Archive for September, 2011

It’s red week at the daycare. Last week it was blue. Being a rather new daycare we still lack quite many teaching materials. Instead of the daycare management, I have to get the materials when ever I have the time. Materials like – craft paper, card paper, paints, and other craft materials. Well, to find where to buy at a good price that is the problem for me. Since I only have a certain amount of budget, I cannot buy materials in bulk.

At the moment I really need lots of colourful cards and a laminating machine. Saw a website called cut cardstock and wish that they would be able to send over to my part of the world. It would be really easy. This is the time when online shopping becomes handy. Instead of I do the walking around and visit from one art shop to another, I can just browse online and let my fingers do the walking as they say.

I work alone for now. But I will have someone to help starting from next week hopefully so maybe that person would be able to help me with material shopping as well. Then I can concentrate on just making teaching materials. Hopefully, the kids would enjoy the craft I am preparing for them to make tomorrow.

With work, and all the changes going on in my life, I simply didn’t have the time to really concerntrate on Japanese studies. It is indeed unfortunate. It is just one of those times when I wish that we have more than 24 hours a day and 3 times more energy. Japanese books in the drawers waiting patiently for me to take them out for review and study.

But what to do? Work and saving money for rainy days is much more important at the moment. Money for living everyday life, money for savings, money for pension and soon perhaps money for senior life insurance if need to work in old age even.  Nothing left in the end for Japanese classes. Well, for now at least. However, once many things are settled and work has become a lot like routine and stable, perhaps I can start back doing the things I really like – studying Japanese language.

It has been rather foggy today after the storm we had last evening. A pretty scary storm it was, especially when you are living on top of a hill on the top floor of a 4 floor apartment building. Well, the howling of the wind and watching how the trees swayed wildly was scary. I’m just glad there no thunder or lightning.

Other than that, it was not such a bad day. I was at home half of the day, then later had to buy something for the daycare and tutor in the evening. The other half was a home too. He has been staying home for nearly a week now since he lost his job. Well, the company had no money. So he has been looking for a new job. There is a job prospect as his ex-boss recommended him to another company. So fingers crossed for him. We all hope that he would find a job soon as there are bills to be paid and car needs to repair – back light has to be repaired but the shop didn’t know how much they would charge us just yet. Wish they had an auto shop software that they can give an estimation immediately. What ever it is, my salary is simply not enough to pay all. It would be help but still won’t be enough.

I hope tomorrow would be a brighter day and that we would get some sort of good news.

After 2 months of searching, 3 interviews, I found a new place to work at. A daycare that just started up. I need to travel at least 1 hour to work and an hour back. But I only work 3 days a week. For now at least. The salary is low for now, but will increase when I work more than 3 days a week and again after 3 months probation and completion of daycare management course and health check up. Even so the salary isn’t that good in general, not that I can even buy Polaris Ranger Accessories with my monthly salary. As an American friend said, Hungary is not really a place to make money but is a good place to spend it. It is true. So many things to do and see and spend money on – museums, events, clubs,  concerts – but the average salary is quite low by European standards I think.

Anyway, at the daycare we have 3 children. They only been there for less than a month. The routine is simple everyday. They arrive between 8:30 a.m to 9 a.m. I have to prepare and give them morning snacks at 9. Then they can have a little freetime play. At 9:30 a.m, either I or another teacher will have to conduct the circle time. At 10 a.m it is eating fruits time, then  we go to the park. Be there for an hour or an hour and 15 minutes. 11.30 is lunch time, and 12 they go for nap. At around 2:30 they got up and a little snacks and free play. Parents come between 3 – 4 p.m.

That is pretty straight forward. I love this job. I can only wish that they pay more.

We managed to get a new kindergarten for the little one and I a new job. I am excited and a little nervous. But I know I need to keep on being positive. Both new kindergarten and new job starts next week.

The new apartment is slowly becoming more and more comfortable. Love the place. Cleaner air, quiet street, and spectacular view both day and night – especially night for me. I finally got my own work corner. Bought a HEMNES secretary desk and set up my bookshelf and everything.

The ex-colleagues are asking about when we are going to have a housewarming party. Said they would even prepare a nice housewarming party gift. But I think that won’t be too soon. Too busy with new going ons. I only got one friend to come over, even with all the mess.

Once all the settling down is done. I am going to look for Teachers’ training course that I can complete online. That is the plan.

The internet has become such an important component in many peoples’ lives that it would be really hard to live without a good connection. I recall the days when we had to dial on to the internet and it would take ages just to connect, and slow loading of pages is not something uncommon. Yet we thought that was good enough.

Now that sort of connection would be unbearable. Exactly the sort of feeling I’m going through now. I’m only using my mobile phone as a modem to connect to the internet. Though it is extremely slow, but it is keeping me sane. We just moved to our new place, and there is no wifi internet yet. So I’m pretty much dependent on my mobile internet. I am thankful I got it. Though tomorrow the people are coming over to connect the internet. Too good to be true, but we still hope it is true. Compared to the current connection, browsing with wifi connection would be like driving a car with extremely good auto wheels – smooth.

Hopefully will be updating my blog with a better connection soon!