One Foot Out the Door

Well, I'm mostly settled in Brissy now. I've had my first uni classes. Linguistics looks like I predicted. It's gonna do my head in. The information overload we had on the first day was just... holy shit! Lots of information and not enough time to take notes. Most people were smart and had printed out the lecture notes beforehand so that they could write notes on the print outs. Unfortunately, at that point, I didn't have access to a printer :(

The good news is that I spent today fiddling around with my printer and it's now up and running.

Note: If you buy a Canon printer they don't actually provide the USB cable to connect the printer to the computer. You have to go out and buy that. I discovered that little jewel of information when I was setting it up today. I had to go into the city to grab a USB cable (and got myself a 7 port USB hub while I was at it. Too many things to plug into the laptop, not enough ports).

Second class looks like it's going to be interesting. We get to choose our own assignments, the due date for them, and the stuff we're going to study in the lectures. It's either going to be fun or drive me out of my mind... I haven't decided yet.

In other news I got myself a new pair of flat shoes (which are gorgeous) for work. They're lovely shoes... they just need breaking in. I got blisters within minutes of wearing them and now the blisters on my right heel have become slightly infected. My right foot is red and painful to touch. It's also hard to walk even when I'm wearing thongs (or flip-flops, whatever you want to call them). It's like the actual bone is sore... *winces*. Em's been getting me to put antiseptic on it (owies!) and I've got it open right now so that it can breathe (of course she was also poking it and grinning evilly when I showed her, meanie. I get no love in this house)

In other news: That job I had? It turned out to be a dud. I worked there for three days and got a phone call on Wednesday saying that they didn't have any work for me next week, oh so sorry about that. Turns out that the teacher they've got taking over from me is one no-one in the office has heard of.

Thankfully, I'd noticed on Monday that there'd been a missed call on my phone, no messages on my message bank though. When I called it I found that it was from one of the other language schools that I'd dropped a resume in. The one where the DoS had come out for a minute to talk to me (and apologise that they didn't actually have any work at the time).

The minute the DoS at IH got off the phone I dialled this other place. The DoS of this school, Eurocentres wanted me to come in for an interview that afternoon. I gave them an answer that basically boiled down to "HELL YES!!!"

Long story short I got an interview with that school. The DoS actually called me up an hour before the interview time and asked me if I was able to come in a little earlier. Good thing I was actually 5 minutes down the road at the time!

It was one of the first job interviews that I've actually enjoyed! The Dos and the Assistant DoS joked around with me and it was more like a conversation than an interview. I was upfront with them about the fact that I really didn't want to work full time. Told them I was going to Uni at the same time and wanted to concentrate on that and get good marks.

She didn't tell me right off that I had the job. Said she'd call me the next day after three if I got it. Well, she called, and I've got way more work than I was expecting. Nearly 3 weeks full time to start off with and then they want to put me on permanently Monday and Fridays to cover for teachers that have to do admin stuff (student intake and Friday level tests, that kind of thing). No work next week, but I start the week after that. Three days there and then three weeks of working every day. Yay!

Em introduced me to Justice League this evening. Flash gets the best lines! She's got the whole thing so we've started from the very first episode... I think we've watched about 5 so far.

I moved into my new place yesterday. Two (rather nutty) cats, three other people. I'm having fun so far...and I get the place to myself this weekend....bonus!

Today I ran around getting keys cut for the place and buying stuff like sheets, pillows, pj's (most of the stuff I have is micro shorts... there's two guys in here. Gentlemen the both of them but I'd rather get something a little less revealing if I could).

This evening we all went to IKEA for dinner and to do a bit of furniture shopping. I got myself a gorgeous wardrobe (click here for the wardrobe). It was on sale. Normally $299 down to $149. It's big, and it looks like it's got plenty of space for me at the moment. It was the first thing we saw when we walked into the store this evening (and I face-planted into it...don't ask -_-;; )

I also got a Bedside table which I've already put up ^__^. It was fun. Lots of swearing was to be had but I got the damn thing up once I worked out the sides were upside down (seriously, they need an up/down symbol on the bloody things so you can work out what you're doing!). Much banging ensued once I got to the wheels (those things are hard to put on!). It's now sitting in my room with my iPod docking station sitting on it.

Then it was on to the bookshelves. I needs me some bookshelves. I grew up with books. I get a little twitchy when I'm not surrounded by them. My home growing up was practcially wall to wall with books. I've only got one bookshelf so far but I'm sure that'll change once I get more books.

I also got a bedside lamp so that I don't have to rely on the ceiling light anymore. 'Tis pretty!

I'm getting the wardrobe and the bookshelf delievered, as there was no way we were going to fit this stuff into the car. The boxes were too big. They'll arrive on Saturday. I'll put the bookshelf up myself but I'm gonna have to wait until my housemates get home on Sunday evening to get the wardrobe put up. It looks a little too big for one person to construct by themselves...Anyone in Brisbane want to help me? *puppy dog eyes* I'm getting sick of living out of suitcases.

In other news.... I HAVE A JOB!!!!! I'm not quite sure for how long but I have a teaching job for at least one week. Mondays and Thursdays (And the DoS used the plural 's' when she was talking to me on the phone) at the International House on Adelaide street (which is great 'cause I can just run up the street to get to my Uni bus stop on Monday afternoons). There's a cheap Sushi place literally outside the door and an EasyWay tea just up the road (both my addictions serviced quite nicely. I is a happy Sheena). I'm heading in tomorrow to talk to the DoS at 10am to see what she wants/needs me to do. They need to photocopy and certify my certificates, sign contracts, look at/collect the text-books I'll be teaching from, that sort of thing.

I think that's all the news at the moment.

Hey all!

Before I forget completely: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! (For those of you on my list that celebrate it)

Secondly, thank you to those who sent me birthday wishes ^___^. I had a wonderful day back home for the first time in 2 years. The weather was lovely and hot, I was with my family, and it was just nice to be home for once.

My actual birthday was pretty quiet. I just lazed about the house and enjoyed being home. Saturday night Dave (the maybe boyfriend who's leaning more towards a definitely boyfriend) took me out to Adelfia, a Greek restaurant in town (run by Peter Andre's brothers. My reaction when I found out ---> O.o o.O O.O). We ordered the feast and, whoo boy, did the food keep coming! I'll definitely be going back there again as the food was amazing!!!

Note: Greek coffee has one hell of a kick. I'm serious here. I had 2 and didn't actually get any decent sleep for about the next 24 hours. I won't be drinking a large amount of again in a hurry.

Sunday evening we had the family dinner for my birthday. Usually it's restaurant of my choice, but none of us felt like going out and dressing up so I suggested takeout of my choice. We got a whole heap of Thai from my favourite restaurant on Lake street. We then bought it home and hid in the aircon.

In other news I've settled on what course I'm going to do. Much discussion and ping-ponging the idea between a few different people, and a long, hard look at my finances, and I've decided that I'm going to move down to Brisbane and do a Masters in Applied Linguistics: TESOL focus.

Yes, it's more expensive, but in the long run it's actually more affordable for me as I'll be able to work at the same time (which I couldn't if I was doing my DELTA). So, all I need to do is send of those application forms, start looking for a place to live in Brisbane and get a job.

First part: Easy.
Second part: .... gonna be a little more difficult. I've got a friend who's gonna be looking for a flatmate in about July, but before that... nothing. No reply to any of the enquiries I've made, either.
Third part: Well, my DoS said he would talk to the DoS of the Kaplan school in Brisbane and see about getting me a job, so fingers crossed I'll have one lined up (or at least something lined up) for when I get down there.

I'm looking at heading down there in early February so that I'll be well and settled (hopefully) by the time Uni starts. I'll be doing it part time, only two courses a semester, so that I'll have time to work as well as study. I'm hoping to be able to keep teaching while I'm doing this, so that I keep my teaching skills unrusty.

So, I'm off to go and watch a movie or something with Mum. Catch you all later ^___^

So, hell week was this week. It's nearly over. Students have all done their tests and they did really, really well! Out of my 13 students, only two aren't going to be moving up to the next level. The majority of them got high 70's/low 80's for their results (tests are out of 100). I'm so proud of them! They've really worked their butts off this 5 week block!

Of course the DoS, when he saw those results, could only whimper and start muttering about how he had no idea how he was going to fit them into the current classes. I very nearly told him to step back for a second and just look at those results. He should be happy for them! Those students worked their butts off to get the marks that they did! Even the two that aren't going up got 53 and 64 respectively. That's still nothing to be sneezed at!

Actually, I was waiting for him to tell me that I had to 'tweak' those results so that a few more stayed down in lower-int for another 5 weeks. I'm glad he didn't. I hate doing it.

I was also quite proud of myself. We had to have all the tests (reading, writing, listening, grammar and vocabulary. Speaking gets marked during class) marked by 4pm Tuesday. We're not allowed to take them home, and we have to mark them between planning lessons, preparing for lessons, and teaching. I had mine (all 52 of 'em) marked by 4pm that same day.

Lord knows how I managed that, but I did.

Today was student counselling. That's where I take each student outside, one by one, for about 5-10 minutes and talk about their test results, how they're doing, things they can do to improve, that sort of thing. I gave them a worksheet to do while I was doing the counselling, but I guess they finished it. When I got into the classroom I found Franky and Pierre at the front of the class orchestrating a game of hanggman.

They were using words like infidelity and enigmatically...

...

...

...these guys are lower-int! I shudder to think what sort of words they're going to be using when they hit advanced! I'll need a dictionary just to understand anything they write!

One of my afternoon class students came bounding up to me this afternoon proudly telling me "I picked Skills Builder as my first choice because I want you as my teacher again!" He looked mildy horrified when I told him that I was pretty sure that Monday was my last day.

...

...Although I could be wrong. This makes it the 6th "(Insert Day) will be your last day, Sheena" notice that I've got. They keep extending my contract.

Rinor didn't seem to be worried. He basically told me, with the utmost certainty, that I would still have a job next week and that I'll be their teacher. O.o (I guess the little 16yr old brat likes me).

*shrugs* I guess I'm doing something right.

Oh, and I found something for those of you who've often wondered what the inside of an ESL classroom is like. You've heard my crazy stories...which reminds me. They were having a debate the other day and Pierre really disagreed with what the rest of the class was saying *snickers*

Pierre: What are you thinking?! You are all stupid!!

He then proceeds to list, catagorically, why they are wrong.

Me?

I was curled up in a corner trying not to laugh, with tears running down my face. When I got these guys they didn't understand simple jokes. Now, they tease each other and will sit there and debate things until they're blue in the face.

Anyway, this thing that I found. Our Senior teacher found this old British series called Mind Your Language. It's about an ESL teacher and his class of emigrants in Britain. It's a bit stereotypical (but then, considering the year it was filmed, understandable), but whoever wrote it had to have been involved with the ESL industry, most likely a teacher. There's no way they weren't, there's just too many parallels with what goes on in the classroom for them not to be.

( Click here for the insanity! )

Anyway, it's getting late here so I think it's time I crawled into bed. Night all!

.... I'm still employed. It was decided at the 11th hour today that I shall be going back to work for at least Monday, so I've got at least one more day of work.

Of course, I'd told all of my students that today was my last day today...well, I told them that there was an 80% chance that today was my last day, and they might see me on Monday. I did comment as a few of them made sure to get pictures taken with me that, knowing my luck, now that they've done the whole 'Take your picture with your teacher' thing that I'd be there on Monday *laughs*

I'm going to walk in on Monday and cry "They lied to me!!! I'm still here!" as dramatically as I can.

I did manage to catch a couple of the students as I was leaving for the day to tell them the good news. They all seemed pretty happy/relieved that I was going to be there next week (I do think I heard the Korean equivalent of "Oh, thank god!" from one of them).

None of them are very happy with the uncertainty that I've been going through with my job for the last few weeks. Some of them were actually quite vocal about it (I had to haul Pierre, the French guy, up for swearing quite colourfully).

I also have some other news. Remember my minor freak out about my wisdom teeth?

Yes?

Well, I went to the dentist on Tuesday. He gave me a check-up ("Beautiful teeth. Don't let any other dentist tell you what to do with your teeth. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right!") and sent me to the private hospital on Lake St. for x-rays...and did that bring back memories of my orthodontist or what!

This being the same orthodontist that I actually bit (I did warn him!)

So, I went for x-rays, drove back (well, Mum drove me back. I can't drive) and gave him the x-rays to look at. He said he'd give them a thorough looking over and ring me back with what he wanted to do. There were going to be three possibilities.

1) Do nothing as the x-rays would show (if I was lucky) that, while my teeth were growing out wonky, there were no problems under the gums.
2) Have one pulled out at the dentists.
3) Discover that there were problems with three or more of the teeth. This would mean surgery.

I was hoping for option 1, but wasn't really holding out much hope for it. It must've showed on my face this week 'cause Katherine (noisy little French lady at work) kept asking me what was wrong and if I was all right.

The thought of loosing time to anasthetic and to willingly let someone at me with a knife while I'm unaware.... terrifies me. A lot more than I thought it would.

I got a phone call from Mum on Thursday, lunch time....

NO SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While the teeth are coming up wonky, there's absolutely nothing wrong underneath the gums. He'd rather leave them alone if they're not causing me pain, than yank the buggers.

That is such a relief off my mind. It's also a relief on my bank account. That would've been $1500 - $2000 that I didn't have.

In other news, my hair's been cut and dyed red again. I really should take a picture of it and post it, so everyone can see it.

Also, if anyone uses PowerDVD on their computer to watch movies and has Windows Vista... be warned. One of the newest update thingies stops PowerDVD from working, as I just discovered this evening. I spent a good hour uninstalling and re-installing iTunes thinking that was the problem. It was the last thing I installed on my laptop. When that didn't work I played with a couple of other programs... none of that worked.

Bloody Windows!

I have now bought myself the upgrate to PowerDVD9 (which plays Blu-Ray!!!). It's currently downloading at a snail's pace (127mb, it's done 32mb and I've still got 3hrs 10mins left). Slow download is slow!

So, the reason I discovered this little...flaw... I got myself Star Trek today. I was gonna screencap the gag reel to make icons. This shall have to wait until the upgrade is downloaded and installed.

I'll do Revenge of the Fallen 'caps...as soon as it actually gets released in Australia. We don't get it here until Nov 5 *sighs

I'm off to go and stare at my download, downloading...it's worse than watching paint dry after painting yourself into a corner...

actually, just had a thought. I've got a lot of screencaps nicked from the net of the old tv series The Sentinel. Might do some icons of that while I'm waiting.

Note to self: When handling the doors at work near the balcony steps DO NOT hold on while going through the door. You will hurt yourself.

I damn near broke my hand going through the door at work today. It got caught between the door handle and the door as I was going through. OUCH!!! I've got this lovely lump and massive red mark on my hand right now. It also hurts like you wouldn't believe. It's not broken, just really, really sore at the moment. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop and head back to the staffroom for ice or I would've been late for class, so I had to keep going. I'm just glad that I had a cold can of coke in my hand to hold against it.

In other news (and this is very good news indeed), it rained today.
No, wait, let me correct that. It rained heavily.... no... still not descriptive enough....

... It pissed torrential buckets while the students flailed in panic and went looking for the nearest Ark, or perhaps a row-boat. One can never be too sure with the language barrier.

*nods in satisfaction* Yes, that's better. Much more descriptive.

And yes, one student did ask me, in all innocence, whether we will have crocodiles in the street when it starts to flood. Once I stopped laughing I had to tell them "No" (although I was highly tempted to string them along for a while. I'm not evil, really I'm not).

I really was tempted to say otherwise, though....No... bad Sheena!

Some of the other students bitched and moaned about how the rain was going to ruin their holidays... Well, I had news for them and none of it was good. We need that rain. The farmers up here have started buying hay for their animals to eat 'cause there's just no decent grass anymore. That's unheard of up here! The ground's not green, it's dusty and brown.

Also, gotta love the banter in the teacher's office. Katherine (loud,exhuberant, tiny, little French lady that teaches IELTS) had to get to the bus and didn't have an umbrella, so she grabbed the paper and went to make a run for it. Everyone thought she'd grabbed today's paper.

Chris: She would grab today's bloody paper, wouldn't she.
DoS: *poking his head out of his office* Did she take today's paper?
Jeanette: We've got a pile of newspapers down here... why'd she grab todays?!
Katherine: *running back in full tilt* Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit! I forgot something. I'M GOING TO MISS MY BUS!!!!
DoS: *to Katherine as she runs past his door* Could you leave us today's paper, please?
Katherine: Oh, shut up, you idiot! It's yesterdays!
DoS: *Mischievious smirk* Why'd you grab yesterday's. I haven't read that one, either.
Katherine: I grabbed it because it's the biggest. *Flings the paper about dramatically* I hate you all! I'm leaving and there's nothing you can do about it *laughs maniacally and flees the room*

Never a quite moment with Katherine in the staff room...and I mean that literally. She's just so... loud!

And over the top.

And did I mention she's loud? And, well... loud. Very, very, very loud. Words cannot express how loud she is.

Oh, and my afternoon class... they were trying to talk me into yodelling as I actually know how.

No. Way. In. Hell.

And one of my students was wearing a Thundercats T-shirt. He just about fell over when I squeeled at it and cried "Thundercats!" Aparently hardly anyone where he's from (Germany, I think) has heard of them. We had quite a good conversation about them *grins* and he gave me a website addy that sells Thundercat T-shirts etc.

**EDIT**

I forgot to mention. I have to go to the dentish. I've got a bit of a sore gum on the right hand bottom side. Managed to check it out in the mirror today. I have a tooth growing out the side of my gum.

Let me re-iterate that. There is a tooth growing out the side of my gum!! The side of it! As in, side on! Facing the cheek! Not the right way up! That's just wrong, and all kinds of painful!

...and the ways that they amuse us.

So, I have new students. Level tests were last week (I hate Hell week!) so I've got a couple of new students in my class. One of them, a Korean girl, was a last minute addition (literally. I'm walking out the door and the DoS grabs my role off me and scribbles her name at the bottom) with a "She's yours. Enjoy" and this strange look on his face. It was a bit odd but I thought nothing of it.

Anyway, I start class, nothing odd there. Hecky was absent, I just figured she was a little lost. It happens, though if I get one more student asking me "Where's Dugong?" I might just go postal and start flinging people off the balcony.

For those wondering, Dugong is one of those classrooms that you can see, but figuring out how the bloody hell to get into is is a bit of a problem. You've got to go into the student's travel club and another door to get in there. It's all very complicated. If you see a student wandering around after class starts looking lost on Monday or Tuesday that's the classroom they're most likely looking for.

30 minutes after the start of class I see these two Korean girls, one short, one really, really tall, wander past my door looking lost. I go out (sucker that I am) to see if they're okay. Short one was my student, Hecky. Her friend, who'd been moved up into the same level, wanted to stay with her and attend my class....

Er, no way. Not happening. If she's not on my role, she doesn't sit in my class. It's as simple as that. I told big friend (who's bigger than me, for cryin' out loud!) to go to reception and ask them. Big friend couldn't go on her own. Hecky had to go with her and hold her hand.

So, off the two went and I wandered back into class. Hecky got added to my 'to toss off the balcony' list and I went back to teaching the class. Fifteen minutes later Hecky comes back into class sans her friend. I figured reception had said no. (I since found out that the friend was 45 minutes late to her class and told her teacher some convoluted story about her bike breaking down with absolutely no mention of an attempt to muscle into a different classroom).

So, I warn the DoS about what's been happening during break time in case they should come to him and ask. He pretty much says "No" and that was it...after calling me scary (as I'd told him what'd happened by acting out what I'd done. His reaction... "Jeez, Sheena. You're scary when you're angry!". I wasn't so much angry as frustrated. It took them 10 minutes to understand. 'No, you can't come in here. Go to reception' *eyeroll*).

I come back after break to find big friend in my classroom again. Okay, don't panic, she's probably just visiting her friend. Nope. She honest to go looms over me (which is most disturbing, let me tell you...and it pisses me off. I hate people looming over me trying to intimidate) to tell me that reception had said yes to Hecky joining her friends class as long as I said yes. I had no problem with it as long as the other teacher was okay (if it got them both out of my hair then good riddance!).

Now, this took 15 minutes of my class time to try and get this across to them...how the bloody hell did they manage to advance to my class? How? I ask you? I speak at nearly full speed and joke with these guys (and they get the jokes 9 times out of 10). They may be lower-intermediate but I push them pretty hard (I actually had one girl writing things like "I whiled away my weekend lying on the beach" in her writing tasks by the time I was finished with her).

*gah!*

So, once they'd managed to understand this they both disappear to the other class to go and pick on the other teacher. Hecky comes back about 15 minutes after this and kinda sulks for the rest of the class. I'm guessing the teacher said no.

I thought this would be the end of it. I've said no, the other teacher's said no, end of story.

Nope. Not even close.

I come in to the office after classes are finished for the day and notice the two of them sitting and pouting in reception (you have to walk through the reception area to get to the teacher's refuge...er, office ^_^).

Before I go any further I should probably describe these two. One's tall and has some meat on her bones (for a Korean. She'd be considered thin by Australian standards, but if she's anything like my Japanese student she probably thinks she's fat. Seriously, Moco is tiny, skinny as and thinks she's too fat *eyeroll*. I just tell her if she's fat then I must be a whale), one's short. They've both got hair that's styled and coloured exactly alike. They dress similarly, and they do their make-up exactly the same. They co-ordinate their shoes!... it's terrifying!

So, since their two teachers aren't letting them swap into the same class they've come back to try reception again. It's not going to work. Head receptionist/marketing lady/sweetheart goes out the back to the DoS to let him know what's going on. Out he goes to sort them out. It takes him a good 20 minutes but he comes back in looking like he's ready to tear his hair out...but satisfied. He's also said no and his word is final.

He also did an imitation of them which was disturbingly accurate and quite hilarious...complete with falsetto, stamping feet, eye-rolling, crossed arms, and pouting.

In other news I've got some more corker student names for you *grins*

Already on the list: HongKi, DongKi, Jedi

Please note that these two students that I'm about to mention are male.... Su and Dolli... I shit you not.

Also, I may or may not have a job come Friday. It all really depends on whether or not they get a couple of more students to sign up next week. If they do, I have a job. If they don't, then I'm unemployed. *shrugs*. There's still relief teaching, etc...and I need a couple of weeks of rest. I haven't had a decent sit down and relax in two years. It would be nice to have a permanent job though.

...what I saw in Cairns Central today.

As you know we were suffering from dust storms recently. The good news is that that seems to have gone away (for now).

The bad news is that it is ridiculously dry right now. Everything's brown. I've never seen it this brown!

...

Anyway, this means that there's a lot of fires around here. I'm okay (mostly) with it. I grew up in Brisbane, I spent the first 12 or so years of my life believing the rest of the world had a Bushfire Season.... boy was I wrong. I do remember a couple of times where I actually had a bag packed and waiting next to my bed incase we had to evacuate in a hurry.

Right, so, it's really dry. There's lots of fires around right now. So, while the dust is gone I still can't see the fraggin' mountains! *le sigh*.

Also the louvers in my bedroom are made of wood and old. They've warped and there's huge gaps in them that's letting smoke into my room. This is frustrating as I just can't escape the smell of smoke. I haven't breathed clearly since...um... okay, this is scary, Poland! (Before that last asthma attack a few weeks ago I hadn't had one in years!). The good news is that they're covered under Body Coporate so they'll fix them as they're a health risk.

There is a point to all this. You'll see the Japanese/Korean/Chinese tourists wandering around Cairns wearing surgical masks (and I've even debated getting myself one, the smoke is that bad, and I hate the damn things!), but that's about all. You don't see the locals wearing anything to block the smoke...

.... until today!

Mum and I were in Central (I had 2 hours 45min between my morning classes and the conversation club I was running). We'd met up to have lunch (a nummy, nummy salad for me ^__^). I was heading back towards the exit with Mum behind me when I hear this "Holy shit! Tell me I'm not seeing this!" from Mum. I'm looking around trying to see what she's talking about when I see it... or should I say her...

Lady wearing a gas mask.

Yes, you read correctly. A lady wearing one of those black gas masks you see people wearing on TV and in the movies all the time...

*shakes head* The smoke's pretty bad, but a gas mask?!

---------------------------------------------------

In other news I have a new student. Male, young, and French. The jury's still out on whether he'll follow Mr. Bedroom-eyes and Ms. Madam over the balcony when they finally piss me off one too many times.

Also my right ankle is currently rather painful. I bashed it good and proper on my way to talk to the DoS today about student results and who should move up a level and who should stay down. Moving it just hurts!. Thankfully it doesn't hurt to walk, just to move it. Sheena's Desk: 1 , Sheena: 0

So, remember me telling you that my DoS was an absolute card.... here's more proof *grins*

So, every Friday they open the bar on the back deck of the school (Yes, we have a bar. They sell alcohol). Once a month (or more, if they can) they'll have some sort of activity for the students. This Friday it was a Nintendo Wii competition that they were calling Lord of the Wii.

So, que this morning after morning break, me starting up a speaking activity and the DoS knocks on my classroom door and asks if he can come in. I stop the activity and let him in. He's holding this Lord of the Wii sign and there's something that looks like a knife tucked into his belt.... o~okay then.

He doesn't wait for the students to pay attention to him or anything like that. He holds up the sign, pulls the knife from his belt with a dramatic flourish, and then bellows "LORD OF THE WII!!!!!" at the top of his lungs.

Students: O.O...WTF?!
DoS: *looks sheepish and waves the knife around* Sorry... I couldn't find a sword....
Me: *mental facepalm*

Once he's got the students attention he goes back to this mild mannered, quietly spoken Brit.

I'm beginning to think anyone who has a job in ESL/EFL for more than a year or so has to be close to certifiable....

I love my job!

In other news: We're still suffering from that frackin' dust!!! *scowls* I've been sneezing all day. Gah! I'm gonna have to take an antihistamine tonight before bed... I hate taking those. I feel groggy for the entirety of the next day when I do.

Hey all!

Yeah, yeah, I know, long time no post.

Life has been going, neither good or bad (although work could be drying up for a bit soon :( as the busy season is slowing down). We're currently going through Hell Week again (ISR's and exams, though it's going easier this time around than it did last time, thank god!).

I got my laptop back from the shop a week or so ago. There wasn't a single sign of ants so the bait must've worked and they all cleared out w00t! I finally had a chance to turn it on today. Man it's weird to be looking at a big screen again! (I've been using my little mini one).

Oh, I joined a gym. It's all female and I've been going three times a week for the last couple of weeks. It seems to be working. I've got more energy than I did and students and teachers that haven't seen me for a while are commenting that I'm looking slimmer than I have been. ^____________^. I tried on a couple of things that were a bit (and some really) tight this afternoon and they fit!!!!

Spent the weekend hobbling around the house. Note: Glass candle holders, especially the big ones, are not meant to be stopped by your foot when you drop them on the floor. *winces*. I've got a lovely bruise on my foot and it hurt to walk for a while there. Mum and I weren't sure if I'd actually broken anything or not for a few hours. Iceing it immediately seems to have worked.

My iPod charging unit (el-cheapo that it was) died on me last night and I was not happy!. Had to go out today to buy a new, more expensive, recognisable brand one (Belkin). It's working quite well now ^__^ and I have a charged iPod again (nearly ran out of charge halfway to work. That wouldn't have been of the good!)

Oh, and while I was at JB picking up a new charging unit guess what I spotted in the Soundtrack section..... Star Trek:2009 score.

SCORE!!!!!! *massive grin* I've only been trying to track that down since it came out in early May!. I was about to order it on Amazon.

Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh! Guess what, guess what, guess what?!

Our DVD player finally died after 6-7 years of use. (I know, I know, I shouldn't be that happy about that but I am and there is a reason). Mum and I went out looking for a new one, or at least pricing a new one, the other day. We went into JB and I basically told the guy that there had to be one requirement and one requirement only....

Multi-regional (as region codes on DVD's suck great, big, hairy donkey's balls!).

$77au later (and one rather shocked 'JB Tech-guru' later... I out geeked the geek when it came to player specs and stuff like that) we walked away with a Toshiba DVD player that the guy swore up and down had a little orange card in there with instructions on how to turn the region 4 player into a multi-region.

He wasn't lying.

*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!*

We has a multi-regional DVD player. I can finally buy those DVD series that I want (*cough*The Sentinel*cough*) that have been released for years in the US and still aren't released here!

In other news, I'm still not sure if Dave and I are actually an item or not. We're going to the movies on Wednesday evening (I think, *crosses fingers that scheduals finally line up*).

I think that's all my news... I think.....

Oh, bought myself another 12mths of paid lj-time. It was due to run out some time this week.