New taste sensation of the week: Marmite

So, the English like this yeast spread called Marmite. During my week away, I came face to face with Marmite for the first time and, being adventurous (and anyway, how can so many people be wrong about the taste of Marmite?) I tried it. And it was good (although it's not advisable to smell it before tasting it). I did not manage to be open minded enough to eat baked beans for breakfast, but beans on toast was the hit breakfast this week, so I just might be missing something... I was glad that the tunnel challenge was cancelled for my group and we were in the open air on grass sleds instead. It could have been a bit "windy" after all those beans and it was a relief not to be trapped in dark tunnel behind some of those kids.

In memory of Oscar

We didn't have him for long, but he was a sweet and loving cat. Oscar ran away a couple of weeks ago and has not come back home. We miss his purring and his hoarse meow and how he curled up in our laps any chance he got. We also miss how he would hide under the chair or the bed but as soon as there was any movement towards his food bowl, all timidness disappeared. But he ran outside into the rain and the darkness and never came back. Maybe he is somewhere else where people love him. We hope so.

My week at a residential adventure camp

I have a general rule of not talking about work on the web, but my past week just can't go unmentioned on this blog. I went with 12 of my students and 6 of my co-workers to Stubbers Adventure Centre near Upminster where we stayed for five days and four nights in a dorm and helped the kids learn how to be more independent and work together as a team. It WAS an adventure!

Each day we participated in two activities and had three meals together in addition to down time where we encouraged the kids to play games and interact with each other. One of the biggest problems our kids have is with socializing, so there was an emphasis on communicating with each other and building social skills throughout the week.

I was very skeptical of this week away, but it was an incredible experience. I wish I could put the pictures of my amazing students on this blog, but you'll have to settle for pictures of me.


Adventures on the high ropes course! I thought I was so brave, but when I got up higher on the course, I was really scared. I managed to get through all the highest levels...but not without my legs shaking, my stomach sinking, and much bear hugging of the telephone poles in between scary parts.

Ben coached me through the course and I managed not to fall!

It was really windy, which didn't help with the fear factor.

We discovered that it was much easier to balance when holding onto the rope that was tied to our harnesses.
Only one of the kids in our group went up to the higher levels that day. She was a star!

The kids and the men were thrilled by the 4x4 driving. Because I grew up on a farm and learned how to drive on a 4x4 diesel pick-up truck and because I have been driving for the past sixteen years, driving the 4x4s didn't really excite me that much. But I discovered that my friends never got their licenses which is such a foreign concept to someone from America, the land of cars. I think the driving test is much harder here in England. Despite not being that excited about driving in the mud, I did have fun driving an English car. It was my first time to drive on the other side of the car. The tricky part was shifting.

I can drive!


Archery was another fun activity. While we were at archery, one of my students who tends to speak in a high, babyish voice said, "I want to be Maid Marian!" (we have been reading Robin Hood). Upon being told to please use an adult voice, she repeated her statement in a low, mannish tone...it was funnier, I think, to those who actually experienced it.

I got one bullseye!


I also drove a VERY SLOW Powerboat. So slow that I didn't have to open my eyes, apparently.


And, I discovered that I'm a pretty good soccer player, for someone who has never played in her life. I scored three goals during my first game!

On the last night, we had a fancy dinner with roast chicken. Ed is used to getting his own chicken. HILLLLAAAAARIIIOUUSSSS (that was the banned word of the week)


It was a great experience and now I have two weeks off! HOORAY!!!