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Published: September 2nd 2010
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After returning to Guangzhou I set about setting up and settling in before classes start. I'm in Program B, which starts August 30. I was in B, then A (which starts Sept 20 due to military training), and now I'm back in B because two teachers decided not to come. I'd rather be in B than A because I have no desire to sit around for another 3 weeks with not much to do and no money to travel. Supposedly I'll finish my term before Xmas, too, unlike A, who will go a bit longer.
Unpacking is always my least favorite part of moving. Since I don't own any of the furniture, I need to find new homes for most things, reorganize, sort, and then shop for things to organize. I was very fortunate that last June I met a woman who was leaving and she left me a lot of different things like fluffy blankets, cleaning supplies, kitchen spices, cookware and spices, and even a few plants. I managed to inherit a DVD player from another woman who never used it (it's also really old), so I can now watch movies in my new living room! It only took
about a week of procrastination, but I finally got everything unpacked, reorganized, and set up. And believe me, I avoided it. But now I've got quite possibly the neatest apartment I've ever had (my mother would be proud), and a fridge full of food that I made on my stove! Right now, I'm listening to birds singing outside while I sit on my sofa and type. Life is good.
The first day of class was good but tiring. I really enjoyed it and my students are pretty good. Each class has a few talkers, so I have something to work with, and even the weaker students usually try. Mondays I start at 8am and go until 8:30pm. I have 4 classes, each almost 2 hours, so I stand for 8 hours. This week I came home, put my feet up, and had beer. And slept. Tuesday I had 3 classes and then and English corner, but I get to sit for that. For English corner, I just sit and talk to students about whatever they want. It's a chance for them to practice their speaking. Since it's optional for students, only the most motivated students (and usually the ones
with the best English, I'm told) will come. It was easy. But again I went from 8am -- 830pm. So I came home, put my feet up, and had a beer again. My feet are killing me. (I think once I am used to it (working, that is) I will feel less tired; last year I felt exhausted the first week of classes, too.) Wednesdays I don't have any classes, which is really nice. And then Thursdays I have 2 in the morning and Fridays I have one in the late morning. There is supposed to be a foreign teacher lunch/stress session on Fridays (with beer) so we can talk about what frustrated us this week, what didn't work, what did, etc. I love that my boss is the one who suggested it. So far, the life of a professor is pretty good!
Today, my day off, I went to Guangzhou with my friend Jane so she could buy powdered sugar to make icing for a birthday cake (hmmm, who for?) and I will bought foreign food that I hadn't found yet. We also went to Ikea (I am hoping to find a deck chair) and we had Japanese
food for lunch. It was a good day. 😊
And now suddenly, it's Thursday, and for some reason I really like Thursday this week 😊
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Mom
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Your mom is proud!!
Looks really nice, honey. Love, Mom