hey guys!
I'm here! Man, it's been a crazy week! They pretty much threw me stright into teaching as soon as I got here. They were ahving this big fight when I arrived, becasue both the english and chemistry department wanted me. In the end they decided to split it, so I have 16 classes in each. It's crazy though, I am constantly running for one department to the other, trying to make my classes on time. Never mind joinging a gym, these stair'll work me faster! The school is unbelievable! It's total madness all the time, just trying to handle everything they throw at you! You just have to flow with it, everyone tells me. I'm getting better already, I was totally frazzled last week, but I"m learning. The kids are quite smart, but there is no discipline at this school, which makes it hard. Still, they want to learn and that is the main thing. There are probably school's like this all over Indonesia anyway, it's just I'm not used to it!
Last weekend I went to padangbai with some of the other teachers and it was awesome! Coming straight from a freezing cold winter in NZ to lovely warm Bali is just Bliss. I just lay on the beach and swam and talked to all the lovely guys and went snorkling ( whic was amazing) and chatted to people in the bar and just chilled out. I was going to go diving, but I woke up with a bit of a hang over, and I just couldn't be bothered. Next time! We went over the hill to the white sanded beach too, which has massive crashing waves and dark blue sea. Beautiful! The boats here and crazy, they're like tall and thin and they would totally tip over if it wasn't for these big arms that stick out to which they attach bog styrofoam pipes! And they have this tiny motor that gos putt putt putt. Ineffiecient, but funky as hell! Everyone here is so friendly, almost everyone I pass on the street says hallo and mostly they want to chat to me too. English is pretty weel spoken, but I'm trying to learn Indo. Especially for bargaining, but it's hard, you say Berapa and they mumble something, so you say Apa? and they just say it in English.
I haven't had Bali belly yet, luckily! I have a very good immune sysytem, so hopefully it'll see me through. I'm having a bit of trouble finding vegetables though - al they seem to eat is chicken and rice! There's an indian guy living in the room next to me, and he says he'll make me some yummy curry. All the teachers here are really lovely and ffriendly. It's crazy having to buy bottled water....in NZ the water is really clean. I'm trying to stop drinking so much coke, but it's hard when you go to a shop and see coke right next to the water!
My name is funny. At school, I can't be called Cassienne, cause it's pronounced Cassie-inn, which is really close to Kasian which means What a pity. So I'm called Cass, which to them means money or fee. And while I was in Padangbai I told people my name was Cassie ( which I really don't like being called) and that means Thanks. so really, what a choice I have! But I least I'm luckier than Heather, they pronounce her name Hed-er - and that means big dog!! Poor girl.
This weekend I think I'm going to Sanur. The others are going to Kuta, but I've been there, and it's nice but very touristy. Sanur sounds beautiful from what I've heard. Can't wait.
I can't believe how awesome it is here! Bali just rocks. Really, I feel like it's been made just for me to enjoy! there are so many things about it that are really important things in my world. I can see why you guys all love it so much!
I'm here! Man, it's been a crazy week! They pretty much threw me stright into teaching as soon as I got here. They were ahving this big fight when I arrived, becasue both the english and chemistry department wanted me. In the end they decided to split it, so I have 16 classes in each. It's crazy though, I am constantly running for one department to the other, trying to make my classes on time. Never mind joinging a gym, these stair'll work me faster! The school is unbelievable! It's total madness all the time, just trying to handle everything they throw at you! You just have to flow with it, everyone tells me. I'm getting better already, I was totally frazzled last week, but I"m learning. The kids are quite smart, but there is no discipline at this school, which makes it hard. Still, they want to learn and that is the main thing. There are probably school's like this all over Indonesia anyway, it's just I'm not used to it!
Last weekend I went to padangbai with some of the other teachers and it was awesome! Coming straight from a freezing cold winter in NZ to lovely warm Bali is just Bliss. I just lay on the beach and swam and talked to all the lovely guys and went snorkling ( whic was amazing) and chatted to people in the bar and just chilled out. I was going to go diving, but I woke up with a bit of a hang over, and I just couldn't be bothered. Next time! We went over the hill to the white sanded beach too, which has massive crashing waves and dark blue sea. Beautiful! The boats here and crazy, they're like tall and thin and they would totally tip over if it wasn't for these big arms that stick out to which they attach bog styrofoam pipes! And they have this tiny motor that gos putt putt putt. Ineffiecient, but funky as hell! Everyone here is so friendly, almost everyone I pass on the street says hallo and mostly they want to chat to me too. English is pretty weel spoken, but I'm trying to learn Indo. Especially for bargaining, but it's hard, you say Berapa and they mumble something, so you say Apa? and they just say it in English.
I haven't had Bali belly yet, luckily! I have a very good immune sysytem, so hopefully it'll see me through. I'm having a bit of trouble finding vegetables though - al they seem to eat is chicken and rice! There's an indian guy living in the room next to me, and he says he'll make me some yummy curry. All the teachers here are really lovely and ffriendly. It's crazy having to buy bottled water....in NZ the water is really clean. I'm trying to stop drinking so much coke, but it's hard when you go to a shop and see coke right next to the water!
My name is funny. At school, I can't be called Cassienne, cause it's pronounced Cassie-inn, which is really close to Kasian which means What a pity. So I'm called Cass, which to them means money or fee. And while I was in Padangbai I told people my name was Cassie ( which I really don't like being called) and that means Thanks. so really, what a choice I have! But I least I'm luckier than Heather, they pronounce her name Hed-er - and that means big dog!! Poor girl.
This weekend I think I'm going to Sanur. The others are going to Kuta, but I've been there, and it's nice but very touristy. Sanur sounds beautiful from what I've heard. Can't wait.
I can't believe how awesome it is here! Bali just rocks. Really, I feel like it's been made just for me to enjoy! there are so many things about it that are really important things in my world. I can see why you guys all love it so much!
