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And so, this Sunday I’m leaving for London. Two weeks in the capital city, one for teacher development course and one for
exploring the city., It’s going to be a very expensive holiday because 1 pound is 4 Litas. But I’m an experienced traveller
and know how to travel on budget. It would be great to meet up with other bloggers if you’re in London.

Summer was poor with lessons. Part of my summer camp was cancelled because there were no groups. I had few private lessons but people are calling/emailing about September. I already put up its adverts online.

So much for now.

I visited the annual book fair in Vilnius today. I spent about 100lt on books
that might be useful for my city guide work. I have passed my history and
geography tests and now the part for art and architecture is due to start.

I have one group of students, one pair of students and many individual students.
My current timetable starts at noon and continues into late evening. I spend
a few mornings for my private Italian lessons that I decided to continue.

My trip to London is now certain. I have had the guts to submit the paperwork
to get Grundvig funding and their reply is due to the end of this month.

I have uploaded some photos of Vilnius right here:
Vilnius

Just a short post to get this blog on top of the list

My life is now divided between private lessons and guide courses.
This term I have more people to teach and hopefully that will
continue into the spring. Guide courses are really interesting
but the practical part with mock excursions really leaves
a lot to be desired.

I’ve been taking photos of Vilnius lately. Here are some for your enjoyment.
It’s the most beautiful city in the world, no matter how *they *don’t want us
brag that.

It’s the 2nd of Jan, 2009. Being a public holiday (the nation’s too hangoverish
to report to work) it will last until the 5th.

The fireworks from the Cathedral Square were supposed to be seen
‘from space’ but the fog ruined it all. It was best on TV. The city is
filled with events and shows but it’s too cold for my taste (-6′C).

I have resigned from my teaching position at the college. I heard my
mom swear at that O_______O. I just got tired and bored, don’t know
which came first. It wasn’t about the salary either- I knew what it was
when I picked it up. I just need a break. I still have two weeks to
work until I leave, that’s the notice period. I guess I act kind of
irresposnible but I just hate wasting my precious time for a dead cause.

More news…1) I started filling in my private students timetable. Christmas
break is aprticularly notorious because the whole nation’s on holiday. I
expect the book to start in mid-January. 2) I paid for an advert on
an online portal of 1588.lt, they give info on phone or by email. They split
my bill in 4 parts so that’s not going to hurt…much. 3) I already have
a private student who wants 10 lessons intensively because he’s leaving in
a week’s time. He agreed to my rates but the trick is the weekends’ lessons
are at his place. Well, his girlfriend’s place, I assume. I wasn’t sure about it
but he was recommended by a friend and agrees to pay upfront, as I usually
charge upfront. Today’s the first lesson. 4) I paid for my business licence
but the line was huge and it will be issued only next week. The taxes
and bills keep creeping up, Vilnius is not a capital of culture but
a capital of crisis.

I need to remember to water my plants.

I’m about to survive my first week in the second summer camp.
The good news is that there are much smaller groups and
they’re slower, so we do less but it takes time. The bad news
is that it’s still hard work and kids aren’t motivated. It
cannot be helped. I try to pass my time and leave asap.
The little ones are a terrible mix from first to fourth graders,
so while some do handouts others get to colour pictures
(otherwise they burst into tears!). Sometimes I feel I am
very cruel by insisitng on correct spelling but if not me, who else?
What’s also good, I received my pay for the first camp.

My other work is slowly going forward too. I excpect to
start Present Simple with the two low-levels and
Present Continuous wth the higher-one. I’ve got
only one month left but that is manageable. What is
left to be desired is their actually learning new words by heart.
I hate to do all the speaking because they keep
ruffling their notes for that or another word.

There are also two or possibly three private students
who want lessons but I’m fully booked, so I will pass them onto
my Mom. I’m going to the local tax inspection tomorrow
to sort out the paperwork. I’m also seeing my dentist,
working and meeting a friend from Poland.

My toe stitches were removed yesterday and the doctor
will phone me in case my mole biopsy test was bad. I cannot
wait to go picking berries this weekend! Below you can see some
pictures of what our berries are like.

Yesterday I googled advertisment pages for work offers about
translating. One company replied with a trial translation. I think I
did it well but I will leave it for a couple of days to rest before
the final revision and sending. Translating isn’t my cup of tea
but when the season is low, ‘even a crab is a fish’.

I’m feeling very burnt-out. The second summer camp starts
next week and I don’t really want to do it. It’s a good job
with one or two clock hours per day only and it seems
that there will be less kids than in the previous camp, but my
motivation isn’t up. It’s unfair that teachers have to take up
classes they hate just because they need money.

I haven’t thought about my holidays yet. I’m going to
go to a gym and language courses (Italian or Japanese)
for my own pleasure. I can’t wait for August to come!

The good news is that I got another private students
who got my number at the summer camp I hate, so
it’s a bargain. The pay is good and the work isn’t a burden.

My mole was removed and I had my toe bandaged
again. The stitches are to be removed on Wednesday. I’m not
sure how I will be able to walk then but I cannot take
a sick-leave because I’ll lose my hours and my pay.

I am seriously planning to take on tons of work
beginning with September so that I could afford to leave on holidays
in July and August next year. My mom got her paycheck
today with her vacation money and we really need to
find her a second job soon. Luckily, there are still
one or two private students asking for lessons. Our rates
are low as compared to language courses.

Incoherent today, please do excuse me.

According to the new law, this autumn is when a foreign
language is introduced in the second grade. Until then it was
only in the secondary level and in the primary level if the
parents asked for it. Now it is going to be compulsory, though
many schools had it anyway. This is a chance for primary teachers
without English and English teachers without primary teacher’s
qualifications to obtain new competences in different courses.

I am also looking into gaining another degree in educology, such
as androgogics (spelling?) but then again it will be paid studies
and I doubt they will be highly useful. Maybe it’s time to study
something I want, not something I need? That will make
me somewhat happier, I guess.

I have a plan to go to a teacher development course in
England next year. I am saving for that because I don’t
think that applying for grants is very effective. At the same
time it will be a chance to see London, finally! Not that I
am craving for it, but that would be interesing.

Lately I have been spending a considerable abount of money
on books. It seems that the inflation will eat it anyway, so
better equip my library with handy material. At the moment I am
looking for a good Legal English coursebook.

There will be many teacher development conferences in April
and May. I intend to go to as many as I can, even if I
have to cancel my lessons. That’s the best thing in being
self-employed!

Today is the Sunday before Easter and Christians celebrate
Palm Sunday. In Lithuania, people buy ‘verba’ that will
bring good spirit to the house after it is blessed in the church.
There are many traditional ‘verba’ and some more original.
This year I got late to the city and the weather wasn’t very
good, so I got to see only a bit of Palm Sunday.

Nothing much happens. I am editing a few articles
in ELT that I want to finish writing and also
browsing websites for online PhD courses. I also
sent tons of emails to different places asking about
short-term or summer positions but not any
luck.