A New Guard, A Neat Market, & A Darling Cafe

Where did this weekend's exploration take me?

First, Georgie and I headed to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. Must I say what an extravagent and time-consuming affair to have to happen every other day in Autumn and EVERY day in the Summer. Roads blocked, pedestrians everywhere, and police officers / security who on repeat have to say "Keep the gap clear!, Move to the side!". 

We arrived around 10:50 am, thinking the event happened at 11:00, but it didn't happen until 11:30 so we stood and waited (atleast it was bright and sunny!). We engaged in discussion about how if we were police officers, we would be mounted police. They seem to have it made, just riding around on horse back. Do they actually engage in high speed chase? Or stop crime? Or catch people speeding in their cars? Doesn't seem as though they do.

Finally the processional began, and the drums, trumpets, and marching began. 

We couldn't see much of what happened once the procession got inside the palace gates, so we left. All in all it was still exciting to see a bit of what all of the fuss is about!

We headed to Spitalfield's Market near Liverpool Street Station. We wandered amoung the many stalls looking at different jewellary, art work, knick knacks, food, and clothing. For lunch, I even tried something new! A pork bun and some assorted dumplings and other oriental delights. 

A pork bun - It was pretty tasty, mind you I had to ask for a fork to eat it! How very un-oriental of me to not use chopsticks. Baby steps.

This is the food stand our lunch came from. Thank you Keke!

After more browsing at the market, Georgie and I decided to find a cafe for a hot drink and something sweet. Since I had spotted someone with a take-away bag from one of my favourite cafes, I suggested we find it. So using our trusty iPhones, we began our hunt for...

So amazing, I had an English Breakfast Tea and a slice of Vanilla Cake with pink frosting. Delightful! :)

The Year 4 Experience

This past week, I had the opportunity to do a short term supply cover in a Year 4 classroom. Here's what I learned...

1. Migration & immigration are too similar of words. Migration means to "move from one country or region and settle in another" and immigration means "to enter or settle in a country or region to which one is not native". Huh?
2. Children take a ridiculously long time to get ready to go home at the end of the school day at EVERY age.  I could have had the children pack up at 3 pm for a 3:25 pm finish time and it still probably wouldn't have been enough.
3. It is very hard to teach when you are sick and losing your voice.
4. There is no way to teach without talking.
5. Getting children to race for "team points" is a great way to get students to do something quickly!
6. Children like to be silly, and if as a teacher you can show them that you can be silly too, they will actually think you are human and respect you as a teacher.
7. If children are rocking on their chair, tell them a horror story of something that happened to you or someone you know who was rocking on their chair, and they will stop. Atleast for the next 20 minutes.
8. Just do your best. Teachers aren't perfect and mistakes are okay. Just try again tomorrow!
9. The smoother the surface, the less friction there is when a shoe moves across it. The rougher the surface, the more friction there is when a shoe moves across it.
10. The name Aman. "It's A-man, not Ah-min." Got it.
11. It actually is helpful to have students who don't like to go out for break, it means you can relax a minute while they hand out work and set up your lesson resources.
12. Don't forget what it is like to be a student. Especially a young one. I think the longer a teacher can hold on to that and still put themselves in the position of the student, the better a teacher they will be.

The End Of An Era

This is a little bit off topic as far as adventures abroad go, but I saw the final chapter of the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 on Saturday the 17th. 

It made me reminisce about all of the Twilight movies and basically the journey I have been on between the release of the first movie to theatres and now. I saw Twilight, the first one, on my first date (ever) with my ex-Victor. So, essentially my dating life began with Twilight. Just to think where I am now and all of the relationship experiences I have had since that time in 2008 is crazy! There's been lust, longing, obsession, heartbreak, hurting, tears, smiles, laughs, frowns, and everything in between. Now, the memories of seeing the movies in between are a bit foggy I'll be honest. I know I saw Eclipse in theatres twice, once with my Mom and once with a friend named Hannah. Then Breaking Dawn Part 1 I was a little late on seeing, but I watched it with one of my best friends Denise. New Moon is the one I really am just completely lost on! I apologize to whoever I saw this with that I don't remember! I do know I loved this one because it had a lot to do with Jacob, my favourite character. Team Jacob all the way!
So, I encourage those of you who are Twilight fans to think of the journey your life has taken from the release of Twilight to Breaking Dawn Part 2. What adventures have you had? How are you the same or different from then to now? Just something to think about.

Not As Amazing As Little Hugs But Pretty Close...

On Tuesday & Wednesday last week, I taught a Year 5 class at Stanburn School, one of my favourite schoolsd and one I have visited most often. Remember the school with the singing assembly? It's this one! (I got to be a part of another singing assembly too that featured London's Burning in round form!). 

Now my time with this class got off to a rough start. I had taught them for a few lessons here and there in the past, and had basically been tested by a few characters in the class! However, I let them know I hadn't forgotten my time with them! While Tuesday I spent the whole day speaking to the class in a raised voice, and spent a fair amount of time at the gym that evening releasing my pent up energy, Wednesday was like a 180 degree turn in behaviour! It might have helped that a few children were absent for the Diwali holiday, but I just couldn't believe my luck! And then to get this card signed by quite a few of the children, it was like woah! I guess I won them over! While it doesn't beat little hugs and waves from young children, it sure does make you feel pretty good as a supply teacher! 

On A Monday, I Begin Again...

Why Hello There Mr. Goat!

So today, on a bright and sunny walk to Oxford Street for some shopping, Georgie and I met this darling creature...

A goat! It looked like he was on a school's property. But he was up on a small cement perch just looking at people passing by on the street.
So, of course we had to pose with the goat!

Georgie & the goat

Me & the goat

What a day!

It's the Circle of Life

On Tuesday, November 6th I saw my first musical in London (with the best date in town, Miss Georgie Ford, I must add).

The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in Covent Garden was phenomenal. I was so happy to see this production after all these years of wanting to!

The music, the costumes, everything was amazing!

I came home and immediately purchased the musical soundtrack on iTunes for only 4 pounds!

I highly recommended The Lion King to anyone who has not seen it!

Hakuna Matata! :)

All Aboard to Windsor!

On Tuesday, October 30th I visited the quaint town of Windsor with my two roommates, Georgie & Kelly. This was my 2nd time taking a train to a location outside of London, and it was a gorgeous day for it! Bright and sunny, a bit chilly but no rain!

Our first stop of the day (well the first official stop, as I had to have a treat from a cafe to make sure I made a few more hours until lunch without getting grumpy!) was Windsor Castle, home of Queen Elizabeth II and her family (Georgie fun fact: Windsor is the last name of Queen Elizabeth, so it actually is her family castle).

The castle is huge, and from the outside it definitely didn't seem very livable, but apparently it's home to over 150 individuals!

It was neat to see all of the State Rooms inside with ceiling murals, crystal chandeliers, velvet carpet and beautiful tapestries. On display was also a gigantic doll house featuring rooms that replicated that of royal rooms, including the maid and male servant rooms, a luggage room, a linen room to the master bedrooms and children nurseries.

The grounds were beautiful as well and were the perfect backdrop for some group photos!

After completing our tour of the castle, we ventured to a pub for lunch and found one called The Carpenter's Arms that looked quite traditional and cosy. A great place for a chicken & mushroom pie and a cider!

Our next sight was a short walk to Eton to tour around Eton College, a private school for boys starting at age 12. We even walked around the grounds (although I definitely felt like a trespasser!). It's such an old building, that I couldn't even imagine attending school there in the 21st century. Considering all public schools I have been teaching in are modernized with Smart Boards and electronics, this school seemed like a trip to the past!

What do you think? 

We ended the day with a stop at a local fudge shop and a sweet shop to buy candy for the ride home. Oh, and I also found a new friend, a Scottish Piper teddy bear that I have named Hampton. It was love at first sight!

Happy Halloween!

Picture This: A pumpkin, the Monopoly Man, a vampire, a cheerleader, a cougar, a geek, and a German beer girl all under one roof.

Georgie, myself, and Kelly

Kelly & Matt

Kelly, Myself, Georgie & Marzena

Jennifer & Jason

Add a bit of alcohol, some candy, and music and that is Halloween at 106 Finchley! :)