October 2010
30 posts
2 tags
Tuesday 19th October
…to finish the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson.
Most of the reports I received ahead of starting on the trilogy seem to have been accurate. It takes a little to get into but once you near the middle of each installment, it becomes very difficult to pull you nose away from the print.
There are a huge amount of characters, each with their own accompanying storyline,...
Monday 18th October
…to get another job!
I took the epic bus journey across town to visit the shop today. It is very cool, packed with awesome jewelry, knick knacks and the type of thing that I will decorate my home with when I’m a millionaire.
They seemed more than happy to accommodate my hours at the language school, so I really didn’t have any reason to turn down a job that...
Sunday 17th October
…to get interrupted in the middle of mopping the bathroom floor to be sent next door for an impromptu job interview.
It turns out that our lovely neighbours have recently bought a gift shop and require part time staff. Seeing as I’m only doing four hours a week at the language school, I figured I could probably squeeze in some more work.
I don’t really view...
Friday 15th October
…to have dinner with missmaria and Jenn!
We went to our old favourite, Filadelfio’s, for pizza and nachos. Jenn and I love hearing Maria’s stories from her work as a nurse for the criminally insane. It definitely puts my troubles with the rugrats into perspective.
http://penseesfrancaises.wordpress.com/ →
Thursday 14th October
…to commit some sort of Tumblr crime by reading a wordpress blog.
My friend Adam has just started his assistantship, based in Montluçon, France.
I wish I had started my tumblr at the start of my time in France too. Oh well, I’m enjoying reliving all those special French moments (first strike, baguette, cheek kissing, lessons taught, laverie visits etc etc etc) through...
Wednesday 13th October
…to start taking evening classes at the language school.
After some chopping and changing, I finally settled in for some reading comp, writing and vocab with one little boy.
To get the ball rolling, I asked how old he was. He replied by asking me “In what country?”. I drew a blank, so he went on to say that in New Zealand he’s seven. Still...
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Sunday 10th October
…to book tickets to Auckland courtesy of Mum’s credit card.
I’m having travel withdrawals, so spending the weekend before my birthday up North should go some way to quelling the symptoms.
Thanks family for the early birthday present!
Friday 8th October
…to finish working at the holiday program.
Yesterday I gave the kids a vocab and reading comprehension test, so this morning was spent hurriedly marking and writing up final reports for the parents who requested them.
It was a little bit daunting, I wasn’t at all sure what to write- especially for the more, er, disruptive students. I teach Korean kids and I was...
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Thursday 7th October
…to preform at the ULearn10 conference dinner.
It was cold and we had to march around for about an hour playing our sweet Samba grooves as bus loads of education professionals arrived- most in Carnival themed costume.
Despite the fact that hundreds of photos must have been taken of us by the arriving crowd, I can’t find any online to copy.
It was a fun gig. The...
Wednesday 6th october
…to send for next year’s Uni coursebook/ enrolment forms.
There are still a few decisions to make but I’m definitely going to pursue studies in Media and Communications. I’m excited about getting the ball rolling. The prospect of once again being a student after my stint as a teacher gets more and more appealing by the day.
Tuesday 5th October
…to start thinking about my upcoming birthday.
I proposed that my parents chip in on flights to Auckland for me to visit one of my best friends who lives up there and whose birthday is 3 days before mine.
She has recently returned from a trip to Europe, so we’re keen to compare notes/ photos.
I think my plan may come to fruition.
Monday 4th October
…to start off my second week of work at the holiday program.
Kid 1: *Explains why she should be let out early for break*
Me: *Turns to kid 2* Is that right?
Kid 2: Yes, it is, she’s allowed.
Me: *Turns to kid 1* Alright then, off you go.
Kid 1: *Rushes off*
Kid 2: I lied for her, she isn’t really allowed to go early.
Me: What!? Why would you lie for...
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Friday 1st October
…to have milk shakes with ‘the gals’.
We had originally planned to visit the Cupcake Parlour, but alas, the Earthquake strikes again!
We all tested our lactose tolerance levels by ordering American style shakes at “The Milk Bar”, around the corner. I regret not taking a photo of the cool metal cups they came in.
Wednesday 29th September
…to attend a rehearsal.
Even after a year the Samba band that I play for on occasion’s repertoire hasn’t changed dramatically. I managed to sham my way through the rehearsal and should be able to do the same at our upcoming gigs.
Three cheers for re-entering the music world!
Tuesday 28th September
…to have my second day at my new job.
It went by in much the same way a yesterday, except I was feeling more confident and in the swing of things.
I’m working from a really good series of textbooks, which means I have virtually 0% preparation time before class. This is a very welcome change from France.
Monday 27th September
…to have my first day at my new job.
I was pretty nervous ahead of time but everything panned out well. Due to the Earthquake, there were lower enrollmentnumbers than previously thought, so I have ended up withonly one class a day. Reading comprehension in the afternoons, with a small group of children.
I was pretty blown away by their level. They’re...
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September 2010
31 posts
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Monday 20th September
…to fill in and fax away my last French forms!
If there’s one thing that should dissuade you from moving to France, it would be their extraordinary bureaucratic system. Nothing is easy. Even picking up your mail requires a long wait in several queues, followed by presentation of various forms and pieces of I.D. Then, it usually transpires that...
