Here at last!!!

So last time i wrote i was.... at school waiting to get into my new apartment. Ok so heres whats happened since.

Moved into the new place that night, it's very nice with timber floors and white walls and ceiling. I have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a balcony and a bathroom, all very spacious and comfortable. The only complaint i can find is its so empty! I have a couch, a coffee table, a tv, a computer and desk, a small square table and a bed. Theres so many empty corners i often amuse myself by kicking a ball around the place, took out a light bulb though which eneded that fun.

My first night there was pretty lonely, i didnt have a dvd player, internet or any distractions of any sort, and as well as that i was (and still am) flat broke. I read a book for Four hours solid, and almost went crazy with boredom.

The next day i came to school and observed a class, and met some of the other teachers, all chinese. There are also two other schools at which i teach, all owned by the same man. I went and saw them and met the students, and afterwards came back to the echoing apartment. Determined not to spend another night going nuts with boredom, i caught a cab over to lucas's and met some more of his friends, all very cool people. Had some beers and went to sleep.

I started teaching wednesday, thrown into a thirty minute class with absolutely no idea of what to do. It went relatively well i think, the kids seem to enjoy it and as i was only reveiwing old learnings i just played some games. Since then i have been teaching around four hours a day.

I've got it pretty good in the fact that i only pop around to all the classes and do a thirty minute english lesson (30 minutes for upper classes, thats 8 years old, 25 minutes for middle class's, 6-7 years old, and 15 minutes for baby classes, 4-5 years old.) in between all the math and history and whatnot, so the kids are stoked and automaticly love it. Plus i don't have to worry about discipline.

My schedule is:
8:50-9:20 Upper 9:25-9:50 Middle 9:55-10:10 Baby one 10:15-10:30 Baby two.
I do that tuesday to friday, as well as afternoon classes, 2 hrs worth on tuesdays and thursdays, 3hrs worth on wednesdays and fridays.

On the weekends I will be doing maybe 1-2 hrs a day so thats good, hopefully not to early. But this weekend i dont work and is a long weekend for me! Yahoo no work till tuesday.

The kids are great, and after maybe four lessons I realised there's nothing to be really scared of, because trust me I was scared. They love you no matter what you do as long as you bounce about and act an idiot. They're all very eager to learn (some are too eager) and obidient enough, if they are really naughty I don't deal with them anyway, their teacher does.

I can't even imagine, and never want to try, teaching on a hangover or worse. Yesterday one of the classes teachers told the students that to get my attention they should yell 'Teacher, Teacher, Me ME!' Oh sweet lord I wanted to slap her! I had 20 kids screaming franticly, trying to get my attention by yelling louder than the kids around them.

I love all (ok, most) the kids, though some have serious issues. This one kid can't contain himself if i don't pick him for a game, he skitz's out and gnashes his teeth. I'm not kidding you, he sits bounces up and down biting the air. I think he may have ADD or something, but in china there are no facilites or help whatsoever for it, i don't think they even know (or care)what it is.

I got a photo taken with my favourite class, i'll send 2 copys by post to yumi, one for mum and the other for her, if your interested in seeing them hit either of those two up.

Yesterday i did an hour long lesson with Parents looking on, which was scary as! But strangely it was one of my best lessons. The hardest thing is explaining a game to the kids, once one gets it they all catch on.

Everything is sailing smoothly, well there are a few ripples on the lake but my boat is sturdy (haha love the metaphors). I'm living off about $3 dollars a day, easy enough to do, as i eat breakfast, lunch and supper at the school and then usually just some fruit before bed. The schools cook is great, he's teaching me a thing or two every now and then which is awesome.

I hope you are all well, thanks for tuning in and i'll keep everyone posted on any exciting events (It's not half as exciting as you'de think here, though it is good just to be here and be experiencing it)
The roads, for example, are so crazy. I don't think there is a chinese translation for the word 'Lane' or 'Roadworthy'. Lanes are marked on the raod but they don't mean diddly, if theres room to squeeze through they'll take it, even on the wrong side of the road. Clint, you once said to me that a good place to learn to drive is Brisbane, because if you can drive there you can drive anywhere. I'd love to see you try china!!

Well, thats all folks, I'm settling in quite well now that i have a schedule and routine, and im adjusting to self sufficiency quite well i think. I wish i had a camera to put some photos on here but for now im much too broke.

Love you all.

P.S hello bonnie!!! I'll send my postal address as soon as i find out so we can correspond the old fashioned way. Love you XXX