So, today is one of those annoying sorts of days. You know the ones! A day when everything irritates you and there's nothing really to blame your annoyedness on. A day that starts with waking early to study for a big Chinese character midterm exam, which is already annoying, and then feeling annoyed when you run out of time to study for said midterm exam, then forgetting how to write characters you just studied an hour ago (super annoying), then having to go to the bathroom 561 times in a day (almost not even exaggerating) because you drink so much water, then thinking about your delicious soup in the fridge all morning only to find it's been taken to work by a roomate on accident, then trying to take a nap while the cleaning lady vaccummes the entire apartment (not possible, by the way), finding that the house fund box is somehow short a sizable chunk of money for no apparent reason, discovering as well that the house fund box has no change for the cleaning lady so having to run to 7-11 to make change, then seeing the cat flip dry food all over my newly swept floor, then getting an email from an unknown other English teacher we're giving a ride to Kenting next weekend saying "by the way, I work until 9:00 so we need to leave late", after we'd all arranged subs so we could leave earlier, and so on and forth. Actually, some of this stuff happens regularly (like the flipped over cat food), but today it just FEELS more annoying. Am I allowed to be a grinch for one day?
Lately I've been trying to eat more heathily, which isn't much fun actually, but surely more helpful. More healthily consists of lots of beans and vegetables, and some fruits, and no sugar or caffeine. Yes, you read correctly; I'm cutting myself off from caffeine. oh! is that a gasp I heard from my coffee-loving readers? I feel sad and I muchly miss my afternoon latte that I used to drink daily while I studied, but.... I wanted to try feeling awake and alive naturally for a change. So far, I still really miss the coffee. Well, it's only been four days, so we'll see. Perhaps this lack of caffeine is contributing to my said annoyedness.
In earlier reference, I spoke of a trip to Kenting next weekend. It's another English teacher's weekend retreat, which I greatly look forward to. These take place at a large facility, the meetings are always over different topics. The last one was how to re-tell Bible stories for students, and I'm not sure what this one is about. These retreats happen a couple times a year, sponsored in part my OMF, but this is the last one ever! So I'm grateful I'm able to go. The other JacksonFive teachers (the full time ones) have PTA's that weekend, but little part time me is free! So poor Aaron will be talking to multitudes of parents whilst I am happily frolicing in the warm waters of White Sands beach in Kenting. Amy, Beth, and I were just going to borrow a car and happily drive down on our own, but OMF agreed to loan us their large van to drive down for the weekend if we can give a few other teachers a ride, so they don't have to take the train. Thus my reference to the email about one teacher who can't leave until late. It's not actually a big deal and the other times we went to these retreats, we usually leave after nine. I guess I was annoyed because I'd specially arranged Aaron to sub for me when I really don't like to have a sub, just so we could leave earlier. Even though now we have to leave later, I still need him to sub because this guy we're picking up is in a different town so we need to leave in time to get him. *sigh*
Anyway, in other news, my days are back to "normal" now, as Karen has taken both her classes back. For which I'm grateful, because with weekly (very large) chapter exams and a humongolous midterm exam (which is now, thankfully, at my back), I've deperately needed my afternoons for studying.
I've realized now that July is just a couple months away! Oh boy. Perhaps I've already mentioned it here, I don't remember much these days, but in July Aaron and I will go to visit his mom and friends in Cape Cod. It's a large expense, but I'm still excited because I've always wanted to see the Cape, and I get to meet all his friends and his mom who are so important to him. Also it's nice to get a break from Taiwan for a while. We've both resigned our contracts for next school year starting in August. I will continue to teach my one evening class on Tuesday and Friday nights, and take on a new year 1 afternoon class again. I'm actually happy to be getting a new year 1. I really enjoyed the Dolphins last year. The Dolphins continue to be the best class at that school (and not that I'm biased or anything...) Aaron has been a super fabulous teacher for them! They've all grown up both in character and in their English, and become so much more confident in themselves. I can't imagine having a better teacher come to take my place this year. :) In more ways than one. Aaron will continue to teach the Dolphins as they go into year 3 and his one evening class, the Dragonflies next year, as well as a new evening class, so he will be teaching four nights a week.
I think I will hire a tutor to continue my Chinese studies. My conversational skills have grown far better, but I don't get much practice outside of class. I think a tutor will be worth the expense and be able to fit my schedule nicely. We'll see.
I have to go make soup for dinner now. I hope no more annoyings happen. I've had my fill for the day.
Thanks for reading! :)
