school – Page 7 – Jennifer Michie

October 7, 2013 / 0 Comments

A Lesson in Welding

I am so excited! I get to go on a welding course tonight for school, so I can learn how to use the arc welder and the mig welder! My Dad has already given me a blow-by-blow of how each one works (I don’t know what he doesn’t know!) and I am tres excited to start making some sparks fly.

I think we all know what is coming next, there is only one great welding, dancing, based in the great city of Pittsburgh movie that I know of, cue Flashdance:

Hope you have a very happy Monday, wherever you may be today!

September 18, 2013 / 0 Comments

Yeah!

Hey, its Wednesday today, that means we are half way to the weekend! School is in full swing now and I am staying busy, busy, busy at the moment. But, I love it!

{image pinned HERE}

September 6, 2013 / 0 Comments

The First Week

Although, I had been in last week, learning the ropes, this was the first official week back for everyone at my new school. This afternoon we will celebrate with a staff barbeque and then Mr. Michie is coming to meet me and sweep me off to dinner somewhere nice to celebrate the first official school week for both of us.

I still can’t believe that I am working in such a marvelous place, what a lucky girl I am!

Here’s to the weekend!

{Image: It’s Better Than Bad}

August 30, 2013 / 0 Comments

The Ending of the Week

itsbetterthanbad rolf & valerie hannestad couch 1963

Rolf & Valerie Hannestad on the couch 1963

“What do you see Valerie?”

“I see the weekend Rolf!”

Well today marks the end of my first week at my new school. I am slowly and surely getting into my groove. I walk through the doors every day and can’t believe I am getting to work inside such an amazing building with such wonderful people!

I feel content. I am happy beyond measure. I am tired when I get in at night, it is an early just before 5 o’clock rise in the morning to make sure I have time to get ready, for Mr. Michie and I to work around each other, do my morning things and get to the train in time. I have a lovely walk to school at the end of my train and tube journeys, a chance to collect my thoughts going to work and coming home.

So, I am tired by the end of such a busy day, but it is a good tired, I am sleeping at night with happy dreams. Did yo notice there is a lot of happy in this post?

Here’s to the weekend and to happiness and to wishes coming true!

{Image: It’s Better Than Bad}

August 27, 2013 / 0 Comments

First Day

As I normally do, I will start school earlier than the students, but this time I will be walking through a different set of gates.

Today is my FIRST DAY of school! I am excited and nervous all in one! Wish me luck, because here I go…

{image: It’s Better Than Bad}

July 24, 2013 / 1 Comment

Winging My Way Home

By the time you read this today, I will be up in the air, winging my way home. I ended my day yesterday with a quiet moment in the cupboard, surveying my home of 3 years, before I silently turned off the lights and locked my door for the very last time.

I handed over my keys, had a mini send-off in the hallway with farewell hugs and waves and walked down the stairs and into the sunshine. It feels surreal. A good surreal though. I feel as if I had run through an emotional gauntlet and somehow managed to come out the other side, there was a heady mix of highs and lows.

After a full day of traveling, I will be home in time for dinner with my parents. What could be better?

I might be radio silent for a few days while I enjoy being home and taking a little time to breath! I’ll catch up with you soon!

Jennifer x

July 23, 2013 / 0 Comments

Last Day

On the last day of school we always have a celebration, there is still a 1/2 day to go, but I won’t be there, I will have said my goodbyes, packed up my things, left the cupboard in better shape then I found it and walked away. Not, my last time through those school gates, I am sure, as I will still drop by to see Mr. Michie.

I won’t be there tomorrow because my two weeks notice will have run its course and I will be on an early morning flight heading home. A rare chance to see my family. A few short weeks with them and then I am back home to Mr. Michie and off to work. I will now be walking through a different set of gates in the morning and I will be relishing in this opportunity that I have been given.

Although, they have yearbooks at our school it is not the type of yearbook that I grew up with. There are no individual photos of staff members or students, instead it is all done by group staff photos and class photos.

But, as I am American and this is my last day of school, I thought that the above image was befitting. Dale Irby, a Gym Teacher in Texas took a staff photo in 1973 and by accident wore the same outfit to his school photo the following year. His wife dared him to do it again and just like a guy, he took that dare. Forty years later, he has worn the same outfit in every yearbook picture.

So, here’s to the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. And here’s to teachers who even after 40 years still have a sense of humor!

July 22, 2013 / 1 Comment

Two Days

Two days. That is all I have left! Two days and I walk away from the cupboard. It is bittersweet. I am looking forward to my new adventure, I am ready for this challenge. I am more than ready!

But, the cupboard has been my home now for over 3 years. It will be odd to not be walking through that door again in September. But as one door closes, another one opens and those new doors hold a hell of a lot of potential!

So, here’s to new doors, going the distance and the final bell!

July 18, 2013 / 0 Comments

Out of the Dust

I found this short film to be thought provoking, as I have often watched the students with their sketchbooks. They are very precious with them. They don’t want to make a mistake; they want everything to look perfect. But, that is not what a sketchbook is for. The very essence of “sketch” is not about perfection. Your sketchbook exists to get it out, to rough it out, hash it out, and rip it out, to see your idea evolve.

I am guilty of it as well. Oh, the power of a blank page. Sometimes it is simply that, a blank page waiting to be filled and at other times it is a mine field. I am nervous to take my first step in case it goes wrong.

So, the very idea of creating something in a sense that is ethereal, appealed to me. It takes the edge away, you make a mistake you erase it, you don’t worry about perfection, because it won’t be there forever, it is just about the process and that is just if not more at times as important as the final piece.

I first read this article on Colossal

Learn more about Peter Han

July 7, 2013 / 0 Comments

A Rainbow of Tulips

As I announced on Friday, we had some celebrating to do this weekend! I have accepted a position within a school in London and I am just elated!

However, it takes a village and I did not get this job on my own. I had family and friends who were keeping me in their thoughts and prayers as well as work colleagues who helped me in printing out my work, so the ink would be a truer color and then binding it for me as a portfolio, as well as giving me all their well wishes and warm hugs.

My friends at work were so happy for me on Thursday when I told them the news! I wanted to thank them as they didn’t have to lend me a hand in a hour of need, but they did, as great friends do! So these rainbow tulips were their thank you from me.

The world is a lot better place with my family and friends in it. I am lucky and I know it! I have a football field full of cheerleaders who are cheering just for me!