Tuesday 19th September, 2017                       2210

Days such as these I would rather not have.

In response to an email asking how I would be reimbursed for my flight from Beijing to Lanzhou I received the reply that the school had paid the travel agent.

I paid for the ticket the night before the flight.

How can any self-respecting accounts department actually pay a receipt? Ok so it’s an e-receipt but it states in bold lettering that it is such and nowhere is the word “invoice” on it. And anyway, how could I have taken a flight and simply told them to put it on the school’s account?? Leanne has since said she will get the cash.

Much later I had a call from Brenda in foreign affairs. How many classes was I teaching this term? None. Oh yes, Mr Zhang had heard “something about this”. Translated, it meant the question was completely unnecessary for they knew full well I was sitting twiddling my thumbs. Maybe it was to see if I was honest.

Jacob (the Peace Corps chap) has to return urgently to the States due to a family emergency and they want me to take over his classes on this campus. Marvellous. One of my stipulations, in fact the stipulation for my staying was that I would continue on my little campus.

I am not happy. It is akin to moving schools but without actually moving. Oh yes, 5 minutes walk to work and I can go home at lunch. Not the point, I was comfortable where I was. Yes, they are English majors. Great. But no office and people who don’t know me. I may as well have tried to find another job paying more. Give me a month and maybe I will be saying I like it but that’s not the point.

Nobody has given me any information other than I will start next week. Nothing about whether Jacob is off for good, nothing. Not even what book they use. So now I need to trek all the way to east campus to get my materials back and I don’t even know if I will also teach there!

Don’t read me wrong, I will always step into the breach in times of need but there are ways of getting people to do it willingly and a bland phone call is not one of them!

As always though I shall embrace the experience!

Actually, I think the worst aspect is that they have English corners and I detest them with a vengeance!

Looks as if life is about to get interesting. Maybe less exclamation marks will be needed next entry……..