I'm leavin on a jet plane...not quite sure if I'll be back again

Ok so maybe it's not that bad! I really think that everything will be fine and I'll be comin back here, and it'll be all lovely jubbly.... I'm thinking POSITIVE :)

On Thursday night I saw Phantom of the Opera with Nick. It was soo good!! I was singing it for the rest of the night, and Nick was really regretting taking me...

Monday is my last day at school before I go. I've been writing up a lot of plans for the supply teacher. I met with her the other day (she's a floating teacher in the school, who will be in my class whilst I'm gone) So I was glad to be able to explain them, because there's a lot to explain with this crowd!!! ha! I'm so sad to leave them, and aside from that they're not really going to understand that I left and am coming back. They're so wonderful, as challenging as they can be sometimes, spending my days with them is time well spent. All the time they're surprising me with new sentences they're say, or things they do. They're the best free entertainment this world has to offer, actually I'm getting paid for it!!

This weekend was great. I spent Saturday in Covent Garden shopping around with my friend Sarah..and then in the evening I went to Nicks. We had a very lovely weekend just spending time together. Now I'm busy busy getting everything sorted for voyage back home! I'm so excited to see everyone and spend time in New York, and back in America. It will be good to be back with my people! Back in a place where they call things the same way that I do :) It will probably be a bit strange, since I've grown so used to living amongst the English

I've posted some old photos. I'm afraid I haven't been taking any photos lately. I'll definitely be taking some in New York!!

The quest continues

I was thinking the other day on the way to get groceries, how exciting this blog has become. If it's not one thing it's another. Moving to London has been a lot of things, but boring is not one of them! Always something goin on here.


So here's the latest. I told the head teacher at my school my current situation. I was so relieved afterwards. I was quite nervous of how they would react. I didn't really know what to expect, but they took it really well. They're very supportive of me, and upset that this is fouled up because Brent wrongly advised me in the first place. Together the head teacher and I wrote up a letter in support of me staying. She put in a lot of nice things about me, and are very concerned about losing me. It was very good to know how they felt and that they don't want to lose me.

I have made my decision that going to New York will be the best option for me. I have been advised that if I were to stay in country and appeal the home office's decision of the initial refusal, I will probably lose that. I would lose it because they based their decision by the law. That law is that you cannot switch from a Bunac visa to a work permit in country, you have to do so out of country. They would not reconsider that refusal.

What I would be doing in New York is apply for entry clearance, it's a separate thing than the above. That will probably be granted because I have a work permit, and teaching will be seen as a shortage occupation at that time, and I will have a letter in support from the school. There really shouldn't be any reason as to why I should be refused.

The slight downfall to this, is with everything to do with the government...nothing happens quick. There's a lot of bureaucracy and it could take weeks for me to get my answer. So I will have to wait weeks in New York. I'm going to have to tell the school that it will be likely that I will be away for 2-4 weeks, which isn't great. I hope they'll take that well, probably find a long term supply teacher, and I'll have my job back when I return to the UK.

So now I'm just praying for a quick (and positive!) answer back from the British embassy and in the meantime, looks like I'll be chillin in the big apple! I'm extremely excited to see Elyse, it's been FAR too long since we've seen each other, and waay too long since we've properly spoken. I'm looking forward to seeing family and all other friends in NYC. Let's hope this all goes as planned!!

The campaign continues...please support the campaign to keep me in London by your good thoughts and prayers!

Here are some photos to remember the good times! :)

Happy Halloween

Wow, life has been SO stressful lately!!! But first I start off with the fun stuff! :)

Halloween was great! I was little red riding hood, and Nick was a lot like Capt. Jack Sparrow. We went out to a club in Vauxhall with our friends Stephan and Anna. It was a really cool club and everyone costumes were amazing!!! It was really cool. The thing about England (and potentially the rest of the world???) is that they only dress up as something scary/dead for Halloween. Whereas in America most people do funny/cute/sexy things. I went as a cute/nice little red riding hood and definitely stuck out!! People were asking why wasn't I brutalized or something. I prefer looking nice! :) Overall I definitely prefer America's take on Halloween!!!

THEN the drama started!

My ongoing struggle as an immigrant continues. At the beginning of the week Nick was thinking that it might not be as easy as just turning up at the British Embassy in NYC and getting my entry clearance to the UK. He had advised me not to go to New York because I would put myself in jeopardy of not being admitted back into the UK. If that were to happen that I will have to put in an appeal and will have to stay in the State while that is processed. He advised that I stay in the UK.

After hearing that I decided to not go to New York, for fear of not being let in. Which broke my heart!! I was SO UPSET on Wednesday after I decided that. I miss my family and I miss home and I have been looking forward to going to America for so long! After all this was all meant to be a temporary thing, which is all turning out to be very long term!!

THEN after Nick had spoke to more colleagues and barristers, he had heard that it might actually be best if I do go to New York and apply to entry clearance there. The reason is that immigration laws are changing as of November 27th. One of the major laws that will affect me is that teaching will no longer be seen as a "shortage occupation". That's why I got this visa so easily. When a job is a shortage occupation you don't have to prove that you've searched the country and that this person who is an immigrant is the only person for the job. They are allowed to take anyone. After the 27th, the school will have to do a lot of work to prove that they have had lots of ads out and have tried to fill the position with British applicants, but couldn't find anybody. The new laws will make it much harder/slightly impossible for me to stay.

If I apply in New York then I'll have 2 chances to stay. 1 being when I apply for entry clearance, if they deny me then I can appeal it--and it will be done under the OLD RULES (which is very important!)

It's a lot of mess, very complicated, and made more complicated because I'm right in the middle of old and new rules. So I've been relatively stressed out this week and worried. At the moment I am planning on going to New York, and have booked an appointment at the Embassy.

BUT all this could potentially change. Nick has asked this barrister to write out a letter with his opinions of what I think I will have a better chance of winning. Either trying the New York route, or to stay in country and appeal the refusal under the fact that that they didn't use proper discretion. The barrister will tell us, which is the better choice. So it isn't definite if I will go to NY or not, but I at least have an appointment booked. I'll know mid-week next week what this guy advises me to do.

In other news, the children are great. A lot of them are talking more and impressing me in new ways everyday. They're the best, I'd be really sad if I ever had to leave them :*(