Well it's the first day back at school after a 7 week holiday and I'm knackered! My feet are killing me and I feel like I could sleep for a hundred years.

We're teaching for 9 days straight and even though my birthday is on Saturday I have to work :( It's the most 'unbirthday' birthday I've ever had. I'm not excited at all, just looking forward to the 9 days being over and a break at the end. 8 days to go :) Charles is taking me out for dinner but it won't be a big night because we both have to work on Sunday. We're going out for Korean Barbeque which is one of my fav types of food here. It's Tamzin's birthday on the 8th so after payday (15th) we're going to have a pissup to belatedly celebrate our birthdays.

I'd like to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to everyone back home who celebrates their birthday in March especially Maddy who turns 1!

Well I have to go and wash to dishes then do some lesson planning, bluk.

Miss you.
Love
Katrina

PS. Note to family, I have NOT forgotten that Will turns 2 this month, I am currently wracking my brains on what kind of present to send to him! any ideas?

written by  KatrinaB on March 1, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Happy Easter! You can forget here when Easter is because there's just about nothing to remind you. Charles and I saw some Easter Eggs at Metro (wholesale shopping warehouse) last week and that's been about it. I hope you all have a lovely long weekend at home and think of me at work on Friday and Monday :)

There are now 4 weeks to go to May week (1 week holiday), which we all can't wait for! I've been a bit under the weather with a cold that the students kindly passed on :( Last week was a bit of a struggle and I did NOTHING on the weekend to try to recover quickly. By the end of today I was ready to collapse onto Tamzin's couch (in her office) and not get up again. I was so tired my eyes hurt LOL An early night for me!

Here is a photo of the present (mentioned in my last post) that I sent my very cute nephew Will for his second birthday.

The weirdest weather 'thing' happened this morning. We (the teachers) were all at school for the Monday morning flag raising ceremony at 8.30am. It started to rain as soon as we gathered outside and we had to rush back indoors so we didn't get drenched. Most of us stayed as it's not worth going back home before our first class starts. So Geno, Freddie and myself were chatting away in Tamzin's office and it started getting dark outside. At first I thought it was just heavy rain clouds but in about 5 minutes you couldn't see anything outside the window and it was pitch black. We went outside and were greated by an amazing view of an eerie orange glow, rain, gusting winds and darkness. It was 10am and it looked like mid-night. Geno and Freddie think it must have been an eclipse of the sun but I haven't been able to find anything on the internet about it. There was a site the said there was an eclipse on the 19th of March, maybe they miscalculated. I'll see if the news has any info on the weird weather. It was actually quite an experience and I wish I had my camera so I could show you. It only lasted about 30-40 minutes but the rain didn't go away LOL

The rainy season has begun and I can look forward to pouring rain, splashing through puddles and drooping with the humidity :)

I hope Autumn is treating you all kindly and I wish you a safe and happy Easter.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on April 2, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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A quick message to say happy birthday to my Mum.

We were thinking of you today.

Love
Katrina & Charles

written by  KatrinaB on April 16, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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An update to let you know what's going on.

I'm on May Day holidays for a week and then the final countdown to the end of school beings :) The weather is starting to get nasty (high humidity) so I'm not looking forward to the classrooms which only have fans. YIKES!

Charles and I went to Shenzhen where we suppose to stay for 2 nights but unfortunately some work issues came up so we had to come back early. We're heading back to the Sheraton next weekend to make up it. Can't wait.

My Grandma died a few weeks ago from cancer so I'm glad I said goodbye before I left. My new niece or nephew is due TODAY which is giving us all something to look forward to and my cousin Trac has her third baby due in a month..so new babies everywhere :)

I'm planning to visit Oz at the end of July for 3-4 weeks but I'll post the dates when I know for sure. I'm looking forward seeing you all!

Happy birthday to Kel of Thomas St, Geelong who's b'day is on Tuesday and my sister Bron who's b'day is on the 12th.

I've put more photos on Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/katrinab).

That's about it really :)

Bye
Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on May 4, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I would like to announce the arrival of my beautiful niece, Ruby Leila, who was born at 7am on May 11 weighing 8lb 7oz.

Ruby has lots of black hair and looks like her father! Bron and Ruby are doing fine and Mum has been teaching Will how to say Ruby :)

This morning I'm off to buy lots of little pink girly clothes for Ruby...FUN FUN FUN!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on May 11, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I'm sitting on my couch typing away on my new notebook (b'day pressie from Charles) with the air conditioner on high.

Summer is here with a vengeance and we're all feeling exhausted and lethargic. The temperature if 30 degrees but real feel is 36. You walk outside and 2 seconds later you break out into a sweat....yuk. One day last week it was 31 with a real feel of 41! Not much fun when the class rooms only have fans, we all hide in Tamzin's office because it's air conditioned :)

We finish school on the 10th of July and I'm planning to come home for about 3-4 weeks depending on flight availability. I'll send emails when I know for sure and arrange catch-ups!

Not much else happening, just counting down to the end of school and everyone is getting excited about going home.

Ruby is doing well and Will is coping with his new little sister LOL

Better go and so some lesson planning...looking forward to NEVER having to do that again!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on May 26, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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With only 4-5 weeks of teaching left, we're all getting excited about the prospect of going home.

The wet season as arrived and we're getting thunderstorms just about everyday which gives us a brief respite from the revolting heat. The thunder is so loud that my teeth rattle and I can hear the crackle of the lightning! I love it...as long as I don't caught in the downpour :) They're over quickly and heat come back five times as bad because of the extra moisture in the air...just can't win. My air-con at home is getting a work out.

There's a lot of pressure on the students and Chinese teachers now that the year-end exams are coming up so I'm trying to make my review classes fun. It's a bit hard because of the heat, it's makes the students lethargic and all they want to do is watch cartoons and listen to music. The students are huge fans of Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry.

I've put some photos of the school up on Flickr (www.Flickr.com/photos/katrinab) for anyone who is interested in joining the Winnerway team for next semester. I've really enjoyed my time at Winnerway and while I won't miss lesson planning (like anyone else who's sane) I will miss the students (well, most of them) and definitely all the friends I have made here. You learn a lot about yourself and it has been the one of the best decisions I've ever made (coming to China and choosing Winnerway) and the only regret is that I couldn't instantly zap myself back to Oz for my Grandma's funeral. Well, I think that's enough free advertising for school :)

Back to me....still not sure when I'll be home but at this stage it looks like late July and I should be there for about 3 weeks. I'll probably make the booking this weekend.

Ruby is doing well and Will is adjusting to his little sister.

For all those people who were effected by the Kerang rail tragedy that happened this afternoon, I'm thinking of you all the way over here. To my knowledge no one I know has been hurt and I have my fingers crossed. God bless those who didn't survive and their families.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on June 5, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Quick Update: I'm booking my flight on Monday so I'll soon know when I'm coming back to Oz and arrange times to catch up with everyone. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone :)

I can't quite believe that there's only two weeks of school left and then everything changes again. We're in the middle of our Oral English tests which I was over after the first day! I'm not sure what the last week will hold but it will no doubt involve chaos :)

Congrats to Trac, Andy, Hannah and Charlotte on the arrival of Eva Lily, granddaughter number 6 for Uncle David and Aunty Judy :)
See you all soon!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on June 23, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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It's 4.30am on my last day of teaching at Winnerway and I'm having a bout of insomnia so I thought I'd write an update.

I can't believe I'm finally here, the last day of teaching. The kids have been a touch crazy this week even though they have their big end-of-school year exams on Friday. They're all looking forward to the long Summer holidays.

I have finally got my act together and I'm flying into Melbourne on the 26th of July. I'll probably be there for 3-4 weeks before heading back to Charles and China. I still have to figure out when I'll be where (ie. Kerang vs Geelong) so when I talk properly to Mum and Bron (who is kindly making all sorts of appointments for me...most important to see Lisa my hairdresser!) I'll send emails to try and arrange times.

It's all a bit sad too as Aine, Ville, Daniel and Klara are heading back to the 'real world' permanently :( Sounds scary lol

Well, I'm feeling a little bit sleepy now so I'll try the bed thing again. I don't have to get up til 9.30 so I can still get another 4 hours sleep or so...crazy I know! I vaguely remember having to get out of bed at 6am in Geelong to work in Melbourne...don't miss that at all :)

See you all soon.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on July 4, 2007 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Just a quick note to let everyone know I'm back in town!

After a very very long flight with no sleep I am finally feeling human again and ready to send emails and arrange times for catch-ups.

It's great to be home even if it's only for a little while though I do miss Charles :(

See you all soon.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on July 29, 2007 from Kerang, Australia
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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