I have the best friends in the world

PHOTO
I ran a marathon. I ran it in 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 39 seconds. I am fast. I am amazing. I am a rockstar. (I am getting the photo cd for christmas because I was SO cold after the race that I have no good pictures of me even holding my medal. Now I guess I have to run another one!)

I could probably end this blog there, but I'm not going to :)

It's a bit hard for me to write this post because I have been on such an upswing with London lately. Since I came back in August, as you all know, things have been really good here. I'm happy, my friends are cool, I have a permanent job, and I'm settling nicely. BUT (isn't there always a but?) being back in the states was a reminder that, even when things in the states aren't quite perfect, it is still my home. It is where the people that I love the most in the world live. Home isn't where you hang your hat, apparently, it's where the love is :) No seriously, I know it's cheesy, but I feel surrounded by love in the states, and that is a feeling almost worth moving back for. Almost. Almost, but not yet. I guess what I'm trying to say is...London rocks...but I've been feeling huuuuge amounts of home-sickness, not for home itself, but for the people there. Marisa, I miss your futon ;)

Anyway, back to being back. I decided this week that I don't like my job. Yes, YES the kids are crazy (CRAZY!), but it's not that. I don't feel supported by my administration. The PPP, first and foremost, is a therapeutic organization. Academics come second. I am an academic. I don't feel like they really care about my job or the roadblocks to teaching in such a difficult environment. The admistration doesn't understand the difficulties presented to teachers in such an environment, and therefore, I don't feel like they are helping US to do what's best to help the young people. I'm feeling frustrated. And slightly taken advantage of. And kind of over it. In addition, and maybe more importantly, if I want to continue teaching in England (and let's be honest, I never have a clue what my future holds), I have to do my "Qualified Teacher" year in the next three years. I cannot do it at The PPP because it is a "special school." I may be limiting my options for the future if I continue to work there. I am sending out my CV to some agencies today...and we will see what happens. Having permanence in a position (and a fairly good wage) is not something that I'm willing to give up at the moment, so let's not all hold our breath for any action to be taken towards me getting a new job. Perhaps I'm just angry at the moment. Perhaps it will pass.

My weeks here have been TOO crazy since I've been back, which may be the reason that I feel constantly over tired. I play hockey on Mondays and Saturdays, I have a late work day on Wednesdays, and now I am taking a mentoring course on Thursdays after work. Tuesdays are my "I'm going to hangout with people midweek day." Luckily, it usually involves either a run or someone making me dinner (I never have time to cook anymore!), so I can kill two birds with one stone. Leigh (for those that are trying to follow who's who--American Dan's housemate, "The Beautiful Kiwi") has been promising me a home-cooked vegetarian meal since the day we met (He used to be a chef), and it finally came to fruition this past week. I feel very lucky to have the friends I have here already, but it is especially nice when they do things like make you amazing ravioli, FROM SCRATCH! (I wish I had the pictures to back this up...but they are all on his camera.)

Despite all of the "lack of time insanity," anyone who has ever met me knows I'm not willing to sacrifice fun for work. SO, much fun has been happening in London since I've been back. Last weekend it was Bonfire night so I went to, HANDS DOWN, the best fireworks I have ever seen in my life. I realized that the majority of fireworks nights in my life have been spent on a blanket in the summer but the fact that it was winter-coat cold did not stop them from being absolutely spectacular...SEE??

This weekend was "uniforms fancy dress" at the hockey club, and my team went as cheerleaders. I think we did an amazing job. (Yea, I designed those t-shirts!) Fancy dress night at the club is generally known as the most fun social of the year, and this year did not disappoint. We danced until the wee hours.

The next few weeks are going to FLY by, and pretty soon I'll be home for Christmas (and my, as yet unborn, niece)! Next weekend Sami (from Oasis in central park...we went to Portugal together...) is coming over from Ireland, so I've promised to keep him highly entertained. (What I mean is, he's going to come to our hockey game and watch us get our butts kicked by a team a million times better than us...) Then, Aly is coming from Arizona to be all smart and give lectures at the British Museum. I'm going to steal her away from Academia as much as I can while she's here. I'm coming back to the states on December 20th. I'm staying for New Years. I will be at my parents until Christmas, and then I will be in New Jersey for the Bouncing Souls until the 27th. After that, I'm looking for a New York host. Who wants me?

Love you all (and miss you times a million),

Sarah

Oh, PS:

#1 reason why London is better than NY: People actually WALK up the escalators in the Tube/Subway. It KILLS me to be back in NYC standing behind people who are too lazy to walk. It is excruciatingly slow. At least in London if you aren't going to walk, you courteously stand on the Right so people can pass you!

#1 reason why NY is better than London (besides the pizza): My NY postman opened my mail, and sometimes stole it, but at least he didn't try to kiss me or sing opera. REALLY loudly. Early in the morning. And wake me up. On my one morning to sleep in for the whole week. JERK.