Hi all - I have sent out a lot of emails, but they've all bounced back :(. The LSE email system seems to be on the blink (for me)... so please bear with me! Hopefully it'll be resolved soon....
In hte meantime I can still recieve emails.
Had a brilliant birthday by the way! Thanks for all the birthday wishes!
Cath xxx
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Oh yeah - one recent change (motivated by the thought of many visitors into my apartment), is that I finally tried to decorate (to a degree). I now have fairy lights draped all over the living room - some in a rather conventional manner (if fairy lights across one's living room can be called conventional), and some in a more artistic formation behind the TV.
It's starting to give me a headache actually… they flash in a completely uncoordinated way (what did I expect for 15 yuan????). Maybe I'll adapt.... they took too long to put up (I'll take a photo and post it online sometime soon).
Right.. work...
Cath xxx
It's starting to give me a headache actually… they flash in a completely uncoordinated way (what did I expect for 15 yuan????). Maybe I'll adapt.... they took too long to put up (I'll take a photo and post it online sometime soon).
Right.. work...
Cath xxx
I'm now recovering from birthday party in the flat last night, thankfully I was too pissed to stay up for the soul destroying England loss (at around 4am our time). I'm sitting here not doing too much of anything, but I am considering doing my lesson plans at some point...
It is a bit necessary too. Ugh. Whole body is slow....
Anyway, the party was great; I had a really good time. It was a house party, as the local pub has abruptly been shut down, so there is not external booze-focal-point for our crew at the moment. (Disorientating.) But, unlike house parties I avoid, this one was quite fun.
Generally I'm looking forward to next week when Mike and Debbie arrive. It will be nice to:
a) see Mike again!
b) See someone other than the same people I see day in day out
c) get out of Urumqi and into the mountains again
I think I'm just too slow to be witty, so I'll end this entry today! Chat to some of you over the phone tomorrow no doubt!
Cath xxx
It is a bit necessary too. Ugh. Whole body is slow....
Anyway, the party was great; I had a really good time. It was a house party, as the local pub has abruptly been shut down, so there is not external booze-focal-point for our crew at the moment. (Disorientating.) But, unlike house parties I avoid, this one was quite fun.
Generally I'm looking forward to next week when Mike and Debbie arrive. It will be nice to:
a) see Mike again!
b) See someone other than the same people I see day in day out
c) get out of Urumqi and into the mountains again
I think I'm just too slow to be witty, so I'll end this entry today! Chat to some of you over the phone tomorrow no doubt!
Cath xxx
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Yaaayyyy thrilled to pieces - Mike Hoevel (for those of you who know him) will be visiting me in Urumqi next week. Emily, JB and Bill know Mike.... he's travelling through XinJiang. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go out to Nan Shan again (the South Mountains) for a less life-defying trip of gentle hikes and an overnight stay in a yurt (Uyghur/Kazak teepee entity).
Other than that, Dad - thinking of you during your operation!
Also I'm busy organising my b'day party this Thursday (I'm working this a bit weekend, so the hangover has been strategically planned for Friday, my day off - when absolutely nothing is required of me). Not too much exciting news really... I've been busy working (Monday and Tuesday are big workload days for me, so day is generally the day where I slow down).
Teacher's meeting... must go.
Cath xxxx
Other than that, Dad - thinking of you during your operation!
Also I'm busy organising my b'day party this Thursday (I'm working this a bit weekend, so the hangover has been strategically planned for Friday, my day off - when absolutely nothing is required of me). Not too much exciting news really... I've been busy working (Monday and Tuesday are big workload days for me, so day is generally the day where I slow down).
Teacher's meeting... must go.
Cath xxxx
Friday, June 18, 2004
Hello all,
We're advertising for new teachers, and considering I really like the place I'm putting our ad up here too (go on, you know you want to come out here and play (I mean, work) with me, we can go for two hours facials together):
Teach English Along The Silk Road!
Urumqi EF Training Centre is currently looking for full time English teachers to start work both immediately and in September. The Urumqi branch of English First was opened two years ago and has fast become one of the most progressive schools in the west of China. Situated in the very heart of Asia it is a perfect place to experience both teaching and living in the cultural melting pot of China's far west. We are looking for relaxed, dynamic teachers with prior experience and qualifications in the ESL field who are willing to spend a year in this remote yet colourful city.
Teachers are required to work a five-day week during the off-season and a six-day week throughout the peak season, weekly teaching hours average about twenty real hours. Overtime is paid for hours exceeding those stated on the contract. Airfares, accommodation, insurance, visas and Chinese lessons are all provided by the school. Monthly salaries start from 5,500RMB and a generous bonus scheme enables successful teachers to considerably supplement their income.
So if you're enthusiastic, creative and enjoy a challenge, why not become part of our rapidly expanding team?
For further information or application please send an up to date CV and a pair of references to Ian Frankish:
ian.Frankish@englishfirst.com.cn
i_frankish@yahoo.co.uk
Visit our school's link at: http://www.englishfirst.com.cn/city/intro.asp?id=21
We're advertising for new teachers, and considering I really like the place I'm putting our ad up here too (go on, you know you want to come out here and play (I mean, work) with me, we can go for two hours facials together):
Teach English Along The Silk Road!
Urumqi EF Training Centre is currently looking for full time English teachers to start work both immediately and in September. The Urumqi branch of English First was opened two years ago and has fast become one of the most progressive schools in the west of China. Situated in the very heart of Asia it is a perfect place to experience both teaching and living in the cultural melting pot of China's far west. We are looking for relaxed, dynamic teachers with prior experience and qualifications in the ESL field who are willing to spend a year in this remote yet colourful city.
Teachers are required to work a five-day week during the off-season and a six-day week throughout the peak season, weekly teaching hours average about twenty real hours. Overtime is paid for hours exceeding those stated on the contract. Airfares, accommodation, insurance, visas and Chinese lessons are all provided by the school. Monthly salaries start from 5,500RMB and a generous bonus scheme enables successful teachers to considerably supplement their income.
So if you're enthusiastic, creative and enjoy a challenge, why not become part of our rapidly expanding team?
For further information or application please send an up to date CV and a pair of references to Ian Frankish:
ian.Frankish@englishfirst.com.cn
i_frankish@yahoo.co.uk
Visit our school's link at: http://www.englishfirst.com.cn/city/intro.asp?id=21
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
MY FIRST VISITOR!
Life has slowed down a bit this week. I'm just working away, the sun is shining, I'm trying not to eat and drink as much as I do.... the food here is just too addictive. And that's before I get started on the ice-cream.
On Monday though, I had my first visitor! HUGE thanks to Emily for taking the slight detour to come by Urumqi to see me :). It was awesome to see you, plus brilliant seeing a familiar face too :)
Emily was only here for a day, and a pretty peculiar day it was too. The day consisted of a few aimless wanders; my (foolishly and cruelly) landing Emily an hour of WORK for my school (sorry Emily!!!!! I don't know WHAT I was doing dude!!!!); and finally the unmissable hot-pot with drinks in the evening.
Now - I hope Emily is one of many visitors to come! And I PROMISE not to get you to work for the school if you visit. Promise ;)
Life has slowed down a bit this week. I'm just working away, the sun is shining, I'm trying not to eat and drink as much as I do.... the food here is just too addictive. And that's before I get started on the ice-cream.
On Monday though, I had my first visitor! HUGE thanks to Emily for taking the slight detour to come by Urumqi to see me :). It was awesome to see you, plus brilliant seeing a familiar face too :)
Emily was only here for a day, and a pretty peculiar day it was too. The day consisted of a few aimless wanders; my (foolishly and cruelly) landing Emily an hour of WORK for my school (sorry Emily!!!!! I don't know WHAT I was doing dude!!!!); and finally the unmissable hot-pot with drinks in the evening.
Now - I hope Emily is one of many visitors to come! And I PROMISE not to get you to work for the school if you visit. Promise ;)
Sunday, June 13, 2004
TRIP TO NAN SHAN
Oh, this is a special story. I nearly killed myself in a mad quarry-type ravine last Thursday. Lesson from the day is: do not go on day trips with the crazy Irish people who own bars.
In a nutshell, Nan Shan (the Southern Mountains) are considered Urumqi's lesser mountains. With the Alpine range on the other side of the city (Tian Shan - the Heavenly mountains), Nan Shan is perceived as a bit of a stroll-through-the-fields-day-trip.
Hardly.
These are some serious hard-core mountains. They just aren't 5000m tall like the Heavenly Mountains.
On Thursday we set out to have what I reckoned would be akin to a nice day in the park, wearing off the hangover. I ended up scaling sheer ravines, and undoubtedly putting my life at GREAT risk. (Parents, so not fret, it ended well, and I now know how to scale down a ridiculously steep mountainside to safety - when stuck on a ravine, you learn very quickly).
In sum - sat for two hours in shock after escapade, but I now have a rather useful new life skill. Also I'm unlikely to willingly follow Irish people on "mountain strolls" ever again.
(and the Nan Shan are spectacular)
Oh, this is a special story. I nearly killed myself in a mad quarry-type ravine last Thursday. Lesson from the day is: do not go on day trips with the crazy Irish people who own bars.
In a nutshell, Nan Shan (the Southern Mountains) are considered Urumqi's lesser mountains. With the Alpine range on the other side of the city (Tian Shan - the Heavenly mountains), Nan Shan is perceived as a bit of a stroll-through-the-fields-day-trip.
Hardly.
These are some serious hard-core mountains. They just aren't 5000m tall like the Heavenly Mountains.
On Thursday we set out to have what I reckoned would be akin to a nice day in the park, wearing off the hangover. I ended up scaling sheer ravines, and undoubtedly putting my life at GREAT risk. (Parents, so not fret, it ended well, and I now know how to scale down a ridiculously steep mountainside to safety - when stuck on a ravine, you learn very quickly).
In sum - sat for two hours in shock after escapade, but I now have a rather useful new life skill. Also I'm unlikely to willingly follow Irish people on "mountain strolls" ever again.
(and the Nan Shan are spectacular)
I haven't yet mentioned that I have a new flatmate, Stanley from Missouri.
He's a temporary flatmate - he got hired on the spot, and has no where to live, so Brooke's room is currently dedicated to him until she (my more permanent flatmate) arrives mid July.
Stan and I ware working out just fine. I'm not the best flatmate at the best of times, but we don't have too much in common, which is why I think it works - the situation is more acquaintance-y.
He's a temporary flatmate - he got hired on the spot, and has no where to live, so Brooke's room is currently dedicated to him until she (my more permanent flatmate) arrives mid July.
Stan and I ware working out just fine. I'm not the best flatmate at the best of times, but we don't have too much in common, which is why I think it works - the situation is more acquaintance-y.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Haven't written in a while as I've been super busy. I'm doing a lot of adult classes at the moment, which is fun and means my work is more spread out than others (a lot of other teachers have solid weekends of kids classes, but much freer weeks). My work is spread pretty evenly throught the week.
Having said that, poor Steve has both. Sucks to be him.
ANYWAY, life is good and I'm settling in. Also - I have a new (and temporary) flatmate, Stanley. He's cool, but he's only staying in the free bedroom until they've sorted out his apartment. My more permenent flatmate, Brooke, arrives in a little over a month.
I've also sent off my article (HUR-RAH), it was starting to hand over my head a bit... I'm still waiting for feedback from the Editor though. So I'm not exactly relaxed about it just yet.
Busy busy, will write more later.
Cath xxxx
Having said that, poor Steve has both. Sucks to be him.
ANYWAY, life is good and I'm settling in. Also - I have a new (and temporary) flatmate, Stanley. He's cool, but he's only staying in the free bedroom until they've sorted out his apartment. My more permenent flatmate, Brooke, arrives in a little over a month.
I've also sent off my article (HUR-RAH), it was starting to hand over my head a bit... I'm still waiting for feedback from the Editor though. So I'm not exactly relaxed about it just yet.
Busy busy, will write more later.
Cath xxxx
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