Just had my first real test in terms of disciplne, Simon, a very disinterested student, was slouching more than normal, so obvioulsy i chose him to answer a question. He just acyed as if i wasn't there and got his phone out and started texting, wrong response! As we have been told in NIT, take their phones off them and give them back at a time that seems appropriate, and this guy (he's 19, not a child) really did not want to give his phone up. I believe I used the phrase 'Right! want to make me look like a fool? We'll see who looks like a fool when your form tutor comes in and takes it off you, I would have given it back to you at the end of the lesson, but no, you just had to give me attitude, didn't you' or words to that effect. Sure enough, in comes form tutor and takes his phone. He mutters something as he leaves the room which prompts a swift kick to the shins by his form tutor, must have been something rather bad. I asked the other students what it was but they wouldn't tell me, which makes me think I don't want to know, but i think I did the right thing. The class was a lot more controlable after that, so it looks like they found out how far they can push me, looks like I found out too. Feeling a bit more like a teacher now, but that is one bad instance of an otherwise good group of individuals. Just wanted to get that out and wondered if anyone else has came across any other discipline problems and how they handled them.

What I really wanted to say was thank you to the TTC and I-2-I lot for an amazing night the other night. The restaurant was probably the best I have ever been to, coming form Middlsebrough the best I've seen is a well cleaned KFC, so it meant alot that they wanted to make it a memorable night. The entertainment was fantastic (still wondering how that guy changed masks in a blink of an eye) and the big-jar-foot-juggler was very impressive, if not slightly dangerous. As expected the food was authentic and delicious, fried rice had never tasted so good, and I'm not easily pleased when it comes to food. But most of all I would like to thank them for taking an honest interest in improving their service and getting real-life accounts of our time here, they gave the impression that cuistomer satisfaction was number one on their list of things to do, and just knowing and seeing first hand that there are people working around the clock to get things sorted and deliver the expectations they promised made this whole thing feel worth while. There was a particular chap (sorry mate, I forgot your name, but you let me try one of your chinese cigarettes, so thanks) said that everyone has a 'period of adjustment' where you feel like your just moaning all the time, then aftertwo or three weeks when you've had a chance to reflect on the experience as a whole you start realise that even though things have went wrong you ARE still enjoying it and just being outside your normal everyday life is what you came here for in the first place, and I can certainly vouch for that.

Thanks again for a wonderful evening, and I've just noticed this is a right essay, so my apologies if it takes a week to get through. Hope everyones well.