Good Life

On my way home from the gym today one of my favourite songs came on shuffle on my iPod; Good Life by One Republic. I have listened to this song many times, belted it out with friends while driving to the beach, or listened to it to turn a frown upside down. But something caught my attention this time - the opening lines...

Woke up in London yesterday

Found myself in a city near Piccadilly 

Don't really know how I got here

I got some pictures on my phone

New names and numbers that I don't know

Addresses to places like Abbey Road

Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want

We're young enough to say

These words describe everything that has been going on in my life the past three months. Everything has been so new, so different, so challenging, but so fun.

Last week I had one of the most incredible weeks and the happiness and excitement of where I am and what I am doing really clicked. We had our first British snow day, and what a delight that was looking out the window to see roughly an inch of snow, already melting. But the week continued to get better with one of the greatest moments I have had at my school, or probably any teaching experience I've had so far.

10 students out of 23 are away from school ill, it's a revision (studying) lesson, usually something pretty boring. But, given the snow day the day before, the huge lack of a class, I decided to make it a little more exciting. We had a snow ball fight - with paper. I told all students to write a question on their piece of paper, crumple it up into a ball, stand up, spread out, and maybe take cover. I had one student ask "Miss, what if I threw this at you?" To which, my response was "Not yet!" The moment I said "SNOW BALL FIIGHT!" I had thirteen students turn around and throw paper snow balls at me. 

Moments like that one are the moments I have been living for as a teacher. The moments that have been lacking at my school, but also back in September, moments I never thought I would have at this school. 

This week continued with something I have always wanted to do, it was a big dream come true and turned out even more amazing than I ever could have imagined. After all the years of watching the English Premier League on TV, I was finally in a stadium. The stadium to my favourite team; home of the gooners - Emirates Stadium. Being inside that stadium was like nothing I have ever experienced. The stadium was massive, but completely filled with fans and full of song. The constant chanting of "ARR-SEN-ALLL! ARR-SEN-ALLL!" had the same echoing feel as the vuvuzelas in South Africa. The cheers for the goals, the standing ovations for the substitutions. Such pride and a true sense of ownership is taken by the fans developing a complete respect and passion for the team and for the sport. The atmosphere at Toronto FC games may be fun, but most of that atmosphere is a party. The atmosphere here was an environment of passion and love of a sport and a specific team. It was incredible. (As well, the comments from the fans were actually knowledgable suggestions or remarks!) But, this experienced was peaked when Thierry Henry walked through my box. Henry is my all time soccer hero, a true legend and my absolute favourite. I saw him play in the MLS last year, and was lucky enough to see him score in that game. I thought that was an incredible moment. But when he was walking through, he passed me with only the width of the seat behind me, the wind from his walk blew my hair, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. My hero had just walked right beside me. As a friend of my Dad puts it "I went to heaven and saw God."

Life in England has made such a turn around since September, my life has made such a turn around since September. For once in my life I am beyond excited to come home. I have some of the most amazing friends at home and unfortunately it took me moving away to realize how great those friendships really are. But as the song continues...

Oh this has gotta be the good life

This has gotta be the good life

This could really be the good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling you can't fight

Like this city is on fire tonight

This could really be a good life

A good, good life

Those words define exactly it. "Like this city is on fire tonight." I am travelling, I moved to some where on the other side of the world, doing what I want to do in a city full of excitement. 

To my friends in New York, I say hello

My friends in L.A., they don't know

Where I've been for the past few years or so

From Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out

Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now

We all got our stories

But tell me what is there to complain about

In September I wasn't sure how long I would stay here for. Some of the fights with "friends" that were triggered by me moving away were heart breaking. Being away from my Mum when she was sick was extremely challenging. But as the song says "We all got our stories, But tell me what is there to complain about." (This is a particularly refreshing lyric, because boy do British people complain, or as they say, "winge")

When you're happy like a fool

Let it take you over

When everything is out

You gotta take it in

This is the good life, and with the holidays quickly approaching I hope everyone realizes that and has very, very happy holidays. Enjoy the music video and listen to rest of the worlds, they truly are great. Thank you to everyone who have been reading my updates at home and all over the world. Enjoy the good life and see you all very soon (9 days!!)

A Walk Along the Ocean

I don't know what it is, but there is just something so relaxing, mind settling, peace keeping about walking along the ocean. And after some crazy couple of weeks, this was perfect. A perfect battery recharge and a final push for the next three weeks before the holidays.
I had Friday off of school, so for my long weekend I visited my godmother, Louise. I spent Friday wandering on my own, walking through many different small towns, up and down the high streets, taking pictures. It was on my way to Banstead that although, not a history buff, one of the things I love most about England is it's hidden treasures. I am came out of a footpath, I was sidetracked by this old church and a graveyard that was full of the above ground graves. As much as cemeteries creep me out, I was awe struck by the history and the beauty of this one. I wandered around looking at the stones, becoming emotional at the age of some of the people or the families buried together.
My godmother and I have a very quiet relationship, in that not much talking goes on, but we both enjoy each others company and the small conversations that do take place. As we walked from one side of the Brighton seaside to the other side, we walked beside each other, pointing out the beautiful buildings and sights, but mostly in silence, taking in each moment and the beautiful surroundings.
Brighton is a gorgeous town, directly on the ocean. It is known as the San Francisco of England, but is nice in that is has a very open culture. Although extremely busy, it also a very calm place, and busy without the hustle and bustle of London. There is so much to do and look at, and although it was absolutely freezing, it was still a beautiful weekend there. However, can't wait to go back in the summer!
As a child I loved the Little Mermaid, and was deeply interested in sea life, particularly Whales and Dolphins. I think in my past life I must have been one of the two because the ocean still holds a heavy portion of my heart. During the stresses of this year it is my whale music that calms me. Maybe an embarrassing fact to share, but there is just something about it that eases me. It is what I listen to when my mind won't stop working. And that is exactly how I felt this weekend. Waves crashing, seagulls chirping, kids laughing - the beach is where I belong and this visit has only just confirmed my plans to move coastal for next year.
While in this state of solitude I started to think about my journey in the past three months. The ups, the downs, the greats and the horribles. I signed up for an adventure, but had no idea what that entailed.
A part of travelling that I love is the changes it leaves on you as a person, the impact a place has on developing you as a character. Heading into El Salvador and South Africa I knew the challenges I was going to be confronted with, I had an expectation of the impact these places would leave on me. I knew my teaching practice would improve and I would learn all kinds about school, but I did not expect such big personal changes in such a short time.
It's hard to believe that in three months, I went from thinking this was the worst life decision I have ever made and wanting to come home, to absolutely loving working at this school, being a maths and science teacher, to a science and cover teacher, to a science, cover and PE teacher and now the most recent science, maths and cover teacher. Being away from my Mum when one minute she's cancer free and the next she has cancer to a one month later when she could possibly be cancer free once again. From the stories I hear of my students, or the craziness of my coworkers. To now getting ready to move an entire school. All of these have become a part of my life story. A story I wanted to write a new chapter by moving here.
Part of my coming here was an escape from my hometown, a runaway from a horrible relationship and a time to figure everything out; myself, who I want to be and what I want to do, and without the suffocating aura of Oakville drama.
Moving here I felt the distance, but immediately something was lifted off of my shoulders. There was no one to impress, no one to pretend to be; it was just me. Some sort of freedom took over and I could breath clear once again. A sense of pride in myself and an invitation to fully express who I am was extended.
At home, everyone has watched me transform from a very timid, young girl to an adventurous, outgoing young lady. But coming to England, I was still very unsure of myself as a person. I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't know who I wanted to be. I was trapped in this people pleasing body, but not happy about it. For far too long it has lead me to heart break, it has gotten me lost, and resulted in the loss of many good friends.
When I first found out about the day I was coming home I was only telling specific people, only the people I wanted to know and to see. But as I did this, I felt myself slipping back into hiding. I found myself retreating, back to who I was before I came here and letting myself be controlled by Oakville and the people within it once again.
As I walked along the beach in Brighton, I was thinking about this journey and where I have ended up. A sense of confidence in myself took over. A sense of accomplishment brought smiles to my face. I am doing what I want to do, I am where I want to be and I am here for my own reasons, not having some unknown power control me. I am no longer in hiding. I have made it public knowledge when I will be home, and I am not afraid of who knows or who I see when I am home. I finally have a sense of freedom and can breath easy. Enough of the madness, move on, and conquer the world.