FINALLY!

Ok, long story short. I get on the plane tomorrow and I come home. I've got my money, my ticket and my bags are packed. Finally, I get to go home. This nightmare is finally over. FINALLY!

See ya soon,
Tish

Free at last

So I finished my last class at the kindergarten and when I left I didn't look back. I was so happy to be rid of that place. The new teacher was supposed to come in and get an orientation from me but she never showed. Don't care.
The day itself wasn't too bad. The classes were almost empty because the last day of school apparently means that you don't have to show up. Heck, if I knew that I never would have gone. In any event, the week wasn't too bad. Not having the middle school to deal with helps alot. I have one class with the Japanese girl later this evening and after that my working days in Shanghai will be over. I pick up my Japanese money today and I should be getting all paid up with the school on Monday.
I was thinking of taking a trip to Hangzhou but I'm on the fence. I want to do it because I feel like I should see something in this country other than the mean streets of Shanghai. I know the Hangzhou trip will not only be good but it will be good for me. However, the busy travel season is approaching and I'm pretty sure I could get a ticket to Hangzhou but getting one back into Shanghai on the same day is a gamble. Oh, just to clarify why my hesitation, I will explain the train situation here. Train tickets only ever come in one-way. I can buy a ticket to anywhere in the country but I could never buy a return ticket. If I'm at point A and I want to travel to point B, I can buy a ticket from A to B. It is not until I get to point B that I can buy a ticket from B to A. Fucked up, yes I know but that's just the way it's done. I'm afraid that when I get to Hangzhou, I may not be able to get a train back on the same day and I don't have the money to spend the night. In any event, I haven't decided either way but we'll see how it goes.
Anyways, 5 more days and the entire nightmare will be over. The big part is over, just a little further left to go. I can't wait to be home!

TTFN

So close I could taste it

So lets start with New Years. I wasn't feeling the "lets go out and party and get hammered for new years" vibe. Neither was Klaver. We decided that it'd be better to go to a dive Chinese restaurant for dinner, pick up a couple bottles of wine and come back to my place, where we will get drunk while watching TV or listening to music or looking at pictures or talking. It worked out quite nicely. I managed to make it to midnight and then passed out. My kid brother however didn't make it so far. The next morning Klaver was up early (gee wonder why? maybe a good night's sleep??), it was quite the surprise. What was even more shocking was that he was making me breakfast for my birthday. It was so nice. New Years day we both did nothing and then on the 2nd we went out for some Shanghai sight seeing. We were supposed to go to the Shanghai aquarium but we got there too late. Instead we went to one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai. It was a nice little trip and a really cool view of the city.
I had to work on Sunday to make up for the days off (I hate that they do that) so this week is a long week but it's ok because I only have two days left. What the really good news is for this week, is that I no longer have to be at the middle school. The semester is over for them. They were writing their exams today and I have no more lessons with them. I went in, said my goodbyes and was elated that I never have to see that place again. When Nancy sent me the email with the news of the semester being over, I could have jumped out of my chair. It was the best piece of news I'd gotten in a long while. Speaking of good news, there's more. I bought my ticket so I'm officially on my way. The flight has been booked. The reservation made. I'm coming home on January 20th and that day can't come soon enough.
I got an email from Charles. He tells me that the new teacher is here and he'd like my help in giving her the run down. He told me that I should be positive and he will push the school into improving things for next year. Be positive. Be positive? Be positive?! BE POSITIVE?! Nothing has been positive since I got here. It's been bullshit and manipulation all the way. So I can't tell him outright that I plan on telling the new teacher the truth. That is unless he wants me to lie to the teacher. Does he want me to lie? Lie? And tell her that this place is heaven and she should expect smooth sailing and clear skies ahead. Yeah, no, I don't think so. So to play the game I replied with "It will be my pleasure to provide the teacher with all the necessary info to do the best possible job" Sounds like a compliment, huh? Not this time. Actual translation of this statement. I'll be informing this person on how to survive, the things to avoid, why this place sucks and how to spot manipulation. She needs to be informed on what she's getting involved with. So that's about it. I still have to work with the Japanese company but I only have 3 more classes with them so it's not too bad. I'm counting the days till I come home and I'm down to 13 days. Only a couple more days left in this week and next week is a short week and then I come home. Yay!

TTFN