Tuesday, 16 April 2013

TTC... Take and Talk Crap

So yesterday morning was filled with lesson planning and going into town to get a new bank card with Alex and Fish. All the bank employees recognised me and it was suitably embarrassing. Alex and I had a pot noodle for lunch because I had no money. We then went to our schools to teach. A minute before I began teaching I got a phone call from Jonathon Pitt, the person responsible for us at TTC. He told me that there had been a cooperation breakdown between TTC, the placement partners and the Xining Educational Bureau and that TTC were going to get us out of Xining. He told me that I needed to pack that evening ready to go the next day... To say this was a shock does not do it justice. I was about to teach a lesson! I thought I wouldn't see these kids again! I couldn't bare to tell them what was going on so I decided that I was going to make this lesson the best lesson I could. I disregarded my lesson plan (I was going to assess them!) and played games with them the whole lesson. We made our own comic strips which the kids loved. We played musical chairs, fruit salad and ball games, we boom shi boomed, we funky chickened, we llama-ed too. I tried to make this lesson the best lesson I could. For homework I asked them to email me about what they would like to do more of in class, that way I would have their email address to explain to them why I had left. I just couldn't face saying goodbye to them!

Yeah so this was crazy, we were all really upset. We were sent this email. 

'Hi Xining Interns
 I regret to say this but due to a cooperation breakdown within the education bureau and with your school and placement partner we have no alternative other than to move you all from your school in Xining and arrange new placements for you all.
 Continue as normal tomorrow at the school, Solaro and Rice will be flying to Xining to meet you all after your last class and take you for dinner to discuss everything with you. I think it would be best if you start packing your luggage tonight. You will then travel back to Beijing by train on Thursday around midday where you will stay until we find you all a new placement for the remainder of the semester.
I will provide Solaro and Rice with the numbers I have for you all so they can get in touch when they arrive in Xining to arrange the meeting time for tomorrow.'

We were also told that if we wanted to get payed for the work we have done so far we must go to Beijing... 
This was just mad! We were talking to the teachers here at the complex, we were talking to Matthew and his team. TTC had said on the phone that the Xining Educational Bureau are refusing to pay us and don't want us here but we have been assured that this is utter bull. Fish told us that they schools pay roughly 20,000 RMB per intern per month and of that we only get 2,000 RMB! Apparently they aren't paying because they don't want to rip us off, Matthew is trying to negotiate a larger cut for us but I don't think TTC will budge. So the only reason TTC are so keen to get us out of Xining is so they can get their money. Matthew and his team has said that if we cut off from TTC then they can help us sort out a new visa and nothing will change except we will be paid significantly more. TTC say they will offer us a new placement but we believe we will be sent to places where people have left and many left for good reasons to do with their placements. Unless TTC allow us to stay here then we are cutting all ties to them and will face the world as independent TEFL teachers and with the support of Matthew, Fish, Michael Li and the rest of the team we can do anything. 
Anyway TTC are coming to Xining today so its all going to kick off, none of us have packed. We are not leaving, Xining has is its flaws but it is probably better than anywhere else we will get sent to. We have a family here who care about us, we have good food, we have great accommodation, we have amazing schools and WE HAVE WESTERN TOILETS. Why would we risk any of that?
In other news Swallow has quit Matthew's company. We are not sure why but it is sad news, we will stay friends with her though! 
OHH AND MY PARCEL ARRIVED! ENGLISH SWEETS AND BLUE TAC! My kids today are going to LOVE me. 

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