So, i passed the second interview with the board-of-director-fuddy-duddies, and am now a god-fearing, soon-to-be-skirt-wearing, employee of the Bangkok Christian College.  Yes, it's the new me.  Nobody need know that I'm actually an atheist lesbian with a fried egg tattooed on my leg.  That can be our little secret.

On Wednesday I go in to the new school to observe the classes I'll be taking over, and then I start work officially next Tuesday.

Since the only real way to find a place to live in this country is to go door-to-door, I spent Saturday wandering around Sathorn, walking into any place with a sign saying 'Rooms for Rent'.  It worked, too - I have found a smart studio apartment close to the school, for less than I thought I'd have to pay.  I move in next Sunday.  It'll be hard getting used to living in a small space again, after the last few months of luxury in a real house with badminton court, big kitchen, etc.  And our cat's just had kittens, cute little monkeys that I'll miss, because it's just not practical to keep a cat in a little apartment where it can't get outside.  Boo hoo.

Still, I'm very much enjoying my time off right now.  The last couple of weeks were difficult; a double job working and looking for work at the same time, especially since the DOS wouldn't let me miss any classes to go to interviews.  I wasn't too impressed, and my last afternoon at the school took the cake: I didn't even get a 'goodbye' or a 'good luck' from this supposed boss.  Is that just because he's South African?  I suspect it probably has something to do with it.

The kids, meanwhile, and the Thai teachers, were gorgeous, showering me in flowers, cards and presents, 'wai'ing me, the whole bit.  And I will miss the grade 1s - thery made teaching there for the last few months just about bearable.

But none of it matters any more.  I've got a new job, with a maximum of 18 students per class (although all boys - will that be a problem? - let's wait and see), friendly staff, only 20 classes a week (as opposed to the 26 we ended up doing at Praphamontree because of Bell's ongoing inability to recruit teachers), and a 10 minute walk to and from work.

I'll be living right by the Sky Train, no more nasty 3 hour taxi rides in infuriating traffic, close to my favourite area of Bangkok, full of good restaurants and bars.  No more used car joints and cheap brothels for me. This has got to be progress, right?

Still, I can't help being just a little bit nervous...