Well my departure is looming and contrary to my previous journal entry, the nerves are multiplying just as quickly. I have now completed both the TEFL weekend course in Brighton and also the Grammar Awareness Module... And I'm not sure how, but I passed them both with flying colours... Yaayy!!! A very attractive TEFL diploma arrived the other day and with it, my freedom to teach English all over the world should I wish to. Hurray!!! I am so pleased that I chose to attend the weekend TEFL course rather than complete the hours online. I can't imagine turning up in a foreign country and standing in front of a room full of expectant children who don't speak a word of English, having never had any experience of teaching a room full of people who do at least speak your language. The practical course taught me a lot about what will be expected of me, but more importantly, gave me some experience of how it feels to teach, and how scary it actually is. At least now, when the nerves really kick in and I feel sick, I know that I can overcome them and get on with the job in hand. I was also delighted to be able to take the course in Brighton... A town (well, a city really, but I'm not sure it should be?!?) that I have grown to love over the last few years, and a place I can see myself returning to one day. I must admit that a few too many beverages were consumed every night, which possibly hampered my performance in the classroom each morning... Such is life! It is important to prioritise... And I know where my priorities lie! I have continued researching Shanghai and it's the information gained from this investigation into such a foreign culture that has kept my excitement riding above my nerves. One of my favourite articles is by Phil Hogan, who's writing I've always enjoyed. However, he has truly surpassed himself with an account of his experiences in Shanghai... Laugh?!?... I nearly cried!!! It can be seen here: http://travel.guardian.co.uk/cities/story/0,,1744829,00.html I'm a little concerned about what I am going to read on my flight to, and in my first few weeks in, Shanghai. I am reading a beautifully written book by Kazuo Ishiguro called When We Were Orphans, and I am sure that no official in China could ever consider it propaganda... Therefore, I feel safe taking it with me. However, any other book about Shanghai appears to be about the old city when drugs and prostitution were rife. I don't want to risk travelling with a book like this and end up in prison for political propaganda. The book I had actually bought to read next is about Tibet... A definite no-no I should imagine!!!