apart4's Guestbook

Great blog!
I found you because I was also thinking of teaching in London. I've already taught 8 years in the USA and know how hard it is being a teacher anywhere. I was scared with the behavior problems I've heard about it in London but really your experiences have mirrored mine here in the USA. Many times I've thought of quitting and becoming a librarian just like you! Your comments about British men and how they just sit back and let the women do all the work I found insightful. I also think about not fitting in in London. I'm American but of Hispanic ancestry. You on the other hand could pass for a Brit!

Ways to get closer to God
If we desire getting closer to God... we need understanding definition of God! The meaning of God... definition of God is best explained in Bhagavad Gita http://www.godrealized.com/bhagvadgita.html of Hinduism... the most sacred scripture existing on mother earth! As detailed in Bhagavad Gita god almighty is not form of human beings. The sum total of all purified soul atmans in cosmos at a given moment of time is what we know as God Almighty! This enormous cluster of cosmic primordial power much beyond comprehension of all human beings is Nirakaar in form (having no form)! God Almighty is not form of human beings. God Almighty always acts as a Dhrishta (onlooker) never interfering with creation of his! God Almighty exists in all human beings in miniscule form as our soul atman... the spirit within! Getting closer to God http://www.godrealized.com/god/Ways-to-Get-Closer-to-God.html simply means merging our inner self with larger whole... God Almighty himself! When human beings gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana)... it announced end of cosmic life for soul atman... the spirit within! Reaching 8.4 millionth manifestation... the last in cosmic life cycle is goal of every soul atman... the spirit within! For human beings to gain enlightenment... assimilating wisdom contained in Bhagavad Gita is foremost necessity! Only by knowing Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism human beings gained enlightenment (reached stage of kaivalya jnana)... never otherwise! The contents of Bhagavad Gita can never be understood literally. All 700 shlokas verses contained in Bhagavad Gita suffice for mankind reaching stage of enlightenment... and finally salvation (moksha)! The knower of Bhagavad Gita finally becomes knower of all... gains omniscience for all practical purposes! Enlightenment is reached via path of spirituality... never religion! Understanding difference between religion and spirituality is foremost necessity of the day! Most human beings on mother earth confuse spirituality with religion! God Almighty can never be reached via path of bhakti yoga... path of rituals... path of religion! For getting closer to God... for become one with God one needs traveling path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom)!

baffling
my debit cards won't work in the states - and lloyds claim that i don't even have a block on my card. My husband just got here and his card won't work either. we can't get any cash out. luckily my master card works and i have family in the states who can give us money - i have no idea what i would do otherwise. lloyds claims that the ATMs, and the card machines in the stores i have gone to are broken. YEP that's right, according to lloyds - every atm in the entire USA is broken. Nice one!

How did this go by the end of the term?

JP2 Rocks, Obama no. Mandella looks like Freeman.

How do you live in London?
How are all of you able to live in London???? I recently received my Masters from Harvard, have been asking around regarding potentially obtaining a job there, and have basically been told that it's nearly impossible unless I take another degree. Can anyone provide some input? Thanks so much! jodiredmond@post.harvard.edu

GCSE
I thought GCSEs were stupid as well. No grade motivation at all, of course, and bunch of teaching to a test (for English GCSEs...basically 3 months of prep, and I even volunteered to teach a day of revision during a break...not because I loved the kids of course, but for the extra money). In English, they just were marked and went into a folder which collected work over the years. That was submitted for a percentage of their GCSE grade. However, I for the life of me, could not get my students to turn in my work. I've told you before that my department was very organized, the staff were friendly, and my Head of department was on top of things...she began chasing kids for work and reminding me to get them to turn it in. Like I hadn't tried! They would just listen to their MP3s and ignore me, save the good ones.

Yup
Wait, did that comment I posted post here too? I don't know how this thing works. I'm jealous you have a gym membership! I'm so impatient.

Teachers TV
Hi - have you watched any of the videos on www.teachers.tv? There are loads on there to help in these situations - they are online and you can watch for about 15 minutes and learn more about what other teachers are going through, and what solutions are presented to them. I saw a video with almost your exact same story going on just the other day - it was great! Hope it helps.

Nice
That was great.