And for something completely the same

In the morning:



Today I noticed a pattern in my pre-working days evenings. I kind of assume, that preparations for work are going to take me a lot of time, and I'm going to be late, and there won't be time for anything else... It doesn't have to be like this. This thinking pattern (old bad habit) is reflected in the way I schedule my work, and the way I go about it. In fact, that's where I noticed it.

For the first time I'm able to visualize the upcoming week at work, lesson by lesson. On Friday we have a training day, then an AT lesson, probably an evening out, and on Saturday I'm off to Poland.

A link to the London Guitar Circle website is now added on the right side of this page. It contains the reports from our meetings.

And now for something completely different - a bird:

Forward

A good week, on several levels. For example...

On a practice level: a progress in establishing the framework for my personal practice at school. What I apply works for me, so I will keep doing it, reflecting on it, and refining it.

On a professional level: I had a formal lesson observation on Wednesday and has been given a positive feedback on it. All features of my lesson were given 'satisfactory' mark, with one 'good' which reportedly is a very good beginning in this very school. Some other teachers also gave me feedback on my progress and from this I gather that my contract is going to be extended after Christmas. Hurray!

A link to the Guitar Circle Journals website is now added on the right side of this page. This website was a response to the need of several GC students that wished to continue with this journalizing exercise after it completed on the GC website. Something has been completed, and than it was only self-initiative... On that website there are also links to external websites of certain individuals (including me) who keep sometimes more, sometimes less to the original exercise guidelines. I suppose it's like with various Guitar Circles (or clubs) around the world. Each develop into something different, a vehicle to serve different needs, in different contexts.

An AT lesson yesterday was a step forward. I was in a better shape than last week, so we were able to take the work further, insted of it being just a recovery measure. We worked with the chair, monkey stance and table turn.

Sunday so far has been very intensive. We had a 3rd meeting of Guitar Circle of London, followed by lunch together. Then a talk with Hernan in Kiel, and my parents in Tychy.

Last Sunday I thought that more regular posingts were impossible. I was wrong, at least in the last week. Now it's time to prepare for tomorrow...

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Sensitivity is personal, consciousness is impersonal.

Allowing hazard to carry us through life can lead to disaster.

Attraction

Yesterday was my best day in the school. I really enjoyed teaching 2 of my lessons, I got in the flow that reminded my of my work back in Poland. In the afternoon I have a meeting with parent. Before this I pause for a while, and assume my role. Sometimes I forget to do it.

And today a lack of sleep did hit me. Most of the lessons were a struggle, and students could sense it, of course. Some teachers tend to blame some situations and incidents on pupils, but to some degree, we attract situations with our personal state. Yes, the difference in my personal presence between yesterday and today was striking.

Yesterday had a strong flavour of the beginning of the beginning of the second part of first half of the term. Today I entered the middle of the beginning. What a rapid transition.

Today I noticed that I slowly regain my sense of humour in teaching environment, but not on this website.

And I happily continue to get the articles wrong. 'A', 'the', or no article at all? We don't use them in Polish language.

It's 20:48 and I don't have much energy. I think it's time for an AT lie-down.

A rainy day...

Rainy day

A difficult, intense and rich day. I'm grateful for it.

It took 12 minutes to hear the alarm in the morning, so up at 6.12. Then morning sitting, very vibrant and centering.

I practiced in the school today, introducing intention to my job. For example sensing my right hand before the lessons.

Come back home after 17 o'clock. About 30 minutes to get myself sorted, then out to London.

We begin with First Obligatory.

Home just before eleven. Few little things. I'm not going to overwork myself today, don't really fancy burning myself already on Monday, particularly after such a day like today. Instead, will wake up earlier tomorrow.

It's been raining here in the morning.

Sunday, 4th October 2009

4 weeks of the first half of the term are behind, another 3 to go.

After this I'm going to go to Poland for one week, something really to look forward to! I'll be also going to Ukraine for 2 days, and am planning to visit the village my mother's parents come from - Tuliglowy. All the Poles (around 800 people) from that village were relocated in 1945, that's when the Red Army entered this area for the second time, the war was over. They were relocated westwards, within the new boundaries of the country. Some of the villagers, including my grandparents actually travelled until the rails have finished, and there was nowhere else to go. The rails ended in Trzebnica, near Wroclaw. They settled down in one of the nearby villages called Wegrzynow, where some of them live until now.

As for more current issues, yesterday I went for my second AT lesson. I've never had a lesson at 8o'clock in the morning, but it was definitely worth it, more a recovery kind of work. Why is it so? Since my last lesson I got sick, accumulated many tensions, and basically exhausted myself, mainly on the mental level. Ah, and on the day before I played football with other teachers. I haven't played football for ca. 10 years and ended up very tired and achy, but in a good way. I need to move more.

I look forward to the next week. Who knows what lies ahead and what's going to happen? Last Thursday I had a fight in my classroom (just at the start of the lesson) which later escalated into the Maths department corridor. What was most shocking, was that it actually happened between Yr 10 boy and girl. In theory, teachers are not allowed any physical contact with pupils, but at that moment I had to respond and restrict the boy, who was actually banging girl's head on the door. Thanks God, nothing serious happened, but the repercussions of this incident will certainly come back to us in the next weeks, and will need to be addressed... I remained calm at the moment of incident, and if I handled that, I shouldn't have any bigger surprises, really, or should I? What can I learn from all those situations within the school. I feel as much 'learner' as 'teacher', which is good.

I really like the weekly pattern this job provides. Monday to Friday at work, then Saturday only for me, and Sunday half-on in terms of focus on the job. Every second Sunday we meet with London Circle. On Monday is the Movements class and on Saturday (or sometimes every second Sat) I have my AT lesson. The aim for this week is to see if I can handle one hour guitar between Tuesday and Thursday. I have doubts if I can handle more at this moment...

In the past few years I've done many different jobs, many of them were under-challenging. My current job provides me with more appropriate level of challenge.

I recently reflected on my purpose in being here, and how to make best use of what is available. Originally I thought that 5 years in London will be sufficient, but when I look ahead of time, of what might be possible, and necessary after I graduate, I am more and more convinced that I'll need to stay here one year longer. This is a tricky situation indeed. My professional development is not my only concern now, there is also the question of starting the family for example. Basically I'm here because what I need now cannot be provided in Poland, but being here also impedes other things. Ah...

Daily postings as I used to write are not possible anymore, but I'll keep posting every Sunday, and perhaps occasional short notes during the week.

Yesterday another book by Anthony of Sorouzh arrived. I've first heard/read about him in Lost Christianity. A of S has been a Metropolitan of Orthodox Church in England for many years, he served in Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints, here in London.

Anthony of Sorouzh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK1v0L7djrQ