Notes from London

Okay, so, I've been in London for nearly a month now and where has it gotten me? Well, I'm now registered with a teaching agency, which has already been calling about supply work for me. I had to turn down both of their offers because I was so completely unprepared for them but, hey, at the very least I know that that's available! Seems like a pretty good sign to me. They say that this time of year is very unpredictable in terms of long-term jobs, but they'll keep me posted and that random things may crop up at any time. We'll see what happens. If, when I get back in August, they're not able to find me something semi-permanent, I'll do some supply work until they can.

Other than that, haven't really done much! Need to sort out my bank account but thought it might be better to figure out the accommodation issue first. The good news is that I've spoken to the 2 friends I'll be sharing a flat with and we've figured out a budget/requirements, etc. One friend has taken the last week of August off, so we'll do some intensive flat-hunting at that point. Then it'll just be a matter of paying for the bloody thing! :)

Been using this time to really take a nice, long holiday though. I think I've been a bit burned out this past year (working two jobs, neither of which I particularly liked, plus doing that stupid online course over the past few months and all the rest had me really exhausted), so it's nice to have a period of time without work constantly looming on the edge of my consciousness. Sure, there are other stresses and worries, but I don't need to constantly be thinking about how annoying the kids I tutor are going to be when I get back home! haha.

In any case, I've been to about a million shows, the opera, some museums, lots of church services, places I've never visited before (Borough Market, Hyde Park, the Brompton Oratory, the Tate Modern, etc.), and hung out with friends. I even managed to finally get in to see the kids at St Paul's on their last day of term - they were busy running around getting their school shirts and yearbooks signed, but as soon as I was in the door there were kids asking, "Miss Choi! Will you sign my shirt?!" and "Miss Choi, can we sign YOUR shirt?" (cheeky Max! lol). Really lovely to see all of the kids again, no matter how awkward it was to be there and feel like I didn't really have the right to be around. Can't believe I still miss those kids after all this time!! Stupid really, but what can you do?

Anyway, today's a busy day - two shows, separated by dinner with a friend. Tomorrow I'm off to the a classical concert (Mozart, as played by the Academy of St Martin-in-the-fields) and then I'm heading to Manchester this weekend. Busy, busy, busy! I'm going to be sooo knackered for Vancouver next week....