London - Job Fair

I came to London for a job recruitment fair - similar to the one I attended in NY in 2007 but on a smaller scale. In 2007, people had said to me you won't find a job in Europe because you don't have international experience. But I did get a job then. So now I was heading to London with almost 2 years of international experience but it's not that simple...

Unfortunately things really didn't go very well. I had researched, planned, organized - I had foreseen if I didn't get any job offers; however, I didn't foresee the problem I ran into like a brick wall. Saturday was an extremely difficult, disappointing and depressing day. It's not because the interviews didn't go well it's because I couldn't get an interview! due to the fact I didn't have PYP experience (Primary Years Programme - a type of curriculum often used in international schools). I had 2 interviews at the end of Saturday - one with a school in Leipzig, Germany and one with ACS Egham - the interviews seemed to go fine. I did hear back from England and unfortunately they didnt think I had the right fit - they were a PYP school.

On the somewhat positive side of it, it's early in the game. Though I am not planning on attending any more job fairs, I will be constantly sending my resume to schools.

On a more positive side, I am glad I had Sunday to have a pick-me-up day. It took me a while to get myself out of my hotel room but in the afternoon, I took a double decker bus down to an area called Covent Gardens - great little shops, restaurants, street entertainers, etc. I first went to the box office of the Lion King - because online it indicated it was sold out. However I WAS able to get a seat and as you know it was FABULOUS!!!!!! I loved the giraffes! And Timon was also fantastic! Really incredible. The music really hits the inside of your body - so powerful!

It ended a 6pm so then I went back to the Covent Gardens area and had a pint of beer called Courage Best at a pub I found in my guidebook called The Lamb and the Flag! Then had dinner at a pub called Sussex. Although I tried to get my bearings to take the bus back to the hotel I couldn't figure it out so hopped into a taxi!

So I am glad the trip ended on a positive note and it helped me cheer up and reflect. Boy I would love to live in London - so much to do and see.

So I leave you with this - my thought at the beginning of the trip and the end of trip.

"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I do't choose to go there. OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO! You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
Except when you don't. Because, sometimes, you won't. I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. But on you will hike and I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
Just be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. And you will succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! 998 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS! You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! your mountain is waiting. So.... get on your way!" ~ Dr. Seuss

New Year's Resolutions

So I am thinking if I officially post my New Year's Resolutions, I may be more able to keep them!

#1 Return emails. I know this has been a problem! But let me first state that when I write emails I put effort into them. They are more like a note/letter format than just answering a question. So I have decided that I will respond to everyone's emails within 24 hours of me reading them. (You may ask yourself, how will you know I have read it within the 24 hours? Unless I am travelling to a remote place, I am online checking my emails before school, sometimes at school and most evenings). But let me preference my future emails - I may not write a lot, I may just answer your question. And then later I may write another email in form of the letter.

#2 Don't waste food. Plan and prepare. I like to go to my fruits and vegetables market up the street. I like to buy a variety of produce, but what happens is, some of the vegetables usually get thrown out because I bought them on a whim and they didn't really go with anything I was eating. Or I buy them to go with a recipe and then I can't find all the other ingredients at the grocery store and then end up not making the recipe. I already go to the grocery store about 3 times a week so I need to be more planful with actual recipes I know I can get all the ingredients for.

#3 Use bags. I have so many reusable bags and I do believe I am quite good with having them on me and using them especially at the grocery store. But I still come home with bags. I would love it if all of Greece used reusable bags more but I will start with me!

So there you have it. Three resolutions I believe I can keep. Notice I don't have exercise more and diet - I know myself. I will try but those are yo-yo resolutions. These three are ones I can have success with doing.

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone! Can you believe it is already 2010? I cannot.

I had a great (yet quick) Christmas holiday in the states. I hadn't been back since last Christmas. The first thing I noticed was that I could understand everyone's conversations around me- everyone spoke English! This was certainly a welcoming change. Another great change was to be able to put the toilet paper in the toilet!!!!

I arrived late to SC on December 23 and left on January 3, arriving here in Greece January 4th.

December 24 went straight to shopping at Stein Mart! Always success there. Did some other errands and then celebrated Christmas Eve with friends of my parents, candle light church service. December 25 opened stockings then loaded the car to drive 5 hours to Florida - Disney World here we come!

It was a complete surprise for the kids - they opened their surprise Christmas morning and flew out in the afternoon! We did the Magic Kingdom for 2 days, Animal Kingdom for a day (let's just to say doing the safari was good if you have never been on a real safari before but a let down if you have!!!) And we did Epcot for a day. We ate dinner at different country pavillions, saw the Magic Kingdom parade, the light show parade, the light show at Epcot. The boys and I did all the scary rollercoasters - Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Mt. Everst!
We covered a lot of ground in 4.5 days! Oh did a character breakfast too.

On the third day after the character breakfast, we went to visit my Grandma. I know she loved seeing us, even though it was a short visit.

It was a hard Christmas for her as Grandpa passed away in October. But Grandma, you look great and it was wonderful to see you!

My parents gave the trip of Disney World to me and my stister, brother-in-law and niece and nephew. It was a fantastic trip! As we alternate Christmas with my sister, it was our turn! So I hadn't seen them since Maine August 2008! As most of you know, my nephew and niece share a birthday and were both born on Christmas Day -so Austin turned 7 and Heidi turned 5. Wow, how have their grown! Thanks Mom and Dad!