Fuddland

So it’s 2007 and I’m still in China — I have to admit, a small part of me thought I wouldn’t stick around to see the New Year here, but I’m very glad I have done so.

Without wanting to count my Chinese chickens, things are looking up: I am on the verge of signing a year-long contract with a new language school which promises only sixteen hours of teaching a week. There will of course be office hours and extra-curricular activities on top of these, but if I’m just sitting around then I hope I’ll use my time effectively and carry on with my Chinese studies. But the best result of the negotiations so far is that — staggeringly — they have agreed to give me the entire month of August off in order to make a trip back to the UK to see family and friends. I offered to sign a thirteen-month contract to make up for it, but due to Chinese Spring Festival falling in February each year, they said I may as well finish in February 2008, at which time they hope I’ll sign another year-long contract [I’m promising nothing!].

I’ve not signed anything yet, but unless they reveal themselves to be the devil in the next week or so, or I stumble across a significantly better offer, then I think this is as good as it’s going to get, employment-wise.

Further good news came when my temporary living conditions were offered to me full-time [or, for the foreseeable future at least — I don’t like to impose but it’s such a lovely flat I’d be a fool to refuse an offer like this even if it’s only for a couple more months]. I think the fact that the cats like me was what swayed it. My top tip so far for 2007: if you want people to like you, the pets are key. [Hopefully that won’t be the best piece of advice I can come up with for 2007.]

#1

susannah | 2007 / 01 / 01 – 23:31

Your new job sounds awesome! Good luck and happy New Year’s!

#2

Brown | 2007 / 01 / 02 – 20:28

Come home already!

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