I had free time

Free time here at Swanbourne is what I would call minimal. Between eating, sleeping and watching the odd film, I often find ways to avoid having alone time - such as playing games with the boarders or watching football with the Manchester United supporters I work with.

I am two weeks in and absolutely loving everything I am doing. I spend my mornings between classes of 7-10 year olds, assisting in PE, Maths, French and English. The most challenging part is trying to teach a seven year old Spanish kid, Ramon, English. In the afternoons, we focus on games. Every day the seniors (9-13 year olds) have games. They practise either netball, hockey, lacrosse or football. We also have a very nice swimming pool, but it would appear they enjoy to embrace the elements. I have night time boarding duties on Thursdays (boys) and Fridays (girls), and day time duty at school every weekday except Monday, which is my half day. We all have one half day a week in order to compensate working Saturday morning. On Saturdays, all the pupils, except the trannies (transitionals, they are about 7 years old) come into school for four classes in the morning before matches in the afternoons. It is only at this time that I am in the office answering phones and doing the registers.

My duties will change after half term in February though and I will move on to Matronal duties, then to Office. But no doubt you will all hear about that!

So far the snow has prevented any matches being played to I can't say whether we are any good or not. The school takes the sport very seriously though, and with a cricket tour to Barbados, football tour to Spain and netball tour to Holland, I can see why they kids might want to be in the top teams.

We have had snow on the ground here for just over a week. The first three days were awesome. We made snowmen, had huge snowball fights and took the kyaks from the pool out onto the back field to race down the hill. However, a week is a bit much. I haven't worn real shoes for nearly ten days - the pink gumboots are my mains. When I am on duty, I have resorted to having a hot water bottle inside my jacket. I never leave the Shack without hat, gloves and a scarf. Who knew I was a hat person!?

I miss the sun and hugging my mum and being able to drive when I wanted to go somewhere. I miss my bed, being able to sleep in shorts and a t-shirt and it being light until 10pm. But I love it over here and am really enjoying every aspect of my work.

We are off to London this weekend to celebrate Australia Day with the other gappies and do some touristy stuff, wish us luck!! :)

It snowed!!

 The back of the school

 The main entrance and boarding house

Our epic snowman

I travelled to the UK on a one way ticket

2.1.13             UK Bound

I didn’t have an alarm to set because I had given my phone to Hannah incase her’s didn’t work when she got back, so I was super paranoid I would sleep in and miss my flight. I woke up at 6 and was expected at Bev’s for breakfast at 8.30am, so repacked my bag, sorted through all 900 photos etc. It was nice to have some quiet alone time though. I had breakfast with Bev and then got a taxi to the airport which was 400 idr which is about NZ$8.00 The security here was super thorough with my passport being checked about ten times, three different screening zones and then being frisked and hang luggage being tipped out on a counter, – I obviously look like very suspicious. I’m not onboard the 9 hour flight to Heathrow. We left India an hour late due to heavy fog, but I had no where else to be, so I wasn’t bothered. Just flew over Afghanistan. It is absolutely covered in snow!! I waved to Rhys.

Things I have learnt:

·      Do not underestimate the consequences of actions, especially in unfamiliar territory and even more so when immersed in a different culture

·      India is corrupt: the government, the police, the way of thinking for the majority. But, I think all that is changing.

·      There are 200,000 kids living on the street in India and 12 million (I think) in India, but just because they have lived on the street does not make them pathetic or depressed. They have dreams and aspirations, just like everyone else, but unlike most, they appreciate the small things in life.

·      India has two very different life styles – rich and poor. I think it has always been like that and hence it is accepted.

·      History in India is surprisingly shallow, around the 1500’s is when stuff started to happen, I wonder what it was like before that.

·      Hannah’s grandad served here during the war, I wonder if her ever met my Grandad

11.1.13                       Swanbourne House School

I feel as if I am in Downtown Abbey. While there are no longer servants and there is no “family of the house”, the bells are still in full working order and the house itself used to be a big estate. So far life at Swanbourne doesn’t quite make sense – there are no children. Our arrival on Sunday was smooth (but for the second time there was no one to meet me). Patrick showed us around the shack and the school. We met Andrew and Liz, the boarding house parents, and various other staff.  The school is awesome. Very big and typical of the English.  The children have very a very sheltered school life with no decisions to make for themselves or independence. This is fine while they are at school here, but leaves questions over their futures and whether or not they are being prepared for the big wide world.

On Monday we had a five hour first aid course which was very long winded and super thorough, Tuesday was staff meetings, child protection and health and safety.  

Wednesday was an office induction, games inset and pool safety lesson. With so much new information and not being able to practice it without the children in the school yet, we felt very much overloaded. The children finally arrived on Wednesday night and were quick to identify us as the new gaps. Joe Maguire came running up to me asking about Miss Scott Mackie, saying that I was already his favourite.  Very cute. The kids are really polite and nothing is a problem if you make it clear that you are staff and not their friend (so far).

Thursday was the first day back at school for everyone. We were introduced in assembly before I went to help out in Tranny PE , Junior Games and Senior Games in the afternoon. I am on duty during all the breaks, every day except Mondays, which is my half day. While my timetable has a lot in it and it keeps me very busy, I am sure I will enjoy the following few weeks, once I figure it all out!