More Out Of Left Field

As though pondering the prospect of moving to Egypt (ongoing) wasn't enough, I now have the possibility of moving to Kazakhstan or Papua, Indonesia, to chew on. Neither are at all concrete; both got in touch specifically to make me aware of the challenging circumstances of the locations before I proceed with my application. Confidence inspiring, it is not. Still, I am up for a challenge and an experience that I'll remember forever. I love where I live and what I do, but it appears that it takes a stronger person than me to stave off that feeling of the mundane that creeps in from time to time. Not much time on the planet, lots of things to see and so. Mind you, the email from the principal in Papua didn't paint a pretty picture. Some of it is unrepeatable on here in case my mother pays an unexpected visit!

I'm still thinking about Cairo, watching things unfold, trying to envisage what life would be like there, and trying to come to a decision that feels right, whilst still being rational! To be fair, the school is still meeting other applicants, so the decision could easily be taken out of my hands. The situation in Egypt seems to be heading towards a measure of inevitability, and with what happened in Tunisia and what's happening in Jordan, it brings to mind the snowballing revolutionary movements across Eastern Europe over the late-eighties and early-nineties. I wonder what modern-day Havels and Walesas are carving out their own and their countries' future as we go about our daily lives, unable to grasp the tension and sense of expectation they must be experiencing. I don't agree with over-playing the role of people in bringing about changes such as these (there are bigger forces at play, just as in Eastern Europe in the eighties), but it's hard not to be strengthened by images of squares full of people celebrating the ability to dissent, perhaps for the first time in their lives!

Well, this will more than likely be it from me for the next few days. Ji and I are going to Shanghai in the morning until Sunday. Looks like mild weather. I think I have packed everything I'll need. All visas and so on appear to be in order. Hopefully it will all go according to plan. Ok, a slightly merry Ji has just come in, so I better go help her pack. Did you pick that up? I have already packed, she hasn't? Did you get that? I'm great? Right? Happy lunar new year everyone, I'll write more after the weekend.

None The Wiser

Hey all, hope the weekend treated you well and that the week hasn't started too badly. As Egypt continues to erupt, I'm still mulling over the possibility of moving to Cairo as a Primary school ESL teacher in August. One minute I'm sure I'm not, the next I'm sue I am. Some people have come straight out and said I'd be mad to (thanks for your forthright honesty as always Mary) and others have said I should go for it (although I can't quite remember who right now, and could well just have convinced myself someone did...). I'm keeping a close eye on the news, but the stumbling blocks in my mind lay elsewhere. I think I need to STOP thinking about it for a few days. I'm sure all our thoughts are with the people of Egypt in their struggle to overthrow Mubarak, or at least affect change in their country. It was interesting hearing Tony Blair talking of, "change, not chaos" in the country. He was fairly honest in admitting that 'the West' overlooked Mubarak's 'excesses' in return for his support of the Middle-Eastern peace process. Interesting how statesmen can do that once they have left national politics and moved to non-elected roles. Bill Clinton springs to mind in the same vein.

Moving seamlessly from international politics to... my weekend. I had my first show with 'Posh' (Cheon's band name....) on Saturday night at Club Spot in Hongdae. It went really well, to be honest. A few people took videos so I'll try to recover them and put them up on facebook. It was strange playing in a club to an almost 100% Korean audience. Mel came along and there were two random foreign rock-chicks up the front, but that was it. A Korean crowd really WATCH bands here - it was eerily quiet between songs but they were all going nuts as soon as the music started. There wasn't much I could do to break the silence with my crappy Korean so it was left to Mel to cheer us all up with her cricket impressions. Anyway, Cheon asked me to join them on a more permanent basis, if I could. So, as long as it doesn't clash with 'Dead End Friends', I'll be singing with them as they try to put together an album of original tracks (Cheon sang a couple on the night) and play gigs around Hongdae and Gangnam. I think it'll be an interesting experience, so I'm up for it.

No work today so I tried to get a good bit of dissertation work done and applied to another batch of international schools. Word back already from a school in Kazakhstan (I only do glamorous) and I even applied for a Citizenship job back in the UK, such is my complete and utter indecision and lack of focus. Ji and I are heading off to Shanghai for Lunar New Year on Wednesday morning so I'm going to come back 100% set on one particular course and just go all out for that! Perhaps...