Bournemouth

Now down in Bournemouth, which is making intermittent attempts to be sunny. I started my TEFL course yesterday, and already it feels like a long time ago, as the course is fairly intensive, and even if you're not feeling under pressure, if most of the people around you are, it all adds up. I'm trying not to take it too seriously and wait for the tutors to give me guidance if I appear to be going wrong, instead of trying to beat myself up about making a perfect lesson. Lots of practice comes first. The day is from 9 to 5, with the expectation of 2-3 hours homework.

I'm staying in a homestay, 5 minutes from the school, with one of my fellow TEFL students, Polixeni who is Greek and the same age as me, and a younger Korean student who is here for five months. The family I'm staying with are very friendly but very busy. The food comes in lovely big generous portions as soon as you get in after school.

Following the last entries about my pathetic adventures in hospital, everything has now healed up/over, stitches out etc. I'm not lifting weights yet but I can manage to get out for a run and I sort of wish I had a bicycle down here, but frankly I can live without it for the month.

What I did manage to do was lose my mobile phone on the train on the way down, so I'm just not safe to travel on my own. I hope this attrition of possessions levels off before I start mislaying articles of clothing or parts of my body.

I'm enjoying myself. Everyone on the course is enthusiastic and interesting, and I hope that things continue as well as they've started.