's not about travel and adventure (although that's certainly a part of it--and, I'm hoping, will be a fair amount of it!). It's really about experiencing the day-to-day stuff in another culture. Getting around town and finally recognizing lankmarks. Shopping. Working. Becoming proficient at operating an indescribably complicated washing machine. Checking out the public library. Stopping for a cup of coffee. Making new friends.
I've made some wonderful friends the short time I've been here who have squired me around to the sights of the area and treated me to lunches and tea. A few days ago I went with Jane and her cousin to a magnificent National Trust holding called Wightwick Manor. It's a beautiful Victorian mansion surrounded by splendid gardens, woodlands, and a pond. A knowledgeable, if slightly haughty, docent led us from room to room relating the home's illustrious history as we ogled its original furnishings, artworks, and fabrics and wallpapers designed by William Morris who I learned was the founder of the British Arts and Crafts movement.
And then yesterday, I spent a lovely afternoon with Jane and Michele, a former teacher at my school, at a quaint little French cafe in Stourbridge. Stourbridge is the closest main town to me. The town is laid out in quite a unique way. It's situated inside a "ring"--Ring Road defines the perimeter of the central shopping and business area. Like all other villages in the area, its stone and brick buildings are very old and charming.
The village where I walk to to do my grocery shopping is Kingswinford. It's about a 20-minute walk or so, which is great--but the schlep back with groceries stuffed in my backpack every few days is making me feel rather like a pack mule . . . and it's starting to get old. But then Jane told me about a service that a lot of grocery stores have here. Home delivery! (Do we have such a thing in Colorado Springs??) When she shared this bit of news with me, I could have sworn I heard the angels singing. For a smallish fee, I can actually go online and order the things I need for a few weeks at a time, and they will be delivered to my front door. What a concept!
We have a teacher work day tomorrow, and the kids come on Tuesday. In their little school uniforms. (The girls wear green-and-red kilts--don't you just love it?!) I've met most of the lovely people on staff, now I can't wait to meet the children. But I confess I'm very nervous. The Fulbright mentors have advised all along the way that we will feel like first-year teachers in our new placements--and I have no doubts that they are right. But when I think back to my first day of teaching 21 years ago, I just remember how excited I was to the point of being almost oblivious (naive??) to the nerves. That is another part of this Fulbright experience--to bring that feeling back to teaching. I'm just glad that I will be working with such a supportive and seemingly FUN group of people who, I'm sure, will help me get through those first floundering days of being a "new" teacher. Wish me luck!
Good luck tomorrow, Dedra! You'll do just fine. Yes, King Soopers has home delivery but I have a feeling they charge more than a "smallish fee." I just love reading your blog keep it up. Can't wait to hear how your 1st day goes!
ReplyDeleteLove, Carol.
P.S. Did Lauren read to you the citation of why Brandon was awared the Bronze Star? We had no idea he was involved in all that stuff while in Iraq the 2nd time! Amazing! We would worried a lot more had we known.