| My life as a working hobo! |
Being Dutch!Today, was quite a new and interesting day... well the evening was at least one!With my time nearing the end of living in AMsterdam, my friend Val had signed me up to visit a new spa which had opened at her gym. SO withouit thinking I said yeah I'll come along! It wasn't until yesterday when it suddenly dawned on us that this is Holland therefore it was liekly to be nude! Well that was the start of a very giggly discussion. Today we phoned the gym to enquire and discovered that yes this spa was dutch... ie nude! I had decided that as I was leaving Holland it was about time to experience this so was fine but the look on Kaths face was worth so much as she looked stunned! Anyway, we all arrived and other than having to get over the fact that all these men were walking around in the nude with their bits hanging out. I actually started to feel self concious of wearing a towel while we had our tour of the facilities. So once the tour was over it was time! The showers which you have to use first was my first challenge and their the most exposed part of the spa... brilliant starter! So once the shower had been tacked its surprising how quickly I lost all sense of feeling awkward and swimming in the nude outside was so liberating. Its definately something I will be doing again before I leave but I do feel I've shocked myself today! Well better get some sleep now! 11:08 - Tuesday 23 June 2009 - comments {2}Preparing for the move to RAKWell, last night was a success in terms when it comes to accommodation moves. Kath has been accepted by my landlord to take over my apartment when I leave. So a little less stress on me to get completely out before I fly. I was going to sell my furniture to her but on second thoughts have decided to rent it to her for the year then I can access it at the end and decide whether to sell it or not next June when I've been in RAK a year. Which I think is probably the best idea???As for my preparations to move to RAK I have manged to pack 2 boxes... Guess what they are????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? .... OK I'll tell you its my wolly jumpers! Don't think I'll have a need for them in the Middle East! Reports from friends are that it was 50+ degrees C at the end of may when they visited RAK!!! Think the temperature change might be rapid, I mean today in Amsterdam it rained again! Although it isnt staying wet and gradually seems to brighten up as day goes on it never seems to reach more than about 18 degrees C. I think the best I've registered so far this year has been a couple of days at 26 degress C. Guess I better make sure I have plenty of salt replacement fluids and things when I go out in the middle of August to mass heats! Really starting to look forward to going out and starting at RAKESS, even if it does mean my summer will be very short! I have a holiday week in September and thinking of going to Taiwan to try and catch up with Mariko and then maybe China to catch up with Wang Wei in my December break..... before ultimately returning to UK for a freezing Christmas and maybe New Year with friends here in Amsterdam! I have to say that so far I have been very impressed with RAKESS. In just over a week, I applied, was interviewed, offered the job, contracts signed and I've even had a timetable for next year! I have to say my impression is that they are very efficient! Anyway, year 12 are arriving very soon and I suppose I have to teach them.... lol so I better go! 10:11 - Tuesday 16 June 2009 - comments {1}OMG It's really happenning!Well, yesterday I signed my contract to work in RAK. I still can't quite believe I'm moving to the Middle East.However, life here at Faulty Towers is not fun.... staff are becoming more and more divided each day and its just not a pleasant atmosphere to work in. When I think back to the last year here its been nothing but one mad management decision after another and every time we think it can't get any worse it does. Weather here is nicer today after 3 days of rain.... guess that's a problem I wont really have next year :-) Bought packaging tape yesterday to start the packing process, and landlord is coming to see me and Kath on Monday as she's hoping to move into my place. Boxes need dragging out from under the bed and stuck together as boxes instead of flat card! Oh the joy this will be my 4th move in just over 1 year! Mam seems to be coming round to the idea of my move and was singing the praises of Dubai after chatting to an air stewardess. Haven't had the heart to remind her I'll be living outside of Dubai in a much quieter place, but hey maybe I will just let her see that for herself when she visits. Really loosing the motivation to do much here at Faulty Towers...... I just keep counting the days till I leave..... 25 working days but with trip week and sports day and a half day final day its only...........................\ ...................................................18 1/2 teaching days and of course the last week of term is all chill down anyway so really I'm looking at another 13 normal teaching days. Which isn't long really but in the current climate of Faulty Towers that seems like a life time. At the same time I'm looking at 9 weeks till I fly to RAK! 9 weeks in terms of moving country feels like no time at all but at the same time seems ages when your exicited! So much to do before then but at the same time I wish I was off tomorrow! 20minutes till lunch time...... yeah an escape from the depressive atmosphere for a while! I just can't believe how much life here has changed it was such a happy place in Sept..... then things gradually went down hill after that...... major downfall was John resigning.... he's the best chance this place had of ever being a successful Secondary! VISA application thankfully is being dealt with mostly by the school, but the amount of paperwork that has to be sent and I have to go to the hassle of solicitors, foreign office and embassy to get my certificates attested is mad! From the sounds of things its also going to cost a packet! Anyway, I'm going to go and dream of the sun and sand of RAK! It certainly helps you keep going when you have something to look forward to. 11:35 - Friday 12 June 2009 - comments {1}The new job.... I'm moving to RAKWell, I would never have dreamed that I would today have accepted an offer to work in RAK. Having only left the UK for the first time last year and before that having never lived outside the North East of England, I am in shock at where I am today!It all feels very surreal at the moment, I just can't believe I'm moving to the Middle East in 10wks time!01:38 - Tuesday 9 June 2009 - comments {3}Leaving Faulty TowersJust realised that it was this time last year when I last blogged. Seems like a lifetime ago.Since then I have been working in Amsterdam in a place that is a cross between Faulty Towers and The Britas Empire. Its a complete mad house. Decisions are made which do not relate to the companies aims and objectives. It's mad! Plus management are bullies and intimidate staff. So I resigned. Since then work has been more tolerable. I suppose it always is when you know an end is in sight. Now unfortunately its getting a little stressful as I havent been able to sort out a job yet. The UK ignores me because I don't live there and the International market is very slow in comparison to previous years. I'm now applying to live in Middle East as it seems to be the place to go these days. Have to say I'm actually less nervous about that then I was moving here last year. I guess its because I have done it once, left my home country and at least this time accommodation etc is sorted for me. Although that is assumming I get a job there, although I have had 2 parts of an interview with one place and it looks hopeful. Else I'll have to return to UK and find temporary work for a bit. Which is the last thing I want to do. Anyway, its lunchtime now so I can escape this place for a bit. 11:07 - Tuesday 9 June 2009 - comments {0}7 weeks until the move to The NetherlandsWell, there's only 7 weeks now. I can't wait until 15th June when I finally get to visit my school in Amsterdam. Have been chatting to a few of the 12 of us going out to work there, online and they all seem friendly enough. In particular a girl called Dina, she's really nice. We've already agreed to find a salsa class in Amsterdam to go to and were going to see if the head will let us run dance as an extra curricular subject together.I just can't totally shake the nerves though. Most of the time I'm just really excited and I know in my heart I won't look back. But every so often like today, the fear just hits me and I end up thinking what the hell am I doing! But thankfully, I'm quite a logical person and so logic kicks in quickly and I remember that its an opportunity of a lifetime, it doesn't have to be forever unless I want it to be. I think thats what scares me as I know in my heart that I'm unlikely to return to Britain to live for a long time if at all and I think that scares me a bit. I'm hoping after I've done my visit things will feel more comfortable, especially as I should have made some freinds with my new collegues particuarly those in the same boat as me who've never lived abroad before, its been nice being in touch with them on the net already as they all say their excited but nervous so it makes me realise its not just me being a wimp. My friends and family however, are being really supportive even if their words of we're gonna miss ya etc. make me feel loved but also make it a little harder to leave them behind. I have some excellent friends and I just hope I make good friends in Holland. Mam keeps saying I might even meet the man of my dreams out there as I've not had much luck in that department so far. Anyway, suppose its time to go to sleep. Been to my head of departments 30th Wedding Anniversary tonight and my feet are killing from dancing so much, but it was great fun. But if I don't sleep now I'll never make it out of bed tommorrow and I want to make the most of my last days holiday before I return to work on Monday. 01:18 - Sunday 1 June 2008 - comments {1}Leaving the UK for the first time to live in The NetherlandsWell, where can I start. I've never lived abroad and since deciding that at 27 it was now or never, I've managed to get myself a teaching post in Amsterdam. Two weeks on its starting to sink in, although the list of things to arrange is starting to look daunting. I'm excited about the prospect of living and working in Holland but at the same time if I think about it too long I'm scared. Maybe it's because I'm doing it on my own, but surely that makes it even more exciting. I guess as it gets nearer the move date (9 weeks time) adrenalin will overcome fear and I will start my new life in a new country. I'm visiting the school fpor a few days early June and I'm hoping that after that I will start feeling more secure that I have made the correct decision. Until then I shall just have to keep telling myself its a new adventure. I've travelled many times around Europe and now its the first step on the international work market.10:04 - Monday 19 May 2008 - comments {1} |
Description Traveling around the world by working in the International Market!
Home User Profile Archives Friends Recent Entries - Being Dutch! - Preparing for the move to RAK - OMG It's really happenning! - The new job.... I'm moving to RAK - Leaving Faulty Towers Friends - geordie mandy |
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