The End of Term

In the UK, the end of term was a dragged out process which was pleasant but felt like a big waste of time. All the exams are over, but you still have to teach lessons to kids who just want to go out and play. It goes on for weeks and everyone, teachers included, lose the will to live. Or at least to do very much of anything.

Here at ISSH, the end of the year has crept up on me. I have suddenly realised I have only got four teaching days left, subjects still to deal with, exams and reports to write, assignments to mark, and then as soon as the exams are over it's the summer! I can't believe how fast it has all come around. I am sooo busy, but there is only 2 weeks left and then we have 10 weeks off! I love it!

With school getting to the mayhem stage, the weekends are well needed. The weather has turned beautiful in the last few weeks, warm and sunny, and things are just as busy then as any other time. International schools have very transient populations, and that goes for the staff as much as the kids. With people leaving there are parties all the time to say goodbye (Will is out at a darts night tonight to send off my head of department -no girls allowed: they are just scared we'll beat them). Every weekend has something, right up until the last do at school, the end of year BBQ. We have TGIF parties about once a month on different themes, but this one is put on by the management as a thank you for the year. The band will be playing again, we sound hopeless at the moment but I am keeping my fingers crossed a miracle might happen.

At the weekend we went to a BBQ at the Australian embassy. It was held in the garden under marquees, and there was so much amazing food and drink. Then we watched the FA cup final in the pub and got knocked around by over-excited Chelsea fans. It ended at 2am here - we were knackered.

Tomorrow is the Faculty Appreciation Lunch. I can't get enough of this idea that people appreciate the work teachers do, I feel quite embarrassed. I am sure I don't do any more than I have always done! The parents bring in drinks and food dishes from their native countries and the staff eat them all. All to say 'thank you for teaching our children'. I am glad I am not a primary teacher for this one, because apparently all the parents of your class really want you to try their dish, and you end up with a huge plate of a really weird mix of food because everyone is too polite to refuse. The middle/high school staff get to relax a bit more.

The sports teams have finished their seasons, which means the field is free again and it is light enough and (more than) warm enough to play outside again. I need to get my tan started so I'm not a lobster in Greece! I think I am the palest person in Tokyo.