To respond to Pete's query: no, I don't have a picture of the door, and it's fixed now. Sorry, but after I burst out I didn't think of taking a photo, funnily enough.

2nd September: Second day of the month and of my working life. After a tough first day some were surprised, and relieved, that I actually turned up: apparently, it's not uncommon for people to scapa at the first sign of teaching. After the efforts taken in getting interviewed, getting my visa, and coming here, I don't think I want to duck out now. Anyway, I first taught some 10-year-olds (or thereabouts) and they were surprisingly tame - though that wouldn't last, as I discovered in later lessons. Plus I taught a couple of older groups, the latter of which lasts two hours, so a bit of a slog. After a tiring first lesson, I learnt from other teachers that the students in a 2-hour lesson, finishing at 9.15pm, are perfectly happy to have a 5-10min break in the middle. So am I, for that matter, so I'm doing it for all my subsequent lessons.

3rd September: Working-wise, same as Monday, though things are getting a little more comfortable across the board. If I had any extra-curricular activities during this week, I certainly can't remember them - there's a developed routine of work, drink round the corner, sleep, work etc.

4th September: Nothing new on the work front, but still a tiring day's work. Even though I often want to get straight home after work, the prospect of a nice cold beer when I'm completely dehydrated (partially due to talking in my lessons, but chiefly due to the insane humidity which has given me a permanent veil of sweat over my whole body) is too alluring.

5th September: Final day of the week, and thankfully the teaching Gods have deigned to give me the easiest teaching day of the week, with little kids, relaxed young people and one of my trusty adult groups. The little kids only have 1hr lessons, not 1.5hrs, so my total day is somewhat shorter. The school was nice enough to provide pizza and beer to congratulate us on the first week. Very good. A bunch of us then went to a fellow teacher's flat to have a bit of a drink and a bit of fun, along with a few Ukrainian students, girlfriends, and teachers from the sister institution, the Language Academy. A good time was had by all, but I don't think these people understand how you're supposed to play charades - films, songs, stuff like that, not single random words, surely? Meh.

I'll cover the weekend tomorrow, and might well get up to date.