England, Week One

I have finally arrived in England. After the summer of pretending to be a Ukrainian immigrant on the Canadian prairies, I have begun my next adventure of a GAPper volunteering in England. As of tomorrow morning at 10 am, I will have been in this country for a week, so it is only right that I take the time to tell you all about that.

About mid-summer I found out that I would be placed at Moor Park, a day and boarding prep school in the rural West Midlands of England. We are only a short train ride to Wales and the hills seem to roll on forever. Seriously, it is like SK met up with Vancouver and this is their love child. Already loving the landscape and the winding winding WINDING roads. There are sheep in the school's front yard and the main building is an old country house. It is beautiful. I will probably take some pictures of the area later this week, especially if the sunshine continues.

When I first arrived in England, I did not come straight here. I had a one-day Orientation in Reading, about an hour south of London. That was a tad bit overwhelming with all of the info they provided us and the people we met. I tried to get to know as many GAPpers as possible so that I have contacts all across England, Scotland and Ireland. So far I think it's working. After Orientation, last Thursday, I got the train out west to Ludlow, Shropshire, where Mary, my housemum, picked me up. Mary and her husband, Rupert, are the houseparents at Moor Park, which means they look after all of the boarders and boarding administration. They and their two children, Florence and Frederic, have been extremely welcoming and basically opened up their house to me for the first few days, inviting me for supper and raiding the kitchen for breakfast things for me. So far, it has been fantastic!

My first weekend was good as well. It began with a shopping trip to Hereford, in the next county, with my volunteer partner, Casey. Having been here since January, Casey knows the area fairly well...or at least how to get to the good shops. I picked up some necessities, such as shoes, a new top, an alarm clock and a mobile (cell phone). I'm still working out the bugs with my mobile and getting minutes set up on it, but if you want it, email me and I will pass it along.

Casey is on her GAP year from New Zealand and is sad to be leaving in only a few short months. This is promising as I begin my year here. I'm sure that it will fly right on by!

Today was our first day of classes and the children attacked the school like vermin. Well, nice vermin, all dressed up in uniforms and with adorable accents and British affection. I'm working with the Kindergartens and Year 2s this term and was therefore hugged about once an hour. It was great! Still having some trouble remembering names but by Friday I should know all of the little ones and probably a good half of the Year 2s' names. That will be good for Friday is Parents' Drinks Nights and it will be good to match up parents with the appropriate children.

Well. that's about all for tonight...well, no, I could go on, but I have to do Bus Duty soon and I would hate to be late once again today. The worst thing about the old building is getting lost...fortunately it only happens occasionally and I think I'm off the hook for the first week if I'm not sure where to go or who everybody is...

Cheers!