top of the mornin' to ya

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!

seachange

I've been thinking recently, about a change of scenery. There is plan to open a new English school on the Sunshine Coast, and they (my bosses) have propositioned a move up there if it goes ahead. The area they are looking at is around Alexandra Headlands and Maroochydore, and the school would be really fun. They are looking to target the 18-25 backpacker market, Europeans. The school itself would be a school that would focus mainly on conversation skills, with no textbook. So a real hands-on school, where students would go out around the coast and have classes on the beach, learn practical skills. The idea is pretty radical for the English School scene, and we think it would be a bit of a front runner for the whole market.
They have asked if I would be interested in moving up there to run the Registrations, as they would want to staff it with people that are experienced... and I have been playing with the idea today. It would be a nice change of scenery to head up there. Live by the beach, different atmosphere from the city life. Hmm, yes it sounds quite nice.
You know, I realised the other day, I've lived in Brisbane for 7 years now!! Hah! Thats such a long time. Maybe it is the right time to think about heading somewhere new.
Actually, a lot of different ideas having been flying around in my mind... possible changes. Moving house, moving towns/cities, moving countries... (thinking about that European Passport I have lying around, or Canada...) Hmm.. yeah, feeling the need for a change at the moment. Well, not really, just thinking, dreaming, wondering about different paths.
A seachange would be quite nice, living by the ocean, trying out the beach lifestyle. And it would be close to E! That would be good... :)
I'd have to get a car and a license though... I could try the public transport, but if I seriously considered it, definitely would need some form of transportation. On the other hand, could maybe ride everywhere...

Ahh... very interesting......

all possibilities

Oh theres a hope left, theres a dream still in my heart...


[ NeverLand ]
Originally uploaded by TaaJ.

back to it

Well, after my five day weekend, you can only imagine how difficult it was to come to work this morning. Especially because we are so busy lately.
Our school is full. We're not accepting any more enrolments until the end of April! Classes are bursting at the seams and we have no room for students in our classes. It's good for the school, but means we (the staff) have to do a lot of apologising to the students for the overcrowding and try to suck up to them all the time... *groan* I hate doing that.
You may have noticed I haven't been around much lately... I have a new group of Brazilian friends. They are keeping me entertained, and I have been spending a lot of time with them lately.
So I'm sorry for being slack... I will endeavour to keep in touch more often.
But things are still good. I am very happy lately, apart from work being so busy, but my social life outside of work has definitely been making up for that! :)

Will write more soon!

somethings in the water

I can feel something a changin' 'round here...

Yeah, somethings going down here at work. We've all noticed it... Normally, we have had a pretty good relationship with our bosses (my workmates and I), and these days, we've all noticed that they have started cracking the whip. We all feel like we're under surveillance, or something... Its really strange, because our bosses have usually been really great with that sort of thing. We have a pretty relaxed workplace when I think of it.. but that is beginning to change.
Hmm.. its not good.
Its begining to cause cracks in the walls, people have started to think about moving on... Not the best thing, because I love the people I work with, and this job, and I couldn't imagine it being the same if people left.
But, I'm hoping that this mood lifts, and we can get back to the way it was before...

I'm actually taking a little holiday this week. Going to have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off! Woo hoo!!
Yes, I am looking forward to that A LOT! Shall be really good... Not sure what I'll do yet. Just take some time out I think.

Ahh... Just one more day to go, and then I have a l-o-n-g weekend! Hurrah!

exuberant

I've decided 2007 will be my year. Liz 2007 will embrace life, have fun, enjoy herself, be happy and go wherever life takes her.
Been living up to it so far.. Its been good. A very lively start to the year so far.
Heh... ;)

It is my year though, its the Chinese year of the pig; I was born in the year of the pig, so it makes sense doesn't it? This is what it says about my horoscopes this year: look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally
Yes, it is going to be my year!

---
In other news, everyone has said how great our mangoes are! Thanks Mum for sending the tray, I brought them into work and let my workmates fight over them. Very delicious apparently, someone even said that they were the best mangoes they had ever eaten... *applause all round*

And apparently I cook a mean vegetarian lasagne... Even affirmed carnivores that have probably never sat down to a meal without meat, ate every last morsel of my vegetarian spinach and mushroom lasagne. Yes, I was incredibly stunned... *another round of applause*

:)

stupid brain

I had to come into work early this morning, 7:30 start. So that I could open the school early for a group of students. So, last night, I sat down and looked up the train time and figured it all out. Set my alarm and went to bed early so that I could get enough sleep.
My alarm went off, I pulled myself out of bed, skipped, ate breakfast, showered, got out of the shower, looked at my watch and my jaw dropped in shock... It was only 5:45!! And the train I had planned to catch was the 7:05! Damn! I had miscalculated... set my alarm an hour too early.
Hahahah
What a dolt!

So, now I keep thinking it should be an hour later than it is... 4:01 instead of 3:01.

And the hands of the clock seem to be stuck... This afternoon shall drag, I just know it.
:/

P.S: Check out my new glasses!!

come back

Well.. I am pleased to announce, that today, I am finally smiling again.
I feel so much better... and that is all because of Y. Thank you!

I am a-ok!
*cheesy grin* :D

Things are really looking up. I have been thinking.. I might start doing some sort of class, perhaps. Just trying to think what sort of class... dancing? Or something...
And I'm going to do a b-i-g clean out of my house. Majorly overdue. In the mood to get some housey things, like furniture or something.
Also thinking about a holiday... I cancelled the ticket to Japan, and now I have flight credit. So, basically, I have a flight somewhere! Very exciting! I have been thinking, maybe to visit K in Canada... ah that would be f-u-n!! I will, I think. Later in the year... when I can take some time off work.

My favourite word lately: Dolt
Just love it... hehe... I have been calling everyone a dolt. Hahaha! ;)

call me cliche

Call me cliche, but recently, I've come to realise that things are getting better, everyday. In the words of John Lennon: Everyday, in every way, its getting better and better.

After such an upheaval, I'm feeling positive again... Looking forward. Thinking of the sweet things...
I am finally realising a few things. A dawning perhaps.

Life is good.
(or it can be)

*You can choose to ignore this post, I know it sounds incredibly annoying and philosophical*

back bone

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there. (Incubus)

I am so grateful.. I have never had such a great group of friends as the group I have here at work. Honestly, they support me no matter what, through tears and smiles... through all my shite, they have been there for me.

I really love them. I wish I could tell them all that, but for now, I will write it in this blog, that they don't know that I write.
One day, I will tell them... Thank them for being there.

I hope I can do the same for them.

parting

Thank you for everything... you have meant so much to me.
But, I know I must do this, for us.

We will meet again and smile.


roses
Originally uploaded by Supercapacity.

serenade

Golden glow
Originally uploaded by catmadogma.

New world forming
Picturesque in its stance
Midnight calling
Moonlight shadows start to dance

For the dark finds ways of being
Engraved in the light
And the heart bears indentations
Of yesterdays hurting child
The now we will run with smiles
The morrow will heal the night so
Morning comes
Midnight make fast with the sun
I can hear my name be reborn
On the cloud within the sky beneath the dawn

Oh I
Serenade the dawn
Serenade the dawn
Serenade the dawn

Serenade - Emiliana Torrini

aftermath

Well, its all over... Christmas 2006 over already!
Flew by too fast for my liking. It seemed like I arrived, and had to leave again... Ah, I need a holiday!
Thanks everyone for all your gifts! (And for looking after Y's sister so well, she really enjoyed it up there..)
So, on with the news. Y is coming out next week!! He finally booked, and like I said, he would decide at the last minute if he was going to come out for mango season or not... So, booked a flight arriving next Thursday, and staying for around 10 days all up. I know its not long, but its better than nothing. The only slight complication, is he may have an allergy to bees/wasps... which is not exactly the best thing you could have when you want to pick mangoes!!! We don't know for sure, but will try and get some sort of medication just in case.
Work is still busy, even though its Christmas/New Year. A little annoying. Never seem to get a break here.. but I wouldn't really have it any other way... *shrug* And geez it will be hard to leave this place. Its hard to imagine not working here to be honest....

Anyway, onto more jovial things. :) Y sent through this picture today, a look-a-like (apparently):

What do you think?? (I think it could be just the fact that she has glasses..) She is Italian/American/Japanese... I tracked her down, her name is Angela Aki. I checked out her music, its quite good... Going to have to remember her name.
;)

awwwwww

My boss, Ian, rang me on Monday, to ask if he could forward a resume through to a school in Japan for me... He used to work there as a teacher, and actually they are our sister school. (Well, sister/enemy. When we first opened we were Shane Global Village, and then we dropped the Shane part, Shane got ditched, and now we are just Global Village, which is actually a lot better. Because who the heck is Shane??) Anyway, he wanted to send my resume through to them for me, to help out. Very sweet...
But wait until you read what he wrote. Managed to make me feel incredibly good about my work, and incredibly guilty at the same time... :/ I will miss these guys....

Now, out of the 100 or so staff we have between Noosa and Brisbane, Liz is about as good as I've ever seen. She is sharp as a tack, completely proficient in all areas of her position and puts more into her job than anyone else I know. I think the world of her and am very, very disappointed that she's leaving. If we ever manage to wrestle her away from Japan, we'd have her back in a second.
I think she'd be an exceptional teacher and I think she'd be a real asset for Shane in Chugoku. As an aside, I also think she'd be superb in any admin roles you have floating around - perhaps something to think about for the future.
I've attached her resume with this, and while I know she falls a little outside the normal recruitment requirements I think she's too good to miss. Let me know if you're interested in her and I can help out from this end. I'd be very happy if this were the first teacher we found for you, though I make no claims that the next one will be as good!

miss liz

Well, my in-class component of my Certificate IV in TESOL is complete!! Woo hoo!!
It was pretty full-on; I had classes from 6pm til 10pm last Wednesday to Friday, and then classes all day Saturday and Sunday, 9am til 6pm... So, you can imagine, I am pretty relieved to have that finished.
The course itself though was actually pretty fun. It was very involved and interactive, there was never really a dull moment. I didn't find myself clock-watching at all.. which I was really surprised at. I think all the other students were surprised about that too.
Even got to prepare a sample lesson, we had an adult beginner class, learning Present Simple for habits... ie. Every morning I drive to work.
It went well, I got some pretty good feedback, (apparently I'm a very smiley teacher.. hahahahahahaha). And yeah... I'm actually pretty surprised, there were a couple of things I could have done better, nerves get the better of you sometimes... but I was not BRIGHT RED or dripping buckets... which i was quite pleased about, and yeah, felt quite confident. I think it will be easier to teach a group of people that are actually learning English, rather than learning how to be a teacher.
So, now, the rest of the course. I have to complete 8 elective courses, which are all online, so I can do them whenever I want. And the other major part is my practical teaching... *ominous music*
The practical teaching part is 20 hours, but only 3 hours of actual lessons, the rest of those hours are spent doing observations and lesson planning... So I guess its not so bad... but still. Work has already lined me up doing all the prac here, which is handy, I know all the students and its a comfortable environment...
I will think about that later, when I actually have to do it. For now, I am taking a little break from TESOL, at least for a day or so...
I've asked to take Tuesday off work, so that I can get some of my Christmas shopping done and catch up on sleep, cleaning etc. etc. So, looking forward to tomorrow!

zoom zoom

Well:

PRODUCTS PURCHASED:

FLIGHT DETAILS
------------------------------------------------
Galileo Booking Reference : XXXXXX

Flight : Qantas Airways QF798 (Economy Class)

Departing : Brisbane at 7:00 AM on Wednesday
: Brisbane Airport 28/02/2007
Arriving : Cairns at 9:20 AM on Wednesday
: Cairns Airport 28/02/2007

Flight : Qantas Airways QF113 (Economy Class)

Departing : Cairns at 12:35 PM on Wednesday
: Cairns Airport 28/02/2007
Arriving : Osaka at 7:10 PM on Wednesday
: Kansai International Airport 28/02/2007

------------------------------------------------

It's all booked... I'm off to Japan, 28 February 2007. Write that down in your diaries!
:)

coming together

From a whirlwind, things are settling into place...

- started on the visa application
- will be booking a flight soon
- studying TESOL
- will do prac teaching, and classes soon
- still saving money
- still studying Japanese

Still whirling around, but getting everything together...
Need to get some more stability, but getting there.

advent

Its the first day of December, I hope you have all got your advent calendars out! I went out and bought a little wooden Christmas Tree, that has all these tiny sweet decorations that hang off it. It isn't an advent calendar, but I am going to use it as one... Everyday I will hang a new decoration on the tree. The decorations are tiny, and they look German and just like the decorations we hang on our Christmas Tree. I would upload a picture of it, but my photographic skills are just not quite good enough to take a picture of it... Want to take a closeup shot of the decorations...
What about everyone else? Do we all have advent calendars up?? :)

cross that off the list

*sigh*
Well, at least thats over and done with! We've just said goodbye to a group of agents that came all the way from Japan to have a whirlwind look at our school, trying to impress them. Frantically running around making sure everything looks good, that we say the right things, and that we impress them. Basically, a lot of stress for a 2 hour visit!!
Let me tell you, marketing is such a load of crap sometimes. You have to be so fake!!
But, its all over now...

One thing down, now I can move on.
Things are starting to bear down on me. I just realised how little time it is until Christmas already... which means I gotta start thinking of ideas for presents!! (Any ideas would be greatly appreciated... ;))
Then I also started the teaching course just last week. Doing a Certificate IV in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Thats not so bad, its really quite easy so far... but the problem is, I realised that not next week, but the week after, I will be doing my practical!!! CRAP! I am supposed to have finished one of the courses before then, which is a little hard a the moment...
Due to the fact that from tomorrow, or Friday, or Saturday or Sunday, (sometime) Y's sister will be arriving in Brisbane! So I will be rather busy showing her around the place I call home... Showing her the sights, and being a good hostess.
Plus there is the Japanese study... But I guess, having Y's sister here will be a good opportunity for me to practice... (Just have to get over the embarrassment about speaking Japanese to a native speaker).
I also have to start working out things for this impending shift to Japan. Talking visa's, tickets, insurance, what to do about work, and everything else....

So, I'm taking baby steps. Writing countless lists of things I have to do. Seriously. I write a list of things every morning, working out what I have to do today... Hahah!
Speaking of which... what did I have to get done today?????

drool

I've fallen in love with a pair of shoes.
:)
I've been looking for a new pair of shoes for work, because the ones I have now are falling apart, have a huge crack in the bottom of the sole. You can actually see the bottom of my foot, hehe. So, its time for a new pair of work shoes.
Do you know how difficult it is to find a good pair of shoes that are flat, black, mary jane style, or ballet style, that look good and don't have these stupid tassels or annoying decorations or pointy toes? Due to fashion at the moment, d-i-f-f-i-c-u-l-t!
And I browsed around the shops today, looking looking looking.
*ding*
Found a pair... Tried them on and they fit perfectly. Look good with my work clothes, very sweet looking, could wear them with jeans too.
But then I looked at the price tag....
WOWSERS! They cost a fortune!! Not $100, no, not $200, not $250, but $295!!
Spent about a minute trying to justify the price. "If I'm wearing them everyday it will be worth it in the end"; "There are no other shoes around"; "They are very cute...."; "I r-e-a-l-l-y like them" etc. etc.
Ah, but in the end, I put the shoes down. Picked up my wallet and walked out of the store. :*(
Very responsible of me, but I can't get them out of my head!

Aren't they adorable??! ;)