Hello friends ,
Sunday has come around again, giving us a welcome opportunity to unwind after a busy and noisy week at Prolinguis. We've come to our little place in France for the day (well, we got here last night and we'll have to go back this afternoon), and Aurelie has just made me a happy chappy by feeding me (and her) eggs, sausages and baked beans for brunch...I'm feeling sleepy again now...
The crowded conditions at Prolinguis are due to it being school holiday time in France (which is staggered over 4 weeks so all of the kids are on not holiday at the same time, which helps to ammeliorate infrastructure concerns in the country). Last week we had 21 kids (including some in my building) and next week we are expecting over 60. They were noisy enough last week, so I would be lying if I said I'm awating the coming week with a happy enthusiasm. I think I'll have a class of 12 16-17 year olds next week. Surprisingly, this can occasionally be a good experience. And sometimes not. Just depends on the kids really.
Last week, I had a group of 3 kids; One was a 15 year old whose English was worse than absolute beginner - he really struggled, the other two were disinterested 14 year olds. Then we still have the problem with the one girl who brings with her an aura of menace and negativity when we're around. She has taken to completely ignoring us now. I really don't like how negative this makes me feel, and it's a really horrible situation. I know, however,that I've done nothing wrong. She is the one who has some psychological problem - but it still affects me and Aurelie.
It is against this backdrop that I recently pinned a little calendar up on my wardrobe and started to cross off the days as they pass, much as a prisoner might do,conting the days to his release. I'm counting up until the 14th of March, which will be, as I may have mentioned, our last day of work there. Just 3 weeks now.
Last Friday, I spoke to a chap who runs the English department at a private university near Kuala Lumpur - and I've been offered the job. 19 hours of teaching a week, (although I'll be there 8.30 - 5 each day), a decent salary and a 3 bedroomed appartment with a swimming pool. So I've decided to take it! I do have another interview on Tuesday hopefully, for a university in Ho chi minh city (Saigon - Vietnam) and we'll see what happens there, but we're pretty much now dead set on going to Malaysia. Aurelie has also been in contact with the Alliance Francais in K.L. and it seems likely they'll have work teaching French for her.
So, we'll go to France, and back to England, (by car) then probably fly from Paris around 21st of March or so. Then we'll have time for an exotic holiday first too :-DD Aurelie and I are ver happy together at the moment...she makes me smile a lot. Ah, and yes, of course I met her parents last weekend. That went well, her parents and brother liked me, and I liked them too. It was rather difficult with my rudimentary French of course! Aurelie's mother made us lovely food, and her Dad showed us his huge collection of tools. Here are some photos. 1st, this is her outside her parents' house:
Then, this is a photo of the Basilica in St. Quentin (near her parents house), which Aurelie advises me dates from the 12th / 13th Century. It's friggin huge!
We then went inside, where, remarkably, it was several degrees colder!
Then here is a photo of the two of us.
And another of the both of us in England over Christmas - in an aptly named road :-D
And then, here is a nice picture of Prolinguis, with snow covering the ground and a sky the colour of your favourite dream. It's looking towards the main teaching building from my bedroom. I wish the tree wasn't in the way.
Well, that's it for now. I'm off to read a book or something. More news when plans are firmer. Oh, and we're not getting married just yet...I am sometimes guilty of thinking of and getting excited about the future too much...there's no rush for that sort of thing...but thanks for your wishes :)
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