Monday 23^rd September, 2019 1900

Been on that campus three weeks and already the rumours are circulating.

I am mostly inured to them now and just as in every other country I expect the students to invent wildly fictitious (and at times I hope ridiculously adventurous) stories about me. But fellow teachers?

I learnt of two today. One that I am “cold”. I have been called a great many things in my life, perhaps some justifiably, but being cold has never, ever been one of them! The other one is not so much a rumour as an exaggeration. Apparently I don't do any teaching at all, just show films the entire time. Every time the teacher in question goes to her class she hears a film from my classroom.

All I can say is that if that is true then she only teaches part of the second period of what should be a double period because so far I have remained true to form and shown part of a film for part of period two.

It's funny that the gossips never actually come to me and say it to my face, they never do tough, do they? My way of teaching has been perfectly acceptable for nine years – stick and carrot instead of the Chinese stick and more stick, and what business is it of any other teacher? I'm not even teaching anything that affects student graduation right now anyway! They can fail my class with impunity!

My informant was Jody at lunchtime today, she comes and chats for ages when I have a lunchtime on campus because I take my own food and sit in a classroom. She was actually angry because 1) she knows I am hardly cold and 2) she has been to my class and knows they are a damned sight more interesting than anything the mainstream Chinese teachers come up with. I suggested she send anyone with any gripes to see me directly – the Dean has taken part in one of my period 2s and loved it so the rumourmongers can go to hell.

I never took part in office politics when I worked in an office and I am not about to start participating in staff room politics either but how would they like it if I went around denigrating them to other staff?

I simply told Jody I would rely on the marks the students give me at the end of term and I am confident I will be given 90-95 as always. If someone in authority wishes to question me they are welcome to, they can also attend one of my lessons.

Well I said I was somewhat inured but I don't think that will ever stop me getting angry.

Ah well at least it's taken my mind off being down on bets when by rights I should be up! All I can say is, come on Russia tomorrow!