The SAD Light

So for those that do not know what a SAD light is it stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many people have these lights due to the lack of sun. We heard about these from some friends who had them and so when my mother asked what we wanted for Christmas we said a SAD light. They have tons to choose from on the UK Amazon website. Who knew??? The human body uses light cues, such as those provided by the sun, to time certain internal functions. Properly timed rhythms regulate mood, sleep, energy, appetite and digestion. These daily internal cycles, called circadian rhythms, sometimes fall out of sync, resulting in an unregulated body clock. Very scientific huh? So you are supposed to do a 15 to 30 minute cycle in front of the SAD light every day which Clifton and I have been doing everyday since it got here. Honestly the lack of sun does mess with you. For example, you want to go to bed at like 6 or 7 because by that point it has already been dark for a few hours. Clifton and I also get very hungry around 430 or 5 so we have started having a small snack to hold us over till a better dinner time so we aren't starving around 9. The picture above shows my two favorite things right now. The SAD light and my personal heater that I put right in front of me because it is so ridiculously cold in our flat all the time. Clifton hates my heater because it is loud and gets him hot but I love it and we will never part!

Scotland Week 4

Spending December in Scotland is extremely cold but also beautiful. My only complaint is the fact that the sun doesn't come up till around 9:30 and it goes down at 330-4 everyday. Honestly, there are very few days where you can actually see the sun through the clouds. The pictures above show some of the sights around the area.

Their Santa set up in the malls out do ours by a ton considering they have real reindeer. You don't find that in Texas! The picture at the table is at Clifton's Christmas party for the sales team. We had a very good time that night. The picture of the can of IRN BRU is Scotland's big soda here. It seriously tastes like you are drinking sweet tarts! Amazing!

I also got involved with the American Women's Association this last week. I went to Inverurie which is a small town outside of Aberdeen that is where you can find some of the most beautiful scenery! I met 10 women who also have husbands that all work in the oil and gas industry. We had a great time eating lunch and looking at different Scottish made crafts. I am going to the Christmas luncheon with 50 of the AWA members on Wednesday. Here in Aberdeen there are a lot of Americans due to the Oil and Gas industry so it is really nice to get together with these women to talk about their experiences in living here and moving overseas. You would never know this until you have experienced it but once you are in a place where you do not here the American accent everyday and you are the odd ball it is wonderful to hear an American talking again! So I am looking forward to being in a room with 50 American accents tomorrow!

I Quit Before I Started!

If you have read the previous posts you would have read all about The Hamilton School interview that I had on Thanksgiving Day. All of the excitement and newness of this school led to a very impulsive decision to take a full time teaching position of 3 and 4 year olds. What was I thinking?? Last Monday I was offered the job and I came in on Tuesday to follow another teacher for a couple of hours and fill out some paperwork. You can see my hot uniform in the picture above. Oh yes we had to wear a navy blue suit everyday. Let me tell you even though that suit is ugly that is the best one out of three that I found in Aberdeen. I look like I should be working for American Airlines!!

As I walked in to the classroom I was greeted by a little Nigerian boy who gave me a big hug and then handed me a kleenex to wipe the drooling snot from his nose and in only a couple of hours I did that for him three more times. Come to find out these children are taught to get a kleenex and bring it to the teacher to wipe their noses. Here's an idea why hasn't someone thought of teaching them independence to wipe their own dang noses! UGH! After my greeting of hugs and snot I was instructed to go sit at a table and help these children with a math activity. I must say they were cute but after I heard myself say in a strange high pitched voice good job, way to go, that is great, and you are so smart over and over for an hour I figured out this might not be the job for me. Then I sat down with another teacher during the kids french lesson to go over lesson plans and the schedule. This is when it hit me that I had made the most impulsive and stupid decision ever to take this job. I was informed that the 3 and 4 year old teachers get no break, eat lunch with the kids and work from 8 to 5. Yes that is a normal work schedule but not when you have to be with 15 three and four year olds every minute of your working day. After seeing the lesson plans I then also realized these would take a couple of hours to make for every week and I was told that they do there lesson plans at home. Lastly I was informed there is no summer break for the 3 and 4 year olds which means I don't get a break. So I came in on Thursday at 8 to quit and hand in my curriculum binder. I was then offered another job by the principal to teach the older kids which I did not accept. I have a feeling they are pretty desperate for teachers.

So on Wednesday I had another interview at the International School of Aberdeen and I was put on the substitute list which may lead to a full time position next year. I also may be able to coach at the international school which would be great. So my quiting before I started all worked out for the best!!