last weekend was a pretty relaxed weekend.
On Friday there were snow slurries in the North of Shenyang. I got really really excited about it. I actually had some senior students come to my room for me to help them with their make up. I couldn't concentrate on doing make up because I was so excited.
Instead of snowing it rained and rained and rained. I was meant to be meeting everyone for a curry in Shenyang. I waited in the rain for 30 mins before a taxi came and I was soaked. Converse trainers aren't good in the rain either.
When I got into town it was hailing and it was only Adam and I who ended up getting curry. The curry place is the most random place ever. It's just a concrete house down a side road - but it does amazing curries.
I left in time for Curfew, but I ended up not being able to get a taxi back and being stuck in the rain for ages. By the time I finally got a taxi back I was so so cold it was crazy. I think it must have only been a few degrees from freezing. My feet were blue, and stupidly I decided to jump in the shower to warm up which just meant that they went purple and spazumed.
Anyway - I was fine and didn't even get a cold :-)
The rain could have been started by those crazy Beijing scientists that were in the news last week. Serena was actually in Beijing for the weekend, so she got to experience it first hand.
On saturday we went out for Halloween. I dressed up as a cat and made some ears. We went to knightleaders, Sophie's world and Adam and I went to Sunny's (it was awful!)
In Sophie's worlds they were giving out free beer. At the end of the night we asked if anything else was free and they said the bijou was (a chinese spirit). He pulled a jar from behind a picture which was full of dead snakes and alcohol. Michael had a shot and then went to the toilet.
We ahd a lazy sunday and sat around in starbucks talking. I hadn't been to Starbucks yet (I never go at home, why would I go here?), but it was so much fun and so cosy.
This has been a pretty crazy week at school. We have been setting exams for the juniors, so we have been very busy. I have also had to send 2 students out of classrooms, a junior for not doing work and a senior for falling asleep. I feel like such a hypocrite making the senior leave. I know that I have fallen asleep in more than one lecture in my life. With the girl she was the only student in the class who didn't do a written homework. When the class assistant challenged her on it she was really mean to her. I took her outside with minnie to translate (Minnie is by far my absolutely fav student) and asked why she hadn't dome the work. Peggy shrugged and Minnie said that she didn't understand english so I had a long conversation about how my lessons were different to the Chinese ones and if she didn't understand I would help blah blah blah. I did use the disappointed card at one point. It turns out that she is a really mean student with a really bad temper. Apparently she has having loads of problems at home because her parents maybe getting divorced (which isn't that common here). No wonder she has a bad temper if there are problems at home and then she comes to school and the teachers shout at her. I don't know if reasoning with her worked - but I am sure I will soon find out.
To be honest - I am just pretty dam proud that I have the other 49 in the class under control!!
On Wed night we went into Shenyang for Thore's birthday. We went to THE most amazing German restaurant. Adam, Alex and I laughed and giggled for the whole time we were there and I think it was just because we were so excited. We had soup and steak and ate them with knives and forks :-)
I am really craving a glass of wine at the moment. I should have had one at the German restaurant, but I was trying to save my money and needed to do lesson plans when I got back. I think I am going to try and hunt one down this weekend.
Next week I will have my first lesson doing private tutoring. I will be teaching 15 5 year olds. I am currently getting tips from Alex, but I guess that this weekend will be spent making flash cards and colourful things for them. I may even buy some stickers to motivate them.
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