And the fireworks are through… (Andersson & Ulvaeus, 1979). Well, soon. Soon 2008 is over and the new year starts. Though I’d like to think of the changing of years the same way as the changing of a regular Wednesday into a regular Thursday, I can’t help but looking back – and forward.
As a teacher, my years also start in September and end in July. And exactly a calendar year ago, I was working at primary school ‘De Wegwijzer’. After a few months of waking up and not knowing if you’re needed or not, this school wanted me until the rest of the school year. This meant I got my own class, for the first time since I was still in ‘school’ myself. I had a nice group of colleagues around me there. People where I could turn to with ‘newbie’ teacher questions, people who triggered me to think and people who’d tell me honestly if I did something wrong. Needless to say I learned a lot.
Thinking about it, my career changed a lot this whole year. It was also the year of the project ‘Energy Survival’. This is a project for schoolchildren, which makes them aware of energy and how important it is for our environment to save it – in a fun way. I’ve seen it work when my last class won the competition and went to Norway for the final in a TV show. This year I was asked to help organising it, which I really enjoyed.
In September I got a job as a ‘Mad Scientist’ (think: white lab coat, a box full of stuff to do cool experiments with, teaching science and having fun). Working for Mad Science is doing everything you want as a teacher, without having to worry about the kids’ test results. I recently had to stop though, as I couldn’t make enough hours. Luckily, I already got a new job to start with after the holidays. I’m going to work fulltime on one primary school, of which I’m going to teach music three days a week!
So I already know that the start of 2009 is going to be exciting. I also look forward to seeing my cousin Valesca grow, to meeting my friends in England again and to find out what else is going to happen around Hanny’s Voorwerp and Galaxy Zoo (part two). What are your plans? Whatever happens, let’s make the best of it.
Happy new year!
(In case you didn’t find my website through the Galaxy Zoo forum: that’s where the idea started of making Christmas cards like these. The characters you see in this message are real galaxies, where Photoshop is only used to put them together. A while back I found the first few ‘letters’ to spell my name with, and with the help of a lot of other users, we now almost have the alphabet complete!)
5 Comments
Yes, wishing you and anyone reading this a very happy new year, follow your dreams and may they all come true
Love your blog Hanny. Looking forward to seeing you again at Astrofest! (I must scout out the pubs round there soon!)
Hey thanks Geoff! And yeah, you find us a nice and quiet pub to go to when I’m over!
After the champagne, I usually start on the Bailey’s
Great blog, Hanny, I look forward to seeing you soon
a ‘belated’ happy new year to you and everyone.
Thanks Tommy! And only a few weeks to go.
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