The Long Eaton School. (TLES)

The Long Eaton School

Hello people who love us. We've had a hectic first week of school. Monday through Wednesday was a series of long (read: boring) introductions to the school environment, classrooms, timetables, and the school online system. Tuesday we had a pupil pursuit. Now this sounds quite creepy, but actaully it was just us following around a class to all their different subjects. Highlight for Natalie: Food Technology making cherry scones, and then getting to eat them. Cheers. Highlight for Katie: Watching Year 7 (6th grade) figure out how to use a protractor in Maths. (Yes, it is pluralized here.) It was a great experience for us to see what the students have to go through on a daily basis. We were both exhausted at the end of the day. How do they do it?

Yesterday and today we've been in the art classrooms observing and lending a hand when needed. There are three art teachers in the department, and one floating teacher that takes on a couple classes a week. We're excited to start teaching next week. We've decided on a clay project based on the Elephant parade which took place in London a couple years back http://www.elephantparadelondon.org/ , and a self-portrait project that is constructed entirely from the students' handwriting, inspired by Kentucky artist Leslie Nichols. http://studionichols.com/.

We've loved seeing the differences between American and English schools. One thing we noticed about art classes is their focus on keeping up a good sketchbook to study with. Each class starts with the students looking through their sketchbook, either at old drawings, or creating some new sketches before they start a final piece. We wish there was a stronger focus on sketchbooks in the states because it seems to really pay off for their final pieces. They end up being really thought out and their reasonings behind every decision are easily defended.

We've met with some older Years today and the students were very open and receptive to our thoughts and questions, (unlike some 11th graders I've met) which was a pleasant surprise.

This weekend we head to the coveted Peak District, a bit north of us, to see Natalie's current obsession (being in Pride and Prejudice) Chatsworth House. If you aren't a 22 year old girl, this will mean nothing to you, so for those that apply, this is one of those old girls-wearing-long-dresses-and-bonnets films, set in England, filmed at a beautiful estate home, a.k.a. Chatsworth house. http://www.chatsworth.org/ Notice there is a tea room. Pictures of this trip to follow.

Cheerio!

N&K

Weekend trip to Paris.

It took us about three trains to get all the way to Paris. Our favorite being the Eurostar which took us through the channel tunnel and the beautiful French countryside. After leaving the train station we were shocked to find French life a little more chaotic; a group of young boys had snatched a womens purse and were immediately pursued by some men who chased them down and held them by their collars until the police came. We sought refuge in the only familiar sight, McDonalds. From there we booked three different hotels, which were all within the same block.

The first was our cheapest option so we definitely got what we paid for. Creaky floors, thin walls, lumpy bed, and loads of stairs. The next two were surprisingly nice and we successfully recovered from jet-lag in those comfy beds.





Being art majors, our second day in Paris obviously took us to the Louvre museum. We spent almost two hours taking pictures and drooling over the amazing paintings and sculptures. After what probably was miles of walking around the massive palace we sought out something to eat and happened upon a bagette stand. We found ourselves always walking around and eating loaves of bread, a French staple, and we loved every bite

After the Louvre we took a long walk down the Seine where we met up with Notre Dame Cathedral. Its located on an island in the middle of the Seine and an amazing example of Gothic architecture. The sun came out right as we walked up to the entrance, making the facade glow. Of course the large crowds had the same idea we did, to go inside, which meant us waiting in a long queue.

 We saved the best for last to view the magnificant Tour d' Eiffel. We spent a while taking typical 'American' pictures, and trying to let the fact that we were in front of the Eiffel Tower soak in. 600 stairs and one long lift ride we found ourselves at the top of the tower. It was a gorgeous day so the view of the city was crisp and sunny. Paris in every direction as far as the eye can see. We killed some time walking the Champs d' Elysee. The Arc de Triomphe is surrounded by the largest round-about on the planet, and we stood for a while in amazment at the incredible driving skills of the Parisians. Those little cars know how to break and swerve well. Our main goal of the day was to see the Eiffel tower lit up at night, so we made our way back across the city at sunset.

 

The tower did not dissapoint, and its almost too hard to describe in words, so we'll post a lovely video Natalie took. :)

 

We had a very Parisian trip: Deux mille pictures, Vingt-cinq bagettes, Douze Cafe au laits, Dix tube rides, Cinq Nutella crepes, Quatre very tired girls, and one dead camera battery.

We're back in rainy England and still making plans for the coming weekend. The Long Eaton school has been very welcoming and we've already learned so much about the English school system.

Top Ten surprises about LES:

1. Tea for teachers 4 times a day.

2. The teacher 'stare'.

3. No gum chewing...EVER.

4. All the students call the teachers 'Miss'/ 'Mr.'

5. Having a 20 minute morning break, and 50 minute lunch break.

6. The size and chattiness of the staff lounge.

7. Construction class.

8. The sixth form wing= college students in a middle/high school.

9. Jacket potatoes. (a.k.a. baked potatoes)

10. Tea and biscuits again...all day... we love it.

With love from Long Eaton,

N&K.

The First 48 Hours

Morning! This is a blog by two future art teachers who decided to travel to Europe to teach for a month. Natalie is from Louisville, KY, born and raised, who made her way to Bowling Green; Katie is a London girl, who met Natalie at Western Kentucky University. We`ve been friends for three years now, and this is our last adventure together before graduting in May. We're traveling with two other friends from WKU, Bethany and Holly.

And so our trip begins, after a crazy long day of airports, layovers, and trains, we thought we might not survive.

 

But we made it. All four of us. All alive. All contemplated collapsing on the train terminal. 

Our only complaint is directed towards American Airlines and their lack of head-rest TV's. And their design plan for the window seat passenger when viewing the over head TV's. 

Needless to say Katie did not view any films during the 7 hour flight to Manchester, and Natalie who can`t sleep on planes watched every film possible. 

We met two lovely ladies from Liverpool who were eager to hear about our traveling plans. But not so excited when Katie asked them to get up so she could go to the 'loo' in the middle of the night. :)

The girls: Bethany, Holly, Natalie, and Katie

Manchester, U.K.

We were met with happy English faces at the train station in Long Eaton and carted off to our respective houses. We've gone 38 hours with zero sleep.

Our only goal today is to stay awake for as long as we can to fight the jet-lag. 
 

And tomorrow folks, We will be in the brilliant city of Paris, eating baguettes and spending way too much money.

With love from Derby.

N&K