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01/12/06 - There's a term (I think) in religion, which relates to being 'careful what you pray for' (I think the sermon last Sunday was about that). I think I've prayed far too many times that I'd 'do anything to go back to Malaysia', and it seems my temporary job at the call centre is becoming a more long term affair. Not that I'm not complaining greatly, the rate of pay is good, and the past couple of days have been that hard (I've been placed on surveys nobody wants to do). So it's not that bad.

I have been keeping my week occupied well, with web shows, Tamil tuition and voluntary work. I'll be getting my immunisations topped up next week for when I go to Malaysia (hopefully) in January. I'm trying to get myself as prepared as possible for when I go back. The time away will give me a good chance to practice the Tamil I've learnt, and to test out some of my TEFL skills. Hopefully a week in Tamil Nadu with the Community Of Praise's sister church will give some good opportunities too. I'd best keep praying...

08/12/06 - Help! I'm unemployed again! After going a month and a half strong with the NAG agency, the call centre is now closed for Christmas, so I'll need to contact them if I want anymore work before I go off next month. It all just had to end, just when I was getting used to the job... Funny thing is, it was exactly on this day last year that I lost another 'job' with World Challenge. I'd been thinking about my termination from WCE lately, and though some of the things I did required some kind of action, I still don't see what right WCE had to terminate me.

I paid them so much money for a service, yet only had them book plane tickets for me. Nobody on the Peninsular had their placements booked (except the Borneo teachers, only because Sampson was in charge), which is hardly a good service. I think my situation out there could have been handled differently, like receiving some logical advice, but I never should have been terminated from a service that I paid so much money for, especially when I got so little back anyway. What if I did end up being conned back in May? That whole saga could have come out a lot worse, yet because I had a few issues with people, I shouldn't have the back up that I put a huge amount of money into? Then they tell me to leave the country and community I had spent so much time to get to know and love? This is why I'm going to be so careful choosing what company I do TEFL with, I don't want to get screwed by the real conmen again.

I had the most horrible Tuesday this week. I had booked some immunisations for when I go off to Asia again next month, yet had the most horrible journey there and back. I had to cycle for about five miles through the strong wind and rain, fell off my bike, got showered three times by bar-steward, ignorant drivers, speeding through giant puddles. All for an injection that wasn't particularly vital. So I ended up missing my tuition class with Elizabeth, but made up the day by buying some Roti (the bread I always had for breakfast in Malaysia) in a small local shop. I'll be going up to London with Elizabeth on Tuesday to go to the Indian Embassy, so I can get a visa for next month, but I still need to book plane tickets and let people at Taman Wahyu and Tamil Nadu know that I'm coming.

I had my scheduled counselling session on Thursday, though I'm feeling much better than I was six weeks ago. Though I did most of the talking, I think it was concluded that I just need some more responsibilities in my life to get by. I'm doing so little for myself in this country, that life is just going in a slow and boring pace. But in Malaysia I've got kids to look after, people to see, church three/four times a week. I did have a lot of free time there, which I'd be more than happy to fill up with doing any kind of paid job; I just need a more busy and loving environment. I'll have to make sure I work had to get my TEFL qualification, then I can be happy once again...

15/12/06 - My trip to Asia is getting sooner and sooner, but whether India was going to be included was a little uncertain this week. I went to the Indian Embassy on Tuesday, with Elizabeth giving me a lift up there (she had to collect something in London anyway), and she told me on the journey up how difficult it would be for me to get the visa, as Indian people can sometimes be awkward. So I turned up at the embassy, half an hour late, with no open booths or anything to find out what's going on. You need to ticket to get into the embassy, which I was too late to get, but after asking an Indian guy how you get tickets, fortunately he had a spare, which he kindly gave to me.

So after managing to get inside the embassy at 2:00pm, I had to wait a good few hours before being able to get my visa processed. But the waiting part isn't too bad if you have someone to talk to. I made friends with an Indian guy called Hellier, who I had a long conversation with, he was going to Mumbai to go to his niece's wedding. I also met this businessman type guy from Leeds (who could have gone to the Indian Embassy in Birmingham), who helped me out a lot in getting forms filled and getting my application processed. And after a long wait, I finally got my visa to India!

And I fortunately finished at the same time as Elizabeth (as she had to wait a while for her collection), and then we went wondering round Croydon for a Chinese shop, where I bought some more Roti Canai. I was trying to sort my flights out with my father earlier today, and have found some good deals, which basically involves me getting a return from London to Chennai, then another return from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur, with all flights going via Colombo. But after thinking about the route, I noticed the return route would cause a pointless journey for me to go to and from Chennai, just to get the plane from Colombo again, so I'll be seeing a travel agent next week to see if I can cheaply take about 12 hours of pointless journey time.

After a strong several weeks of me working, I'm now not working again, though I was woken by a phone call at 9:30am this morning from my agency, wanting me to do kitchen work at a local Primary School. Despite it being their last day before Christmas, they were still served burger, chips and beans (I asked what meat the burgers were, but they said they didn't know). So hopefully next week I should have my plane flights sorted and everything booked. The Pastor (Elisha) in India is excited that I'll be coming to his church, it's just a case of sorting travel arrangements for me to get from Chennai to Madurai.

So hopefully next week will be as good as this week last year. It was on this last year that I first (and last) went ice skating at Sunway Lagoon with the other Gappers (despite being terminated), and then two days later I went to Desa Water Park with the Taman Wahyu kids, which was probably the best days of my trip. It's such a shame that I won't be able to spend Christmas with them again this year, but then it's better for me to escape the Christmas rush and go in January, which will be a much more pleasant journey...

22/12/06 - I've finally got my plane tickets, and thank goodness I'm not flying out during this foggy season at Heathrow. I'll be flying out on Thursday January 11th, going to Chennai, via Colombo, then I should be meeting Pastor Elisha at Chennai airport, and then we'll fly to Madurai, spending 10 days in a town called Aruppukottai. Then on January 23rd I'll fly from Chennai straight to Kuala Lumpur, arriving the next morning, where I'll spend three weeks there. Then I'll leave there on February 13th, and will spend a whole day in Chennai, then getting my flight back to Heathrow, via Colombo again.

So I've got quite a good itinerary, and I've managed to get some good flight deals, spending £660, including insurance; I'd make a good travel agent. I watched Losing Gemma this week on ITV, which reminded me a little of the start of my Gap Year, just trying to escape all Westerners and settle down in the local culture. Fortunately there shouldn't (there isn't planned to be) any Westerners in my way this time around, I can't stand them! I'll have my trip Gringo free, please...

There's now a new vocabulary of 'Internet Addictions' (article), some of which I unfortunately fit into. I wouldn't say I do 'Ego-Surfing', I'm not one desperate for MySpace comments etc. I can't deny doing 'Blog Streaking', but this Blog is the only place where I really write stuff down, and I like to keep a... er... record of everything... I don't have a BlackBerry; there isn't anyone worth me 'Google Stalking'; I'm never ill, so I don't have 'Cyberchondria'; I do quite a bit of 'Photolurking', mainly on photos/albums taken round Asia, because I miss there so much; I've suprisingly never been round Wikipedia a great deal, I only go there if I really need to define something; and I don't do 'Cheesepodding'.

Today marks not only the release of Version 5.3 for this site (just some modifications to make everything tidy on all screen resolutions, mainly 800x600), but also the official HuckoolProductions.Com was (eventually) created this afternoon by my father and I; it turned out quite well, I may post a photo of it next week. And one last mention goes to Rupert the dog, who lives a few doors down from us; it was nice to be smothered with affection, and 'doggy kisses' from him. But I have to wait another three weeks before I get smothered with hugs and kisses from Tamil kids. I need affection! I need to escape from this horrid, isolated bubble of a life I have here. I'll be home soon, Chino, Durga, Ebbie and everyone else... Have a good Christmas without me...

29/12/06 - Merry Christmas! Well, it's closer to the New Year now, but it's even closer till my trip away! Only two more weeks till I go to India, then off to Malaysia ten days later. It was a shame I didn't get to spend Christmas with everyone at Taman Wahyu, but I still had a nice time here. I had a nice Christmas lunch (beats last year's curry and rice), and got some nice presents too. I got a new case for my camera, Lost Series One, chocolate, socks, a Family Guy figurine of God, stuff for my bike, and a book on cricket (my mother's taking the 'learn something about cricket' joke from Taman Wahyu too far). But the most special present was some home-made meringue from Sam, 3, at my church (check out Photography site).

Something interesting I found on YouTube this week (on their featured list), was a Tamil boy called Maadhu, who could name all the capitals of the world and state capitals of the US (YouTube and NBC Article). But whilst watching, I noticed how similar the boy was to Eswaren; his voice, his appearance, his size (see Photography site)... Tamil's seem to have quite a reputation for being intelligent, I met quite a few talented kids in Malaysia, and Elizabeth told me the other day that several years ago, a boy from her hometown in Sri Lanka was the youngest person to get a degree. Tamils certainly are talented...

I got to see my two youngest cousins today, which was a lot of fun, and also a little preparation for my trip away in two weeks (where I'll be getting swamped in kids). My youngest cousin, Lucy (also on Photography site), was blowing me kisses, and even let me feed her (something she apparently doesn't let her father do often). It's a shame I don't get to spend as much time with kids in the UK as I did in Asia, or get the same kind of affection, but that's just something I'm going to have to work towards next year. And one final image, as promised, is of me sporting the official HuckoolProductions.Com T-Shirt. Yes, it's a little (two inches) off centre, but after the number of attempts we had at it, it's fine really...