On The Road Again

So my journey to Toronto begins. Classes wrapped up yesterday and it was not entire tear free. I was touched by the reactions of my students and fellow teachers. I realized in a very clear way that I have impacted them. That's the best feeling that a teacher can have: I've changed lives. With luck, it will be for the best!

I did just a massive amount of photocopying yesterday. My replacement who will be teaching Grade 12 is in her first year and I decided to copy all my readings, activities, and materials for her. The biggest problem that I had when I began was finding the materials that I needed to get by. I spent so many hours at the University of Saskatchewan Education Library that I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy let alone someone who will be taking over with my students. Needless to say, I was the last to leave the school yesterday at 2:00.

As I was leaving, and had packed up all my binders, books, and desk junk I took a final look across the classroom. It felt like a movie scene as all my memories came to me and I smiled. I looked at my clean topped desk and my chair and then the realization finally hit: this is it.

I hadn't allowed myself to think about leaving. I wrapped myself in work, and procrastinated by creating work for myself. Once all of it was finished, the sorrow envelopped me and I knew that my days of teaching in Lake Lenore were over. I don't leave this school ready to leave, but so sad that I am leaving with unfinished business.

So I returned to my apartment and packed; again procrastinating. I putzed around, wandering mostly, trying to delay the inevitable. I MSNed, made phone calls, checked email, even went to a parade. I packed everything into the car but I had not considered the 7 boxes of work from school and so things were quite tight. I am quite sure that a Toyota Corolla has never been so full. I cleaned my apartment up to avoid losing my damage deposit, gave my key to the landlord and hit the road at 8:45pm on Thursday, June 30th.

There were no sad goodbyes to Humboldt. I had no emotional connection at all to the town or to my apartment. It was a crummy little place that was like a utility infielded or pinch hitter: it did the job but is utterly forgettable.

I drove to Regina and at 11:30, checked into a hotel. I'm staying at the Victoria Park Inn for $70.44. In fact, I'm writing this blog right here on their complimentary internet station in the lobby. I will be upgrading to the Best Western Seven Oaks Inn in about 75 minutes where I will check in and stay at the expense of the Saskatchewan taxpayer. My work marking provincial exams begins tomorrow morning. They cover all my costs (gas, food, lodging) and pay me handsomely. It's a five day job over the Canada Day long weekend so they need to bribe people well to do it. I don't care about losing the weekend since I'm on vacation for 7 weeks and at 36 cents a kilometer, I'm happy.

So I'm off to Humpty's Family Restaurant for breakfast and it's 10% off coupon for staying at the VP Inn. I'll check into the Best Western, relax in the hot tub, and then maybe hit the Royal Ascot Mechanical Horse Machine at the Casino Regina and waste another Canada Day. I will try to post here when I can during my trip.