National Family Week

I was at the library all day today for National Family Week. In the morning I shared my power point presentation with some children in the Memorial Library. Then they looked around the Memorial Library at the displays and some memorabilia that the staff had put out. After that they went into the children's area to make paper airplanes and color assembly ships.

I had lunch at a restaurant by myself, which I don't usually do since there is a coffee shop in the Forum, but I could smell the pizza upstairs and it was too tempting. I got some good reading in.

In the afternoon I helped out with a special story time session. Another guest was there with Charlie the Crocodile talking about keeping your teeth clean. So we heard from Charlie and then we took turns reading books about teeth. Afterwords the children had some coloring and activity sheets to work on.

Everyone seemed aware that they probably wouldn't see me again and they were very appreciative of my volunteer work. All I can say is they helped me stay sane by giving me something to do! Not only that, but I do feel that some of the work I have done has helped me grow as a librarian and as a person. I was a very timid traveler, but no more after all my train and bus trips to various parts of Norfolk. And I've really enjoyed working more with school children, even if the boys are a little breast-obsessed. Finally, lets not forget that these experiences have given me lots of stories to tell!

Happy April Fools Day

I was sort of trying to pull a hoax claiming that I had tea with the Queen, but I just saw that the Prez is meeting with her and no one would believe I had tea with them both.

I went to the library today to meet with one of the children's librarians about an upcoming event. We used the office in the Memorial Library to talk, and both the ladies working in there today told us that a mom came in to say that her daughter was in one of the classes that came on the library tour a few weeks ago and it was the first time she had come home from school talking about what she did that day. Clearly the paper airplanes made an impression.

John and I went to watch some of his students in a moot court trial this afternoon. Moot court is not as much fun to watch as mock trial. I really wanted to bust into the Law and Order opening music followed by an enthusiastic "chum chum!" to liven things up. All the students did a great job arguing their case even though they didn't entertain me.

More Boobies

The first group of kids I had in the library today ended up staying with me for an extra long time. Paper airplane flying can quickly devolve into complete chaos, so once it was clear they needed something else to do, I suggested they look around the Memorial Library at some of the model airplanes and memorabilia.
I saw two boys laughing at a book that was on display. It looked like it was pictures of '50s swimwear, and there was a woman in a bikini on the front. They were arguing over whether or not she was actually a man. I walked up to them and asked, "Why do you think that is a man?"
Their answer was, "Because there aren't any boobies."
Being somewhat more of an expert on boobies than elementary age boys I can assure you that the woman in the photograph did have breasts. They just weren't ginormous movie star breasts. The youth of today are clearly being taught to have unrealistic expectations.

Paper Airplanes Day 2

The groups that came in today were a little noisier but had more questions for me. One girl talked to me for several minutes while the rest of the children were trying out their airplanes. I tried to answer her questions about World War II planes as best I could, but finally she said, "I would think if I came from the country I would know more about it."
I'm pretty sure she meant that she thought I should be more of an expert simply because I am American. She didn't say it in a snotty way, just like she couldn't believe I couldn't tell her more. I searched for an explanation and finally admitted that I didn't learn about World War II in this detail when I was in school. I've actually learned much more about it living here than I ever did in America.
I hope she will come back to the library to get answers to the rest of her questions.

Following Directions

I helped out in the Memorial Library today because a class was visiting. They were going to see the whole library, but spend half an hour in the Memorial Library learning about WWII airplanes and making paper airplanes. They are learning about planes in school right now. They are also learning about following a set of instructions, so the directions we had for a specific paper airplane worked out well. I'll be going in again the next two days to do the same thing!

I did some more work on the website today. Starting fresh helped. Here is my problem:

For simple stuff I can find really straightforward instructions. How do you change the background color? There is a page in my book that tells you how to do exactly that. But now that I'm trying to do more complicated stuff, there aren't specific instructions. How do I get my YouTube video exactly where I want it on the screen without fixing it a certain distance from the edge? Turns out, it is possible but there isn't a page in the book on how to do it. There is a page in the book on how to give a division margins. I had to figure out myself that putting a large margin on just the left would move the video to the right of my navigation bar. I think the cavemen had it right. When you paint a buffalo on a certain spot on the wall, that buffalo is going to be on that spot on the wall. It doesn't need margins to make it stay there.

World Book Day

Can I just say how much I love being a librarian?

It is funny how now that I'm not doing programs that often I let myself get all nervous and doubtful. When I was working at the library and did two storytimes a week minimum with possible branch visits, school visits, and auditorium programs on top of that I couldn't stress. It would have made me crazy. And today was a shining example of why I should not worry now: I'm good at this.

Through Libby, the library in Long Stratton asked me to come do storytimes today for World Book Day. I told them I would bring some of the American picture books from the Second Air Division Memorial Library collection and talk about how books can teach you about other parts of the world. They made arrangements for three primary school classes (ages 5-7) to come throughout the day.

My program:
* Sing "My Aunt Came Back"
* Read The Perfect Nest
* Talk about the accents the three birds in The Perfect Nest have
* Tell the story of "Mr Wiggle and Mr Waggle"
* Read Mama Don't Allow
* Sing the song "Mama Don't Allow" inserting instrument names suggested by the children
* Read King Bidgood's in the Bathtub with an introduction about how America has a president, but the American colonies had a king under England's rule
* Sing the "Hokey Pokey" after explaining that it is the American version of the "Hokey Cokey"
* Invite children to color

The children were all willing to participate and seemed to have a great time. They were very bright and answered even my more difficult questions like "Who is 'in charge' in America?" (I was looking for "the President," but some children actually said "Barack Obama.")

I had a break after the first two groups during which I walked to a local bakery to eat lunch. After I got back, the librarians were warning me about the last class because they both had children in there. Truth be told, the final class was a little rowdier than the first two. (Not due to the librarians' children, as far as I could tell.) But they were also the most interested in the books. Many of them spent the whole time that was alloted for coloring looking at books. I sat on the floor with a couple of boys looking at an atlas. I had to giggle because the boys on the couch had found the parenting section and had pulled out a book that had pictures of boobies. Their teacher didn't think it was very funny, though. Someone did drop a dictionary on my leg, which reminded me that being a librarian is a job that comes with a certain amount of risk. (In Athens, I once got headbutted in the pelvis mid-book. I kept reading without letting on that it hurt quite a lot.) But it was so sweet to see the kids so interested in reading and learning.

Basically, I had a fantastic day. I am so thankful that I have been allowed to volunteer, because I just don't know what I would do with myself otherwise. I may not be making money, but I'm keeping busy and I'm having a good time doing it.

Volunteering

I was in charge of the volunteers for the children's area when I worked for the Athens library. Now that I am doing so much volunteering, I see how good volunteer management really makes a difference to the volunteers. Even something like being honest with a volunteer about when they are not needed. You might not want to turn down a volunteer, because they are free help. But there is a point of diminishing returns. Managing volunteers will take up part of your work time, so you have to balance how much time and effort is being expended on volunteers with what you are getting out of having them. Sure, a volunteer may be disappointed if you tell them there is nothing for them to do today, but they will appreciate the fact that you didn't waste their time. And, taking on a volunteer you don't have the time to work with could be frustrating for both of you.

Interestingly enough, Libby, from the Memorial Library, seems to spend a great deal of time working with me, and I am flattered that she values my contributions so highly.

Down Town

I went into town today to meet with Libby the librarian. I will be telling stories for America week in April, which is pretty awesome. We set up some more meetings to work on the Americans during WWII presentation that I will hopefully be taking to schools.

Then I went to Pilch, which is the sports store owned by Jarrold. It has finally gotten too cold for me to run in the cold weather running clothes I so cleverly bought on sale last summer. I have been making due by wearing a sweat shirt, but that hasn't been optimal. So, I got a jacket that the young man in the store assured me will keep me warm even though it's not very thick. Apparently just keeping the wind off is sufficient when you are moving around. I also got some running gloves because my hands were sweating in regular gloves and it is too cold to go without. And I got a skullcap for similar reasons, except having to do with my head instead of my hands. Coolest thing ever: the skullcap has a hole for my ponytail!

After I got home I practiced guitar for a long time. I did some work on my Wikipedia Song, because someday I'd like to make it more presentable. I wrote out the chord progressions and even looked up some chords in the book I got for Christmas. But then I realized that I haven't quite learned all the stuff I need to so I can make the song truly awesome, so it is still a work in progress.

I'm attempting falafel and couscous again tonight, but this time I bought the falafal pre-assembled. The menu:
couscous with bell pepper, onion, raisins, and seasonings
falafal balls
cucumber with houmous
olives with feta (just for me, John doesn't like olives)

Oh, and here is yesterday's fog. This is a view from the bedroom window which looks out the back of the flat.

I'll be Home for Christmas

John and I are flying home on the 16th of December and then coming back to England on the 30th. Start booking your time with us now before it's all gone!

I met with Libby today to talk more about doing school visits. I showed her the PowerPoint I've been working on (the one I had to redo thanks to another computer hiccup - and by hiccup I mean my hard drive died) and the paper airplanes I made (which were thankfully analog and so immune to my computer's problems).

She really liked them. She is going to see about scheduling some school visits beginning in January and I'll probably be doing programs in the library as well.

I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with my family and then being really busy when I return to Norwich.

Memorial Trust Meeting

Libby, the librarian with the Second Air Division Memorial Library, invited me to come to the Annual General Meeting of the Trust this morning. The library is a living memorial and so funding and memorial related events are run by the Trust. She told me several times that I was by no means expected to come, especially since I had been given rather short notice. But I'm sure, thanks to my rather lack-luster blog posts of late, my faithful readers are painfully aware that on the average day I certainly have nothing better to do.

I met with Libby and the library director at the Millennium Library (where the Memorial Library is housed) and traveled with them to County Hall for the meeting.

Parts of the actual meeting I enjoyed:

Learning about the group that makes this library possible.

The stockbroker's report. I know this sounds boring, but he explained the reasons for the recession really well. I've never been much good with economics and I think I actually get it now.

The summary of their recent trip to Dallas for a convention with the American Second Air Division group.

Listening to the memories of one of the Trust Governors who was retiring. He was ten years old when Americans starting coming to East Anglia to fight in World War II. He and his family befriended many of them only to hear about their deaths weeks or even days later. It is truly amazing to hear about the impact that Americans had on this area and on the individuals who lived here. Those pilots were every little boy's heroes.

And lets not forget the fact that both the Chairman and Libby mentioned me and spoke highly of my volunteer work for the library. (Although thus far, I haven't done that much. But I have big plans!)

Parts of after-the-meeting I enjoyed:

Free lunch.

Pretty much every person there came up to talk to me during the informal lunch. I talked to at least two British lawyers, and two American World War II veterans. One of the vets started talking politics and I just smiled at him until he was finished.
Finally he looked at me and said, "But you probably voted for Obama."
"I did."
Then he said to me, "Well, now he's our president and I will support him."
This man (who was, by the way, wearing a tie with small outlines of the state of Texas all over it) was the most polite person I have ever disagreed with.

Americans in East Anglia During WWII the Trivia Game

What does "GI" stand for?

The "cockerel" crows in Britain. What is he called in the US?

Name one type of of high flying bomber.

What does Dr. Who's space ship look like from the outside?



This is another one of my ideas for possible school visits. Games are usually pretty popular. I'm thinking that if we talk a little bit about World War II and Americans first they should be able to answer the questions. Dr. Who? I like to include a "fun" category.

Aeroplanes

I've had a busy couple of weeks but after yesterday's interview I don't have any more appointments this week. So that means getting down to business on planning programs to take to the schools with the Second Air Division Memorial Library.

I have read most of The Friendly Invasion and in the process have learned a great deal, gotten lots of ideas, and had a good time. My favorite passage so far:

Lt Jack Bryant recalls how very basic was the first pub he visited near his Sadbury base. "After partaking of various beverages over the course of the evening it was necessary to make use of a facility euphemistically called a "water closet". A closet it certainly was not. It was outside in the back of the building and consisted of a partially enclosed slate wall with a diagonal through at the base. There was no lighting because of blackout requirements and overcast clouds limited any natural light. It was not quite pitch black, but it was close to it. Two or three local customers were occupying the available space, facing the wall while I waited my turn. Then one of the Englishmen spoke to another beside him, showing a forbearance impossible for an American. What he said was, 'Pardon me old chap but you're urinating on my leg'." (pg 42-43)

One of my ideas is to talk about the bombers and escort planes used by the Americans flying from East Anglia and then have the kids make paper airplanes in a few different styles to represent the different types of planes. I visited the library to get some books on World War II planes and paper airplanes. It's a lot of work, but pretty fun so far.

Wikipedia

I had another meeting with the librarian in the Second Air Division Memorial Library and now understand what my projects for the year will be! I am going to see about teaming up with the children's library to do some special story times, possibly based around holidays or on the weekend so that older children can attend. And the big project will be coming up with activities to take to schools (or that school groups could come to the library for) relating to the American presence in Norwich during World War II. This will be great experience for me, but history has never been my strongest subject, so I've checked out some more books: The Americans in Norfolk during World War Two, Over Here by Steve Snelling and The Friendly Invasion by Roger A. Freeman.

While I was at the library I met the first person who has thought to ask me how I discovered them. I gave him the short answer: Wikipedia. But, I'll give you the long one. The Ballad of John's LLM, in all it's glory.

It all started a few months ago when I decided to look up "Norwich, England" on Wikipedia. Being from all over highway 316, Georgia, USA I did not know much about Norwich, England and since my husband wanted to go study there for a year at the University of East Anglia I thought I ought to learn something about the place before we moved. Now, I know that people like to disparage Wikipedia as an unreliable source of information and I know that being a librarian I ought to know of all kinds of ways to learn about Norwich, England. And the truth is...I do. I chose Wikipedia.

Now Wikipedia told me all kinds of fun and interesting things about Norwich, England. For instance, East Anglia was the home of Boudica, my favorite barbarian. I suppose the British people don't like for their ancient queens to be referred to as barbarians, but I'm just speaking from a Roman perspective. Anyway, Wikipedia also said that the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library located in Norwich, England has a collection of American books, and seeing as how I am an American, and a librarian, and was soon to be a resident of Norwich, England, I decided to contact them.

I asked this Memorial Library if they might have me as a volunteer.

I won't go into the entire letter I got back, but it went something like this: You seem awesome. But please prove you are not a criminal. We hope it isn't too much trouble. Kind regards.

Trouble? How much trouble could it be? I figured I could just Google "Certificate of Good Conduct" and I'd be on my way to documenting my lack of a criminal history.

Friends, my search had an inauspicious beginning. Google thought I wanted to know how to get paroled. But being a trained information professional I knew exactly how to handle this situation and I handled the situation by typing in "Certificate of Good Conduct -parole" and a few results down I found a US dot gov link.

This is where the trusty US government tells citizens like me what I have to do to prove to foreign countries that I am not a criminal.

On the instructions of the US government, I visited my local police station to get a copy of my criminal history. Now, I knew that the Athens-Clarke County Police Department probably didn't tell other countries that Americans aren't criminals every day. I didn't have any unrealistic expectations of their helpfulness. I knew I'd probably have to explain things slowly and carefully.

So I asked for my criminal history. I said it was because I wanted to volunteer in Norwich, England. They said $12 please. You'll get it in the mail.

And a few days later, in the mail, I received a mostly blank piece of paper that documented my criminal history and was mostly blank because I don't have one.

Then a day or two after that I set forth to get a special seal put on my criminal history. See, that dot gov website explained that just because something is recognized to be official in America, doesn't mean that other countries consider it official. A whole bunch of the countries talked about what to do about this in that Hague convention a while back and the countries that signed the convention agreed that documents would only need one additional seal to be valid. It's got this funny French name "Apostille" because everything sounds more official in French.

The US and the UK both signed the convention so I was feeling pretty confident when I walked into the Secretary of State's Office down in Atlanta. It was that dot gov website that told me the Secretary of State's Office could give me an Apostille. Actually there were two locations listed, but the website for the other place didn't work so I didn't trust them and the Secretary of State's Office website did work and it also said that they could give Apostilles so I figured that I was going to the right place.

My visit to the Secretary of State's Office began inauspiciously. I walked into the suite on the third floor, started telling them my story and they said, "Hold it right there. Ninth floor." So I walked into a different suite on the ninth floor. Started telling them my story and the woman said, "Hold it right there. We don't do Apostilles. That other state office does Apostilles.

"And you need a certified criminal history.

"AND you don't really want an Apostille."

This time I told her to "Hold it." I knew this one. I do want an Apostille. I looked it up.

That woman whipped the list of countries who had signed the Hague Convention out from under her desk like she was taking a gun out of a holster. She folded it up into a paper airplane, threw it, it sailed by my ear, around the room three times, landed on the desk where she slapped it down and pointed with her three inch bejeweled finger nail. "England isn't on the list!"

I picked up the list, folded it into a cootie catcher, popped it back and forth while I said the alphabet through U, the lifted the flap to reveal, "United Kingdom." The UK is on the list. I do need an Apostille.

Now, I could understand looking up England and not the UK. Anyone could make that mistake. But friends, there is no excuse for what next transpired. She made this rewinding sound like she was playing back through "The Ballad of John's LLM" then waved that finger nail in my face and said, "Honey, you said you were going to England."

And perhaps I would have let her live in her ignorant bliss, but then she made a Chinese lantern out of the directions to the state department that does issue Apostilles, and right after she puffed into it so it would unfold into a ball, and laid the delicate paper on her fierce hand, she whispered to me. "When you talk to them. Just remember where you said you were going."

I pulled a scarf out of my mouth with the words written on it so she wouldn't forget: England is IN the United Kingdom. I tied the end of the scarf to the fan so it would billow in the breeze, and I walked out the door.

The next day I went back to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and told the girl behind the glass that I needed a certified copy of my criminal history. A what? So I told her the whole story of John's LLM and a big question mark floated up above her head. She pointed to the phone on the wall. The voice on the other end gave me the number for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

I called up the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. No one answered. Later that day I tried again. A woman picked up and I told her that I needed a certified copy of my criminal history. A what? So I told her the whole story of John's LLM and she put another woman on the phone and that woman's voice sparkled at me as she said. "I can help you. I need $15 and two sets of fingerprints."

I sparkled back at her. "Where do I get fingerprinted?"

"At your friendly neighborhood police department."

Ruts were beginning to form in the road between my apartment and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. I walked in for the second time that day and this time I said to the woman behind the glass, "I need finger prints."

Without looking up at me she said, "Cards please."

What?

"The cards for the fingerprints. The department requesting fingerprints usually provides specific cards."

The fire coming from my mouth melted the glass between us. "I'm taking time off work and sitting here in the police department. I mean I'm just sitting here in the Athens-Clarke County Police Department trying to get my fingerprints taken so I can get a certified criminal history from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And you come at me with this cop jargon about cards. You've got a lot of nerve to act like I got cards from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. You just saw me this morning. You can't really think I drove all the way to Decatur and back today."

The ice from her breath formed a frozen sheet that replaced the melted glass. "I just don't want you to waste your money."

I called the Georgia Bureau of Investigation back up. I asked for that woman with the sparkley voice. She wasn't there anymore, I had to talk to the woman who answered so I told her the whole story of John's LLM and finally got around to how I had to get fingerprinted but didn't have any cards. She told me I could use the cards at the police department and I told her I was much obliged and returned to the woman behind the ice.

The police department cards are fine.

She built the ice wall a little higher as she exhaled the words, "The fingerprint guy is out to lunch."

By the time I got back there was frost all over the counter. She handed me two Athens-Clarke County Police Department Cards and told me to fill them out. But didn't give me a pen. I filled them out with my pen. The fingerprint guy was a mustachioed Minnesotan who took one look at my cards, shuffled them, cut them, then popped them like he was playing 52 card pick-up minus 50 cards. Do it again. In black ink. He let me borrow his pen.

He recited "this little piggie" as he mashed my fingers one by one onto the scanner. Then he told me not to commit any crimes with my left littlest piggie because it had a really strong print. The words sifted through his mustache like fine flour.

I sent off the cards and the money and to tell you the truth, there's not much of a story after that. Sparkles came through for me with the certified criminal history and that other state department came through with the seal. No more hassle. I'm a bona-fide, Apostille carrying, not-a-criminal.

Friends, I think there are a couple things we could take away from this story. But the most important thing we can take from this story is that Wikipedia is a more reliable source of information than dot gov websites. They don't teach you that in library school. Or at the University of East Anglia.

Wikipedia, people say,
Is unreliable, lead you astray,
But if you're wondering, then hear me
This is what you do for information needs
Don't ask dot gov
They can't help you out
Don't ask dot gov
They will make you shout
If you want to know the answer Wiki-pee-dee-ai-ay
Wiki-pee-dee-ai-ay

Purple Velvet Marshmallow

I had another library appointment today, this time to talk to the people responsible for library service to schools and branch libraries. I thought it went well because:

a) I left with an arm full of children's books (and a list of young adult books) to read.

b) I am now scheduled to go to all kinds of book discussion groups.

c) I may be able to get paid for some of the things I will be doing.

d) Having an American children's librarian about seems to be making people very happy. And I like when being myself makes people happy.

The day's other accomplishments included getting a cell phone for John (so we can actually talk to each other when neither of us is at home), picking out bicycles that will be fully fitted with racks and baskets and ready to be picked up on Saturday, and starting me down the road to being the next great American folk singer (never mind that I can't sing):















I know what you're thinking.

"Is that a guitar?"

Yes, yes it is. While I am in England I will learn to play guitar. Pianos don't travel well.

"But, it looks kind of small."

It is. I am a small person. I like that my arm doesn't fall asleep while I'm practicing.

"But....it's purple."

I know, and I love it!

This is the Flat That Jack Built

...or more accurately, the flat that John and Sarah Beth waited a really long time to move in to.

We harassed the rental agency again today and were told that the flat failed its gas safety check. They had to order a new valve which will arrive (and hopefully be installed) Friday morning. So fingers crossed, we can move in Friday afternoon.

Negative: We have to wait yet another day to move in to our flat.

Positive: We won't die in a gas explosion.

I have started compiling the list of American picture books I will be recommending to the Memorial Library. If you have a favorite childhood book or two you would like so suggest, leave them in the comments!

Hooray for Today!

This morning I looked out my window and I saw two pigeons fly from the roof of the hotel and alight on a statue of Victory. The auspices were favorable.

Okay, so that didn't really happen and there isn't a statue of Victory near the hotel, but our day did have an auspicious beginning. While I was getting ready for my interview with the librarian, and John was getting ready to view another flat, we got a call from the rental agency that the owner of the flat we viewed yesterday has agreed to let to us!!! John hurried over to the rental agency to pay application fees, and I proceeded to my interview.

I am very excited about volunteering at the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library. There is another American working there through an agreement with the University of East Anglia. She and the librarian were both very nice. I had tea with them before the interview and chatted about a few different things. They started talking about pubs and I told them the story about our cab driver the other day. As soon as I mentioned the Romany they both made a face. I pressed on with the story about how the cab driver said people would tell us not to go there, but...etc. etc. They seemed quite amused.

When we got back to the Memorial Library, one of the other librarians was waiting with a message. She said Anglia News had been by. They have learned that Sarah Palin has ancestry in Norwich and wanted to interview an American at the library. The librarian asked me and the American library employee if either of us wanted to talk to the news. Now, before I moved here I had some concern that people might try to talk to me about American politics and I would look kind of stupid because I just don't follow politics too much. It never occurred to me I might have the chance to look stupid on television. I told her "no." The other American was also not interested.

Once we got down to business I learned that the kinds of things they are interested in having me do include: creating a small collection of American children's books for the Memorial Library to use in programs for children at the library and at schools, and presenting programs for children at the library and at schools. I should get to do some storytelling and some great librarian work that will keep me current in the profession.

Of course, John and I could use an income. So I've started applying for some part-time jobs at the University.