First Weeks, Hellhounds and Bad Meatballs

OK, a few points of clarification. First, the hellhounds referenced are not my students (although . . . ) and I'm not sure it was really the meatballs that knocked me for a loop this morning. Either way, I started off the second week of school with an absence today because I was unbelievably sick this morning.  I actually think it was the pasta sauce, which had been sitting in the fridge for over a week. I had my suspicions about it, but I wasn't sure when it had originally been opened, so I decided to take a chance - clearly a big mistake. I've never liked being absent because I always feel so guilty. Which, of course, means I don't really get the rest I need. Then, I feel so conspicuous going back to work. Double the awkwardness in a new job. Ah well, it couldn't be helped. If I had tried to go to work, I probably would have ended up passed out in a train station bathroom.

Ploy, the dog walker, took them out, but Cali didn't want to leave without me. It was funny. Ploy said they kept pulling to com back to the flat - probably because they knew I was there. My little hellhounds have had trouble adjusting. I've had to leave the radio on, and put anti-bark collars on both of them. I feel bad about it, but I can't have them barking all day. They'll get us evicted. Walks are a bitch (no pun intended) - Cali barks at everything and Brooke is in her own world. It's my own fault, really, because I never got them used to taking walks. I keep reminding myselgf that they've only been here a couple of weeks, so they'll get used to it. But Cali is looking like the menace of the neighborhood because she has that damned loud bark. No one knows that she's just a big wuss. They really loved the park the other day, so there's a glimmer of hope. Hopefully, by the time we leave London, they'll be ready for life in the other big city.

School is good but stressful. I think most of the stress is self-imposed because I'm so worried about beign sure I fulfill the requirements of the National Curriculum. I kind of miss the familiar laid back world of Ursuline. That's only because it's all new - getting nostalgic about Ursuline is just yearning for the safety of he familiar. And, I wouldn't have done this if I wanted to play it safe - so I just have to suck it up. I did do three assemblies on 9/11 during the first week (I must be crazy). They seemed to go well, and people responded favorably to them. It was hard, though, because I had to condense my usual 40-minute class to a 10 minute highlight reel. It's done, though, and successfully, so that's a relief.

The kids are good - they're not really so different ftom the kids back home. Kids are kids after all. They all asked me to do a British accent, so I did (I figured I'd get it out of the way). They're full of questions about America and American schools - wanting to know if it's like they've seen in movies. A few asked me what American teens thought of British schools, and I had to admit, sheepishly, that I didn't think they thought much about it. If anything, Americans probably think British schools are like Harry Potter (or as someone said to me recently, Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl). Truth is, there's so much more American media here than there is British media in America, so we don't have as much frame of reference. Speaking of British media, the installation of my satellite dish has not diminished my obsession with panel shows, I'm afraid. Currently watching "Mock the Week."

Time to walk the demons (I mean, the darlings) and toddle off to bed, so I can be functional in the morning!