After the get to know each other session yesterday, it was down to the business of setting up the school today. However, today was our last day of freedom before the students arrive tomorrow, so a shopping trip down to Broadmead was top of the agenda: new trainers, razors, shampoo and a fantastic penguin towel. Luke and I both bought one from Superdrug and decided that this could be an ideal punishment for misbehaving students. The penguin towel is coloured blue and pink and has a hood. Severe shame awaits those that cross my path.
The teachers I'm working with are a great bunch. Luke is 32 and just returned from a 6 month tour of duty teaching in Pakistan. Adam and Erica are from Dawlish, newly qualified and hoping to teach in Spain or Portugal after this. Tiffany is local (Horfield) and has just finished a contract in Italy, Gwen is from some toadhole in Mid-Wales but taught in Hong Kong. The director, Ross, seems a nice chap and the Welfare & Leisure Organiser, Kate is full of beans and has been telling some hilarious stories about last year;s school. No doubt I will need 8 pairs of eyes and ears and sonar to catch potential troublemakers in this vast school. The school itself is beautiful. Three astroturf pitches, countless tennis courts, theatre all set in delightful grounds that you would expect from £20,000 a year exclusive girls boarding school.
The students arrive tomorrow from Italy, France and Russia. The morning will be dominated by placement tests after which we will place into Pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced classes. The food is awesome and my room is basic but comfortable. Thats it. Oh and we've got The World Cup final as well tomorrow, should be interesting.