Class and Homework

Hello!

Today was a pretty boring day compared to my weekend in London that I just had. I had class from 8-3 today. It was actually really interesting though, I got to attend 3 seminars put on by the other masters students from MSU all about different types of technologies that I can use as a teacher. They were very informative! I learned how to make an iPortfolio, incorporate gaming into my lesson plans, and also how to do some screen capturing (where I can record or photograph my activities online). I'm very excited to try these new tools out in my internship classroom next year!

Tonight and tomorrow I'm going to be working on and finishing my last big project for the study abroad program. It's going to be a doozy. It pretty much is a project that uses a type of technology that I've learned about on this trip and it has to describe how my experiences here in England have changed my views about culture in America. I think I'm going to incorporate aspects of the differentiating lifestyles between the two countries. Everyone is very laid back here, lives without worry, and goes through life casually strolling by. While lifestyles in America are fast paced, routine, and stressful.

An example of this is when I went out to eat here in Plymouth for the first time. After I had finished eating my food, it took the waiter like 30 minutes to come back to my table with the bill. My friends and I were complaining every five minutes about having to wait so long for our bill then we realized that in England it's customary to sit an enjoy your meal with friends and family for long periods of time. It should be a relaxing activity that isn't rushed. We all felt out of place once we realized how accustomed to the fast-pace American lifestyle we were. It's experiences like that that remind me just how different England is from America.

Anyways...I have some work to do on my project. Hope all is well with everyone, I'll be home in only 3 days!!

Cheers,

Tara