Wandering London
So I don’t really know what got into me. It might be that I knew it was my last full day in London and since I had been in class most of my time there, I wanted to take full advantage of it. This prompted me to get up early and head out into the great streets of London. I started out in Hyde Park and walked all the way up past Harrods. And then to the Natural Museum and beyond. After that I took the Tube a couple stops up to Notting Hill. I knew Karin really liked it there with all of its street markets and cute stores. I was hoping to find something special for her - but I zeroed out. Well, it made for a nice walk and I was able to capture some great photos along the way.
You would think after all of that walking I would just go back and pack for my journey the next day, but I wanted to say I to Karin so I jumped on the tube one more time and took it a couple stops down to the Apple store. They have nice theater chairs available and free wi-fi. Well I closed with store and realized it was time for some food. From my last trip to London, I remembered a little Brazilian buffet just a couple of blocks up from the Apple store. Even though it ended up being much further than I remembered, it was worth it for the 2 coxinias and guadana I had. Plus, I need the energy, cause once again, I just continued to walk, walk, and walk. Basically all the way back to the dorms in Islington. I had blisters all over my feet. But I really had a nice time.
TTC in London
Today I finished my 4th Teacher’s Training Class course. This year I took Technology Integration and an Assessment class. Now only one more summer with two more classes and I will have an International Teaching Certificate. In addition, the courses I am taking will apply towards Mater’s degree. I will only need to complete 4 more additional courses and I will have completed Masters (2 courses are online; the remaining 2 courses: though attending conferences for credit or by attending 2 more TTC courses).
Beyond enjoying the TTC content and material learned, I have also really enjoyed sharing experiences and connecting with other teachers. It gave me a new level of anticipation and confidence for beginning the search for a new school Karin and I can teach at. I have meet so many teachers from so many different countries. Some near and some far. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the Gambia, Japan, Lebanon… you name it! And there was even a Brazilian teacher from the school that Karin and I interviewed at three years ago in Campinas, located in the state of Sao Paulo. Many possibilities for our near future!
The craziest connection was when I was sitting next to Noriko, a Japanese teacher who spoke flawless english. In between our school work, we were chatting about Japan and the USA. She proceeded to tell me she attended college in Michigan and was esthetic to find out that was where I lived. When I mentioned Grand Rapids she about fell over! She said she attended a small catholic college in GR named Aquinas College. So I whipped out a paper and drew a map showing her how we had lived a block away from her on Mayfield Avenue! Crazy! Of course the conversation digressed as we talked about all of our favorite places in GR such as Kava House, Eastown, and Reeds Lake. What a small world. From London to Japan to Mayfield Ave.
Visiting Wales and Fiona
On the 25th of July I started taking my second summer of TTC courses in London. Unfortunately, unlike last year, I had to travel alone without Karin and Amira. On the 29th, with my first course done, I had 2 nights and one day free to do some sight seeing. Through Facebook, I was able to connect with Fiona Marr, a good friend who taught at ASK our first two years in Kuwait. While she just came from teaching in Venezuela, she has a house in south-east Wales. Kindly she invited me to come up and visit her and see some sights.
I had a great time even though I started off my trip very poorly. I had just left a pub with some teachers from the TTC, where we were having a conversation about the iPhone and how it could be a disadvantage to have everything important on one devise. Of course I would disagree. Well, arriving at the buss station, I realized how my laptop, with a dead battery, had my confirmation number for my eticket. My mobil was also dead with Fiona’s number in it and even if I had a charge I had just ran out of minutes! There was no where in the station to get a charge and everyone I talked to that day was really rude. Obviously everything worked out but I really had to work to find an outlet to get my “life” back up and running and in time to get on the bus!
Once in Wales, I made my way in a taxi to meet Fiona at her friends house in the city of Newport. Her friends, who where extremely hospitable to me, had a great chicken dinner prepared for me on their backyard patio. There, I was educated by her friend of the differences between being Welsh and English. From their accents, governments, different english word meanings, to yes, even their beer, wine, and cider. It was a great evening of meeting new friends.
Wales was beautiful. So green and peaceful. Fiona said I was lucky that the whole time I was there it was sunny and bright. I guess this is not the norm. We spent most of our time strolling around her village, looking at the local castle (Raglan), taking a buss to the nearby town of Manmouth and having a picnic in the park with Fiona’s favorite UK food, Mark & Spencers.
On our second night I had the best chicken pie I’ve ever had at the local pub. To top it off, we watched “The Man that Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain” staring Hugh Grant. A classic movie that depicts Wales and what I had been seeing and “hearing” all day.
The best part of Wales was simply reconnecting with Fiona. We had many great talks over such a short visit. It was definitely a nice change of pace from the course work I had been doing.
Thanks Fiona!
London and Ghent
After visiting London and two hard weeks of studying for Paulo, we were off for a little R&R in Ghent, Belgium. A wonderful historical town full of the arts, historical buildings, shopping, and thriving college population.
London
Here are photos of our amazing trip to London. It is definitely a great city filled with great people. The more we were there, the more we feel in love with it. Paulo was on a mission, working on schooling, while Karin and little Amira had her mind on the sights.
We were able to meet many cool people while in London. Dean and Kris Dryden, friends of a friend of ours, showed us amazing hospitality by housing us for the two weeks while we were in London. Dean is a youth pastor at the Fulham Church. It was great sharing time with them, Pastor Martin, Leigh and family, and the many other great people of the Fulham community. Thanks guys!
Through Paulo’s TTC courses, many great friends were made as well. Ted and Ria from Kuwait were taking the courses along with Paulo… lots of fish and chips… and Eva and Natasha hung while coping with the long sessions together. Lots of learning and sharing took place in the classroom, while sightseeing, and over meals!
As you will see in the pictures below, Karin and Amira, and even Paulo, were able to really enjoy the sights of London. We absolutely loved it!
