All moved in and teaching

Well, since my last post, I've done a lot. I have moved into my flat and started to get used to some of the quirks of British system: Small fridges, flicking the light down instead of up, flicking on the switch to turn on an electrical plug, and no dryers. (It takes the machine around 90 minutes to do a load of laundry, and two days for the clothes to dry, strewn about the flat.) I have spent half a day watching Cricket: Australia vrs. Essex. That day's actions were over half over when I got there, and I still was out there for over 3 hours. (more about cricket in an upcoming blog). I toured the largest Norman castle in all of UK (in Colchester) which was built on the foundations of an old Roman temple dedicated to Claudius.
Most importantly, I finally have not only seen the inside of my school (Alderman Blaxill), but also spent a couple of days cleaning up after the former teacher and getting used to the system here. Good news: I have an interactive whiteboard (a SMART board). Bad news: it doesn't work. Good news: the data projector still works fine and desplaying notes and seating plans on the screen is quite easy to do.
Due to troubles with asbestos, the school had open only on Friday instead of Wednesday, which supposidly gave me two extra days to get set up. However, because the computer system was down for part of that time, and extra meetings were called, I didn't get all the time I would have liked, but more than I would have originally received. Friday went fine - just the year sevens were in and they are still quite shy. Monday had a rough start with my year 8, but it improved with year 11 (Chemistry section), year 10 (Biology section), year 8 (biology unit) and again year 7 (biology unit). Today, I also had year 9 (Biology unit) at the end of the day. They are a very.... energetic group who know how to assert their own... individuality and many of have... selective hearing as well as... selective memory. Let's just say there was not much teaching from the curriculum happening today. One of the teacher assistants told me that it will get better. I hope so. My Year 10s that I will get tomorrow (after my year 9's again) apartently are taxing as well. I look forwards to my year 11 Double Science, though. I've heard a lot of good things about them. I just wish I wasn't teaching them something I know more about like Chemistry and Biology rather than Physics.
One of the really possitive things is that because I'm new, and have a foriegn accent, I am quite the novelty. Some student will randomly approach me and strike a conversation or just say "Your cool" and walk away. There are a lot of students get to know, especially since many of them greet me who aren't even in my class. But I'm getting there.
I should finalise (yes that's finalise with an "s" and not a "z" - and I already have issues with spelling!) what I will teach tomorrow and how to get through with the year 9's.
See you La'er!
Kevin