Today was a really disappointing first day.
It was a student-free day today, meaning that the day was spent in staff meetings and planning and that I could arrive before 9am. Being the paranoid freak that I am (I am always early and panic when I'm late) I left home at 7am anyway, just to give myself some time to get my bearings. I'm glad I left early though, because one tube station had malfunctioning escalators and I had to walk the perimeter of the building to connect to my overland train, and because my bus simply didn't turn up. I arrived at 8:45am.
Surprisingly, the transport wasn't the part that bothered me. I'm getting much more accustomed to heading anywhere on the tube, the overland, the bus system - so I'm not super worried about that. I actually enjoy being able to zone out and take a breather every now and again. (Although depending on who you are sitting next to, sometimes breathing isn't the best way to go.) No, the trek wasn't the problem.
The school just wasn't what I was expecting. It wasn't particularly welcoming, there was no real orientation, and get this: there were to be five teachers (plus me!) based in the one classroom, because the student behaviours were so extreme. After an awkward day spent shuffling around trying to find out basic information like where the ladies room was, and where the kidlets put their bags, let alone how the school deals with behaviour management, the final straw came when they refused to sign my timesheet daily.
I'm not going back.
Luckily, I lined up a day to day teaching relief for tomorrow and possibly the day after, where the work is planned for me and I rotate between different classes while teachers have time off - and despite going to a completely different school in an unknown area, I feel much more relieved.
I'm following my gut instinct and I feel remarkably calm about this changein plans - I'm guessing that's a good thing. Life's too short to be unhappy, so hopefully tomorrow I'll come home with a smile on my face. If not, I think I'll have to invest in a bottle of vodka on the way home.
Oh, no. I'm proud of you! I am one to stick in a bad situation simply because I believe I can ride anything out (see: current job, suckage thereof), and when I finally get out I wonder what the hell took me so long. You are right... life's too short.
ReplyDeleteSubbing, or relief, is actually a pretty good type of job. Good luck with the new place. Of course it's a good thing - you don't want to be miserable at work.
ReplyDeleteOh no!! I'm sorry things didn't work out the way you'd expected them too, but it sounds like you have a good Plan B in place.
ReplyDeleteIs the "day to day teaching" gig at the same school or something closer to home?
You're right -- life is entirely too short to be unhappy. I've learned that the hard way in the past; that's for sure!
Good luck with your new adventure tomorrow!
I'm sorry the first day didn't go better! But it can only improve from here, right? Knock on wood.
ReplyDeleteAnd vodka is always a good plan B.
Oh, man, that stinks for your first day. But I commend you for following your gut. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats for knowing a bad situation when you see it and getting yourself out of there.
ReplyDeleteOh noes! I'm sorry you had such a crappy day!
ReplyDeleteBut good for you and getting out of there. It clearly isn't right for you, so move on to bigger and better things!
Good luck!
Oh no, what a shame! I think you did the right thing in not going back though - I'm a firm believer in not staying in a job that clearly sucks.
ReplyDeleteSorry the first day was so awful for you.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping for better days from here on in.
Oh man, what a first day.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you are making that decision. It just didn't seem right even when I was reading it.
Hope everything works out!
Oh no! I thought this was the dream school that gave you more $$. Boo. At least you were able to get out of it quickly, and have something lined up for the next few days.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sorry you had such a rubbish day, and that after seeming such a good place the school failed ot deliver the goods.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for taking active steps to find something better. And closer. Enough things can go wrong with a journey that uses one mode of transport, never mind three or more!
Knowing the gut and following it - always good. But so is vodka. Cheers to a better day tomorrow! Maybe the rotational thing will be just what you need right now :) *hugs*
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer! I think it's good that you followed your gut, though. I once took a teaching position very similar to what you could have gotten, and I was miserable. I lasted about 6 weeks before I couldn't take it anymore!
ReplyDeletelove you
ReplyDeleteyou know it will work out !!!!
Way to go with your gut, girl! Sometimes people ignore their instincts and they shouldn't; they're there for a reason. I hope the relief position works out wonderfully! (or at least tons better)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds horrible! I can't believe they would need that many teachers for one class, I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow you will find a much better school!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that it wasn't what you were expecting. But yay for you to listening to your gut and doing what felt right. You'll find your perfect fit soon enough.
ReplyDeleteOh man that's terrible. At least you have already made other plans. I totally agree with you that life's too short to be unhappy, you deserve a great job that makes you happy. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know what? Good on you!
ReplyDeleteI agree - life is too short to be unhappy. Perhaps you were not meant to be at that school - either way, I think it's great that you were able to make the decision to follow a different path.
Oh and get the vodka anyway.. ;)
bummer it didn't turn out quite the way you hoped but at least this way you get to see more of London! You had a feelin it wasn't right so yor no worse off than you were a few weeks ago. good luck tomorrow seeya hugya *G*
ReplyDeleteDamn. That is disappointing to find out. The job that you had set your mind on and it turned out to be so shitty. Good thinking with the backup plan and like most here have said - life is too short to hang around.
ReplyDeleteI am so sad to hear that it's not exactly what you expected! But don't be disappointed. You are on an adventure, and if this is a bump in the road, that's okay. Tomorrow is a new day!
ReplyDeleteOh no, that is my new school nightmare. I swear when you told me about the school, it just seemed to be sort of a rough class, not a 5 teachers in one room class! I hope casual works out better for you.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for doing what feels right! Good luck tmr!!
ReplyDeletexx
Wow - you are doing some amazing and adventurous stuff there Alyndabear. Glad you have a back-up plan and good for you for sticking to it. :-)
ReplyDeleteAw sweetie, that sucks eggs. But, You went to see and decided it's not for you. So, you won't have regrets about not giving it a shot.
ReplyDeleteTheir loss.
I am in process of the gut wrenching "should I quit or not" crap right now and it sucks ass. I hate being stuck.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for nipping it before getting stuck!
WTF???? 5 teachers in one room??? hope today was better
ReplyDeleteif your gut's good with the decision, i think it's a good one. good luck with a new position!
ReplyDeletehope that vodka works out for you.. haha. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible first day. I wonder why they refused to sign your timesheet. Were they planning on not paying you properly?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finding some relief teaching.
Wow. You definitely did the right thing. I know there's something better out there for you!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, and good luck!
ReplyDeleteAw sorry to hear that! At least you gave it a shot.
ReplyDeleteaww... sucks dear.. I wish it'd been better for you - but... it's all learning, I guess. And if they were as sucky as it sounds they probably aren't worth it anyway.
ReplyDeleteHope the next few days are much better for you!
:( Hope today was better. Have my fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteGotta tell you, your blog still rocks and has inspired me to start my own. Check it out if you get a chance.
Good Luck with the new gig!
Hi Alyndabear, so sad to read that the first day didn't work out as you hoped for. Good for you to quit that same day. Are you now working for an employment agency?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything!
That sucks, but good on you for telling them to stick it! I know the new place will be much better for you! :-D
ReplyDeleteThat stinks but I am glad that you made up your mind to move on to something else. Like you said, life is too short to stick it out somewhere where you are not happy.
ReplyDeleteHope today will go better for ya.
Bugger dude. That sucks, but I am SO glad you had the guts to admit that it wasn't good enough and the guts to act on that gut feeling. Too much guts?
ReplyDeleteThe right thing will come along. You did the best thing. Chin up.
I hope it gets better for you here on out!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been disappointing but you made the right decision and I am sure things will get better!
ReplyDeleteOh No! I totally would have cried. And then I would have had to quit because I cried on my first day. But good for you, take the bull by the horns and lead your own destiny!
ReplyDeleteAs Belinda wrote - - WTF? Five teachers plus you because the behavior is extreme? Dear God! Sounds like you not only made a good choice to leave but that you also probably saved your life!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right--life is far too short. I'm glad you got out of there and into a temporary situation you feel better about.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That sucks, big time.
ReplyDeleteBut, I just know that you're going to find the "right" London job. I just know it!
At least you found out very quickly, and were able to jump at a different opportunity. If you had lingered, it might have been tougher to leave and you could have been stuck there a long while.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! I'm glad you found out right away and then promptly ran in the other direction!
ReplyDeleteWell done.
You'll be snapped up permanently very, very quickly. By a nice school with nice kidlets, too. ;)
Good job getting out. I got a job right out of college, teaching in a high school in North St. Louis County. The area looked OK when I drove around -- just a lot of smallish houses that seemed well-kept, like your typical working-class neighborhood -- and during my interview, they told me they taught 12 novels a year in their senior honors class. What they neglected to mention was that everybody else read at a third-grade level or below. About a week into school, I realized I'd made a horrible, horrible mistake in taking the job ... but I was locked into a one-year contract, so I didn't have any choice about whether to stay or go. I learned a lot, but the main thing I learned was that I'm happier in a newsroom than in a classroom. Sad.
ReplyDeleteGood for you that you were able to get out as soon as you realized it was the wrong place.