28.02.2007 - Back to Asia
So here we are again. After traveling 6000 plus mile for close to thirty hours I finally find myself settling back into life as I have come to know it. The cold which I had contracted in the UK has unfortunately failed to be shaken off so easily and has resulted in my taking a day and a half off the beginning of a new term. Not the best timing I know, but at least I made it physically back to be able to work once this bronchitis medicine does its thing. Luckily tomorrow is a national holiday, which gives me another day to rest up. The medicine the doctor gave me is making me incredibly lethargic and aside for trips out for food and supplies, my time post UK has been mostly spent playing PSP and watching South Park season 10 in its entirety.
The morning period I did spend in my new class however was very promising. I felt incredibly bad to be in such a sickly jetlagged state but I was relieved to find that the children, classroom and the co teacher were all really nice. It’s a difficult situation for anyone to deal with, having to start everything from scratch and I really feel that the Chinese teacher is handling it extremely well, at least on the outside that is. It’s hard to explain the way that a very individual routine and structure is built up in a classroom environment once a teacher takes a class upon themselves. I’m sure this is the case with my old class and it’s incredibly evident with my new one. Once I get back into the swing of things teaching wise, its going to have to be a case of working around what work for them already and subtly guiding things into a routine that works for me whilst firmly keeping the mantra “If it aint broke don’t fix it” in mind. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a daunting task, but I’m sure once I get back in good shape ill be up for the challenge.
Well, I buckled and ate one of my prized British canned foods today in a moment of weakness, maybe it was because I’m in sick mode but I just needed some big soup to make me feel better. It did make me feel better and then instantly worse when I realized it was the last can in Asia. One can of baked beans and two cans of stag chili remain in the “break out in case of homesick emergency” cabinet. How long this metaphorical cabinet will remain intact remains to be seen. I’m guessing the first to go will be the stag since there are two of them.
One final thing, I will be working on my pod cast once I get my voice back, I really feel like I should give it a shot since it means I can cast a sort of distant stone into the pool of people I know and care about overseas. I do think there are huge possibilities for the medium based on what I get up to and I have recently become starkly aware of how massively different British and Taiwanese lives are. So expect the resurgence of that little MMI offshoot as soon as I get better.
Till next time,
This has been MMI
Farewell my nakama!
The morning period I did spend in my new class however was very promising. I felt incredibly bad to be in such a sickly jetlagged state but I was relieved to find that the children, classroom and the co teacher were all really nice. It’s a difficult situation for anyone to deal with, having to start everything from scratch and I really feel that the Chinese teacher is handling it extremely well, at least on the outside that is. It’s hard to explain the way that a very individual routine and structure is built up in a classroom environment once a teacher takes a class upon themselves. I’m sure this is the case with my old class and it’s incredibly evident with my new one. Once I get back into the swing of things teaching wise, its going to have to be a case of working around what work for them already and subtly guiding things into a routine that works for me whilst firmly keeping the mantra “If it aint broke don’t fix it” in mind. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a daunting task, but I’m sure once I get back in good shape ill be up for the challenge.
Well, I buckled and ate one of my prized British canned foods today in a moment of weakness, maybe it was because I’m in sick mode but I just needed some big soup to make me feel better. It did make me feel better and then instantly worse when I realized it was the last can in Asia. One can of baked beans and two cans of stag chili remain in the “break out in case of homesick emergency” cabinet. How long this metaphorical cabinet will remain intact remains to be seen. I’m guessing the first to go will be the stag since there are two of them.
One final thing, I will be working on my pod cast once I get my voice back, I really feel like I should give it a shot since it means I can cast a sort of distant stone into the pool of people I know and care about overseas. I do think there are huge possibilities for the medium based on what I get up to and I have recently become starkly aware of how massively different British and Taiwanese lives are. So expect the resurgence of that little MMI offshoot as soon as I get better.
Till next time,
This has been MMI
Farewell my nakama!
posted by Aaron | 11:26 AM
6 Comments:
Nice to see you made it back safe (even if a little under the weather). I'm going to try and post another podcast myself so paint me inspired. Just wanted to say thanks for a great few days dude. It was a time full of good memories and a real highlight!
Keep up the good work dude
Dave
was it a nod to post modern irony to be stood in front of the fountain like in the opening sequence of 'Friends' or just a good pic? ;-)
Hey man, sorry to hear you're ill-hope you feel better soon. Its weird to think of you settling back into your life there after being with you in the UK, but at the same time, since your visit I feel like I can picture it all a lot clearer after interrogating you about everything!
Great pics on the blog and on flikr-its making me feel nostalgic for your visit already, even though it was only last week. It was such an awesome time, and it was so good to see you again and get all the crew back together. Me and Dave are determined to make it out there to see you, so we'll have to get saving up some growler!
Peace out- and try not to buckle too soon under the Stagg pressure!
Liz :o)
Hey how come you use the only picture i bothered to take to show you 'Nakama'. It had best be cus of my mad photo-ing skills and not because its the only one graced by my absence.
Hey dude,
Hope your new class isn't giving you grief. Let us know how things are goning, MMI needs an update!
blog blog now now now- update us you manmachineinterface..was the talk of the podcast idle in its intent...?
come on youth!
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