Pink, white and purple blossom scattered across the floor. High temperatures, thick humidity, causing immense thunder storms and therefore a wonderful cycle for the nature around us.

Everything seems to be looking up at the moment. I'm enjoying myself once again, the tedious times seemed to of passed.
I have applied for a voluntary position working with migrant children downtown. They excepted my CV and have invited me a training and orientation day. It'll be in the mornings, teaching children in class sizes of 50-60. I expect it'll be hard work, but will be a great opportunity for me before I (hopefully) go to Palestine and when I do send my CV in for that job, this experience teaching migrant children will look brilliant.
Along with this, I have been given a huge compliment to do with my teaching; I have been asked to teach at one of the Universities. "Your personality would be great for oral teaching" We'll have to wait and see..

Mum will arrive in only a few weeks and not only am I excited but everyone around, from teachers to people at the bar. I or should I say, we, cannot wait for her arrival. And then in only 4 months, mum will come back with dad. Not only am I looking forward to seeing my parents, but doing some travelling in China, going to places I've always wanted to go.

I do wonder if things are looking up because I know my time is ending?
I know that I will always have China to fall back on in the future, but at this current moment in my life it's not for me, it's not what I want. Business and money, then this is the place for you but unfortunately nothing is capturing me. I am constantly growing as a teacher and hope these final months will bring me more teaching experience to help me in a possible teaching future overseas?

A long time blog from here in Songjiang, due to our internet going down in our apartment.
So what have I been up to?
I helped Beth move from her apartment in Songjiang to Shanghai, went on another visa run to Hong Kong, Lyndsey (new teacher/roomie) arrived from America and I added Scorpion to my food list!

Beth will be finishing her time at All Young in a few weeks, as she has found a better suited Kindergarten job for her downtown.
Bags, boxes, Beth and I all crammed into the elevator, we had managed to move everything, now was to direct the removal truck.
Sat outside on Beth's camp bed watching the locals go about the daily chores, I could have sat there all day but the truck had finally arrived. The driver pointed at the front seat, said one and then pointed at the back. Guess that's where my seat is then!
Half an hour into the journey, I was comfy sat on Beth's suitcase but constantly worried the bicycle was going to fall on me, I decided to rearrange everything. I'm surprised I didn't actually hurt myself, pulling boxes from corner to another and flying forward with every sudden break. I rang Beth, "Please can you tell him to go easy on the breaks, there is a girl back here!" And so I had put all her items to the side and managed to open the camp bed, place it down the middle and took a nap.
There wasn't a roof, so it was quite nice seeing Shanghai from a different perspective, from below. I always want to walk around with my head up, but every step I'd take I'd walk into someone. Luckily rain wasn't forecast that day!
Wanting to stretch my legs, I stood up at the back and had a look over only to be startled at the huge bus directly behind us. Passengers on board suddenly clicked that there was a foreigner's head poking out of the top of a truck and starting pointing. I don't know what they must of thought but it was more the reaction of drivers of taller trucks that went by or people looking down from buildings, as it did look like I was dead lying in the back amongst boxes.

-

After queuing for an hour and half at the visa office, I finally applied for a new visa and headed back to the Youth Hostel.
Back at the Youth Hostel I sat in the communal area using my laptop and basically meeting new people. I would say the majority of people I met, were all teachers in China on the visa run too.
I met an Irish girl, Lindsey who is teaching only a few hours away from me. It was interesting to hear her stories and get some ideas.
We decided to see what the nightlife of Hong Kong was like but each time we went to leave, we'd meet someone else, invite them along until there was a German, a Dutch, an American, an English... We ended up going out with 13 odd other people, it was great fun!
The coooooolest (literally!) place we ended up was an ice bar. Fur coats are given to you on entry, although we declined at first thinking it wouldn't be that bad. We later went back outside to get one, especially as you couldn't sit on the chairs, well ice blocks without one!

x x