HIFAring and mental health

Well saw both my therapist and psychologist last week and they both are pleased with where I'm at and that I managed to cope with CELTA. It has given me a boost to know I can do it. Still getting over having to quit my PhD but to have passed and survived CELTA has made me feel I can do it. Will see about pursuing science. Focusing on teaching for the moment. I start my part time job with WEZ tomorrow though. They want me to design a syllabus for Grade 6 and 7 on wildlife. Need to check what is already covered so I don't reinvent the wheel. Need to also start preparing for teaching in Oxford as I have to devise schemes of work for that.

My friend's kitchen tea and hen parties on Saturday were a success. Luckily changed the venue for the kitchen tea as it bucketed with rain. Many thanks to The Base Church for letting us use Touching Base. It saved the tea party!

With all my friends getting married and having babies it does make me ponder still being single. Met up with a good guy friend in Cape Town but he seems set on someone else and I do feel a bit like Eponine from Les Miserables. My therapist said I should tell him but I am afraid it might ruin our friendship. Also doesn't help that he is all the way in Cape Town, sigh. Would be nice to have a man in my life at this point. Got to just trust God's timing.

My friend's wedding is this Saturday. Praying it stops raining by then and that it is also dry for HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts) next week. I've booked to go to the opera, a tribute to Simon and Garfunkel, Will McNicol, Tangram, Bards on Bicycles doing MacBeth, Moringa Mornings and a few others. My wallet is a little emptied but thanks to a friend who is an amigo got a discount.

After HIFA there will only be 3 weeks till I go to Oxford via Dubai. I leave for Dubai on the 23rd of May and will be there till the 28th. I then fly to London and will be in Oxford for a few days before I head to France (Aigues-Mortes) for two weeks. I return to Oxford and will start teaching on the 22nd of June. Looking forward to it. Lots of work and festivities between now and then.

Dubai

Aigues-Mortes, France

Optimistic

This week I'm on a high as things are going well, I'm getting out and about and friends from overseas are visiting. I'm busy again which seems to be when I thrive. Took a personality quiz and if it's anything to go by I'm supposed to like to be on the go and kept busy. Saying that though did enjoy time out last weekend and getting my paint brushes out.

It is nice to have people from outside Zim visit as I have been feeling a little cut off from friends abroad. Would love to visit Cape Town and the UK but right now my budget won't allow it. Am adjusting to working full time again. It is the first full time job I've had since Switzerland. Sitting in an office till 5 is a bit of a challenge and having less time to do my own thing is a bit stiffling after working part time from home. It is nice to work in an office though and have work colleagues.

Looking forward to HIFA at the end of the month. It is the highlight on the social calendar for Harare. The program is available on here.

Following the international hype, Harare has produced its version of the Happy Youtube video. Love how it's captured aspects of the city what with the vendors, school kids and petrol attendants filling generators. Have a look if you haven't seen it on Youtube. It is bound to put a smile on your face :)