Thought I'd write a quick update of what's been happening so far, now that it's back to school time here at PX college!

Term started last week, and I've got 5 new classes as well as 4 that I taught last semester. Brian has completely new classes as he taught seniors last semester who have now all graduated. There are still, obviously, lots of students here but you can tell there aren't as many compared to last term. Even so, it's nice that there's more life back on campus now: it was quite eerie during the holidays because it was so quiet! Not the case now, as there's lots of building work going on all over campus - looks like they're building a new access road to the teaching buildings, and filth street is up & running once more, with all its lights and noise and general filth but its much nicer walking up it at night & it not feeling like you're on a set of some post-apocalyptic where-zombies-rule-the-world film!

My 5 new classes are going ok so far - 2 of them are Preprimary education students, so they are from a different department (not English as a foreign language) but I assume that because they're still studying to be teachers they at least have to know some english words! So one of these classes I have to teach has 86 students in it & the other has 87. THATS 173 STUDENTS IN TOTAL FROM JUST 2 CLASSES!! (yes, i did the maths..) I'm over the initial shock & last week's lessons went ok - their level of english was better than I was expecting! So yes, 86 & 87 students - going to be very interesting to see how it all goes...! Bring it on, say I - I'm up for the challenge!

So it's back to normal here, it wasn't as nerve-wracking/exciting starting lessons this term - fairly used to it having completed a semester already but it's good to get back & into having a routine. In a few weekends' time, Brian, Taz, Jorvik and myself are hoping to visit the natural hot springs just outside Pingxiang so that'll be another chance for me to dust off my camera & take some snaps!

xxx