virtual diaries

The Tunisian sun beckons warmly

Hello my friends,

Thanks to Ewa and Kasia for your comments added to my last post. I've just been looking at Algis' journey Ewa, and it looks like it was absolutely brilliant! On such a long trip, there are so many opportunities for photos, and there are some really good ones here. Some of the photos of the natural phenomena are awesome, and I do also like the photos of the moose - even Algis as a moose. I did a bit of research on the Nordkapp (it's the northernmost point in Europe) and found that we can see it in picture 270. I think that the most interesting feature of this photo is how we can clearly see the curvature of the globe. Anyway, I haven't seen all of the photos yet - there are quite a few, but I'll enjoy looking through them, I'm sure.

So Kasia, what's your MA in? Applied Linguistics too (considering the subject of your dissertation)? How long is your course envisioned to take? Mine is over 3 years, but I can see it taking longer...I've just submitted my first piece of work for it - the initial essay I mentioned in my previous post. Basically it was about grammar and vocabulary, and the relative importance of each in the conveyance of meaning. Not as easy as it might seem, especially when trying firstly define the two and then to pin down the difference between them. In any case, it's done now - I submitted it this morning. Just 1,300 words, but the process was, let's say...hmm...excruciating! It's been so long since I wrote an essay, and I found concentration difficult. But, it think it will prove to be a useful exercise as I can address the issues raised in my writing of it. I also spoke to my boss here recently, and told her of my studies, and she agreed that I could have more time off each week - perhaps 2 days + Sunday. It should be fine financially for me, I just have to wait until we've hired some new teachers here - we're currently looking for two - they've been interviewing recently and hopefully we'll have some new faces here in the new year, if not before.

So, just today (a day off), tomorrow (full day of work) and then Aurelie and I jet off to the sun! I can't wait, it's bloody freezing here in Belgium! And I'll hopefully do as much relaxing / sunbathing as possible...

I stopped smoking again too! Been about a week this time! I'll have to lay off the booze on holiday, or it'll probably get me smoking again...apparently Aurelie's sister likes a drink...

So, take care all...I'm off for lunch...fish today, as it is every Friday.

Still here in Belgium...

Hello all,

Sorry (as usual) for the lack of recent updates...but, well, there isn't a great deal happening here!

Work is alright - but still tiring of course! That, of course, takes up most of my time, what with preparation as well...I've recently started to put more thought and effort into my lesson preparation - it makes a big difference to my lessons, and I feel like I'm learning more about teaching, when I give it more thought.

Away from work, I've decided I want to learn to ride a motorbike, after being inspired by stories of men riding around the world on two wheels, so I've been making some enquiries here in Belgium. It seems I can get a bike up to 125 CC just with my driving licence, and use that to learn on. To get a bigger bike, I need to do a theory test, a day's training, then I can do a final test one year later. So I might have a look around for a cheap 125 to learn on - I have to work out how to use the gears!

I tried a 'Wing Chun' class last night, and I liked it a lot. Wing Chun is a form of Kung-Fu whose most famous exponent was Bruce Lee. There was a good atmosphere there, and the boss man is German; so his English is very good. He took the time to explain the whole thing to me, which was a good sign. I  like the system a lot - it is holistic, about health and philosophy as well as combat. It was designed by a woman in fact...That'll be every Wednesday night, and I have to persuade the school to let me have half of Saturday mornings off every week...

My MA has just started - and I spent some time last week familiarizing myself with the computer system, what is required / expected of us. Basically, I'll be doing 4 units per year - one now, one in Febuary and two over the summer - and then the same next year. In the third year, I write my 20,000 word dissertation. :-D Each unit will be assessed by a 3,500 word essay, or its equivalent. The first unit is 'Principles of Applied Linguistics', and I also have to complete an initial essay ( to check I can remember how to write one).

In the rest of my time, I hang out with Aurelie, play the guitar, play ping-pong with her (I usually win!! :-D ) read about all sorts of things...I've just received some books about eastern mysticism and western science...intriguing...and I started smoking again - I'm afraid I just wanted to too much. So now I'm back to having half a cigarette in the evening...I guess that it's not too bad. I still go running 2 or 3 times a week. I might go tonight in fact...

So life here in Thiaumont is full and busy. I'll be going to Tunisia with Aurelie two weeks next Sunday, and I can't wait! It's sunny today in Belgium though, the first time for quite a while...so, yes...I think I will go for a jog after all...bye for now!