Yesterday evening I got this phonecall, as I said in my last update. So after school I went to the principal to inform him of the fact that I wouldn’t be at school on Friday. He gave me permission, and then asked me to sit down, as he had some bad news for me.
I have been teaching for 9 years now, and still have a temporary contract, due to a mistake I made 5 years ago, and a series of mishaps since. I was finally in the running for a steady contract (it’s quite a difficult and hard procedure) at my current school, but… The only thing that could prevent me from getting the contract, was a very special case, cos I was prior to all except one, hardly existing case. Yep, it did occur. As the Belgian army gave up all its bases in Germany, the schools there have been closed as well. One elderly teacher, one year before retirement, needed a new allocation that way, and she chose, indeed, our school. Hence, no room anymore for a new contract. Great !!! Hopefully next year… Damn, I should have gotten that contract 5 years ago !!!

In the afternoon, some emails arrived on the subject of that European project. Cough !! I thought it would be a very informal meeting on Friday with some Belgian colleagues. Apparently it’s already WAY beyound that, it’s a meeting with the Italian, Greek, English, French and Danish partners, which all have a very impressive resume. Budget of the entire project, which is meant to take three years: 300.000 euro (approx. the same in dollar, approx. 12 million Belgian Franks). I had to swallow !!! What the hell am I getting involved in again ??? It seems fun to do, but I doubt I will fit in. Bart sez I will do just fine, but I’m not that self assured. Hey, we’ll see…

On another note: I noticed there’s a leak in my electric water boiler. Hmmm. Trying to figure out what’s wrong, not planning on buying a new one yet. Hope it’s nothing too serious. Nice…