Coming to an end.

Coming to an end.

Memory is a funny thing. Chronologically I have been here for well over 6 months, though it doesn't feel that way until I focus on recalling my first few weeks, or Christmas, or other time markers. Instead, it has felt like it has flown by.
I told my landlord I'm leaving. Made up my little mind. My puma shoes are taking me somewhere else.

What now? Who knows, but I am ready for a change. Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Peru, Equador, USA, somewhere in the alps, Oman; they all have their own appeal. I'll apply to all though I'm thinking of either Japan or Korea. My minor addictions of good food, money, bboying, language and addiction to challenging myself exist in both countries. Portugal is not a challenge, it's easy. Too easy. No opportunity to be immersed. To feel confused. To have a learning curve. I like curves. Stocks, ability, progress. Like it all.

Oman scares some people I know. Muslim countries scare people, especially those connected to religion. I don't feel scared. I'm not a daring person, well not really. I'm not a fan of anger or conflict or war. Just of discovery.

Oman has a ring to it. I won't be denouncing anyone or anything. Anyone with more info on Oman please speak up now- (shouts to Aldhelm here). Asia first, if I get my act together.

The future is yet to be discovered.

As the school year comes to an end

Realisations from an academic year in Portugal

- Teaching teenagers is a euphorism for babysitting
- Somewhat suprised to tell students that Cambridge school Portugal is not global, despite their lofty assumptions
- Officially a loser to be in on a Thursday night, writing boring tefl related shizzle at 1am
- Cambridge is not the only employer in the world, despite what they tell us
- Portuguese people are on the whole an insular, narrow-minded, sometimes rascist and anti semitic, tanned people that are pleased by football and soaps.
- English people are prone to pudgeon holing and stereotyping (eu tembem)
- Impatient thoughts on leisure time and success are unhealthly distractions
- Being happy consists of colourful lizards, natural fruit and veg, 99 year old neighbours and bboying in a bedroom.
- Audiobooks are king
- Downloading everything(half decent) under the sun is not a means to an end
- Morning is the best time of day (took me 25 years!)
- Getting up early is the only way to be fit, healthy and productive
- The Portuguese have a right to complain about everything. Their wages are SHIT, and everything costs LOADS (My laptop. Price in UK: 390 GBP, here: 590EUROS)
- Writing these things is not only therapeutic, it also fills the void.

Swine flu hits Portugal

Swine flu hits Portugal

Bad news for some, good for some. If it comes, the student runs. One can hope school closes, jake gets down with bboy poses, sniffing ajuda roses, miraculous like moses!
And although im in the category (young and fit and healthy) to get wiped out, if school closes, all is good.

The ups and downs of too much sun

Makes people happy, the sun does. Tan skin, it does. Makes emotions run wild, people sleepy, irrate and sometimes a bit crazy, it also does. I got to know this well at the student festival in Coimbra. A wasted day of spent money, dodging mad students trying to soak each other in cheap beer, baked by a 27C sun, frustrated by multifaceted reasons to close to home to publish on the ever growing facebook network.
Recycled thoughts wizzing around the small amount of gray matter upstairs flatteringly labelled the unreliable brain of mine: 'Should've gone to the bboy champs', '...should have gone to Ericeira- the fishing village', '...should have stayed at home.'

However, should haves amount to nothing but a true reflection of a man getting older by the day. Welcome to the mid to late 20s, punk ass Jake.