Another last day...

Today was my last day working at the Montessori Kindergarten, where I've been employed for the past two months. I found out yesterday that because I'm going to Canada for "two months" (six weeks, actually), they will be interviewing other foreign teachers for the job.*  Surprisingly, I was disappointed. A few weeks ago I wouldn't have cared, but since telling them I needed to go to Canada, the job has been a lot more bearable... even enjoyable at times. Well, I got over my disappointment fairly quickly. I just had to remind myself about the difficulties of the job, how challenging it was overall, and chalk it up to just one more teaching job on my resume. Now that the day is over, I'm okay with it.

Rita, my supervisor surprised me at the end of the day with a beautiful farewell cake to send me off on my journey. I was overwhelmed. Really didn't expect it. Another teacher brought some fruit, and the three of us had a quiet celebration. It was a very thoughtful gesture. She even put a candle on the cake so I could make a wish.

Waxberries

All in all, it's been an insightful, educational experience working at the kindergarten. It's a whole other side of teaching English in China. This particular job certainly had its perks. I accepted lower pay for shorter hours. The three-hour lunch breaks were a godsend, and winning the affection of some pretty cool little kids was heartwarming.

Standing outside the school in the morning, greeting the kids as they arrive.

A short-lived photo of me on the teachers wall.

Still, with any luck, the business opportunity that Peter and I moved to Huizhou for will be well off the ground by the time I get back to China in mid-July, and I'll be able to get away with teaching part time instead of full time, if at all.

In the meantime, I look forward to my visit to Canada. It's hard to believe it's really going to happen, and in only four days!!


* I was very tempted to remind them that if they had just agreed to pay for my next visa (due in June), I would've finished the term and visited Canada during the summer holiday in August. But instead, their delay and avoidance of the issue pretty much forced me into making the decision to return to Canada to get my own visa, since the cost of getting one in Canada is so much cheaper that it more than pays for my trip. Plus I'm due for a new passport anyways.