Polska (Part 3)

Hello...

Well, the next part of my trip is on a brighter note - the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This was an unreal tour! I had a small tour group; myself and a really friendly couple from Ireland (they were so friendly I actually thought they were Canadian!). We walked down 54 flights of stairs...about 400 steps down into the mine.

Looking down from the top - 54 flights to go!

This was neat! Altogether, we were 150m below the ground (3 chambers - there were 6 (!!!) more below us too, unreal).

The 3 chambers that we did - 6 more below!

The legend of Princess Kinga discovering salt...



This entire chapel is made of salt! Services are held here, and weddings too!

Some king...it was a cool statue!

I just couldn't get over how amazing the salt mine was - from the statues (carved from salt by the miners) to the architecture. It truly was another existence down there. Thank goodness we didn't have to climb back up (I think we did 800 steps altogether to get down), we took one of 3 elevators back up - took all of 30 seconds to make it back up!

Am just getting to head out to a pub with some friends (or mates!) - cheers to the weekend!

Much love. xo

Today is the 5th anniversary of the tragic death of a friend of my sisters - hard to believe that it has been that long. Thinking of her and her family, especially today. xx

Polska (Part 2)

Hello...

Here are some pictures from Auschwitz-Birkenau (3km from Auschwitz I)

The feeling of being here was overwhelming. The vastness of this place was strangely empty. It was an incredible moment that I will not be able to describe to you.

Walking into Auschwitz-Birkenau


The tracks that led straight to the gas chambers...

Barbed wire fences




Latrines - thousands were assigned to this one

Inside the barracks...12 people slept in ONE bunk, sometimes more...

A day spent doing a lot of reflecting of how such an atrocity could occur, only 66 short years ago.

Tomorrow, I will post about some happier things I found in Krakow.

Although sad, tragic, unimaginable, I feel so strongly about sharing this. My generation is the last that will know of the living survivors of the Holocaust. It is up to us to continue telling not only their stories, but what they lived through.

Much love. xo

Polska (Part 1)

Hello all - I am home...well, back in Oxford. I had an amazing and complete NERDING trip. It was a good trip to do on my own, as I could do what I want (aka NERD) when I pleased.

My hotel was in a very good location and was absolutely HUGE. I have stayed in pretty much every Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc across Canada, and I have to admit, this hotel was the BIGGEST room I have ever stayed in - go figure, I had it to myself! The breakfast (included) was by far the BEST best best breaky I have ever had, at a hotel. Very impressed with this place, Hotel Benefis, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is visiting Poland!

Such a yummy breaky - didn`t need to eat til dinner!

Huge Closet!

This was a cool feature - my hotel card hard to be in this for power to be in my room (aka no lights left on if I`m not in my room!)

The Only English Channel I got was France 24 (English news)

Day 1 - Auschwitz I

Work Sets You Free

A sea of shoes...suitcases....and glasses...


Execution Wall and Flogging Posts


If Prisoners went past this sign, they were shot immediately


Outside the Gas Chambers - Struggle to find words for the experience of going inside...

My experience of visiting this concentration camp is not easily summed up into words. I will say, that being there in the winter and feeling the cold (through all my layers of THICK clothes) gave me a new perspective into how strong the survivors of the Holocaust truly were.

I will continue to update my blog with pictures from my trip - there are a LOT of pictures, but I will sort through and put up some good ones!

I am headed out tomorrow night with a few of the guys for probably about 6 hours on the bike. Saturday night, the house mates are wanting to go out and celebrate the end of a long week. Sunday, I will hopefully get to see the cutest babbas and have a visit with Catherine.

After my trip to Poland, I have concluded, that I am extremely fortune to have grown up in such a rich and free country. Have never been more proud to call myself a Canadian.

Much love. xo

Leavin' On a Jet Plane...

It's WAYYY past my bedtime already. Was hoping to get an early in, but I always seem to forget to print off my travel documents and boarding passes, so have been fussing around trying to do that, but the printer here is broken. Super lame. Will have to pay stupid amounts tomorrow at the airport to get it done. You would think I'd learn by now...

Anyway SUPER excited. Have packed everything into a carry-on (really the only way to travel).

Wish me luck in my nerding adventures.

Much love. xo

Welcome Half-Term!!!

Hello!

Officially...I am FREE of students for one whole week. What a glorious feeling. Went out for cocktails with a group of teachers last night at a posh bar in Oxford. It was good fun, and got to know a few more teachers. A few of us ended the night getting the most amazing pizza....from a van! (Sounds sketch, but was actually amazing).

Today was a PD Day - was very tired, but got through it. Planning a 12 hour (!!) day of biking with the guys when I get back from Poland - better not have too many perogies while I am there...

Heading out Sunday EARLY...about 4am I'll leave Oxford and head to Gatwick. My plane should be in Poland by 11am (an hour behind England time).

Really looking forward to it - am kind of bracing myself for an overwhelming (emotionally, historically, nerdly) trip, but truly think it will be one of those once-in-a-lifetime sort of experiences for me.

Here's to what the next week has to offer this Canadian girl!

Much love. xo

2 More 2 More!!

2 more days until HALF TERM BREAK! Wooohooo. A welcomed break.

4 more days until I leave for my trip to Poland - very exciting.

This week has been good so far. Still sorting out behaviour (never ending) but made good progress with a few students this week. The small victories are just as important as the big ones.

Also saw some very cool things happen last night at basketball - a 6th Former (senior student) went up to a Year 7 student after the scrimmage, and invited him to come out to another basketball club in the city. It was SOO neat to see that happen. It is exactly the kind of leadership we are trying to instill in the older students.

Biking was canceled tonight due to the rain - but hopefully we can get out tomorrow.

Stayed after school tonight to play badminton with a few of the teachers and a couple students. It is funny how things just...happen. As we were packing up the equipment after class, 2 teachers just pick up rackets and start playing...all of a sudden its 5:00 and more teachers and students have joined in. Fun when spontaneous sport like that happens.

This is a picture I took last weekend - can you figure out which way it goes?

All for now.

Much love. xo

Canada Day?!

One week from today, I will be eating dinner in Poland! Sooo looking forward to that trip - just have 4 teaching days to get through and a teacher training day on Friday! I am sure it will feel like the LONGEST week of life.

On Friday, I went to Wallingford after school. Had a bit of extra time before Catherine and the babies got home, so I took the opportunity to do some nerding! Went for a walk over to the castle grounds and enjoyed a few moments of "what this must have been like hundreds of years ago".






Had a great weekend with them, as always. There was a bit of homage paid to Canada this morning, as the kids were dressed in their Roots clothes and Gareth made us pancakes and of course there was maple syrup! SO yummy! It really smelled like every Sunday morning back home.

Teaching Oscar to be nerdy - step 1: Glasses

Looking forward to some basketball after school tomorrow night.

Much love. xo

It's Official...

...I need to marry an English bloke.

Found out on today's pay that I am officially paying taxes over here...bollocks!

Its been a weird week, in the sense that all the craziness seemed to be at the start of the week (which usually doesn't happen). Hopefully tomorrow will be a busy Friday, but not as challenging as the first of the week has been.

I stayed after school tonight to help out with table tennis. About 14 students showed up to play. You can tell that there are competitive P.E teachers in our department, as 4 staff members stayed to play these students. It was good fun - I think the students enjoyed to see us be competitive with them and each other, but obviously having lots of fun.

The guys have canceled mountain biking for tonight, but hopefully we can get out on Sunday at some point. Restful and quiet evening ahead - looking forward to tomorrow at 3.10pm!

Keep thinking positive things for the school to find a place for me in April, once my contract is up. I would really like to stay at this school - am enjoying it.

Happy weekending!

Much love. xo

Mountain Meyhem!

I have REALLY been enjoying my mountain biking..or EXTREME mountain biking at night. The guys have asked if I am up for Mountain Meyhem - a 24 hour race in mid June. Challenge has been accepted! There is another female teacher at school interested in it too, so that will be good, have the females represented! Sounds like a wicked experience - its in Herefordshire, just west of Oxford.

http://www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBSvymLkmUU&feature=player_embedded

Had a busy, and bit of a challenging day at school today - behaviour wise. Thankfully, I work with a great staff who are there to support and back you up when needed. I did basketball after school today and had the usual crowd of about 20 students out. They are all good kids, so its good fun. Its nice to see some of my year 7 girls progressing and not being put off by the 6-foot-something six formers.

Last night was the Superbowl - you don't really realize how much you actually miss certain things until they aren't convenient for you anymore...I am not a big American Football fan, but generally always watch the Superbowl and partake in some sort of party. It obviously isn't a big deal here, and was only talked about at work, for my sake, between colleagues. Glad I didn't stay up past 2.00am to watch it thought, my team lost.

Enjoy your week!

Much love. xo

Only A Week Ago?!

Yes...crazy to believe, that only a week ago I was with my family in Canada...for the weekend!

I think I am all caught up on my sleep - which is a great feeling.

I booked my half-term trip today - Poland for 4 days (20th - 24th). I am VERY very excited for this trip. It is a big one to take, on my own...but then again, look where I am living. Four days of absolutely nerding will be like...heaven for me. I am heading to Krakow...and hoping to get down to Zakopane for a day or afternoon of snowboarding (MAYBE - trying to not get my hopes up).

Here is a picture of what I was doing last weekend at this time....

Four Generations of Beauty!

Grandma, Granny, Mama, Katharine and Moi

Much love! xo

Basketball + Volleyball + Football = Ouchie!

Hello!

I had a very active day today - including an after school football match with the teachers. I thought we were all going to blow away though - it was SOO windy, a little rainy and COLD. Good fun though - a nice way to end the week. Am feeling the pain in my legs though tonight!

Busy busy week - am looking forward to just relaxing this weekend - and maybe planning a trip or something away from Oxford for half term.

Here are some pictures of my house mates and I out a few weekends ago -

Sam (landlord) Tess, Marcus and Artur (used to live in the room I'm in).

Have a great weekend!

Much love. xo

To New Beginnings!

Hello -

Well, I found out for sure that my contract will be ending on April 8th, at the school I'm currently working at. There was a small glimmer of hope that there may have been a position for me, but found out today, it is no more! Must mean something bigger and better is waiting for me...just not looking forward to being back on supply...especially since I have settled in so nicely to this school.

Taking it easy again tonight - tomorrow will be a LONG day as it is Year 7 parents night.

Hope all is well - here are some more pictures from the weekend.

Lots and lots of hugs - is that a tear, daddy-o?!!

Happy "37th" Grandma!


Katharine and I with Grandma

Just after the surprise with Grandma & Mom

Much love. xo

New Month, Jet Lag and Trips

Hello all -

Well, as most of you know I made a very short, but WELL worth it trip home this weekend - to Canada. Was able to get home (after an 8 hour delayed flight from Gatwick) and see my granny. She seems to be doing much better than I was expecting. It was great to visit with her, and see her enjoy a few presents from England I brought her. She is in a very nice home about 5 minutes from my grandma's and seems to be well looked after.

Phillip, Moi, Granny & Katharine

I only told my sister and her boyfriend that I was coming home this weekend - so I pulled off an epic surprise for my grandma, Ross, mom, dad, brother, and all my aunts and cousins. Their reactions were all different and hilarious. Since my grandma opened the door, she got the first hug...there were lots of hugs, a few tears and a lot of surprised people!

It was all very surreal being back home - there is something to be said for being in a different country and coming home for the first time. I felt extremely patriotic seeing all the things you ONLY see in Canada - Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire (you would think I would be sick of seeing this place after seeing pretty much EVERY single store in Canada), Petro-Canada and of course being around people that UNDERSTOOD my language!! Although, I did have a year 9 today in one of my classes tell me that she feels like she understands when I speak because she has a lot of family in America - it was very cute, but then I worried that they really don't understand my words - haha.

Although I am still COMPLETELY knackered, I would make the trip again in a heart beat. Time with family can never be a waste, or a regret. I am so very thankful that I have such an amazing and close family that are completely worth flying "over 4000 miles" for a couple hours and days of visiting.

Continue to keep my granny in your prayers - she has many goals left to fulfill! She is counting down the days until the Royal Wedding and told me she always thought she would live to be 100.


I will continue to share more pictures from the weekend as they get sent to me.

Much love. xo