Ready, Pack, Fly

Things are starting to come together. Ended up reading those lesson plans and emailing the HOD who's been a fantastic help. Not only is the whole year already planned out, broken up into terms, weeks, and individual lessons, but the HOD answers any questions I have and has so far made me feel very welcome and comfortable.

The lesson plans didn't end up being my Everest as I thought... That role has been claimed by the English handbook. 50 pages of information just for the English department. I'm up to page 15. It all seems pretty important and worth reading I just feel like I don't have the stamina right now. I read a couple of pages and then I'm always finding something 'more important' to do. I'm sure I'll finish it eventually. 

Getting through a Bridge to Terabithia. At first I was pretty jaded, but the story has become more interesting. Very briefly discussed the book and movie with the neighbours the other night, over some delicious (if I don't say so myself) apple, pear and nectarine crumble - with gingernuts mixed into the crumble mix (solid gold brah!), but they didn't want to give too much away as I was only about half way through.

I have now reached the turning point! Exciting stuff. Rather looking forward to teaching it now...

So I've been packing my bags, sorting my stuff and getting ready to head off on Sunday. Slowly but surely. Still have a few things to sort out tomorrow but feeling quietly optimistic that I should be able to have a quiet relaxing night tomorrow, rather than fussing about frantically trying to get everything done. 

Rather than just leaving clothes sitting in a box, I thought I'd let one of my friends baby-sit some things. Someone might as well enjoy my clothes while I'm away and I can always steal them back off her if I want them when I get back....haha

Just having a wee relaxing reflection session now. Reminiscing and listening to the chilis. 

Had better hit the hay, another packing day tomorrow and then off the day after... eeeeeeek

Gotta work on my post endings...

Procrastination Station

Life is like a train ride, and thus we have many stations ... The other simile or metaphor could be that life is a book and each part of our life is a chapter. I seem to have one chapter that my bookmark stays on, or one station that my train is constantly stopping at ... the procrastination station. I am an incessant procrastinator. We've all heard the phrase "never put off till tomorrow what you can do today". All I'm hearing in this is 'put off till tomorrow'. Even as I am writing this, I am procrastinating about procrastinating instead of getting on with this post.

My learning journey should be beginning, the HOD of English has sent me (a while ago now) the English handbook to read through, as well as lesson plans for the whole year. While I have looked at these very briefly, I promised myself I would look through them properly as soon as I returned to New Zealand (from my long holiday in Egypt). When I arrived I became rather sick and was propped up in bed for about a week... That was my excuse for not getting to the lesson plans.
Thankfully I'm feeling much better...The lesson plans are still unread. While I can easily look through them on the laptop I convince myself that I need to print them off, get all set, make my vanilla latte, get out my highlighter and get to work.

I am an over-thinker. I like to think that everything should be 'organised' before getting started. This pre-organisation planning hinders my organisation, it only leads to the inevitable - procrastination.
So a good start, I haven't even started work yet and I am already putting things off as much as possible. The worst part is, once I finally get around to reading it - I actually enjoy it and can't be stopped.

I have however loaned the book 'Bridge to Terabithia' from the library, or more correctly my brother got it for me from the library. This is the first book I'm supposed to be teaching, and while I am worried I may not enjoy it I am planning to love it - even if it is a forced romance. I am determined to enjoy the book, that way I can hopefully pass some of this love onto my students. I think if I don't enjoy the book chances are the students will pick up on it and they will also not enjoy it.

I do have one excuse for my procrastination... my laptop has officially crashed and I believe it is in a coma at the moment. We're hoping for the best but I think it will not recover until I take it to someone in Qatar. For now I will hijack my brother's laptop and if that fails I can always work on my phone (if I'm desperate). Good timing, what with having to plan for teaching and starting this blog.

The Start of My Teaching Journey

Well it's happened. I have successfully graduated from University despite dragging the process out as long as possible. After my BA I moved onto a year of teachers college and from there I went straight into my Masters. Now the time has come. I have secured my first teaching job, I am the NQT of NQTs as I'm not only starting out with teaching, but I'm starting in an unfamiliar, somewhat alien place - Doha, Qatar. 
I must learn the art of teaching while being immersed in a whole new culture, with new people and new places. Let the learning journey begin!