Strangely Socialised

Was it really almost two weeks ago that I went for that walk? I suppose it was, now that I think about it. Last weekend was the late-night movie, so it had to be before that. I wanted to go for another walk tonight but there were so many people about and what I really wanted was just to be alone. What I did do was drop off my taxes a day late, because I suck. Even though I did them a couple months ago, I never got around to confirming the numbers and dropping the damn thing off. Should be getting about $600 back, which will go right into the moving kitty.

Plans are solidifying for the move. I’ve submitted a sublet form for the end of June and hopefully the building will find a tenant so I don’t have to. Most of the people who need to know I’m leaving now know, with the exception of work and Shoestring. Work will get their two weeks’ notice after my vacation. Shoestring will find out a about a week before that, once the performance is done. I figure there’s no point in getting people thinking about it while they should be concentrating on the play.

Class was good, as always, on Wednesday. Well, I’m never sure that “good” is the right way to put it, but it went well and there were no problems and that’s good, right? Me and Gerri spend a bit of time after class talking about one of the students. It’s clear to everyone that this student is far too advanced to be in such a foundations level class, but he’s comfortable there and so for the time being they let him stay. What I was told was that he’d been through some trauma in Iraq before escaping to Canada, which is why they let him remain in a class where he’s comfortable. Apparently he’d been in class the year before and they’d had to kick him out for being so disruptive. He’s much better now, but he can’t hold a job and this class is pretty much his only social activity away from his wife. I get along with him and he responds well to me (I understand he refuses to do activities or assignments for other people) but Gerri wanted to let me in on his background so if anything surprising or disruptive ever happened, I would be prepared to handle it.

I don’t even want to think about what he might have gone through before coming here. He’s a good guy, he really is, but her telling me all that didn’t really surprise me, based on his behaviour since joining the class.

I went through a bunch of papers today, even though I didn’t technically finish packing any boxes. I’m getting somewhere with the packing and organizing, and keep coming across things I could bear to get rid of. The more I get rid of before I go, the better. If I didn’t love my futon so much, I’d get rid of it, too. I’m already dropping all my bedroom furniture, and most of my bookcases (more cheaply replaced than transported).

But not my books. “Why would anyone want to sell their books?” –Gil Grissom

Class last night was lovely, even lovelier than normal, I think. Though it drives me nuts that I spend the twenty minutes before class setting up every computer in the room (not just the max seventeen that we need, but every computer) only to have people come in and sit down and immediately reboot the machine. Thus undoing everything I’d done to set it up.

Anab was using Word again, just typing whatever came into her head as always, starting with her name and the date. And then she wrote “I am came to Canada January 2002 Friday 1/45 30″

I came to Canada on Friday, January 30, 2002, at 1:45.

She knows exactly what time she arrived in this country. It really kind of hit me, and not for the first time, the kinds of situations some of these people left when they came to this country. Anab came here from Somalia.

Later on two of the students from Iraq (Khawla and Khalef, plus Khawla’s children), in the break between halves of the class, called up the news on Saddam on the Internet and were talking to each other in rapid Arabic. I would have loved to understand just what they were saying.

It’s the Christmas party today so even though it’s not my usual day to volunteer, I’m going to head over there after work. I wanted to bring something yesterday, candy canes or something, but I didn’t know if it would be appropriate for a class where I’m not sure a single one of the students celebrates Christmas. Turns out it’s fine, though, and they’re learning about Christmas in class, so I’ll bring some with me today. Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas really either, I do have fun with the trappings. And candy canes = good. (And an orange for Anab since she can’t have the candy.)

So two big things going on in my life right now, one probably bigger than the other but both of which I’m very, very excited about.

First of all, after years of vaguely thinking about it and a few weeks/months of seriously thinking about it, I’m going to go overseas to teach later this year. I’ve started on the preliminary stuff right now, foremost of which is getting my passport renewed and deciding where I want to go.

The plan right now is, spend the first year in Korea or China. Why? First of all, they don’t require formal TEFL training, which is hard for me to come by while still working full-time here. Second of all, they tend to include accommodations and airfare and other perks, which means less money for me to put up up front just to get myself there. And third, I lived in the Philippines for a year, so I have some experience in that area of the world, know what to expect from culture shock, that sort of thing. It seems the best choice, and it should allow me to save up a significant amount of money.

After a year of that, the plan is to take one of the TEFL programs offered in Prague, because my real goal is to end up in eastern Europe. At that point, I should have the money saved up to do it, and to take care of myself for a while before I find a position. I have my eye on Krakow, Poland, but I know I need the formal training first plus at least a year of experience.

So that’s what I’m working towards right now, but first thing’s first. Passport, and find an agency or job.

The second big thing going on in my life is a web magazine that a friend of mine is going to be launching, called Dykeadelic, and I’m now on staff and helping get the project off the ground. I won’t say too much about it now, but I’m really excited about the whole thing.