It's so completely bizzare to be spending a day on my own. For the past 7 months, I have not spent a day/night apart from Matthew until today. It's not unfamiliar to be wandering the streets alone, lost in thought, but i definitely feel the difference and without a doubt i much prefer having that special hand to hold while walking.
Woke up early, made my way to the interview which ended up extending into a meeting with some other staff members and then going into lunch. Very interesting work they do, and although it seems that everyone's plate is more than full, intentions are good and creativity and dedication levels are super high. Haven't committed totally yet, but i feel it's a good team to work with. Basically i've voiced my interests to them and they have responded with a couple of potential projects for me to help with. One of them is teaching preschool teachers, all women, about interactive and communicative approaches to helping their students develop their skills and social abilities. Topics covered include leadership skills, teaching through MAD (music, art, and drama), self and society, what is happiness, women’s issues, working and raising a family…a lot of these topics are beyond me for obvious reasons, but what CECES thinks is that I could bring in fresh perspectives and a different teaching style. The second project I would be helping with is the HELP (Honours English Leadership Program) project. I would be going to various primary schools, teaching a hand-picked bunch of students who are considered the ‘natural leaders’ of their class, and they in turn help plan and organize and implement school functions, events, concerts, etc. All this in English. So basically it would be drawing a lot on my facilitation skills to develop creative and engaging games/activities, preparing lesson plans and fine tuning teaching styles so in the end there will be a somewhat comprehensive guide for next year’s trainers. What really excites me is the opportunity to use my skills as a youth worker and teacher, comibined with the responsibility of preparing official documentation such as a realistic and effective curriculum plus an efficient method of evaluation. This is the first year that the HELP program has begun so it’s in its very primary stage of development. However it’s cool to think that I could be a part of a teaching approach (training student leaders) that is still in its infancy in Hong Kong. Everyone wants to learn English here too, much like in China, and the fact that this program is delivered only in English is a huge draw for many schools. Anyways, I’m quite pumped and although I’m aware of the limitations and drawbacks of working with a non profit organization, I’m pretty sure I will give it a go.
So after what was supposed to be a short and sweet meeting, I left the office after 4+ hours and headed to an internet café. The first one I found was on the third floor of this dilapidated building, sandwiched between an enormous department store and an office building. The second I walked in, I had to blink and readjust my eyes to the darkness. The blinds were tightly shut and there were about 40 computers crammed into a small room which stank of cigarette smoke and sweat. Although pretty disgusted with the place, I couldn’t bring myself to leave and find another place. My right knee has been bothering me these past couple of days, it feels like there are these long sharp needles digging underneath my kneecap, it hurts the more i walk but unfortunately being in HK requires a lot of walking. So even though I was not impressed at all with this place, I stayed. I only meant to check email quickly and do some flat hunting, but after more than 2 hours, I was still there. By then every computer was occupied (school had just let out) and I was surrounded by 14 year old boys in their school uniforms yelling at one another while they shot and punched and killed each other on their virtual online games. Not only was their jeering and cheering ridiculously loud, it seemed that every speaker was turned to full blast and I could barely concentrate through all the sound effects of the games, which btw, is frightening realistic. I believe I was the only female in the whole room and I definitely know that I was the only customer who was a) not yelling, screaming, cursing at the screen b) looking up the price of 2 bedroom flats in Disco Bay. I also did some research on postgraduate degrees offered at HK Uni, still thinking about taking a course. Quite a variety of classes, most in English. Still gotta hunt around.
I dunno what has overcome me, but i'm overwhelmed with fatigue again, so off to bed it is.
bonne nuit!
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