Well it has been a very busy week with a lot happening. The pollution has started to climb again with a high of 327 seen on the AQI earlier this week and a climb above 200 earlier this afternoon. You could barely see the sun today as it was just so smoggy. I was forced to run with a mask on. This was going well until I got so warm that it unfortunately caused the seal on my mask to not work quite as well as hoped. It also backs up why you shouldn't run if you need to wear a mask. This proves my Dad's motto that exercise is bad for you.
If you read my post last week I am sure that you would expect me to have had numerous flattering comments about my beautifully cut and expensively coloured hair. I am afraid that I will have to disappoint you. Not one person noticed my change of hair. Despite the hairdresser's verdict that I arrived with hair that screamed "tackorama"and left with suitable hair, apparently the change was too subtle. The only other reasons I can possibly consider for no one noticing are that they either temporarily lost their sight or that they were just too jealous.
Aside from the doom and gloom of pollution and a distinct lack of compliments I have a ray of sunshine, a silver lining or some might say a golden ticket. Despite being unsure whether to stay or go I put my proverbial hat in the ring for a few jobs and spent a few days in email conversation with a school prior to 2 Skype interviews and then an offer, which was accepted. My husband and I are very excited as we are heading back to the beach and away from the smog. In 7-8 months time we will be flying to Phuket.
I had signed up for a job fair and more than one teaching recruitment site. I was intending on going to a job fair in January, though I was a little uncertain that I wanted to go through the cattle call again. It's also pretty crazy looking at the descriptions and school preferences trying to determine if you are really the person that they are looking for. There is also the added pressure of schools that do not like to employ teachers with a non-teaching spouse and the fact that I come with a Labradoodle in tow too.
We did intend to stay in Suzhou for longer than the initial 2 year contract and we have some fabulous friends that we are really going to miss. The pollution was definitely directing us to the door. We were having doubts about leaving as we were having such a great year here. The second year is always easier as you know where you are going. You know where all of the fun places to go are. You've built those great relationships that matter. All in all we have been having such a great time. It is definitely bitter sweet leaving, but a job in paradise is too good to pass up.
The other wonderful thing about the whole situation is that now the decision has made is that I can enjoy the rest of my time in Suzhou to the full. I am through with the uncertainties of what to do and where to go. We have some very excited friends and family who are all wanting to visit. Adam however has joking that only people who visited us in China are allowed and is in charge of bookings.
My lungs are pretty excited too!
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