Mom's Apple Pie

Last weekend Sian and I took part in a huge Fall tradition, we went apple picking. I was amazed to see how many people - of all ages - take part in this extremely wholesome pastime. There were even groups of teenagers there! The Orchard we visited had almost been picked clean, in fact we only just made it in time as the next day they announced they were no apples left on the trees. As well as the apple picking there were baby farm animals, pumpkins for sale and hot cider and donuts. (Unfortunately cider in the US is non alcoholic!) The apples we picked were delicious and so far I have made a very successful apple pie and 2 batches of applesauce. Maybe I'm finally becoming domesticated.

You say tomato....

With the daily routine of 'get up, work, tea, bed' firmly in place I can sometimes forget I am in a different country, on a different continent! One thing that gives me an instant reminder is the pronunciation of some words. My favourite at the moment is telling the kids to say tomato (they pronounce the middle a 'ay' as in 'say'.) They think it's hilarious as well and enjoy taking me off asking for some yogurt (they say Yo-gurt with the stress on YO rather than YOG. They have been confused recently in Maths as we study data handling (they call it dar-ta!!)

One pronunciation that annoys me though comes from the TV. There is a Hyundai advert which specifically explains how to pronounce the word "Hyundai like Sunday"!! Surely this isn't right? Can any Koreans reading please let me know!!

Dress Down Friday

So at Central Park International Magnet School, every Friday staff are allowed to wear casual clothes. Most teachers wear jeans and t shirts on a Friday. When I asked why I was told it's because it is to celebrate the fact it is Friday!! What an amazing idea. In the UK the only time teachers can wear jeans is if we are raising money for charity. It's just a little idea that goes towards making work a nice place to be!
The children don't ever wear uniform of course! I thought this was going to be an 'issue' as I am used to a strict uniform policy but it's funny how quickly I have adapted! The children wear sensible, weather appropriate, comfortable clothing. It is not ever an issue or something that impacts badly on learning.
I have always been very pro uniform but I think my mind is being changed. There is no status for the kids over labels. They never discuss what each other is wearing as they are used to seeing each other in 'normal' clothes. Non uniform days in the UK are totally awful as the kids are really unsettled and there are always some children being teased over their clothes. I have never seen that happen here.
I definitely don't miss the 'arguments' I used to have every morning with the kids in the UK (especially the older boys) collecting in jewelry, forcing them into spare school jumpers and covering up non uniform t shirts was never conducive to a quiet productive start to the morning!!

Sickly In Seattle.

Oh how I struggled this weekend. It was attending a Fulbright Workshop for the UK, Czech and Hungarian grantees with my mentor Dan Brudos.
3 nights in a city I have wanted to visit ever since I was obsessed with Kurt, Courtney and grunge. The city of the first Starbucks, the Space Needle, some kind of mountain, Frasier and Niles Crane.... And I had flu.

I always brag in the UK that I am never ill and wow did I pay for it this week. Ears blocked, nose running, throat sore, cough productive, muscles aching, head throbbing the whole lot. From what I could make out everyone else had a great time, staying up late drinking and bonding (I was in bed) and taking a harbour cruise and seal watching (I was in bed). You get the idea. It wouldn't have been so bad had Seattle not lived up to my expectations but it was a fantastic city, full of quirky shops, bars, restaurants and loads of interesting people. As Sian would say FML.

PS Having to stay home from work ill is not as much fun without Jeremy Kyle to give you a lovely smug feeling!!

Autumn Days

Autumn Days and the grass is jewelled
Like the silk inside a chestnut shell

Jet planes meeting in the air to be refulled all these things i love so well!!

My favourite school hymn. I thought we celebrated Autumn and harvest well in the UK but it's nothing compared with over here. There are decorations in the shops, in the school, outside the houses. Not Halloween - HARVEST. It is great and I love it!! We should do more to celebrate every moment of every season of the year. Preferably with scented candles and flavoured booze!