Cotton Eyed Who?

The Fulbright in-service workshop for exchange teachers and their mentors took place from the 21st - 24th October in Nashville, Tennessee.

My mentor, Paula, and I flew from Providence, Rhode Island. We boarded the smallest plane I have ever been on - the overhead compartments were only big enough to store a handbag - and I was suddenly thankful we didn't have a direct flight: it felt like we were flying on a model plane. Luckily, we arrived safely at our final destination and caught a taxi to the hotel (much to my amusement, the man at the taxi rank congratulated me on my achievement of being at such a good 'school', which bemused me somewhat until I realised that I was wearing my MIT sweatshirt and he'd taken me for an *actual* student!).

Arriving at our base for the workshop, the Vanderbilt Holiday Inn, I was greated by a flurry of hugs and a real Welsh cwtch from my UK counterparts. Spending time with them, catching up and comparing notes, was brilliant; we had a fab few days, despite the early starts and hard work!

AED surpassed themselves with this workshop; dull lectures were kept to a minimum, being replaced by interactive sessions and time, in an actual school, observing American teachers teach. This, for me, was the most valuable experience as it's something that is difficult to find time for in a normal teaching day. Interestingly, whilst some lessons were delivered in a very different way to the lessons a UK teacher would teach, watching other teachers was like watching myself. I made lots of notes, took on board the learning points and gained a new wave of enthusiasm for my classroom experience. We were also fortunate enough to be based on the beautiful Vanderbilt university campus.

As all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, we left him in the hotel and spent the nights on the town. For a metaller, the home of Country was quite an experience. Cowboy boots and hats were, quite literally, everywhere. We took endless photos of neon signs and even attempted a bit of line dancing - and yes, they did play Cotton Eyed Joe. Fail. Whilst I won't be doing *that* again, it beat sitting watching everyone else do it and it was certainly entertaining. Epecially the line dancing version of YMCA and when a dedication was called out to the 'Pocket Monkeys' ( a misunderstanding of the request for the Fulbright Pocket Moneys, being as the surname of our Fulbright guy is Money, and, well, you can guess the rest).

Parting on the Saturday was a sad experience - Gil from Canton and I stocked up on cwtches - and I shall miss my fellow exchangees, though no doubt most of us shall see each other again. I'm certainly not short of offers of places to visit thoroughout the US and, after the year is done, Europe too. I couldn't stay sad for long though, as that evening was the evening of Mrs Williams' arrival. Plus, as I was collecting her from Boston Logan, I got to say that I'd 'done' four states and three airports in one day!