Teaching English...

With all my worrying about money,
I started thinking a lot about working whilst travelling.

I have thought for a while that it might be a good idea to do a Tefl before we go to give us an option of teaching English when we're there.
I think in China particularly, it might be cool to settle for a few months in one place and earn some money.

Not sure I really have the confidence for it though!
I know JW would be great, he is really good with kids, and did a few years in a US summer camp, but I can be a bit shy in 'stand up in front strangers' type situation.
I would really love to do an art teaching thing or at least incorporate art into it somehow.
I think I would be more confident teaching really little kiddies, and using art a lot to teach them.

worried about money

I have been living with my parents for 4 months, and I feel like Ive haven't really saved ANYTHING!

With January being a total write off and April being in SA, I just haven't felt that I had anything to put in my savings account.

It pisses me off, because SO MUCH of what we're doing relies on us having enough money.

And Ive been spending WAY TOO MUCH since I moved offices to Soho.

From now on, I will save EVERY PENNY!

Ok im done shouting....

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet...

The sun is out in LONDON!

Ok, so its not really that hot, and it keeps going behind the clouds, but still its making me feel all summery and happy.

Not long till there are lots of sitting in the park moments...

Worries

Me and JW went for a beer by the riverside last night, and I bumped into my friend and her on-off boyfriend.
We chatted a lot about travelling, cos she is going with another of our friends in September for 3 months to Thailand, Malaysia and possibly beyond.

I started to feel a little twang of jealousy...( I dont feel good about being envious at all)
I mean she is going sooner than me, and with a girl friend, which would be pretty cool.
And she is covering a lot of the areas we are going, but before us.

And then i snapped out of it and realised the following...

A. I am going for 18 months, maybe more and really investing a lot into this... with a thought in the back of my mind that we'll stay and get jobs, or at least keep travelling. So for us this is serious.

B. Im going with JW which is totally cool, and better than going with a girl friend- because as sad as it sounds he really is my best friend, and the person I like spending time with the most :)
and besides I plan to possibly meet up with them and some other people I know who are travelling if we manage to cross paths.

C. I should be happy for my friend, that she is doing something exciting like me and not be so envious! Its very unhealthy!

I guess im just worried about it actually going ahead smoothly, and worried about having enough money- so when someone is telling me about their well laid plans it worries me and make me envious that they are so sorted and organised!

Visas suck

JW is currently going through the process of becoming a 'British Citizen'.

and it sucks...

He wanted to keep his South African passport and have dual citizenship, which involves getting permission from the SA government, but also getting proof from the UK government that he hasn't yet applied for British citzenship, each step -of course- costs money and needs long-winded applications, and copies of passports sent off etc etc.

The idea is that the travelling will be so much easier if he has British citizenship, because the visas in various places will be easier and cheaper.

He is currently on 'indefinate leave to remain' for which he had to do a hilarious exam on 'Britishness' that honestly, no British person could ever pass!

So the final stage is the swearing-in cermony where you have to promise to serve the queen and country (and pay £800 of course)

ugg...