Yesterday’s day off was quite busy. A run to the supermarket and before that a search for new shoes. I ended up paying more than I wanted for footwear but at least I got some - the trainers I have worn for the last year are getting decidedly thin on the bottom, which means I can feel every stone I tread on - a lot what with all the roadworks near my home.
When I got home I rested for half an hour and then decided it was haircut time. I recalled seeing a barbers close to the BRT stop and my barnet is much longer than I like to keep it - seriously getting into combing territory. I also decided to give the new shoes an outing, I had opted for shoes rather than trainers this time seeing as winter is not far off. Well either I am going bonkers and there never was a barbers or it has closed down recently! Now, I have electric clippers I brought with me from England but in Chizhou it wasn’t worth the hassle of cutting my own hair seeing as it only cost 10y for a shearing. I will have a crack at it at the weekend. The only problem is that I don’t think I have the adapters to regulate length and I have an awful feeling that if I use it “neat” I’m going to end up with bald patches! And if I do, no you won’t get a photo.
With no barbers in sight I nearly came home but then I remembered from when I first arrived there is an appliance shop near the BRT. At least I could buy a heater. By this time (and I had walked all of a kilometre) my feet were killing me - or rather the shoes were killing my feet. Again I spent more than I wanted to but at least I now have a heater.
By the time I limped home my heels were red raw. It will probably be a week before I dare put the shoes on again and when I do it will be just to potter around the flat for a while. I hope I can break them in before winter does arrive!
In the evening Janet finally replied to my email, sent in response to the latest teaching development. She is still in the traditional Chinese medicine hospital next door to where I teach and I now know she has a bad back. I can only think she is receiving acupuncture. She was sorry she had said what she had and wished she had kept quiet. Would I please go to the lunch with the students because they think you are the best?
Well with the sheer angst all this had caused me (and it certainly had), no way I was letting anyone off the hook that quickly - if I was to come out on top they could all stew a while, just as I had. I settled down in my office with my new heater and sat attired in just boxers and shirt. Much more comfortable than fully togged up and with a fleece to boot. In fact I even took it to the bedroom when I went to sleep and left it on low all night.
When I had arrived home for the last time yesterday evening my electricity meter read 56 left out of the 93 I had when we topped up a fortnight ago. When I left to get the bus this morning I was horrified to see I was now on a mere 36! That was about 80y just in one night! What with the top-up office only opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I needed more credit or I was going to be in darkness come next Tuesday!
On the bus to school David sat behind me. He reminds me so much of Norman who was my student in Chizhou, terrible English but lovely lad who tried so hard. Bear in mind I wasn’t looking forward to seeing the class, I had been up since five and my sleep had been constantly interrupted by my legs itching like mad (if they don’t get any better soon I am going to be forced to see a dermatologist), I really didn’t want to chat.
He however wanted to atone for the entire class. As nicely as I could I stopped him by telling him it would all be discussed in the lesson. I was armed and dangerous and wanted to keep my powder dry in the event it was needed.
It would have been just my luck for the bus to have dropped us off late but for once fortune smiled when I wanted it to. I had enough time to have a smoke in my office and compose my thoughts. In fact on the 3rd floor I paused for some minutes. I had spotted a ginger cat on the playing field and it was stalking something. For the life of me I could see nothing, so I assumed there was a mouse. Then I spotted two Chinese pigeons (theirs are different, believe it or not) on a patch of turf.
The cat was good. If you couldn’t see its legs you would never know it was moving inexorably closer by the minute. Every time one of the birds looked in its direction it froze. It was a hunting masterclass. Just as the feline closed the distance to within striking range two students walked across on their way somewhere and scared the birds! I was glad but I was also sorry for the cat. It may have been an hour in its quest for all I know and suddenly it had all been for nothing. I could almost hear Puss screaming, you B******s!!!
Then it was time for class after my cigar. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Morning greeting and then woe betide anyone who hadn’t at last completed the tests online. Of course everyone had simply because they knew what was coming. Scores taken, I then invited anyone who wished to give the class a tale to speak.
A girl put her hand up. She has never said a word in class before. It wasn’t a story but an apology and a plea for me to come to their party. I hadn’t intended to broach the distasteful subject of recent events quite that early but I felt my hand had been forced, just as I had forced theirs. Cards on the table time.
I told them I didn’t want to know which students had ratted on me, it wasn’t important, they stood or fell as a class. Not one denied they had complained to the President or indeed what they had said so in this instance there had been no misunderstanding. They were then informed of the way they should have gone about things ie approach me first and if they got no joy, THEN go higher. A valuable life lesson for all of them. The explanation given to me was that they had never had a foreigner before and they didn’t know how to deal with me.
I then asked if what they moaned about not getting (advance topics) was how it was done in high school, and as undergraduates. Yes. I then held up the sheet with their marks (not one has passed) and asked if that way had worked? To a man they shook their heads. How do you think my doing that will help you in Cyprus? The consensus was that just perhaps on this occasion I was making sense. There will be no more going to the President I am sure and they are now under no illusion that they can’t come and speak to me if they have a problem. I also discovered the reason for their lack of major concern over passing the next test in December. They can in fact fail as badly as they like, if they don’t pass they can still go to Cyprus but they will have to take a year of English classes costing perhaps 50,000y. Well that’s terrific because it means I cannot possibly fail either but it is hardly the point. I asked them if it wouldn’t be better for them to be able to call their parents and say they had saved them 50,000? Slowly but surely I am moulding the way they view the world and that makes me happy. I just wish I could have longer to do it.
I then invited stories and as I thought, quite a few had prepared one. Before I knew it, official break time was already over so I had to let them relax a little later than normal. I was still keeping them in the dark regarding the lunch, purely out of devilment by now.
In the break, mid-cigar, two boys came to my office to ask if I would please come to the party. I couldn’t resist saying that if I had intended to go I would have brought my camera with me this morning. Oh we can take photos with our phones for you! Deadpan, I pulled from my pocket my camera. They rushed off to tell the others the news.
Eventually they persuaded me to let the class out 20 minutes early so the buses wouldn’t be busy and we went to a huge plaza and a restaurant which was an all you could eat, buffet style, pizzas and allsorts. Thirteen of us in all sat at tables pushed together and two cases of beer were consumed, silly games were played and everyone seemed to have a good time.
David and I left when we all finished in the restaurant, the others (or at least some of them) went elsewhere to continue the fun. I didn’t dare as I needed electricity or I was in trouble. Anyway I was tired and so were my legs.
Once home I collected my electricity top up card and strolled to where the lady dishes out power. The computer said no. Well neither of us could understand the other but I got the impression I was supposed to have slid the card in the meter before I went to see her. Nobody told me this and anyway the box for the meters is locked and I don’t have a key. It ended with her coming with me back home (my poor legs!) and showing me the slot it is supposed to go in. I must say it is well hidden (doesn’t need the door unlocking) and if she hadn’t shown me I doubt I would have seen it. Back to her office and voila, I have more credit. This time I think she has put a lot more than 400y on because I seem to have 450 instead of the 93 I got last time. Its free for me anyway (thank God) so if I could I’d get her to put 10,000 on if I could, it would save me visiting so often.
So after today’s events, it looks as if I need to make another batch of bread pudding to take to class on Monday!
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