Happy Thanksgiving!

I write this knowing that Thanksgiving Day has come and gone for many of you. Alas, I had to work on the real Thanksgiving - a first for me but it wasn't all that bad (stressful, but nice). My school in 'Muchty has been so welcoming that when my headteacher, Jane, asked if I'd do something with my class to teach the rest of the school about Thanksgiving, how could I refuse? Not sure my class could survive an actual play without bloodshed, I decided we were going to create a Thanksgiving tablou (for lack of a better word). Basically, the kids would be "still lifes" in scenes from the Thanksgiving story while narrators told the audience what was going on. Just to clarify...never have I taught drama or art prior to this year. So with only about 3 and a half weeks to throw this together I was not sure I could really pull this off.

My kids and I read books about Thanksgiving (brought over by my sister Jen when she visited a few weeks ago - a blog yet to come) and watched some nice cartoons via United Streaming to give them a background on the holiday. From that point, I tried to let them run the show as much as possible - literally. Each student presented a storyboard of what they remember being the most important events in the story and I chose the 7 scenes that popped up on the most of their lists. They were then split into groups that had to design the backdrop for each scene, arrange where any people would be standing in their scene, and provide me with a list of needed props/costumes (along with a breakdown of what we needed to make vs. what they could bring in from home). And it worked. The excitement and ownership my kids felt during the few weeks before our presentation (not "pageant" as the Mueller family has been calling it) was fantastic. Every time they saw "Thanksgiving Project" on our daily schedule, that's all they wanted to do the rest of the day.

The major hiccup in the operation was the flu. Not swine flu, but just your run of the mill flu. This past week, we were doing our run through practices in the hall with 7 kids out of 23 gone on Tuesday and then 8 out on Wednesday. Who knew who was going to show up on Thursday? Our dress rehearsals were noisy and disorganized. With seven scenes and 5 backdrops, there were a lot of props and people constantly colliding "backstage" (we wheeled in 4 portable bulletin boards to work behind). The school's new sound system wasn't working so you couldn't hear the narrators. Props were going missing or were destroyed. Kids were fighting with the spears we created for the Native Americans. With the entire school AND parents showing up for our tablou on Thursday, there was no way to back out discretely so I just held my breath that it wouldn't be THAT bad.

And we did it! The kids were GREAT! The mike and sound system were finally up and running. The kids mastered who was in charge of taking down/putting up backdrops, who needed to be on what side of the "stage" at what time, where all the props would be stored on each side of the stage, etc. They got a great round of applause and people kept coming up to us all day telling us what a great job they did. Maybe that was because they were just being nice but I don't think so. My favorite memory of the real dress rehearsal was sitting next one of my students, Sean, who turned to me after we had run through most of the show and said very frankly,"I think what we've done looks good. The transitions are running smoothly and the narrators are nice and clear. I think if we can just get the noise level backstage down for those last two scenes we'll be ready." This kid just turned 9 (today, actually). I loved it!

I brought my camera in to video tape the whole event for you but forgot all about it once we started our performance. Sorry! As proud I am of my kids, I am hoping our 15 minutes in the spotlight (it was a 15 minute performance!) was it for the year. It was exhausting. It did make me realize how much I miss having a classroom where you have flexibility within your own schedule. I think there are very few elementary schools left in our area at home where it would be okay to drop other subjects to focus on something like a presentation like this. I also have the entire month of December ahead of me where I am supposed to be making cards, calendars, and other crafts with my kids. We will be going to a Christmas pantomime (Pinocchio), having a Christmas nativity, and party after school. Are we doing too much holiday stuff here? Do we not do enough at home? I don't know but I do know there is a HUGE difference so far in how my two schools approach the holiday season. I'm torn because I know I am now behind academically and will be cramming a bit before the Christmas break but I wouldn't have traded this experience with my kids for anything (and it was quite interdisciplinary - history, drama, art, teamwork, etc.). Food for thought...

And speaking of food...I am currently enjoying the fragrant smell of candied sweet potatoes in Andrea and Brian's apartment in London. Today is my Thanksgiving! I did celebrate at school - with the presentation, a Thanksgiving lunch with the whole school, and 4 pumpkin pies I made (thanks to Jen and Libby) for my students and staff - but today is the day where I am surrounding myself with good friends (Janet and Allen are due around 3) and good food. So while you are all busy shopping and getting Christmas trees, I'll be enjoying turkey, pies, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. So Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Let's Talk About the Proclaimers and Rugby

You know, the Proclaimers. "I would walk 500 miles..." guys.

Little did I know when I moved here that this group was such a part of the area's history. The Proclaimers are from the little village of Auchtermuchty in Fife. That's right, I teach at Auchtermuchty Primary. The 500 Miles group grew up going to my school.

This fact is nice within itself but I am amazed with all the places the Proclaimers pop up! I went to the local youth theater's performance of "Back to the 80's" this past weekend. A good 10 minute portion of the show was dedicated to joking around about the "nerdy guys from Scotland" before the two leads broke into "500 Miles" - with full audience participation.

Last night, I went to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to watch Team Scotland take on Australia in rugby. It was a pretty good game - definitely a more interesting 2nd half than first. I discovered that everything that annoys me about US Football (sorry but anyone who knows me should know I pretty much loathe American Football) is eliminated to play rugby making it a very watchable and enjoyable sport. Scotland is an OK team from my understanding where Australia is a very strong team. We have not beaten them since 1982. Until last night! What a great day to go to my first rugby game. With 2 seconds left on the clock, Scotland was ahead 9-3. By the end of that last play, Australia had finally crossed the line and brought the score to 8-3 AND they still had the chance to kick for another 2 points. All looked lost. The Scots were about to lose despite their once commanding lead. And the Aussie (aussie, aussie, oi, oi,oi) blew the kick.

The energy level was off the hook! So in this moment of history for the Scottish rugby team with an almost full stadium, what song do they blast out in celebration? You guess it..."500 Miles". With full audience participation (for the second night in a row). I suppose this loyalty and pride in The Proclaimers can be likened to hearing a Bon Jovi song at any New Jersey wedding. I'm happy to jump on this bandwagon - I've always loved the song and now realize I will forever associate it with my year in Scotland.

October Holidays - Part 2

I mentioned that my October holidays hit a snag when my sister Erica and friend Christine both had to cancel their trips fairly last minute. What could have been a bleak day for this Mueller turned out golden in the end. Christine found a good flight that will have her spending New Year's Eve with me in Scotland. Since the Edinburgh New Year's celebration is one of the best in the world, I really didn't want to go it alone - and now I don't have to!! The only snafooz to this plan is that both of us arrive in Scotland the morning of Dec. 30 - but I'm coming back to Edinburgh and Christine is flying into Glasgow. We have over a month to ponder that little predicament.

The other good news was when Erica was given the green light to take a long weekend for a visit. This meant I still had a few days that second week of break to do me stuff - I went to Rosslyn Chapel (of Da Vinci Code fame) with Louise and her family, did some hiking and exploring of Fife, and got some school work done prior to Erica's visit.

When Erica first gave me the big news that she was coming (she had kept leaving me messages like "Call me back - we have to talk..." and "I have some news" but then couldn't understand how I correctly guessed that she was now going to be able to come visit) she asked what the weather was like. She assumed that it was always rainy here and would have to pack appropriately. In all honesty, September and October had been absolutely lovely. Mid-50's, bright sunlight, really nice. Erica managed to jinx all that with a simple question. The entire week before her visit and during her visit was a rainy, rainy mess. There were pockets of nicer weather that managed to coincide with when we wanted to go walking around outside but by the weekend, even that luck had changed.

So I brought Erica around Fife that first day. We explored St. Andrews, visited the cathedral ruins, watched the breakers out in the water (roughest I have ever seen them), tried to visit the castle (but they were closed for lunch), and enjoyed afternoon tea in the Old Course Hotel. It was a great way to introduce someone to Scotland - especially a jet-lagged person. We meandered through East Neuk, a collection of quaint fishing villages in Fife, before heading back. Day 2 brought us north of Perth where we visited Blair Castle, the village of Pitlochry, and Edradour Distillery - Scotland's smallest. Erica even had the chance to meet my friend Louise and her kids (who put on a rather energetic pre-bed display that had me laughing when I know I shouldn't have).

Scotland clocks fall back an hour one week before the US and it happened to occur on this particular weekend. On Saturday morning, my friend Mindy, another Fulbrighter from Northern Ireland, was coming to spend a few days with me before exploring the rest of England. The following weekend was to be our Shakespeare weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon and she was using her October holiday to do Scotland and the Lake District. This meant yet another trip to the airport which was exciting but I was thrilled knowing that I had an extra hour to sleep in...or so I thought. Daylight savings comes into effect on Saturday night, not Friday night - a fact I know but didn't really think about until it was almost too late. By the time I realized we had slept in erroneously, we had 25 minutes before Mindy's flight (and it is a 40 minute drive). I basically screamed for Erica to get up, threw on clothes, and raced out the door. Fortunately, her flight was a bit delayed but she was definitely off and had her luggage before we got there.

And that was the day of getting soaked. We headed to Stirling Castle where it was pouring down buckets. It was cold and rainy all day - just awful. The real shame is that we weren't able to fully appreciate the castle whose place in Scottish history is fairly significant. Because the Forth River cuts into much of Scotland, Stirling rests in a location that for years significantly marked the "gateway" into the country. Many battles took place between the Scots and Brits around Stirling and the castle was frequently changing hands. It is truly located at the top of the town and has what I would imagine to be an amazing view (but we certainly couldn't tell). We then thought to venture up the nearby Wallace Monument (after William Wallace) but abandoned ship on that as well due to the weather. The best part of the day was sitting in a pub in Stirling in front of a fireplace trying to warm up - so nice...

Sunday was bit better as we did yet another palace - Scone ("skoon") Palace - home of the albino peacock- and Stanley Mills where there a great interactive exhibit on how water was used to power the mill. I would bring my kids there if that had anything to do with what I taught. Sadly, this was also the day I had to drop Erica at her hotel by the airport (she had a 6 AM flight so the airport hotel seemed a better option). We grabbed a bite at a local pub called the Bruce where for about 7 pounds we got a full meal (best fish and chips I've had so far) AND full afternoon tea with cakes and scones. Such a bargain.

Mindy sadly left the next morning (but I saw her a week later so that was nice) and I was off to face the reality of going back to work. It was so nice to have visitors, especially ones who bring new sneakers, 72 oz. bags of chocolate chips, and rainy weather.

The October Holidays - Part 1

I imagine this is the closest I'll have for a long while of experiencing the joys of what year-round school must feel like. I started teaching mid-August which seems very early by most American standards. That said, I just got off a two week October break - something I'm quite certain American schools do NOT have (unless on the year-round cycle). Initially, my friend Christine and my sister Erica were supposed to come visit for one week each. We were going to gallivant around Scotland in my super-wagon to see what the rest of the country had to offer. When it came down to it, however, both had to cancel their trips towards the end of September (don't worry - both of these non-trips have happy endings, just bear with me) leaving me with two weeks to fill with exciting adventures. I was perplexed.

So I went with Plan F as I've come to think of it. I rang Andrea in London and invited myself down for my first week off. Having been to London a number of times, it was great to be there A. mid-week when it was significantly less crowded and B. with no clear cut agenda of what I needed to accomplish. I've done the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden (but I go back there every time anyway), St. Pauls, Westminster, etc. a number of times. So I opted to explore some more out of the way places as well as some of my favorites, including the West End Theater!!

My first night in I got off the train at Kings Cross, traveled with all my luggage through the Tube at rush hour and just made it to the 7:30 show of Wicked. It was fantastic. Though I love Idina Mentzel and Kristin Chenoweth, I think I loved my two leads even more. If you've never seen it, put it on your list. And to think, this wasn't even the best show I would see during my week in London. It was fortunate that the show put in me in such a great mood because I needed something positive to make me forget the awful beyond awful hotel I stayed in that night after the show. Andrea and Brian had company my first night in town so I found the cheapest possible hotel (that seemed decent, at least). I checked in at midnight and was out the door by 8 AM. Feel free to ask me about it later but I don't want to taint my blog anymore than I already have with details of this "hotel." Mental note: Sometimes it's worth an extra $40 to stay at the Days Inn.

I spent one whole day wandering around Hampstead Heath - one of the most amazing pieces of green spaces I've seen in (or kind of near) a city. I also walked from Marylebone (where Andrea and Brian live) to the Tate Modern (one of my favorites) and back, sort of. I was mapless the whole day and wanted to travel without using the tube so I got a bit turned around in the crazy London streets. I finally took a taxi back to Marylebone when it became obvious that I was going to be late for dinner with Andrea and Brian and our friend Janet and her husband Allan. I tried... Later that night, I clocked my journey on a GoogleMaps and discovered I walked at least 11 miles that day but that doesn't include walking around museums or all my lost wanderings. By and by, I literally left Covent Garden and walked past the Lion King only to find myself in that exact spot where I started from 30 minutes later. I do not know how that is possible but it reminded me of the time traveling cross country when we saw the sign for Rte. 666, made a mental note to not turn onto it, and found out 30 minutes later that we ended up on it anyway. Without ever turning!! I guess you had to be there.

As I mentioned before, Wicked was great but not the best bit of theater I saw during my week. That honor is reserved for the West End production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. For those unfamiliar with the movie, it's about three drag queens driving across the Australian outback in a bus called Priscilla to put on a show at Alice Springs. I am very protective of my movies so when I hear that one of my favorites has been made into a play/musical, I am skeptical. Case in point, I have not seen Billy Elliot yet despite being a bit obsessive about the original movie. I'm so scared it will not be the story I know and love. I'll face that demon eventually. But Priscilla was everything I could hope for in a theater adaptation. It had the original Oscar Award winning costumes (and more), the original story (all major scenes), the original dialogue, and the original soundtrack (and more). It was over the top, raunchy, funny, energetic. Basically everything you'd want out of good night at the theater (if you're into drag queens dancing around stage to Thank God I'm a Country Boy).

But when it comes down to it, this was a trip to visit good friends who were first rate hosts (I mean they put up with me for 4, 5? days). Andrea and Brian may soon get sued by the local B&Bs for poaching their potential customers. Rarely does a week go by that I don't hear of someone coming to visit them. And they are always happy (or at least put on a good front) to give up their living room for company and to make sure they are well taken care of during their time in London. Thank you both! I will see you soon for Thanksgiving! (oh, my, that makes it 3 times in 3 months - I obviously enjoy the London hospitality immensely)

And so my break was off to a great start. Week two, however, is where things fall into place...

On Holiday

I have officially been here for two months.

And at that, I am speechless (or in this case, writeless?).

This past Friday was the last day of our first term of school. As to be expected, this meant dealing with rather hyper students for the past few days but who could blame them. Heck, I was equally excited! I get two weeks off in the middle of October - how awesome is that?! That said, I am sure once the spring terms roll around, I will be crying a little bit because I have one term that is - gulp - 13 weeks long. Ugh...

I figure this is a great time for me to reflect on what life has been like in the classroom for me. My day is shorter than it is at home but often feels longer. Though school starts at 9 instead of 7:15, I go pretty much all day until 3:00 when the kids go home. I still have a great lunch break, mind you, but in the US I'd be done by 1:00 so this longer teaching day was a bit of a challenge to get used to.

I rather enjoy teaching multiple subjects. Math and science are still my two fall back subjects as far as my teaching comfort zone goes but I am slowly learning to embrace the other 13 subjects I teach as well. Actually, I'm not sure it is 13 more...let's see: Math, reading, writing, comprehension, handwriting, problem solving, mental math, science, RME (religious and moral education), topic, art, drama, PE, spelling, and health. Yup, that's all 15 (I think). Right now I'm really getting into Art. I am not at all skilled in art as many of you can attest but am having fun trying to teach my kids about topics such as negative space and how to shade in spheres.

Challenges so far: 1. Keeping my crazy class focused when doing quiet work especially during reading and math when there are multiple groups at work. Very hard for me. Suggestions welcome. 2. Finding ways to make my teaching dynamic. With 15 subjects to cover in a week, I'm struggling just trying to find the resources for my lessons. Amazing learning experiences are definitely not on the menu just yet. 3. Grading - or the lack thereof. I mark the kids' work but I'm not entirely sure I'm doing it correctly. Luckily, my fellow teachers have been very generous with their time by showing me what they do for grading.

The grass is always greener, right? At MEH, I was often frustrated with how often we were expected to contact parents but here I am equally frustrated that parent contact is not commonly used. It is so much easier to have a student behave and do work when the parent is also on board. At MEH, we meet so much that it is often hard to find time to get work done in your classroom. However, I find myself wishing there were more meetings to help me get my bearings. My point is that there is no perfect system. Both schools are wonderful and frustrating at the same time as I imagine most schools to be. There is no perfect formula for how a school can function. Learning to create an effective classroom environment in any school environment is the lesson I'm taking away from this experience so far.

I needed a shock to the system, so to speak, in my career and this is definitely getting the job done. So many people have asked, "It's not that different, is it?" Teaching is teaching no matter where you are so that part of my job isn't that different. But the kids are so different. The curriculum is so different. The expectations, the resources, etc. are all so different. So, Yes, it is very different teaching over here and I know I am going to be that much of a better teacher when I get back to the States. As for right now, I am very much still in "new teacher" mode. And this new teacher is looking forward to her first break. Yay!!

Glee

My friend Corey has been bugging me since this spring to catch the new Fox TV series Glee. The show follows a high school teacher trying to lead a group of outcasts to singing stardom in the school's glee club. I'm not going to tell you much more than that because you really need to check it out for yourself. As Corey aptly predicted, I LOVE this show. I have finally found a website that will let me watch it in Scotland and find myself wishing I were back in high school (and who would really want that) so I could join/form a glee club of my own.

The cast is amazing! Jane Lynch (from Best in Show and 40 Year Old Virgin) plays the evil cheerleading head coach who wants her full funding back (she now has a split budget with Glee Club) and is hell-bent on destroying the misfit singers. She is pitch perfect (note the pun) and always finds creative ways to put the singing group at odds with one another. The idealistic leader of the Glee Club is played by Broadway's original Link Larkin, Matthew Morrison (name that musical). Not only can he really sing (as all the members of the Glee Club can - their numbers are fantastic!) but has that 'aw shucks' demeanor down in way that is lovable, not annoying.

If you love Broadway or show choir or comedy, you need to give Glee a shot. I was 5 minutes into beginning of episode 4 last night when I had to pause it to call Corey and let him know how right he was. 1/2 of me was singing along and the other 1/2 of me was laughing so hard I had to back up the scene to figure out what I was missing. For me, that is a perfect combination.

Importance of Friends

I love my friends (and family) very much. If it weren't for my parents, sisters, and friends I never would have made it on this little journey of mine. Cleaning and packing with one arm was much harder than anticipated. It also calms me to know that Gillian is in good hands with all of you. So thank you very much!

On my end, I have been fortunate in my first month and a half here to not only make some new friends but to see some very dear folk in my life. On day 10 of my Scottish existence, my friend Linz came to stay for about a week. It just happened to be when she was already going to be in the UK and I was not going to turn away a friendly face as I tried to adjust to my new home. My mom was very excited that Linz was coming but that was because she's a doctor and felt it was good for someone of the medical persuasion to be around in case my shoulder spontaneously fell off (or something of the like). Linz is an OB/GYN so I'm not entirely sure what she would have done about my shoulder but if it made Mom feel better, so be it.

Linz lived for her week here on my brand new double tall, double sized blow up bed. So those coming to visit...it's here waiting for you. (or you can cozy with me! But I talk in my sleep - I'll say it for everyone out there "Shocker!") Immediately upon her arrival at the Ladybank train station, I put her behind the wheel of the car so she could feel competent exploring the Kingdom of Fife while I was at school. We fell into a comfortable routine of her dropping me off at school in the AM and picking me back up again before we made dinner and turned in for the evening. On the weekend we played tourist in Edinburgh and a place called the Hermitage. Seeing how at that point I was very disheartened about the students I was teaching, her company provided me with that bit of fresh air I needed to persevere. When she left me for a few days in London (and then a cooking class for a week in Italy and trip through Ireland), I was a little sad and lonely for a few days. It was the reminder that I really was on my own for the year.

This past weekend I ventured to London myself for a Fulbright reception at the US Embassy. It was nice but probably sounds more impressive then it really was. However, the best part of my weekend was another friendly encounter. Yet another of the Jersey girls, Andrea, has been living in the UK for the past two years with her husband Brian. They live in the adorable neighborhood of Marylebone next to a butcher and a French cheese shop and two blocks away from the lovely Regents Park. But they could be living in a tent under the bridge and I still would have loved seeing the both of them. Though I have met some warm people since my arrival, there is something so calming about being around people with whom you can really be yourself.

We did little besides eat and drink and walk (and walk some more in my case but that's another story) and it was great. It was what I needed to recharge my battery for another few weeks. I plan on seeing them soon for a Thanksgiving chow down. If I can't spend Thanksgiving with my family I am fortunate to be able to spend it with dear friends.

My final note on friends relates to my gimpy shoulder. It seemed like having shoulder surgery 2 weeks before leaving was going to be a bit of a disaster for me. What a blessing in disguise it's turning out to be. My first real friend here is my physiotherapist who lives about 1/8 of a mile down the road. She loves science fiction movies and is a chatterbox too. I am going to go hiking with her family (husband, 2 year old, and 4 year old) this weekend and we hope to go to the movies soon (Time Traveler's Wife). It never ceases to amaze me the circumstances under which people can find kindred spirits.

To Linz, Andrea, Louise, and all those yet to visit - thank you for your friendships. They mean more to me than I can say - especially during this year.

The Braemar Games

Two weeks ago, I met up with the Scottish Exchange Club to venture up north to the town of Braemar for the very famous Braemar Highland Games (more specifically called The Braemar Gathering and Highland Games). The exchange club is comprised of Scots who once went on a teaching exchange to American, Australia, or Canada. I'm sure they would include anyone who has taught abroad but those seem to be the only places anyone has traveled. I certainly hope there is an exchange club at home because it was so nice to be sought out by this group who arrange a variety of outings for any current exchangees in Scotland. I met a number of Australians teaching in the area and listened to the Scots beat themselves up about how they have failed to track down the visiting Canadians. What a lovely idea....

So early Saturday, September 5, I headed off with two Scots and one Aussie (but met up with about 10 more!). The weather was not promising but, let's be honest, the weather never is very promising here. We were prepared with warm layers, boots, and rain jackets. As we entered the low highlands, we drove through hills lined with freshly blooming purple heather. Apparently only in bloom for a few weeks each year, even the Scots thought the heather was the most beautiful it has looked in years. They probably say that every year to the new exchangees.

What are Highland Games? Good question. Highland Games are a sort of track and field set of events with a very Scottish twist. There is a hammer throw, track sprints, and the long jump. Those are pretty normal sounding events for the most part. More unique events include the hill run where contestants do a lap around the main track before heading up to the top of one of the neighboring hills. This is a HILL. Once they reach the top, smoke is sent up signaling that the first person has reached the top and is starting his (or her) descent back to the main field. The real interesting bit is watching them come back down the hill. Going up, the runners must follow a designated path; on the way down, no holds barred. Though only really visible with the help of binoculars, watching the runners basically fall/run down the hill was amazing. And they do the whole thing in about 30-40 minutes.

Members of Her Majesties Armed Forces compete in a massive tug o'war competition throughout the day as well. It really puts Field Day at MEH in perspective. I think we all really need to start training our kids a bit earlier to make a real contest of it. Each team even has a coach to get them into a pulling rhythm. In the midst of the running, hammer throws, tug o'wars, etc. on the field is a little stage where children and teenagers dressed in delightfully colorful kilts compete for the title of Best Dancer (in different categories and age groups of course). Additionally, pipe bands from all over take the field every 20 minutes or so to compete for the title of champion Pipe Band. All in all, a very odd conglomeration of competitions going on at the same time.

There are highland games all over the country (and the world for that matter). But what makes Braemar so famous is that the Queen always makes an appearance for at least an hour - just in time for the tossing of the Caber. What's that? I haven't mentioned the caber yet? So sorry... Basically, big strong men pick up what looks like a skinny telephone pole (called a caber) and have to toss it so that it flips over at the 12 o'clock angle. It was amazing how quickly we all became experts on what angle the caber fell at. (yes, I ended with a preposition - I'm over it) Even more amazing, none of the other events made room or cleared out once the caber started getting tossed. A few times, the caber definitely did not fall in the desired direction causing a bit of excitement on the sprinting track.

As I peered through the binoculars at the Royal Family from our perfectly lined up grassy patch directly across from the Royal box (did I mention the exchange club has gone to the Braemar Games a few times and knows how to work the system?), it came to my attention that not only was the queen in attendance (with Phillip, of course) but so was Prince Charles and Princess Anne! I even waved at Phillip who looked like he was peering my way with his binoculars. He did not return the sentiment. Oh, well...

To check out more about the games, you can head to http://www.braemargathering.org/index.html. I will try to get pictures up tomorrow so you all can look at the events in action. We ended the day in the town pub rubbing elbows with the participants and listening to wandering pipers. Definitely worth seeing if you are ever in Scotland for the first Saturday of September.

What a Lovely Day!!

As I sat on my couch this morning, curled up and trying to recover from my first Scottish cold, I realized this was looking like the nicest day since I've been here. Finally I gathered my strength and ventured outside. Sure enough, it is BEAUTIFUL out today. Basically every day has been the same 62 during the day, 59 at night, rain a bit, sun a bit, etc. Today, however, is completely cloudless, rainless, and about 72 degrees. Positively balmy.

So I first made myself finally go join the gym in the larger town nearby called Glenrothes (Glen-ROTH-es) before walking across the major highway near my house to explore the Garden Centre. Turns out the Garden Centre, aside from being a good garden center, has a rather nice restaurant where I enjoyed tea and scones and did something I have been putting off since I got here - I wrote in my journal. Now, I wrote for a while today and am still only "in the States" but it felt good to finally get over that hump and get it started.

Writing the date on my journal entry made me realize that I've officially been here for over a month!! Wednesday, in fact, was my one month anniversary. What have I learned in that month? Well, I'm pretty confident driving on the wrong side of the car and road (though I still try to get into the car on the wrong side every single time). I can somewhat drive down narrow roads and pass another car without wincing quite as much as I did when I first got here. I've also learned that as much as driving to a cheaper, larger, more well stocked grocery store is nice, there's something to be said for walking to the more expensive local shop around the corner (literally). And I've also learned that as good as I think I am at understanding the Scottish accent, at least once a day I still stare at someone (often one of my students) with a rather puzzled expression wondering what we are talking about.

But I'm doing well (except for this whole being sick thing). I get to visit London this weekend for a reception at the US Embassy and see my friend Andrea. I'm VERY excited. I still need to tell you about the Highland Games I went to last weekend but my camera is at school and many events require visual aids.

I am going to post pictures of my beloved Muller's Fruit Corners - a yogurt yumminess that I enjoy every morning. They are simply divine and make me happy even when I'm having a rough day. It's the little things...

I Went to Starbucks

You know, I was going to treat this like my dirty little secret and keep it to myself. But I realized, I am not ashamed of my actions. For over three weeks, I've had tea and coffee and tea and coffee and tea and coffee. The Scots love their tea and coffee and the breaks that revolve around the consumption of these drinks. They are break times.

So on Saturday, I was visiting St. Andrews for a lovely pedicure (I've been craving one since I got here!) and a wee wander about. There are probably 8-12 coffee houses/bakeries within the 4 blocks I was exploring. But when I saw that familiar sign, all I really wanted was a Chai Tea Latte (a Grande Skim Chai to be exact). I sidestepped a landmine before I ordered by reading the menu carefully - you are charged MORE MONEY if you eat/drink in the store. So I wisely chose to "carry out" my Chai Tea (for lack of a better term).

It was too hot (all hot beverages here are scalding hot to me - I admire those who can immediately down their cups), had an overly strong Chai flavor (especially towards the end), cost an amount that I am ashamed to say I spent, and caused problems when I brought it in my car as I have no cup holders. And it was the most perfect Grande Skim Chai I have ever had. *contented sigh*

So it may not be a weekly treat (did I mention that I don't want to tell you how much I spent?) but it really hit the spot.

A Little Bit of a Slacker

But not really. I realize it has been a long while since I have posted anything about my Scottish adventures but, frankly (I threw that word in for those who will miss hearing me say it), I've been busy. Why so busy, you might be asking. Two words: School Started.

I have been warned a million times over that this year will feel awfully reminiscent of my first few years of teaching. The reality is, however, that this IS my first year of teaching. Teaching in the UK that is. Everything is new and different and I'm constantly playing catch-up. It is beyond fascinating to note the differences (and similarities) between my two schools. I'm hesitant to even suggest these are differences between an American education system and Scottish one because I know there are schools in the US I could be teaching at right now that would also feel like a foreign country.

Let's start at the very beginning...last Monday, August 17. And some things never change... For two days, I bonded with my fellow staffers as we sat through the traditional Back-to-School inservices. Yes, I will be careful not to walk on desks while hanging things in my room. I will wear gloves if a kid starts bleeding all over the floor. I will be sure to approach each lesson from an interdisciplinary viewpoint. I sat through mine (all the while wishing for time in my classroom) and very soon, all my dear American friends (and Gillian) will sit through theirs.

Perhaps the saddest thing about those first two days back, is that my room looked (and still looks) so sad compared to everyone else's. I had prepared myself in so many ways for this exchange but I never knew how much I would miss all my stuff. My students and I had a great talk about matter on the second day of school and I desperately wanted to have my cabinet of science goodies to pull out so we could do a spontaneous demonstration or experiment. But I had to redirect the discussion so I could track down supplies for another day. The end of the world? Hardly. But it was an unexpected glich.

As you will learn more about my students in future blogs, just know that our first week and a half together have been interesting but we are definitely on our way to forming a more cohesive classroom environment than existed the first few days of school. I never in a million years thought I would say this but - I miss having constant and expected contact with the parents. It is not the norm for a teacher to call a parent, jot them a quick email about the school day, etc. It definitely changes discipline approaches.

Now I know you are probably dying for me to return to the topic of Fruit Corners from a few weeks ago but you'll have to wait until tomorrow. It is 9:00 here and I'm actually going to go to bed. Exhaustion and a still rather sore shoulder are taking over right now.

Being Busy (and not)

Today was my first day since I've been here where I've had nothing on the agenda. As much as it's nice to have a day to myself, there's part of me that feels a little lonely about that as well. That said, I am frequently guilty of craving a free weekend when in the US only to be bummed that I don't have plans when it finally arrives. Some things never change...

The past few days, however, have been packed with meeting new people and wrapping my mind around what promises to be a very unique year of teaching. On Wednesday, I went to school for the first time, had tea with two of Gillian's good friends, and had dinner with 7 ladies from staff. Thursday was a day of doctors for me as I met with both a doctor about my shoulder and a nurse so I can be registered with the National Health Service (NHS). There's part of me that's curious if I'm currently getting a taste of the health care system Obama has in mind. My day ended with a visit to my physiotherapist. Not sure what I was thinking, I showed up to that appointment with absolutely no painkillers in my system. Ow, ow, ow!!!

Yesterday, Gillian's godfather Ken brought me around Fife for about 8 hours. We stopped by railway stations to get time tables for trips to Edinburgh, had tea and coffee at a local farm stand (by and by, this area is known for their strawberries so I always get them fresh and yummy!), and drove through East Neuk (an area of quaint fishing villages just south of St. Andrew's) where I enjoyed my first real fish and chips experience. Then we headed to Kingbarnes golf course where Ken's daughter Donna works (I can sense Dad just drooling at the mention of Kingbarnes - this is one of the top, if not the top, golf courses in the area) before exploring different gym membership options for me. Needless to say, I cannot afford the gym/superspa at the Old Course Hotel (unless someone is willing to front me about $1700). We ended our adventure at his beautiful house having tea with Ken's delightful wife, Pat. We enjoyed comparing notes on the education systems of the US and UK before Ken drove me back to my flat. I was quite tired from the long day but felt I had met some really wonderful people and, despite the relentless rain yesterday, saw a number of places I'll be sure to visit again (on a nicer day perhaps).

How quickly the rain comes and goes here. I had given up on a decent day today when I woke up, rather late, to fully overcast skies. No blue in sight. But I have just returned from an hour long wander down the lane wondering if I shouldn't have put sunscreen on afterall.

I'm off to go read and write in my journal for a bit before contemplating cooking something for dinner (or I'll just make a sandwich). Eating another Fruit Corner today would seem too indulgent unfortunately. What is a Fruit Corner? Don't worry I have pictures all set for another blog entry so I can properly introduce you to one of my dear, dear friends.

Pictures...Maybe

I did it! Hopefully you can see them on the blog but here are some pictures of my new home and town! Next goal: label each picture NEXT to the picture. That's too hard for me to figure right now. Any advice?

Picture One: I went for a short walk a few days ago along

this pretty country road. My town is to the

left towards the back of the image.

Picture Two: This is my street in Freuchie, Fife. I live on the

right, just past the other road.

Picture Three: The view from my front yard.

Picture Four: View from the Tea Room at the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews - this is the Old Course.

Picture Five: This is the view outside my bedroom window. I love these flowers AND the lilacs that grow right outside my living room window.

A Quick Retraction...

...before bed. The phone situation: So it has been brought to my attention today that I do NOT have to pay when receiving calls on my cell phone. I was misinformed and apologize for any damaging confusion this may have created. You may all get on with your lives in peace. Whew!

A Busy Couple of Days

I love my sleep. I think I'm going to be ready to go for the day after a good 8 hours but not so much... Not sure if this is the jet lag or my body wanting to heal my shoulder but I'm enjoying my cozy new bed immensely.

The last two days have been rather productive for me. Wilma, Gillian's mother, has been the hostess with the mostest. Yesterday she showed me my new school, took me to the local mall for lunch, helped me buy a cell phone (I'll come back to this topic in a moment), brought me to the grocery store, AND to the surgery (doctor's office) so I could register with the National Health Services. Then she braved the passenger seat as I drove myself around in my new car. I think I did quite well - slow but well. Today we went to St. Andrew's where we had tea and coffee overlooking the Old Course in the Old Course Hotel. It was quite a rainy day so we opted to drive around so I could get the lay of the land. I will explore on foot another time.

I also had a great physiotherapy session yesterday with a woman who lives no more than 1/4 of a mile down the road from me. So I rambled through my small village on two percocet - luckily no one tried to strike up a conversation. The new American in town may have earned an interesting reputation if that were the case. I don't know what it is about physiotherapists but I have had two who are wonderful people! Maybe I should consider making that my second profession as some point (you know, so I can become a wonderful person as well).

Finally the sun is breaking through today and I might venture for a wee walk :) before my car guy, Billy, comes by to show me the nuts and bolts of my car (like how to get the speedometer/odometer to work). Tomorrow reality sets in as I head to school to get my classroom set up.

OH! I almost forgot - the cell phones. Cell phones here are SO EXPENSIVE. The phone itself is quite cheap but I am paying about $0.34 a minute to make a call AND to receive calls. That's right - here we are charged everytime someone calls us as well! I think most Americans are lucky that is not the case in the US. We'd all be broke! (or broker)

I'm Here

After one of the craziest months of my life, I have finally arrived in beautiful Fife, Scotland. There are horses in a paddock outside my front door and lush rolling green hills in the distance. To top it off, I also had one of the best flights ever. Namely due to my own personal TV with 40 movie choices. Jen, they had Meet Me St. Louis! Can you think of a better way to kick of a year long adventure in Scotland than watching Meet Me in St. Louis? (though I chose Mary Poppins instead - after watching Star Trek). Go Continental!

My gimp arm left me at the mercy of strangers and every one of them has been super accommodating. I had a porter not only carry all my stuff off the plane, but whisked me to the front of the security line, and lugged all 3 check on bags (50 lbs. each, thank you very much to Jen and Corey) off the belt and through customs for me.

I spent much quality time today with Jane, my headteacher, and Gillian's parents who were amazing. Tomorrow Wilma (Gillian's mom...mum...) is going to brave driving around in my new used Vauxhall station wagon to get groceries, a phone, and doctor. Yup, my arm hurts something awful after this very very long weekend. Beena (my PT) will be happy to know, however, that I remaining vigilant in keeping up with my exercises.

As a final thought, there is a smell to Scotland that is quite comforting and I know I will forever think of Scotland whenever I smell it.