So I've had some complaints that I'm not updating this as much as I should... I'm so busy that finding time to actually sit and put everything down on paper is easier said than done! Teaching is exhausting as well, literally the most tiring job I have ever done. My weekends go far too quickly, and most of my day yesterday was spent hibernating... However I'm going to try to  keep writing down stuff at least once a week, just so I can keep track of what is actually going on here to look back on when I eventually return to England and life becomes a lot more normal and boring again.

So on Saturday I went into Dongguan city with Jen to meet someone about some more extra work. The adult evening classes are ok, but this job is over double the wages and would mean I wouldn't have to work Saturday nights. It's also the easiest job ever... after two hours of playing with the children in the park (with the occasional English word thrown in), the boss Julie took us for lunch at one of the nicest Chinese restaurants I've seen (and paid for everything). Definitely what I'd call a successful day at work. We celebrated afterwards by going shopping in the city, they have a H&M, Zara and even a Clarks! It was nice to see some clothes actually in my size.. I think the average Chinese woman would fit into western childrens clothes. Not much else to say about the weekend apart from a night having some drinks with some other foreign teachers here ended in a 4am drunken skype conversation with my mum and nan, not something I plan on doing again in a hurry... but gave them a good laugh at least.

Annoyingly we're working 7 days this week, as the following week we have 3 days off for labour day. Basically, in China, they don't really understand the concept of a holiday, so when you have days off you have to work extra to make up for them.The idea of going to the island of Hainan fell through (trains booked up too quickly for us to get them), so now we're going to Shenzhen to explore the city closest to Hong Kong and check out their beaches.

In another interesting development, after talking to one of the girls I live with and with a new addiction to seeing new places, I've decided to make a stop off in India after I've finished in Thailand! Probably only for 2 weeks or so, just a flying visit in the grand scheme of things, but really I just want to get a glimpse of the Taj Mahal, try some proper Indian food and generally get a feel for the place. I know it won't be glamorous, but it seems wrong to be on this side of the world and not pop in. Once our mini break in Shenzhen is done with, me and Jen are going to get our research done and get things booked up... watch this space!

Finally a thought for everyone affected in the Sichaun earthquake.. quite scary to think I was very near there just the other weekend. Luckily Chengdu wasn't hit very bad so all my friends are fine, in fact most of them slept through it. We're really far away from there here and apparently there's never any earthquakes in this province, only the occasional 'typhoon' (hmm), but you do sometimes forget though that you're on the other side of the world and stuff like that can happen! Our school are so protective of us, they have pretty much banned us from leaving this province for a while (not that they could stop us) because of the earthquakes and also bird flu around Shanghai.

Anyway I'll end this post with a picture of what will be me in a few months when I leave China and make my way through to India... hopefully in one piece...