After giving myself a few days to recollect and settle in, I am finally home and writing my last blog about this adventure. One thing is for sure, jet lag is real. I have been falling asleep at 8 o’clock every night and waking up at 6 every morning. I hope this ends soon lol. I’ve had a lot of time to sit back and reflect on my experience and the time that I had in England, which I would love to share some thoughts here. First, I loved it and I already wish I could go back. Sure there were ups and downs of getting homesick or having to adjust but all in all, I loved it. I would absolutely say that if I didn’t have my roommate Sarah there with me, it would have been a million times harder. Sarah, if you’re reading this, I miss you already :(.
The biggest take away I have from my student teaching experience is that I love how we teach in America. My time in the classroom was much different than my time in the States. My teacher was a fantastic teacher who knew her classroom very well and how to work with each child, but it was very fast-paced. At home, the set up is big and the students have their space and all work together. In my U.K. room, the classroom was set up for the students to be very independent; the pace was fast. That’s how they work, and it works for them! it took me a bit to get used (the classroom) but I have learned so much from my teaching experience.
I miss England and all the students I grew to love! To those going next semester, have a great time! The advice I will leave you with is to hold your hand out for the bus, bring comfortable shoes and an umbrella that can stand strong in the wind!