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Lois in China27 March Been back a month...Well, the return to the UK has been a little bit eventful to day the least. Obviously it's been great to see my family although i think that they are wishing that i move on now especially Annie, who's room i've taken over.
I've been to Manchester catching up with some mates although this wasn't planned. I originally went to see my ex Myk and the night was really nice, went out for a meal, met some of his friends but when we got back to his house, it all went bad and i ended up getting rammed up against a wall and pushed around. My hand was swollen where he grabbed me and it still hurts a couple of weeks on. I left at 3am wanting to get the hell away from there calling a friend - the great Tony who helped me out bless him. It did cost £40 in a taxi but hey, money well spent and a lesson learnt. Think both Myk and I will agree that relationship has been done and is pretty much over.
Went to London last weekend and caught up with mates from home and uni. Also met up for a drink with Gus who i'd met in Beijing. Pretty chilled out weekend and made me feel better after the previous weekend. I also made a decision that i'm going back out to Aisa to see and travel with Jason. Think i have about 5/6 weeks to make some money so I can travel around Thailand. Can't wait to see him and get back traveling again. Really need to do this before I think about moving away from this little town in Wales to get a 'proper' job. May move back to Manchester but Myk and my sister are there - 2 very good reasons not to go back. Altough I realised why i loved Manchester so much over the past couple of weeks, especially after going to London. Manchester seems so much more together unlike London which just seems disjointed and unfriendly. I have warmed to it and considered going there to live for a while especially after being worked on by all of my mates who live there. But i really don't think it's for me.
Anyway, don't think i'm going back to China any time soon. Not to live. Johnny's really ill in Shanghai hospital and it would be really nice if i could go and see him maybe i could go when i'm in Thailand. Have to see how the money stretches... I've spoken to him quite a bit since I've been back which is really nice. I do hate that word but sometimes it just works.
Anyway, off to watch Neighbours. Awesome. Maybe have a cup of tea. Been working all weekend in Spar - the local shop. It's great talking to old ladies about the weather and listening to the rugby boys going on about who's fighting whom. Great. well, i'm off!
21 February I'm leaving ChinaYep, it's true. I'm packing my bags. It's finally time for me to return back to the UK and leave China. This is so weird. I can't believe I have been here for 1 year already. Having a little farewell party tomorrow to say goodbye - have no idea how to do that. Ahhhh, so sad. But i guess it's comes with the teritory. Friday I catch a plane back to Manchester with Myk to pick me up.
I've had an amazing time and experience. Glad I came and I may even be back... 03 February ThailandWell, i've returned froma a really fantastic, relaxing (mostly) break in Thailand. The sad part was leaving the gorgeous beach and Bangkok where i left Jason. I originally met him in Beijing but our paths crossed again in Bangkok but only for one day and night which meant lots of beer. It was so good to see him again. He's been traveling for 5 months which he gladly mentioned - just to piss me off (but in a nice way). He's a cheeky Irish chap who loves to wind me up and being easy to wind up, it's not such a hard task.
I managed to get a bit of a tan but it has started to peel a bit. Could 've done with a couple more days on the beach and in Bangkok.
I'm re-thinking my plans to stay in China. I've really missed traveling and meeting new people etc. I guess we'll see what happens in the next 6 or 7 weeks. Depends on a few things; Johnny, getting a job, how i feel when i go back to the UK.
Spoke to the EX (myk from manchester) and he m ay be picking me up from the airport. Gotta call him in few weeks. Not so sure this is a good idea. Maybe some things should be left in the past. We'll see. I'm not one who usually follows the best ideas and usually go against them.
Ah well, i got a week or so before i have to go back to work. Johnny's back on the 8th. Be good to see him.
29 December ChirstmasWell Johnny and I went to the big Foreigners dinner that i was invited to after telling the headmaster that i wasn't gonna go. My name was still there and there was a space by me. But one of the leaders from my school still went even though i didn't. He quickly got onto the phone to get someone who speaks English with me to tell me that he couldn't sit by me and that I can't invite me. Luckily though, someone from his company was there and there was a spare seat for him so my leader had nothing to complain about. Yeah, i didn't get to sit by him but there were some nice people on my table and i spent most of the night running round drinking with people who i knew and got exceptionally wasted. So all was good.
We then went on to Blue shell where we continued to drink but left by 11:30pm. We had been drinking since 4:30pm. Good night really and got some photos which i'll put on here soon.
SInce then, there have been more arguments with the school resulting in them blackmailing me. Can't wait to just seve my time here then go!!! What a bunch of buggers!
Spent Xmas weekend moving Johnny into his new apartment which is really sweet. Such a nice place which i have been making the most of and will continue to do so if he buggers off to Shanghai for New Years. Wanted to spend it with him but nevermind, i'll just have to kiss someone else at midnight.
22 December Wooooohoooo It's Chriiiiissssstmaaaasss!!!Christmas is gonna be really strange - Working right up to Christmas day well i have Christmas eve off but i think i will be teaching with an extreme hangover on Monday. I have only had a 2 day working week this week though, wish i could have swithed this week with next! Beggars can't be choosers i guess. I'm teaching Jingle bells to the classes and the best one is getting a prize. Grade 1 seem to like it but it would take a rocket blasting off in class to get grade 2 going.
Think Christmas day is gonna consist of a party and grub in Blue Shell. Quite a few people will be there so it's all good. Friday I have another party so i'm trying to get into the festive spirit but i can't help thinking of all my mates back home. This is the time when you know almost everyone is back and all cheery and festive. I love that feeling. Still no xmas pressie from back home. Guess i'll be back in a couple of months anyway so it's all good. Besides, my father couldn't be bothered to go out and buy pressies for the kids back home let alone send something to Shanghai. Just gave 20 quid for each kid under the age of 18 to my mum and told my mum to get something. Ah, there's the thoughtful and giving attitude i love so much.
Anyways, even better news. I won't be going to Thailand with Johnny. He tried to get a month off work to go to India for Spring festival which i wasn't up for but didn't mind him going (well as long as he doesn't take a liking for beautiful Indian girls). I wanted to relax for my break. I trecked around China for a while and really just want to chill out on a beach holiday seeming as i've never had one before. So, thinking that i would be by myself on a beach i contacted cool-as-hell Kiki who i met in Yangshuo in the summer and checked out if she fancied joining me. Fantastic - she can't wait to get away from cold Hong Kong. But now, Johnny has come back and said that he can only get 19 days off so he's not sure what he's doing. Well he didn't seem nothered about leaving me for a month and now i've made plans, i'm not sure he's so happy. ahhhh, it's all good. He's got a friend there anyway so he can go meet him. Woo hoo can't wait.
I;ve got such a cool couple of months planned before i go home. Still thinking that i will returen - trying to sort out a job as we speak. I love the feeling of CHristmas and the freezing cold here is making it better. It's just not xmas if it's warm.
Well Merry Christmas everyone, have a great time. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may get hit by a bus - think that's along the lines of a famous quote by someone. 20 December 9 weeks till i go back home and see everyoneWow - can't believe that i will be back home with family and friends in a few weeks (well 9 actually). Also, four of those are actually holiday. I really can't wait to see and catch up with everyone. THis year has gone so fast. Gonna really miss Xmas at home but i will just have to celebrate it a few weeks later then usual when i get back i guess.
Not exactly sure what i am doing for xmas day, there were talks that Johnny and i were gonna go to Shanghai which may still go ahead but i will have to come back on Sunday night which would truely suck. So think we will just end up staying in WEnzhou. I think there is a big dinner for all the foreign people here that the Govenment put on but in true Chinese style they haven't informed anyone yet and probably won't till like the afternoon of the party or something. I haven't received any pressies yet off anyone from back home which is rubbish. There is still a few days in which they might come but i'm not holding my breath.
Hmmm - oh, gotta call my grandparents, it's my grandad's b'day today so Happy Birthday to you John Hale!! 12 December Aaaggghhhh!!! Am I really settled?Had a conversation with a friend who had described me or rather my situation as 'settled'!!! I hate this term. He said I've changed. I no longer spend most of the week nights and weekends supping it up in blue shell and that even when i do go i leave at a reasonable hour. He wants me to go back to my former ways and be fun again!! Granted i am seeing someone and it is better and more cost effective to chill out and watch a film rather then getting drunk most nights but I dislike the idea that you change just because you are seeing a guy.
So... think i'm gonna make an effort to go out and see more people. I did try and get some people together on Saturday night but either they didn't have credit on their phones or they themselves were at home with their guys cos they were tired. So what can i do??? Gonna call Lucas and tell him I am changing back! Plus the guy i'm seeing's away this weekend so a better chance to chill out with mates. I have noticed that the guys who used to invite me out don't do so as much now either so it's not purely my fault.
06 December not up to muchHaven't really been updating this recently. Guess i've just been doing the same old thing, working, having dinner on Thursday nights with the usual clan and seeing Johnny. I've been looking into getting a job in Shanghai, spoke to a couple of places there and sent off my CV. Could be a nice change. It's easy to settle in one place and i have ties and friends here. Definately going home for one month at the end of my current contract and hopefully coming back to China. IT's all up in the air. I have a month off in Jan/Feb time and Johnny has suggested going traveling, somewhere in CHina, maybe even to Thailand which would be fantastic to lie on a beach somewhere (doing it with him won't be too bad either). Wes - maybe you should warn him about traveling with me!!!
Right noe, I look forward to my weekends and mainly chill out during the week. good but i remember i was much more active and seeing far more people before I was seeing Johnny. Not his fault but i never understand why this happens to people. Anyways, i'm off to get a coffee and chill out for a bit. 14 November This weekend I have mostly been dancing!Friday i went to see my friend Carl who lives an hour away. Spent the afternoon looking round his little town and i went to one of his classes. This one with kindegarten kids. They were so cute and his class was so easy in comparison to mine. Then we met his friend Nathan, went for dinner and then went to a new club. We danced all night, them absolutely loving the cute Chinese girls and i had fun dancing with the guys.
Saturday i came back and it was Mark's b'day so we went for a Korean BBQ with some friends. Ate sooo much. Went to a club, got drunk and i dared Mark to do a pole dance. If he did 1 minute then i would do 5. He did about 3 so i did aboiut 15 i think. It was the best fun ever and i think the audience liked it. Apparently you get paid loads to do that so i'm thinking about doing it as work, i'll just need about 10 beers before i do it!!
Relaxed last night and got bitten to shreads despite killing 5 mosquitoes so i didn't have a great night sleep. Johnny's back today although I think i've pissed him off so we'll see how that works out... 11 November It's the weekend!!Had a really relaxed week - no work due to the student's midterms which has meant that i've had nothing to do for 8 days. It's been bliss apart from the school still being on my back. THis time about me staying out at Johnny's. Apparently it's not safe for me to stay in WEnzhou. They are also trying to do me out of money that's owed to me. Hopefully it'll all sort itself out. Only really have 8 weeks of actual teaching left; i have 1 month paid holiday for spring festival which i may try and do some part time work for to get some more cash before i go home at the end of Feb. Not sure what i've really done all week though. Didn't go anywhere. just met up with a few people. Had plans but they haven't really come off. Was good to just catch up on sleep for a change - on Monday i didn't get out of bed till 4:30pm after returning from Johny's at 9am.
This weekend - off to go see Carl in a couple of hours. He lives about an hour away from here. Be good to have a break from Wenzhou. Been delaying it all week. Tomorrow i'm back here though to have dinner with the guys. It's also American Mark's b'day so will be out for that too. Sunday - hopefully realx and cos i'll have to start teaching again.
May be going to Shanghai some weekend. Really wanna go dancing and Johnny mentioned he'll take me.
Christmas is coming. Gonna be so weird not being at home. I have only spent 1 xmas away from home and it was strange without all the manic trauma of sorting out presents and cooking xmas dinner and it's gonna be even stranger to have it here but i'm quite looking forward to it. They don't really celebrate it here as such but they do put up decorations and stuff so it may feel a bit christmassy. They only thing that's lacking is severe cold. I'm still walking round in just a jumper and even then i'm still warm sometimes. If i was at home there would be at least 3 layers, coat, hat, scarf, gloves but that's what lets you know that christmas is coming.
No presents for me this year
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