Ins and Odds of UK Life

Since I drove on Wednesday, Bev said she'd take a turn on Thursday, enabling me to take a photo of the dread roundabout, which shall henceforth be dubbed the DR. Here she is on her intrepid approach. I'm feeling much better about it, since I've heard from just about everybody that they hate it too, and avoided it like the plague, (which, by the way, I will have to include in my Tudor instruction beginning next week) when first learning to drive. Although I've been driving for an unbelievable 39(!) years, I can almost consider myself a newbie in this situation. It is getting better, but...
Life here is very interesting. It is kind of like being in a Twilight Zone episode - wait! let me explain - or like that Ray Bradbury story about the time travel safari - Mitch, you know the one. We all speak English. There is a Costco, Gap, etc. here. One can buy tortilla chips - probably called crisps here - join a gym, watch ER, etc. Not so different, huh? I even finally found sausages made from turkey at the ASDA, another huge market near here, which I visited AND found my way home again on the first try around a different DR! I am now very happy. A break from chicken. But, then I opened a flyer that I received in the mail for a food delivery service, being the curious type, and saw an ad for spotted dick & custard. Aside from all of the obvious innuendos, at least to us Americans not in the know, what the hell is it? Ah, a type of cake with raisins (called sultanas here) with a custard sauce. See what I mean? So similar and then this mysterious something... today I had to email Gil to ask what a hash key is (illicit drug paraphernalia?) when trying to enter my meter readings by phone. Oh, the pound key. Of course. Now, I consider myself fairly worldly, well-traveled, etc. But every once in a while, I find myself stopped short, and then I get it. Thank goodness I'm a fairly quick study...
School. Again, so many similar, yet different, things. I am so pleased with the school itself, as a facility. A real(ish) kitchen! 2 refrigerators, 2 microwaves, a full set of real dishes and utensils, enough for all the staff, even a full set of wine glasses, something you'd never see in a US school. But, the piece de resistance, 2 DISHWASHERS! Can you believe it? And, condiments, and vinegars, etc. How civilized can you get? Plus tea or coffee all set up for us at break. Sorry to brag, and you can feel comforted that I only get to enjoy this for one year, but I'm loving it...
The staff lounge. Not super comfy, but cozy in a way, very relaxed, lots of light, at least for now, when the weather has not turned completely miserable, and it will, I'm told. I guess what makes it most comfortable - the people. I know that I've gushed on, but the staff here really is great. Very diverse, as you can see, mostly women, although we have our two token men, James who teaches with Bev, and our very own Andrew, not to be confused with Clover's Andy, but do you see a similarity? (see below)He will be teaching my class drama, music, and PE during my weekly planning time. Yes, that's right, I said PLANNING TIME, out of the classroom, with my level partner, Amanda, for an entire morning until lunch, to plan. Again, amazing, no? Kate will teach my students Welsh during that time, since I most definitely am unfit to do so. Oh, here is the infamous Bev, helping to copy papers for the kids. She teaches 6th level, equivalent to
5th grade, and my mentor in
all-things-inexplicable. There also seem to be a myriad of teaching assistants running around, helping with everything.
I feel very lucky...

Next: The Students