Saturday 22^nd June, 2019 1400

What did I say?

Week one of two of examinations done. “Examinations” is used very loosely in this case, nobody fails (unless they don't turn up) and they were given the question two months ago!

Unlike the tests I give to English majors, which are more thorough and time-consuming for obvious reasons, it came to pass that I (or rather the students) was/were whipping through the candidates at a rate of knots.

Hence the first class on Wednesday afternoon were allowed to go over the specified number of entrants (which had been set at 50% plus one) and from memory out of 47 in the class I am left with eleven to do next week. And I still finished well within the allotted time. Class two took the Mickey and yes, they are the smallest class at 39 pupils, I ended up testing them all. Wednesday next week will be a day when the commuting takes three times as long as the work!

Friday morning broke the back of that class and the afternoon one, unbelievably and to my intense annoyance, saw the entire class of 47 come – except one girl! Having decided to press on and take all-comers, only to find myself one short was a no-no. If she thinks I am going to finish around 1100 next Friday and then wait around until 1430 just for her then she has another think coming! She will be told to come during lunch on Wednesday or morning break on Friday. Absolutely no reason she cannot, she will be free and it will take less than five minutes. And then starts my short, nine-week summer holiday!

Annie is currently in Chengdu for yet more Peace Corps training, returning tomorrow. I find it incredible they insist on this because on 2^nd August she will leave, having completed her two-year “prison sentence” never to return. Waste of money is the phrase that springs to mind and a damned inconvenience to her, as she is in exam mode here she has to make up the sessions she misses.

On Monday instead of English corner because it is over for the term (not that I go often, nor intend to much even when I am teaching them next year), her students want to throw Annie a party. Quite an accolade for a girl who completely abhors teaching! She must have done something right.

So, the plan (hopefully it will work) is for Alice and I to have dinner with her as usual. I have long promised to introduce them to Heinz salad cream (seems to be a very British thing as they have never encountered it) I am doing a simple ham, cheese, egg and potato salad and no dessert. I have pork curing in the fridge which will be ready to boil on Monday afternoon and that's the last of my Prague Instacure until I buy more next term.

Annie will think that with nothing to do after dinner, she can relax a little longer and maybe even have a few glasses of vino. Wrong. The story will be that Dean Delia wants me to go and find out who I am teaching next, collect the new course books and she wants Annie there to offer up any “advice” she may have about the students – didn't she receive the email?

Tomorrow I will bake bread pudding and lemon drizzle cake for Alice to take hidden in a bag and by all accounts the students have bought snacks and decorations too.

Thankfully she doesn't read this blog, she doesn't even access the news.