After the weekend of festivities and excitement it settled back in to being a more usual week. The main exception of which was my visit into Jakarta and my leg problem returning except a little further up my leg.
I decided to go into Jakarta initially on Wednesday morning but with the pain in my leg I decided to postpone it until the next day as I thought it would be better to rest it, I stupidly forgot to keep the receipt for the medicine that I got last time so I have only just found some painkillers that actually work. This is what I love about Asia, I can walk into the chemist and ask for some strong painkillers, In the UK I would be given just the normal ibuprofen but here I get some that say on the packet “Prescription ONLY” I have to take 2 of these a day and they actually work, but if I miss one then the pain comes back. The best part is they only cost $1.60!
I really miss London cabs and their infinite knowledge of the London area, you get in, tell them the address (however obscure it might be) and they just confirm the general area and off you go, they know exactly where it is. Not here in Indonesia, I called Blue Bird Taxis who are the most reputable and largest taxi firm in Indonesia (Always take a Blue Bird as they very trustworthy and will not overcharge or do ‘off the meter’), I gave the taxi driver the full address for the Chinese visa service center and he was asking me where it was, do I know how to get there, can I call a friend to get directions. I had no idea where it was apart from it was near the Embassies. He called a friend of his or his office or something and they told him the rough location, we got off the toll road and into Jakarta where he stopped no less than 10 times to ask for directions all the time the meter was clocking up. In the end he told me to change cabs for a local Blue Bird who would know the way. He was good about it all and as he had been driving around he only charge me 100k ($10) instead of 115k, not bad for almost 2hrs in the cab.
10 minutes after changing taxis I was at the visa center, I hobbled up the stairs and presented my documents only to be asked for my medical certificate, I told them this would be done in China but it turns out it’s not or rather it’s a different medical that will be done in China before I can apply for the visa I needed to have a medical. I must have made a new record because I was out of one cab and into another within 13 minutes!
After checking around the various hospitals I am now going for a medical tomorrow at 8am and it will cost me $60 which I am hoping will be reimbursed by my new school.
This means I have to make another journey into Jakarta next week, then again later in the week to collect my visa, put simply lots of taxis.
This week will be a short week as we have Friday off as a public holiday which means me and my fiancés family are off to Bandung with yours truly as the driver (I enjoy driving) the only scary bit is we will be leaving early in the morning or I as prefer to put it for a holiday the middle of the night A.K.A 5am! Should be fun as long as we are able to get out and travel around a little in Bandung, Would ideally like to visit the hot springs again or the volcano and trek down to the live area.
We now have almost all the new teachers here, just one more coming in early March. Two are from the UK and one from Canada, Although I have not spoken much to two of them as they have been in training meetings and observing classes plus they don’t live at the teachers house due to lack of rooms they seem nice enough. The other one a Brit from Kent, Stewart, Is a really nice guy. Just got back from 10 months surfing in Central America so I’m very jealous of him! Wish I could spend 10 months chilling out on a beach everyday!
In teaching news I gave a class a writing task to do, 40 minutes to write a 250 word story titled “Aliens at the amusement park”. Before hand we wrote some verbs, adjectives and nouns on the board to give the students some brainstorming (or the more PC idea showering) for the story, Usually they do the bare minimum and complain but this class really enjoyed the task almost all writing over 300 words except one student he wrote 29 words, just in case you think that’s a typo here it is again 29 words. Some others also didn’t manage the full 250 so I gave them the weekend to finish their stories otherwise they would get a yellow letter to take home to their parents, Monday came and so did he, he came to see me in private to apologies that he had left his story at home but would bring it in Wednesday, I said that I would allow it as he had come to see me before class to explain. Today came along and guess what? You got it he had left it at home again. I subsequently gave him a yellow letter, something which I hate doing as many parents in this country are very hard on their offspring and fathers do give their kids a slap at the back of the legs if they get in trouble. But sometimes you have to make the students aware they must do their work on time.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s extra long blog and don’t forget to leave a comment and a rating!
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If we have students that have names like mia or zhi and then students like mohammad or rachman then I will just double up the long names or give the shorternames half the letter. If you have a student who you know is very naughty and his/her name is short don't let on that you will do that as he/she will then know they have few chances!
Oh, that sounds like a good system....but what if some of the children have really long names and some of them have really short names?? My name is short so I would get a yellow letter sent home quicker!!
@ Rin: Yeah, that's why I chose the area, it will be a lot cooler than Jakarta but I think I can happily manage 23C! Southern China for me is much better as you can still holiday in neighbouring tropical countries cheaply and without flying for more than a couple of hours.
Changing visa's is relatively easy and most schools do that especially if you get the job and start quite soon because you don't have time to visit the embassy in your own country, It just means they will sort the paperwork out and then fly you out the country for a day or two then come back with a work visa.
@ Emma: That's funny, similar to my colleague who is from Australia. When he was in school there was still caning, he used to get it from his headteacher and then again at home from his dad, his dad actually went to the school and told them if he misbehaves just give him a whack at the back of the head.
We have a good system for discipline here, it involves Green, Yellow, and Red cards. Green for good, Yellow if you misbehave - parents must sign it and the student gives it back to the teacher at the next class and Red is for very naughty and involves a meeting between the DOS and the parents. I usually get a yellow card at the start of intake and if they are naughty I will write a letter of their name on the letter, when their name is full they get a yellow letter - acts as a great deterrent!!!
Aww I hate giving letters home too! I had to write a letter home once for a little boy in Egypt who rather liked to kick his class mates. His grandmother came to see me after the next class - do you know what advice she gave me? "Kick him back!!!". I was flabbergasted to say the least! She looked like such a sweet granny too!
I just checked on the map. Dongguan is fairly close to Zhuhai! It looks lovely in that area. Not too cold either!
Ooh, near Hong Kong! Sounds nice. :) I'm looking at Southern China, Zhuhai looks nice. I think i'd like somewhere on the coast. :) Hainan Doa looks pretty too, i don't know if there is much there though?
Is it okay to change visas once you are there then? I thought they didn't really like that?
My email is denise.velati@myvirtualpa.ltd.uk
Thanks for your help! :)
Hi Rin, The student is with another teacher now but I have taught him twice before and I think he was just being lazy! haha
The medical was a blood test to check for HIV/AID/Syphilis etc. An ECG. Chest xray. Eye test and chat with the doctor. I am pretty sure it will be more expensive outside Indonesia, The first hospital I checked at it was going to be closer to $100.
You might not have to have the medical before China, It just depends on the schools policy as to whether they want you to enter on a work visa or a tourist visa and get it changed once you are there.
If you can give me your email I have a list of schools contact details and it would be easier to send you the file as there are quite a few.
I am going to be teaching in Dongguan which is near Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Great post! :)
Yes, i think i would have done the same with the student, You gave him a few chances and he still didn't do it. Tricky decision though. How is the student with you now?
So what did the medical for the China visa entail? I will have to get one here, i am sure it will cost a lot more than the equivalent of $60...haha.
You know you mentioned to apply directly to EF schools rather than via their website? Do you have any email addresses of any in China? I can only find the main website.
Which school in China are you going to teach in?
Take care. I hope your leg gets better soon! :)
Umm...I don't think you ever said what was really wrong with your leg (unless you are still not sure yourself). What was the problem? Is it arthritis or osteoporosis?
Well, I hope you get better. I hate prescription meds. I refuse to take them...(thats just me)....lol
In regards to the forgetful kid, you could have deducted 10 points for every day he forgot his paper. I think that would've made him remember.
Eek - hope your leg mends soon!
At least with all the trips to Jakarta you'll be able to direct the taxis!
Have a great time in Bandung - look forward to seeing how you get on :)
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