Frenzied February

Dear Friends:

So soon it is that time again. Another month has passed by and it's a time of reflection and the sharing of news. This might be a shorter email since you've already heard about all of my crazy adventures in Portugal. From last month's email you know January was,... interesting... February has been challenging too, but I think it's beginning to calm down now in March.

I've been having a lot of behaviour problems with some of my students, and I'm just now getting on top of it. It has been exhausting, but in the end, I think it's working out. I had a huge shock today, when one of the girls in my form (think homeroom) handed me her report (a behaviour report that she has to get signed by all her period teachers). I asked her why she was on report and she didn't want to tell me. Later I asked again and she admitted that she and some of her friends had gotten some alcohol and gotten drunk and come to school. SHE'S 11 YEARS OLD!!! Not only that, but seriously, if you get drunk are you seriously going to school? I guess when you're still a tween you aren't too keen on being smashed.

The other fiasco that ensued this month was actually worse... some student's broke into the school and stole a bunch of personal things from teachers. How did they get in? Well, they got into the locked gate somehow when the cleaners were still there and had the rooms unlocked... so my thumbdrive, with all my work from this entire year was snatched out of my room with a huge project that I had been working on for 2.5 months... a project that was due the next day and which just happened to determine the schools' EAL budget for the following year. AHHHH! I nearly had a panic attack when I knew it was gone. Luckily I had emailed some of it to myself the day before so not all was lost. After working Friday night till the school closed, Monday all day, and Tuesday, I finished it about midday and emailed it in. Now everything is backed up in triplicate and no personal belongings stay anywhere ever.

On the up side, the darkness that envelopes England in the winter is beginning to lift. The sun now peeks through my windows around 630am and sets around 6pm. I rarely walk home in the pitch black anymore. I am looking forward to endless days in the summer. They even are going to have a midnight showing of Midsummers Night Dream at the Globe theatre on the Solstice (June 21). I am SO there.

In other news, I've been getting more involved in church... especially music. I'm performing in the gospel choir and the Good Friday service where we are doing bits from Handel's Messiah. It should be amazing. If I get a CD I'll try to email it out in MP3 format. I am really looking forward to Easter in England. Although I have to admit I will definitely miss the easter egg hunts, the clothes, Mom's FOOD! (Ham, rice, potatoe salad, baked beans!!! easter egg cakes!!! snickers eggs!!! ugh my tummy yearns for them!) I will try to make do with what I can over here. Lol. Easter is for serious my FAVOURITE holiday. Everything is coming alive... Jesus is alive... the music is great, the outlook is bright for summer... everything is in process... everything is making it's way. I heart Easter.

Some of you have been asking about Grayson. Things with Grayson have been ok. I'm pretty sure that we're good... I just don't hear from him that often. But with about 8 timezones and 6 thousand miles and excessively busy schedules, that can be expected. I do know that the rarity of our coorespondence makes that we do have ever the more special. It's good to know you're loved for your merit, though it feels undeserved.

Future travel plans include Ireland for St. Patrick's Day weekend (the day is Monday, when I have school)... and then in April, I will be in the States. If you wanna hang, just email me and we can set something up either now or when I get back.

Prayer requests:
My friend Matt, his dad had to have triple bypass. He found out when he was in Egypt and had to do crazy flight booking to get back to the States. He hasn't been back yet and I haven't heard from him so just that everything is ok.
Perseverance.
Summer employment... ideas? I will do nearly anything anywhere... as long as bills are paid. :)

Big Love to all.

Jenny