Don't Chew Your Hearing Aids

So today was my first "real" day of student teaching, which consists mostly of observing at this point.  The whole itinerant ("parapatetic") aspect is still the same.  I traveled with a lady named Jo today and we get on so well.  It turns out I have to take the train 4 days a week, which wasn't incorporated into the money I was saving to come over here.  Dave is contacting IUP in order to have those fools pay for my travel because I would end up spending a fortune.

For those of you that understand and actually do care, the hearing aids here are pretty much the same, a lot of Phonak ones.  However, their FM systems (they call them RHA's--radio hearing aids) are very different.  The also call hearing aid boots "shoes".  Anyway, the FM systems are the ones that the child wears in a little fanny pack that has two wires sticking out that attach to the boots on the hearing aids.  It looks so 80's but Jo explained that they will only give out their best equipment to students who can properly manage it and to those who are not "heavy handed".  I mean, one year 2 student we saw today CHEWS ON HIS HEARING AIDS.  What?! It's not like casually chewing the ends of your glasses when you take them off and twirl them around.  You actually have to take the hearing aids out of your ears, undo the tubing, and then place them in your mouth. UM?!? Tomorrow is another day.  Each day I work with a different hearing teacher so there should be plenty of good stories.

Anyway, just got back from Tesco with Claire who has been so amazing.  The whole family is great and have hooked me up with a phone, converter, and a ride to work everyday.  All the teachers from St. Barnabas are meeting down at the pub later so I'm going to join in order to see Kylie.  Kylie had a day off already!  Its only been 2 school days.  Her school had meetings all day so it would have been pointless for her to be there.  Alright, off to get ready for the pub. Bye!