Day 353 - Metamorphosis Almost Complete

Sunday April 4th

Easter Sunday and we did not manage an Easter Egg hunt or a visit to church. Instead I went for a run and watched Match of the Day. We did a monster roast lunch and then Shaggy headed off back home.

A chance to catch my breath and reflect a little on the journey I have been on. Two weeks from now and I will have completed the year and finished this blog. I have no idea how many words I have written but I've enjoyed it. It hasn't been as "live" as I would like. I am currently two weeks behind and so I lose a little of the spontaneity.

When I read the whole thing through again, it will probably read more as a diary of what has happened, rather than the original intention, vague as it was, to provide a living metamorphosis from marketer to teacher. I suppose the change isn't as profound as I thought it might be, given it was a change in what I do, not who I am.

Day 200 - Back to School

Monday November 2nd

200 days since I left Diageo. It does feel like another life. Teaching is certainly proving to be hard work especially as I am left to figure much of it out on my own. In many ways the challenges and routines are similar but the most important change is in myself. It no longer feels like my job defines or consumes me. It feels very much like something new that I am having a go at, in the same way as I've taken up running in a big way or taken on a new house in a new city. I'm curious as to whether I can be good at it as opposed to success or failure will define whether my life is a success or failure, a feeling I had many times over the past 20 years in my chosen career. I know this year will be all consuming as I train but once I'm more experienced I can start expanding my horizons and choose what I want to do.

Back to school today and tired myself out in just one day! Not that bad but it certainly didn't feel like we had had a week off. Worked through my two lessons in the morning and then was able to relax. I really enjoyed the lesson with 10.2.2 when we went through the topic test they had done.

9.2.2 are troubling me. I can't seem to get the pitch right with them. If I try and stretch them they go very quiet and just sit there. If I try and make it fun and engaging, they start mucking about. On top of that I have a few kids in there that are just not participating at all. I can't decide whether that's my fault or I need to get tough with them. Sounds familiar from my past life....