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!!

Our Flat!

I just did a little video to show you our flat for those that are interested! It is perfect for us!

The Hamilton School Interview

So I have only been here three weeks but I went ahead and sent my resume to four different schools in the area interested in a substitute position. I got an interview with The Hamilton School on Thanksgiving day. I wasn't told what I was interviewing for but I went in anyway. When I got there I seriously felt like I was in a movie. I walked in to this old house five minutes from my flat with the original hardwood floors and was led to the waiting area which had tartan covered wooden chairs in front of an old fireplace with a train going round and round on a table in front of the fireplace. As I sat there and filled out an application little children walked out of the assembly hall and up the wooden staircase to the classrooms. The girls were dressed in red plaid kilts, red tights and red sweaters. The boys were wearing grey shorts, with knee high red socks and red sweaters. As I watched them go up the stairs two of the girls said "Good Morning" to me in their cute Scottish accents. Honestly it was one of the most precious things I have ever seen.

After sitting in the waiting area for about 10 minutes I was led to the principals office where I met Kathlyn the founder and principal of this school. We talked for an hour about how things are done in this school which by the way are completely different from the US. If I get this job it will literally be like I am a first year teacher again. The thing I found most fascinating about the interview was when there was a knock on the door and a girl walked in with a tray that had tea, coffee and crumpets with floral decorated tea cups and saucers. Kathlyn then offered me coffee and crumpets so of course I obliged. I just hope she did not notice my jaw drop open as this was taking place. I was informed in the interview how much she liked me and wanted me to come back for open day at the school which was the next day.

So today I went to Open Day and I got to visit the classrooms and speak to some of the teachers. All of the bedrooms in this house were transformed into classrooms so they are not very big but the maximum class size is 16 pupils so you aren't too crammed. I did not see a lot of technology. A lot of writing on chalk boards so very old school. They do not believe in textbooks, punishment or reward. So like I said it will be a whole new experience for me if I get this job. What the heck do you do if a kid is acting up, if they don't believe in punishment. Oh and I was told no calling parents about misbehavior because some of the cultures at this school believe in beating your child so you do not want to let the parent know. WOW!

The other funny thing about my interview was that I was interviewing for the "Teacher in the cupboard" position. Which means a spare teacher. I have no clue what grade/class I will be teaching if I get this. I will keep the blog updated if I hear anything.

Thanksgiving

Clifton and I's first Thanksgiving in Aberdeen was definitely uneventful and we missed our families but we tried our best to have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I would say for my first time to cook Thanksgiving dinner I did so so. I fought with that dang turkey for about thirty minutes in trying to prepare it and never want to cook one again. I am surprised I did not get salmonella poisoning for how long it took me to prepare that slippery sucker! My stuffing was horrible and Clifton loved my green bean casserole but I don't know why. The best thing about the meal were the deviled eggs that Clifton made. :) As most of you know they do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Scotland obviously, so Clifton had to work all day and I had a job interview so it didn't feel like Thanksgiving at all. On Thanksgiving we realized how much our families mean to us and how thankful people should be that you can be with your families on that special day! Oh yes and watch American football because they don't have that either!

Aberdeen's Winter Festival Street Market

Last Sunday Clifton and I decided to stop by the street market going on in Aberdeen. It wasn't very big and it didn't have any good items to purchase but like the state fair of Texas the food was awesome. There was no fried twinkies, butter or corn dogs but there were huge bratwurst that you can see Clifton chowing down on above. They had creperies where I got a cinnamon and sugar crepe and yes it was amazing. They also had Spanish Paella, dutch pancakes, cheese stands with all kinds of different cheese. The market also had a baklava stand with all different types of baklava. It was so neat to see the different types of food they have to offer at a street market in comparison to what Texas would have. Plus it was the best food we have had yet because the food in Scotland is horrible.