2. Bali Classroom - weeks 3 and 4

The next two weeks transpire similarly to the first two.  I yoga, I swim, I sunbake, I study, I wander into town.  I also meet a variety of people that are staying at the Villas.  A lot are from Perth, in particular Sylvia and Stewart who will feature more later!  There is also Roxanne & Peter who told me about the Canary Islands where the language is Spanish and a friend has a TEFL school that “is always looking for help”.   Noted! I also meet a Dutch family who tell me about the snorkelling in Bonaire.  Noted!  I take the odd day off here and there just so I don’t go completely stir crazy.  Brad tries to tempt me out of the house with offers of lunches, trips to Lombok and drives to Seminyak.  On 2 August, I did take him up on lunch at a Japanese restaurant in the Amlapura area.  It was an overcast day but the view over the rice paddies was excellent.  The most interesting this was the toilet at this establishment that was built of bamboo and faced out over the rice paddies only.  The wall that faced the rice paddies was actually only waist height and open to the world above that.  The view was spectacular while the business is completed!!  Unfortunately no camera that day, as it was overcast.  I did get taken on a scenic driving tour though so saw some lovely mountain scenery, quite different to Candidasa.  Also went past the water palace, stopped at the supermarket in Amlapura and took the tourist route home.  All in all a nice afternoon.

Also during this time I have dinner with Jon, an interesting man from the UK who is a scuba diver, among other things, and is spending time travelling around Bali.   I admired him when I learnt he is recovering from a serious head injury from horse riding and had to learn to talk and walk again.   Five years down the track he appears all but normal.  A bit of a limp and a slurring of words late in the evening which I would have considered normal along with the consumption of alcohol, but for which he apologised constantly.  I have certainly had conversations much more slurred and difficult to understand...:)!  He talked and talked, which he said he did not normally do due to the slurring.  I guess I have that affect on people.  Talking, not slurring! It was a very enjoyable meal.  I did end up with a banana pancake AND a banana milkshake, when I tried to change my order but instead ended up with both...somehow I managed to deal with that hardship...:)!

I also enjoyed Brad's company for meals a number of times.  He is tough as nails on the outside but every now and then you glimmer a softness that he tries to hide.  But he is brash, there is no denying that and no point being a princess around Brad.  The comments come thick and fast and without regard for feelings. 

So on Sunday 7 August, despite the distractions :) I submit my last unit in the TEFL course for assessment.  Phew!  So now I have 3 units in awaiting results, Units 18, 19 and 20!  I was relieved to be finished and was hoping no tweaks were required to any of the work.