"You must be," said the Cat, "otherwise you wouldn't have come here."

Today has been a good day. I started work at four in the morning, but got to leave at noon. Normally I go in at 7:00 and get out at about 3:30, so I took the opportunity to drop by my old high school. I wanted to ask my English/Yearbook teacher if I could use her as a reference and, since she never throws anything away, if I could have one or two of her old grammar books.

Mrs. Tichenor was one of my favorite teachers in high school, and I was very happy to see her again. I like to think that I was also one of her favorite students. Probably because I was one of three (out of 30~) that stuck around to finish that years yearbook. She was more than willing to give me the reference. It will help quite a lot having an English teacher as a reference. And the books? I only asked for one, but I ended up leaving with a small pile. She was so happy when I told her about my plans that she just started stacking them on. She even said she'll send some home with my brother if she finds more. There're about five books and a workbook in all. They'll make good study material for the Summer and I need to get this stuff back in my head. She also gave me the phone number of a girl who's been to China a couple times. Since she graduated from the same school I did, it won't seem as weird to call her and ask about things.

For today, though, I'm going to try and finish typing my resume and get the basics of my cover letter ready. I'm on my laptop at a friends house. For some reason I'm able to focus on my work better when I'm here, but he just got a kitten yesterday and she seems to delight in stepping on my keyboard.

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.