Ayeesha's job log: 8

The story so far... Returning from Newcastle to Hong Kong (where she grew up), Ayeesha Shahani has found jobs but not yet a flat.

Falling behind

I am sooooo behind on my Montessori teacher training course assignments that it is starting to worry me a little. This is the problem with distance learning courses, there is no one on your back, no deadlines and no one around you who is doing the same thing as you. Ironically, I had previously listed these ‘problems’ as benefits of distance learning courses, but having recently become aware of my tendency to procrastinate when it comes to getting stuck into my assignments, I have now noticed that all of a sudden everything is prioritised over my coursework because it is the only thing on my agenda that I won’t be immediately reprimanded for not doing. Although my procrastination is inexcusable, without any visible consequences for my lack of action I just can’t help pushing my coursework further and further down my list of things to do. I need a solution!

No time!!!

As you all know, since I arrived I have been desperately trying to get a flat of my own. The quickest way to do this of course is to work like a donkey by taking on as many jobs as I can in the shortest space of time and save up all my earnings for my big initial payment (two months’ rent as deposit plus one month upfront, so I need three months’ rent in total). So that’s what I have been doing. I now have four jobs and work seven days a week!

The hours are frankly killing me and I find myself constantly exhausted but the only thing that is keeping me going is the picture of me in a comfy bed all to myself and a wardrobe for my clothes (as opposed to the suitcase they are in now!)

Flat hunting

Everyday after work I have appointments lined back to back looking at flats all over the city. Initially I wanted to live somewhere outside of the city and commute to get a bit more space, pay a little less rent and have more peace and quiet. Then I came to my senses and realised I am a single gal in my 20s and if there is one time in your life that you can realistically live in a tiny shoebox bang in the middle of town and live the fast-paced city life, then this is the time to do it! I can have the big house on some outlying island when I’m married with kids, but for now, I quite like the thought of the extra half an hour in bed in the morning, walking to work in three minutes and having an abundance of bars and restaurants right downstairs!

I sure picked an awful time of year to flat hunt though, imagine walking up narrow stairwells of old Chinese buildings in the middle of town, in the height of summer, when it is 28 degrees and 100% humidity outside…not fun. I have probably looked at around 50 apartments in total! I just can’t understand why it's so difficult to find something in my price range that is well…livable! One apartment I lost out to was a 400 sqft studio in central and the people who beat me to it were a family of four!! Only in Hong Kong are people so used to having so little space that they are actually willing to be stacked like sardines if it means they have a convenient location.

There is one quirky little apartment that I find myself quite taken with, however it’s in the same building as my younger sister. I’m not sure how she would feel about me moving in upstairs but since it is the cheapest and the nicest that I have seen so far, I am tempted to just jump on it and hope that any issues wih her will just resolve themselves over time. At least the move wouldn’t be too much of a hassle since I would chuck my worldy belongings into the lift on her floor and out onto mine!

School report

In between the end of summer school and the beginning of the new term, we had what we call Teachers Week, which is allocated time for all the teachers to prepare their materials, lessons and calendars for the coming school year. It is also when any new staff are given their introductions and made to attend orientation workshops etc. It was wonderful to be at work without the kids there and to actually spend some time getting to know the other teachers. It made me wonder if maybe there is a certain personality type that is attracted to Montessori or Pre-school teaching because since starting my new job I have found that these women are ALL so easy going, patient, thoughtful, creative, artistic, organised and logical. Also, I have to admit that there is definitely something to be said for an all-female work environment. There is a real team mentality and I find teachers are just amazingly cooperative with one another, a real task force when it comes to getting things done!
 
Working here sure beats the crappy bar jobs in Newcastle and the rough disrespectful kids I have been forced to teach in the past. I am surrounded by people who I can really relate to, feel a connection with and be comfortable around. Plus the kids are a never-ending supply of hilarious one-liners.
 
I guess if you are lucky enough to go to work everyday and do something that you know you are good at, something that you know you can excel in and something that flows naturally from within you no matter what…then you know  you are in the right job!

• See Ayeesha's previous job logs.

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