I've got the net now Yaaay!!!

Finally... It's Sunday night and i'm online.

Since arriving back in Qingdao last Thursday I haven't had the internet till now. I've got a wireless router connected and its very comfortable to lob on the couch with my note book and write so i'm very pleased with it.

Getting the connection was a bit of an ordeal but it's sorted now and i'm off and away. Just got my fix of local news and sport from the online tv and now I know I should write something profound in order to enlighten you all on my wellbeing etc etc.

In a nutshell physically fine but mentally dazed, confused and sometimes frazzled. Qingdao is great and in time I think i'll really enjoy the city as it offers a wide variety of everything and most things seem easily accessible. Language is a real barrier here as the locals don't really know any English and I don't know any Mandarin at all.

On the school front things are a mix of really good and problematic. Hot & cold really. The good part is that there are some nice and friendly teachers there and its been a real pleasure to mix socially with a few of them and speak English naturally. There's a couple of other Aussies who i've become quite close with as they too were new arrivals. Also there is one woman who has been here for years who is from Tasmania too. So we both have had a good laugh about that on a couple of occasions.

On the negative side the organisation of the school is very difficult to understand on its best days, and I feel like i've aged 100 years this week getting thrown into all kinds of temporary schedules and classes, completely unwarned and unprepared with nothing but a white board marker and my wits to go by.

The main frustration is that I'm experienced enough now in schools and teaching in general to know whats reasonable and whats not and it frustrates me a little bit when I see these strange situations that myself and the other teachers are placed in and I know deep down that it doesn't have to be this way and it takes the fun out of what should be a very enjoyable and stimulating experience as the kids are on the whole a great bunch.

On the homefront the apartment is great and Sarika has taken to provisioning our home with all possible accouterments. She starts school tomorrow so I hope she attacks that with the same level of zeal and enthusiasm. Hopefully this week will be less aging on all accounts.

Ah.. I nearly forgot. The school bus picks me up in the morning about 200 m from my apartment which is great. In fact I only discovered this per chance as I was down on the road about to hail a taxi when I saw the school bus pull up in order to pick up some students and on I got. A very lucky break which is convenient in the mornings.