Last night I sent an email to Brenda. For a few days now my shower has alternated between inflicting second degree burns one minute and cryogenically freezing me the next once the water heater overheats and trips out.
It probably just needs a new thermostat but the last thing I need is for it to pack up completely in the holidays when there will be nobody here to repair it. I haven’t forgotten the fortnight in Chizhou when I had to boil water on the hob and wash on the toilet with a bucket. She said she would call me today.
Talking of Chizhou, I saw on their website that they held a forum for foreign teachers. Thinking perhaps they had invited a horde of laowei from all over the province, I opened the article. I couldn’t help laughing when I read that it was actually for the only two foreign teachers they have! They could probably have fitted the minutes on the back of a fag packet.
Yesterday afternoon after my class finished, Janet and another Chinese teacher came to my office. The other teacher is often on the bus with me but speaks no English beyond hello and thank you. They had come to invite me to a joint Christmas and New Year party/show. It starts at 1900 tomorrow above the campus canteen. What about the one you said about on Saturday night? I never got an answer to that, therefore I assume I was misinformed yet again. Also, they want me to play Santa. Wait a minute, you said they weren’t interested? Again I received no answer! They are though going to try and find me a non-stick omelette pan by way of a gift - no idea what I will actually end up with.
They suggested I hung around campus after my class in the morning. Er, no thanks. I finish at 1140 and the bus home leaves at noon. I will come home and rest, then take public transport back to school later. They are going to find out if the school car is free to collect me but they warned me that we now have to pay for the public buses, as if 1y a journey was a huge imposition.
Well on the bus home it certainly seemed as if 1y makes a hell of a difference. The traffic was suddenly appalling, so much so that it took over an hour even with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel. I couldn’t believe such a pittance of a cost could suddenly see everyone take to their cars again.
Just as I got home Rico texted to ask if I wanted to go to dinner with him. There was no way I was going all the way back to east campus again. I suggested if he was free on Saturday we can go to Buddy’s, at a mere two stops away on the BRT I was thinking of my own convenience. And hopefully Guinness.
No call yet from Brenda, she’ll probably suggest maintenance can come tomorrow when I am busy. Friday will be fine, I have decided I will not go through the charade of going to school, waiting for an empty classroom then travelling all the way back home after a waste of three hours. Ditto next Friday.
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