A view on "coloured" people

This poem was written by a little, black boy and was"Written by an African child and nominated by UN as the Best Poem of 2006."


This is a piece of writing that I hold very dear to myself, despite having none of the cultural issues involved. I have always hated the term "coloured", if I am able to describe myself as white then I certainly feel that describing other races as "black" or whatever should be allowed. I don't understand why there is such an issue in discussing physical and cultural differences. Anyway, I present this poem, a favourite of mine. In fact I could say that this is the only poem I like and view as relevant to life.


When I born, I black.
When I grow up, I black.
When I go in sun, I black.
When I scared, I black.
When I sick, I black.
And when I die, I still black.
And you white people.
When you born, you pink.
When you grow up, you white.
When you go in sun, you red.
When you cold, you blue.
When you scared, you yellow.
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey…
And you calling me colored??

Reflective lecture.

Yesterday we had a lecture on reflection and being a reflective teacher. It's actually listed in the QTS standards about the need to be reflective, so, needless to say, reflect is what we did. It was actually quite an odd experience which is why I'm writing about it today rather than yesterday when I was still rather strung out from it. It brought up a lot of old feelings that I really, really didn't want to bring up again. I'm going to share some of the results I had.


First off we had to write, just free-write, what we were feeling starting with "In the last 2 weeks":

In the last two weeks, I have made friends, after my last uni. experience I never thought I could go through this again. It was ****. It got better towards the end but....yeah. I'm enjoying it this time but I'm so scared I'm not going to make it, that I'll fail and let myself and my family down, but mostly myself. I'm so damn tired. I need to go running, paint, scream, whatever. Just to clear my head.

Then we had to choose one group of words from that and continue.

I never thought I could go through this again, I'm so scared I'm not going to make it. What if I crack up again? What if I **** up again? Right now I hate myself for thinking like this, I'm trying to stay positive.  Adapt and overcome. That's the mantra that keeps going through my head.

Keep smiling, one day you'll believe it.

Then we had to use the following sentences:

I am...
I am a teacher of...
Who feels...
Who fears...
Who has...
Who would like... 

And add 3 words/adjectives:


I am loyal, supportive, scared
I am a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages (not overly creative!)

Who feel tired, motivated, proud
Who fears failure, failure, loneliness
Who has been successful in overcoming myself
Who would like to trust, to help, to like myself.

What are the three things that I need to get me through this year?


Self-confidence
A dictionary
To eat well.

So that's me in a nutshell at the moment. I'm over-tired and over-stressed and it's only week 2. Fantastic.

First week down :)

My first week at Portsmouth Uni has gone well, I've made some friends and learned a lot already. We're all exhausted and our heads are spinning with all this new information we're trying to take in and retain.  This course has been pretty intensive already, I was looking at the statistics, 16.5% of MFL PGCE students drop out, that's a pretty large statistic considering there are only 26 of us on the MFL PGCE course. We haven't been told where our placement schools are yet but hopefully we'll know by the end of the week, then we can start ascertaining whether or not Mat and I are going to have to get a second car. I really hope not given that I'm unemployed whilst doing this course and financially this will be impossible. We'll see.


We also have details of our first assignment, lo and behold the library was essentially empty of books 2 hours later, it's due October 29th, I don't think I've actually bothered thinking about an assignment this early, let alone plan for it. Organisation is going to be key.

All in all, I'm really enjoying the course thus far and am looking forward to getting out of the theoretical side and into the practical soon.

Officially a Post-Graduate Student at university!

I enrolled today! I am now officially registered to do the PGCE Spanish and French at the University of Portsmouth! That means that provided I manage to get through this course, in 9 months I will be a teacher! Hopefully with a job at the end of it! I start Monday at 09:15, I'm so excited!

Enrolling tomorrow!

HA, tomorrow I head over to Portsmouth to enroll at uni to do my PGCE in Spanish and French! Omg, so exciting, I am so glad to have almost finished working at Sainsbury's, I felt like I was dying there. I just hope that a) my student loan comes through REALLY soon otherwise I'm screwed and b) that I am eligible for the full bursary. I'm not sure financially what I'll do otherwise. Argh. I also really hope that they will give me a parking permit otherwise it's going to cost a fortune getting there and that they'll give me a school placement near Southampton so I don't have to leave so early. In a perfect world I'd get all those things. When do things ever work out perfectly though right? That said, if you want anything enough you can do anything for a year. Adapt and Overcome. Adapt and Overcome. I should seriously get that tattooed on my wrist or something.

I start Monday! Last day at work on Saturday wooooooo!

I heart TK Maxxx

Being broke has many disadvantages but certainly one or two advantages, one being, buying stuff is so much more satisfying and pleasurable.


TK Maxxx is one of those places that I really need to be in the mood for, otherwise I see it for what it is,  an oestrogen fueled free for all.  However, every once in a while you come out with some great items. I've been wanting a pair of converse trainers for a while now, and guess what I found yesterday? A perfect pair of Converse trainers, in my size, WITH SKULLS ON! They are beyond awesome. Plus, there's the added satisfying bonus that everything there tends to be half price or less, I bought these for £19.99 with RRP being something like £39-£69! Furthermore I came out with a really sweet dress from Studio M, down to £18.00.

Good things come to those who tolerate TK Maxxx.