Hey everyone!
This morning I arrived at school thinking I was working in one year 4 class, only to find out a teacher was unwell so I was in the same one as yesterday! I helped their teacher with the class assembly and then he went home ill.
The day went fairly well, heaps better than yesterday! We got all their usual things done - spelling, literacy, maths. In the afternoon it was "golden time" (free time) and I made an activity for them to do so it wasn't just an hour plus free time. I told them lots of things about Australia as international fortnight is coming up at school. I showed them where Melbourne is, the MCG, some footage of afl (from none other than the 2010 grand final of course!!), some beaches and food. Then we had a look at aboriginal dot paintings and made our own in a drawing format.
After school I met Alisha in her year 2 class and we set off to Waterloo together. Our friend Jess is spending the week in Glasgow next week before heading home to Sydney after having lived in London nearly 18 months. So Vicki and Alisha from school planned a scavenger hunt type thing to send her off! We had so much fun.
Me, Alisha and Vicki met at Waterloo and had Jess wait under the clocks. We texted her telling her she had to do 5 star jumps. It was hilarious watching her cluelessly do them while surrounded by commuters - we all cheered haha. Vicki then presented Jess with a shirt she had to wear and a London album that she had to put pictures describing our night in. Vicki had a portable Polaroid printer you could connect to your phone so we printed pictures as we went!!
We then met Alisha's fiancée Shannon and the evening began. Vicki and Alisha had set Jess lots of challenges. These included getting randoms to sign the t-shirt Alisha made that said 'last night in London' on it, then going to the Eye and taking a photo with the Australian flag pod. Next was Tower Bridge, and on the way Jess ticked off 'do something random on the tube', she ended up meditating on one occasion and tap dancing on another. Needless to say, we got some funny looks! Jamie met us at Tower Hill tube station and we then trekked next to Australia House, the interior of which was used as Gringotts Bank in 'Harry Potter'. We got Jess to take a photo out front with my Aussie flag ! Jamie left us as he's off to Bournemouth to see his cousin early tmro and we went for dinner at a vegan restaurant (Jess is vegan). The food was yummy!!
Then we headed to Covent Garden Square and had a pint while watching a bit of NZ vs Tonga in the rugby. Here Jess completed her challenge of taking the piss out of an English person for losing to Australia last week - luckily they took it well!!!
Next up was Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately for us it was all boarded up due to an African festival tmro, so Jess wasn't able to get up on a lion! We did however tick off 'get a photo with a street performer'. We found a guy singing and got a photo. Somehow before we knew it about 50 people had gathered. Young people were dancing with older people, complete strangers were dancing together. It was one of those magic moments I'll remember forever! Everyone was happy and having fun, in a city where all too often people are in such a rush they pretty much walk through you or run you down with their car (nearly happened to me yesterday!).
My favourite random signing of Jess' shirt of the night was the tube guy writing 'mind the gap' - amazing!
Had such a fun time. The others went on to take a photo with the Sherlock Holmes statue in Baker Street but I'm headed home as I was so close to the bus stop home. Unfortunately the bus I was on took a huge detour so it has taken forever to get home - ah well!!
Gonna really miss Jess. Met her when at the primary school in my first week living and working here, and she's been a great friend ever since. What a memorable and fun night to see her off!!
Now I'm off to bed for a huge rugby filled day tmro. I'm off to Twickers (Twickenham) to watch Australia take on Wales. I'm probably going to cry during our national anthem, and I can't wait to scream my head off in support of the wallabies. I know a few players, and I'll learn some more. Shannon and Alisha lending me the commentary headphones to follow along!!
GO WALLABIES!!!!
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
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