TEFL Classes: Days Five and Six (Final)

Well, I'm officially certified to teach English as a second language. This is almost like a birthday. Before it comes you keep thinking that you'll feel different once it comes, but once it does you realize that you're still the same person. I have the same feeling about China. I keep thinking like I'll have some epiphany once I step off the plane, but I know that I won't be any different. I'll just be the regular me in a different country. I think it takes at least a year to notice that you've changed. If I look a year back and think, "Man. I was a real idiot back then." then I can believe that I am maturing and becoming a better person. The hard part is looking at myself now and making the same evaluation.

It's weird knowing that I won't be making the two hour drive back to Pittsburgh next week. Even over three weeks it's become such a habit that I'll need to find a bit extra to do to replace the eighteen hours of time spent in class. Everyone in exchanged email addresses so I'm hoping we'll all be able to keep in touch. Some of us already have jobs lined up. Some know where they want to go. A couple are still thinking. I'm going to contact the placement assistance people tomorrow. I want to get a job lined up as soon as possible.

It's a good thing I have steady work through the summer. I need to pay my mom back for the $534 plane ticket to Costa Rica. Luckily my tax return should take care of most or all of that. Then I just need to start saving for a couple other things. Spending money for Costa Rica, a nice little laptop, and enough money to get me through the first month or so in China. I'm probably going to use craigslist to try and sell some of my stuff. I can only take so much stuff with me, so I need to get rid of some of it. The extra money will help too. My mom has already told me that she's taking over my room as soon as I leave. It feels really weird knowing that when I go, I'm moving out for good.

TEFL Class: Days Three and Four

This weekend was great. Class went well and I feel like I'm starting to get to know the other people a little bit better. Our class of thirteen has been reduced two twelve with the dropping out of one woman. I didn't expect it, but I wasn't surprised. It didn't seem like she needed the class, really. What we're being taught still isn't what I expected, but it's also more than I expected. I guess you could say it's much broader than I thought it would be.

Only bad thing to happen to me over the weekend was a nasty fall. I've got about a dozen scrapes and scabs. I'm never going to wear my Heelies again. The only places that are safe to use them, you aren't allowed. Where you are allowed, it isn't safe. They had a good run, and I got a lot of fun out of them, but they're just not worth it anymore.

I got a call from the temp agency today. I'll be starting work again tomorrow, and that should last me through the summer or until I leave for China. Whichever comes first. Hopefully the leaving.

TEFL Class: Day Two

Class was a lot like the first day. Not much to report. I got lost on the way home though. I went out the wrong tunnel in Pittsburgh, and ended up going an extra hour out of my way. I would have added this Sunday or Monday, but I was tired and lazy. Meh.

TEFL Class: Day One

I'm in a nice little room at Motel 8 outside of Pittsburgh right now. My first day of class ended just an hour ago. So far it's rather interesting.

My day started at 5:30. I had to wake up this early to make the two hour drive to from West Virginia. The trip wasn't as bad as I expected. I think it helped that I was still sleepy and had my mp3 player to listen to on the way. Finding the building was pretty easy. It's on a college campus, so it's hard to miss. There are 12 other people in the class and they all seem nice. It's kind of intimidating being around them though. About half of them are either literature majors or can already speak about three languages. Class itself was fun, but very long. 9AM to 6PM. They're cramming an entire semester worth of class into three weekends. We didn't get taught much "teaching" today. It was more of a preparation day, and to try and get us to start thinking like teachers. The list of things we're doing tomorrow is pretty crammed, so it should be a lot busier.

I'm heading back into the city tomorrow for the second day of class. After that I'm driving back down home. Hopefully I'll have some work on Monday. After this trip I'll need the money.

My Brother is Back

My brother just got back from Disney today. He's the drum major for the high school marching band, and they all went down for a field trip. Apparently our our little AA school has the largest band to ever march through the Magic Kingdom. I wish I could have gone, but sadly I graduated two years ago. He was kind enough to get me two souvenirs from the China section of Epcot. A necklace and a nice tea cup of sorts, both for the year of the dragon. I didn't have the heart to tell him that since my birthday is in February, I was born in the year of Rabbit.

I looked up Chinese Astrology on wikipedia the other day and it all seems very complex. I'll have to remember to ask about it when I get over there.