Who farted?

Hard to tell with all this wind. The typhoon is much more impressive than the last one! Alex has taped up the windows, and the building management team has sandbagged the entrance. Funny. I don't think we will drown though - we're on the 18th floor.

I hope my little house is ok. And by that I really mean my quilt, since I don't much care about anything else.

Oddness

Did you guys know that in Taiwan it's 1996? On the up-side, I'm 20 again. On the down-side, nobody told my boobs.

Taiwan Day III

So, things are a bit calmer now! I have 16 hours work a week, with more coming as I get used to how things work in the kids and adults departments. I've also got a few leads on possible private students (shhh - not entirely legal...) so I think I will be ok.

It will a lean few weeks though.

I still think Kojen stinks for the way they handled this, but as everyone very annoyingly keeps pointing out "this is Taiwan".

I've just told my kids that I'm not their teacher any more, and to my absolute delight, one cried! Hah. In your face everybody. The rest just looked a bit confused, so I made up for it by crying lots on their behalf.

What's Next?

So, I have just finished observing my first kids class. It was ok I suppose, but I am still really angry about everything. So far there is no word from Head Office on if they intend to honour the terms of our contract.

I start work on Monday with kids classes, they're all in the afternoon and evenings, they expect me to work on Saturdays. Tomorrow is my first pay day in almost 2 months, but boy has the shine been taken off THAT.

I am also really upset about leaving my baby class tomorrow - I had to write goodbye notes to their parents today, and then I had to sit down with the teacher who is taking over, and explain to him all about the students and their personalities. It's quite amazing how much I know about them in just 5 weeks, with a major language barrier.

I am feeling very very very very low.

Taiwan Day II

So, not much else to say on the situation yet. Thanks for all the emails you guys have sent me! I've been given some kids classes instead, but only 14 hours a week. And I can't live on that. From my perspective, I have a contract guaranteeing me 22 hours a week no matter what I work, so it should be ok.

From Kojen's perspective, the contract we signed doesn't suit them any more so they can do whatever they like and I have to put up and shut up.

Does that sound like something I would do?

No.

Taiwan Day

For those of you who haven't lived overseas, this is a day where the country you're living in (not necessarily Taiwan, I'm sure you understand...) just gives you a nice big kick right in the head.

I finished class today, was called into the office to talk to my director, and told that I am effectively redundant, effective immediately. WHAT THE FUCK, TAIWAN?

I'm not totally without employment or anything, I just don't work in the preschool any more. Which really annoys me because I was only just finding my feet. And now they're trying to load me up with night classes and Saturday classes teaching older kids, instead of my 9-4 number. I am not impressed.

Can't blog any more - I have to write up a pros and cons list, and arrange my face into a suitably grim aspect before my next meeting.

Note for the internet: the head of Kojen is a stupid wanker. I'm talking to you, Mr. Ho.

Oh Dear...

I know you will all really want to know this. My stomach is not being nice to me this week, and neither is the other end. Oh dear.