Blog Posts

Playground duty in Spain… Before I came to work in Spain, I worked in a fairly large school consisting of two playgrounds. During playtimes there were roughly 180-240 on each of the two playgrounds, as it was a two-form entry school. And, on each playground, there would be 5-6 adults on duty. However, in Spain,

Monthly staff meeting… Once a month we were required, in our contracts, to work until 7 pm. Sometimes this was allocated time in our classes updating displays, marking, preparing resources or meetings within our teaching teams. Other times there were specific things the management team wanted to discuss and inform us about. So it was

After weeks of saying I’m going to do it, I’ve finally gotten on my bike – with a little help from a colleague! I am finally attempting to ride my bicycle! So, one Friday afternoon at work, just as we’d seen the children off for the end of the week, one of my colleagues appears

Dodgy cubicle doors… As well as the whole ‘settling in and getting used to routines’ of a new job there’s also the little teething problems. (Or, in my case, bashful beginnings!) Having to push yourself out of your comfort zone when you’re figuring it all out! For instance, other colleagues will help you out (and all

Last day of term… So, here I am. The last day of term. Sitting in the assembly hall as my name is being called by the head to stand at the front for everyone to say goodbye. I have butterflies and am trembling as I make my way onto the stage to join the head.

Where does the time go? As we get closer to the end of the school year and that well-earned summer break, I sit with my coffee on the terrace on a sunny Sunday morning. Tomorrow will be the last week of the year and the closing of the first overseas chapter for me. As I

Getting health insurance… Since moving to the Netherlands, I have taken the necessary steps to ensure I have the necessary health insurance. Something that I wanted to get done straight away! Mainly because it’s yet something else ticked off my long list of things to do here. I just want things like that out of

A new job, a new country, a new start… One of the main aspects of moving to the Netherlands and making a fresh start, as well as a different experience, was to change some of my lifestyle habits. In fact, I was actually looking forward to embracing a healthier lifestyle and habits in Holland! Ok,

Can’t sleep… It’s Tuesday night. Tomorrow will be the first day of term, and as per usual, like most term starts, I can’t sleep! But this time it’s obviously different. Tomorrow will be the first day of a new chapter. And after eight years in the same job, the unknowing of what to expect in the morning is

Homesick… Sadly, my time at home for the Christmas break had come to an end. My flight was at 7:15 pm. After the long 3-month term, I had no idea just how homesick I had been and how much I’d missed home. I guess the whole moving overseas and starting a new job had kept