Back to the Daily Grind

So here I was thinking that time away would have refreshed my patience when it comes to dealing with the people I live with here in Xining... Hell no. Things are still as bad, if not worse. Alex and I seem to be isolating ourselves from the others because we can't stand them, a couple of them are ok but others do my head in. On the plus side Alex liked her beads I got her from Shanghai and she got me a red tie with pandas on from Xi'an! I bought myself the same tie but in blue, great minds think alike!

Anyway back to teaching! This week we were teaching directions.

Tuesday- Lesson went really well! We did a blind fold activity where they had to guide their partner to various points in the play ground using the directions we had learnt. I was paired with one of the more confident troublesome boys so I decided to have some fun, when guiding him I silently ushered everyone inside and then followed them, leaving poor Jason in the playground blind folded... Everyone found it hilarious, including Jason and the teachers! I am glad I have enough of a relationship with these kids to have fun with them. The culture lesson was on British food, made me miss home a little bit! The kids said the food looked delicious! We then watched Mr Bean which the kids found so funny that one girl fell off her stool, hit her head and had to be taken to the nurse...

Tuesday night, Alex, Cecilia and I finished 'Fruitsbasket', a strange cartoon where people turn into animals of the Zodiac when hugged by members of the opposite sex. Strangely addictive, we now have a massive hold in our lives. Alex and I have tried to plug it with 'Adventure time' and 'Archer'...

Wednesday- Went into Xining in the morning with Alex to meet Swallow and sort out a new bank card! On our way to the bank Alex and I came upon some dancing in the street, naturally I had to join in!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151312829131933&set=t.694560272&type=3

After a fair while at the bank I was the proud owner of a new card with THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA ON IT! Exciting! We then headed to the super market, I bought some much needed cleaning equipment and some essentials. Next we headed to our favourite noodle place for beef noodles! Only 7 yuan for a massive bowl! SO GOOD.

School was good, the direction game went really well and they understood everything. No jokes this time though! Although we had a laugh at the fact that my drawing of a person looked more like a tortoise than anything...

One of the kids was out of sorts though, he is usually very lively but  he did not speak at all. Apparently according to Erin, he is having girl problems. He fancies one of the girls but she sees him as just a friend... Friend-zoned at age 11 ouch. Erin asked me to talk to him and offer my extensive experiences with girls. Awkward. Poor kid though.

In other news, new phone courtesy of Swallow's friend. Yay!

Thursday-
School today was my school with the same 20 kids each week plus a new 20  each week that change. Very difficult as I have to push the learning of the original 20 while encouraging the new 20. I got asked to run an English sports day so I organised egg and spoon races but with ping pong balls, 3-legged races and welly throwing but with my shoes. A very busy day! Getting 40 to listen and do it right was challenging. We did some dancing - superman dance and the funky chicken. I was then asked to look at one of the English teachers' speech for a competition, I made some corrections and changed a few words but it was really good. It was about the importance of love in teaching.

In other news, my phone doesn't work...

Friday-
Met up with Swallow and Fish to look at my phone, get some credit and get a haircut! Alex tagged along again. We got a phone charger (charges the battery not the phone!) and headed to the barbers. I walked in and was whisked off to have my hair washed and my head massaged. I then came back and had my hair cut shorter than I have ever had it but I love it! Along came another wash and massage and I was ready to go, not bad for 25 yuan! (£2.50) It is short but before I know it my hair will be back to normal. Ignore how old I look in this photo!

We then went for a lunch of at a kind of food court! The food was amazing! We had these weird meat breads, it was like a burger but the burger was cooked inside the bread! We got some friend potatoes with chili and sesame seeds, the best chips I have had since leaving England! We also got some noodles! It was a feast! We then headed to the office for a chill out and a game of Chinese Chess. I came second to Swallow, narrowly beating Alex.

School was interesting, I had 40 kids raging from 6 years old to 13... I don't know how I am supposed to teach such a variety of ages. I did my best, it was hard work though. I even had to tell off some children! The lesson went ok but at times I wished I was anywhere else! The kids are just so difficult to control! Any hints as to dealing with 6 year olds who speak no English at the same time as 13 year olds who speak good English? In any case 3 hours is far too long! Thank god for Mr Bean!