Ta, Hello, Guten Tag, Hola..
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| my street in Brum |
As I have thought I have not really gotten the time to update my blog on a regular basis, which is a shame. I thought today, after having had my first formal observation from Cilt (the organisation with which I am doing my training), I don’t do anything and give you a quick update about what is going on. I am still here, still breathing and still the same old me – I am just way too busy lately…
I am slowly settling in. Things are mental though, I seem to be constantly working. But I knew that before this year anyway. It is busy, different, exciting, exhausting, and educational, it is a challenging year that’s for sure. Good that I am not afraid of challenges.
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| in Harborne with Olly and Dan my new housemate |
Although it is lots of work, I also have had some great moments here. Half term was wicked. I did not do anything for one week which was amazing.
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| reunited with Olly and Chris |
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| Dan, Eve, me and Olly |
Olly and Chris came on Friday and we chilled out and discovered Birmingham during the day. At night Evelyn joined us – with her suitcase, in a bar, discovering B’ham’s nightlife. And the next day it was rugby, footy and any sport that certain people might enjoy. We girls took off and explored Brum, talking and talking and talking as one might imagine.
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| standard picutre with B'ham's symbol the "bull" |
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| posing in the custard factory |
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| happy because everyone was there! |
After that we headed down South where we stayed at Chris’s and spent a couple of amazing days.
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| Old Harry in Dorset |
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| some luvely food |
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| lovely village next to Corfe Casltle |
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| Dorset Coast |
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| Durdle Door |
It was just great to get up in the morning and not have to think about school. We had lovely food, took some great walks, saw gorgeous places, drank lots of whine and caught up properly, which was desperately needed. On our way back we visited Shakespeare country, dropped Eve at the airport and headed to the bullring to go shopping (I bet Chris wished he did not have agreed, once I am in a shop there is no stopping me….). Like always time passed by way too quickly, and sooner as I wanted I was back at work…
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| Iron Bridge George_West Midlands |
Besides working hard, I also managed to do some things sometime, those moments are rare but I really cherish them! I try to go running once a week –who would have thought, I have to say I quite enjoy it, it just helps to take my mind of work.
A friend with whom I lived in Palo Alto visited me spontaneously in Brum. It was so god to see him, to think back about my time in the States, to talk for hours and hours as we used to do! As well as he always pushes me in my thoughts and makes me think outside of the box!!
I also try to do some stuff in terms of culture vulture blabla…The other day I went to see a play. Finally something social, something that is not related to school… Currently Birmingham is hosting the “Shout Festival”, a queer festival, where different performers are showing their art. I went with a fellow GTP trainee to see the show. It was quite funny and peculiar because the location of the play was very interesting. One must know the play was about homosexual love and the adoption of children. The setting was a church. So who would have thought? And the couple were a white British and a South Asian British woman, from Bradford, which is way up North, just next to Leeds. This made me reminisce about my year in Yorkshire. What a good time that was! In tune with the content of the play (very intimate and private), the audience was likewise extremely small, which perfectly suited the topic. The actresses were very good, bringing poignantly across the frustration and difficulty of adopting and raising a child, the ignorance homosexual couples have to deal with, etc. So, all in all, a very good play.
A couple of weeks ago, I managed to see a spoken word performance, as there was the art festival in Brum. Spoken words are essentially a mixture of hip hop, poetry and singing. The poet was a young poet from Birmingham, who besides poetry has a passion for boxing. Very interesting combination I have to say. He gave a poetry workshop for young kids who got coached for two hours and then performed in front of a small audience. Nerve-wrecking that is! They were great though, some of them did just amazing performances and I wonder how it is possible that they are so young and so creative. Who knows if their potential gets fully encouraged in school or by their parents…
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| Noah and the Whale |
So, as you might have already gathered, I start liking Birmingham, besides my initial inhibitions... There is lots going on in terms of arts, music, ect. I did go to two concerts: Noah and the Whale and Sarah Blasco, which were both very different but brilliant in their own way.
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| best carrot cake!! |
I start discovering many small independent coffee shops and artistic venues. One of my favourite spots is the “Custard Factory” as you can find small quirky shops, different artists exhibiting their art, small performances, etc. It is a thriving place. What a shame that I haven’t got more time. But at least I am trying to take some advantage of it!
Apart from that I have been busy, learning something new every day about myself, about England about the school system, about the world ;). It is a very exciting year. I could not have been luckier with my school, as I’ve got an excellent mentor who pushes me and supports me a 100%. The kids are nice (well at least for most of the time) and I enjoy working there.
I’ve even managed to start a Spanish class, which I was not sure if it would really happen. But it did, and it is great. I love every Wednesday because the kids are enthused about the language and I can just teach them and enjoy Spanish with them, without any exam pressures, schemes of work whatsoever. I am coaching a Colombian girl for her A-levels, which is quite funny, considering that her Spanish is definitely better – but then again I can speak “the proper” way and I know how to write essays, etc. which helps her! So it is brill!
Well enough blabbering. This was only a short update for all of you whom I have terribly neglected in the last couple of weeks. Sorry for that. Not sure when I’ll have time for a new update… I’ll probably be back home already, as I’m coming home on the 17th of December…which will be great. I am looking forward to all the Xmas cookies, the mulled wine, being spoiled by my mum and seeing all you guys! Have a nice advent time!
Ta-ra!
Michi
