Wednesday 14th November, 2012          1300

Just a quick entry on my lunch break because I may not get time later. Kevin and I are off to a graduation dinner tonight, one of what should have been three of them. However, when I was down at the shops having a drink and giving Pepsi her outing two students stopped to chat with me. One was from a class I taught this term and are graduating very soon, the other from a class I did teach but which was given to Kevin this term.

When I asked when their parties were taking place I found out the class Kevin had (but which I taught for two years) had theirs the night of the grad photo. Their form teacher this term decided as there were only two boys in the class that one of them should be the monitor and of course the worst possible candidate got the job, displacing Georgina who was actually very good. The dinner was announced even to the students at two hours notice and as a result the only teacher to  attend was the form teacher and Georgina was so disgusted she didn’t go to her own grad party.

Now if that wasn’t enough to displease me, the other student told me that their monitor would invite me today to their party, which is tonight. A month ago I told the class not to leave asking me to the last minute because otherwise I may have other plans, that being the case this evening as I have already agreed to go to another party. The monitor invited me at 1100 today and I had no option but to decline (or do a dastardly thing and go back on my word with the other class). I must say I am disgusted because this means I will not get to properly say goodbye to any of my students who I have seen all the way through school (tonight’s is Daisy’s class and I only had them for one term) until this time next year when my four year students finish.

Just to make my day Cinny (my new Tina) sent a message to say that several Chinese teachers want to come and observe my Friday afternoon class to learn. I have no problem with teachers sitting in (as long as they take part in the lesson as students!) but they could not have picked a worse class!!! There are 40 students and on the 3 year course so they are as active as sloths on valium and their course book is abysmal! I have suggested that it might be better if they come to either of my two morning classes instead - fingers crossed otherwise I will have to invent my own lesson outwith the course material and invest in a cattle prod to stimulate student activity. Quite why teachers are being sent to learn from me is beyond me seeing as I only have 2 years experience, unless of course they are fresh out of the cardboard box themselves.

2130

After the party.

We were paid two days late again this month so I coerced Kevin into taking me along with two students a little earlier so I could go to the bank, chemist, cigar shop and supermarket first.

Parties/dinners here tend to be brief affairs quite unlike the late night drinking sessions westerners have, so after just over two hours it was done. I have to say they put on a good spread - I have been in the same hotel room but two years ago - with enough different dishes for me to at least enjoy some. They also ensured I was well watered by having two crates of pijou placed by my chair! I can’t drink 24 pints (even Chinese beer) in two hours! Kevin is plainly becoming either an animal or Chinese because he actually ate a pig’s ear, something I declined, although in fairness he did balk at the chicken feet apparently. Although it was brief it was a privilege to have been invited since my teaching of them was but short.

I suppose I should have been happy to have been a part of sending them into the real world but of course I was sad because this was farewell. I was doubly sad because I had to miss another party because the monitor only invited me today and I would have particularly liked to have attended Bessie’s bash, but such is life. Doubtless I shall become inured to it but I think I have a few years before that happens.

Kevin and I both have suspicions over Friday. Loads of Chinese teachers sitting in to learn? I think it is an assessment but they just don’t want to let me know, and in fact one of the teachers tonight is coming and swore blind it was just to learn. Utter rot, he has been a teacher for at least ten years. I have in fact been successful in swapping classes so at least I have one of my better lot instead of the deadheads (must remember to tell them tomorrow so they don’t turn up) and it will be interesting to see if the teachers stay for part two - when they did this to Kevin last year they left at the break. Kevin thinks I may ruffle feathers but he displays little faith, I really want them to see the whole deal and the one thing I will not do is alter my style of teaching. It is my class, my classroom and my students! Nervous? Not in the slightest. Will they get the authentic Professor Fury experience? Definitely!