The word 'busy' just doesn't seem to be enough to describe the last two weeks. The spring seems to have really hit the air this week and emotions have been all over the place amongst students and teachers alike. After the post-Christmas lull, I have taken my social life back out from under the bed, dusted it off and have started to make full use of it once more.
I have to admit that Chinese New Year wasn't all it was cracked up to be- in fact, I did nothing but sit around and wait forlornly for the phone to ring, which it didn't. But the lanterns are still up around Chinatown
But the first week in the new year of the dog was filled with catching up with mates- drinks with Matt and dinner with Amanda. The Friday night saw me and Penny transformed into culture vultures and on our way to the theatre. Admittedly we went to see 'The Lion King' rather than the latest Shakespeare hit but we loved it and said the line repeated by non-theatre-goers the world over 'we must go again, I don't know why we don't do this more often!'
Saturday I was off to Olympia with Cat to indulge in a travel expo- me under the pretence of finding stuff for my classes but really checking out where to go next :)
Sunday lunch in the pub with Penny was followed by my worst cinema experience ever- not the fault of the movie, rather caused by the 'kids' who spread themselves out around the place but continued to talk to each other all the way through the film, between farting competitions that is. Not very satisfying.
But the day wasn't marred by the experience too much- probably due to the latest addition to the household- my shiny new phone. Not only does it have a camera and MP3 player, more importantly, it has a hook at the back to attach my phone danglies too- hooray!
Love my new camera phone :):)
This week has continued to be hectic as hell- I was covering classes on Monday and Tuesday, thereby teaching for nine hours a day. Tuesday afternoon's class was on pub slang and seemed a good opportunity to take them to one of these drinking establishments I hear so much about. Didn't get out until 10- wonder if I can claim for overtime!
Wednesday morning's class was on shopping so off we went to Harrods, Tuesday class hangover and all. It was fun to get out and about for a bit and worth it all to watch my Turkish students' fascination with the ham counter in the food hall. I think that they had never been that close to a pig before. Or bits of a pig anyway.
Thursday I was supposed to have my Spanish class after school but instead we just went for pizza and Camilo practised his English.
Last night was international night at the school- big party at the Korean restaurant before heading off to the salsa bar to get hit on by all and sundry. There was 11 of us in the restaurant- the biggest group that I have been out with since leaving Korea and very satisfying indeed. We indulged in all the mandu, bulgogi, dak galbi, kimchi, soju, bekseju and oshibseju that we could possibly ever need. Then onto salsa for dancing, tequila and corona.
And for me, the night was not ruined at all by the fact that I missed the last train home- by five minutes! I just got on a train going anywhere and used my new phone to text everyone to bemoan the fact that I was going to have to get a taxi home- grr!
