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Diablo – Book of Cain

International department library

One of the best things I found out first days in my new occupation is that we have fully equipped International…understand English Library. It is only available for the students in the international department and their teachers 😀 They dont know what they brought up on their library when they hired me. I love fantasy books, stories, encyclopedia, classics, history, anything that feeds my hungry mind or soothes the bruised soul. Before our fist “head teachers meeting” on Monday I was already in the library minutes before and scanned all possible treasures I will take home and call them my precious – at least for a while.

My first pick:

Diablo – Book of Cain.

Since Diablo 2 came out I spent countless hours in front of my 15 inch CRT and devoured everything and anything connected to the incredible story of Sanctuary and its inhabitants. Demons from Hell, Archangel Tyriel, Ormus or Horadrim. All of the game for me was one huge never-ending fun….and perfect way how to improve my English. It is such a nostalgic memory…I almost cried when I found the book…with incredible attention to detail and the smell of novelty. I took it out of the shelf and put into my “teachers case” sooner than anyone could lay his filthy hands on it.

First thing that strikes you is the incredibly manufactured hard cover. With embossed Demon face bulging out of it and roughly cut pages. After first touch I knew I WANT THAT BOOK. It was whispering, talking  to me:

“Take me, Martin, take me with you. I know you will take good care of me, I want you and you want me. Take me with you, read me… the Book of Cain”
Amazing drawings on glossy paper.

All my favorite Demons and Heroes depicted in chalky drawings…echo of my old gamer’s soul reverberated down my spine. 

Along with the old and mystic creatures inhabiting Sanctuary, Heaven and Hell. 

I can hear Decard’s voice (flawlessly performed by Michael Caugh) just by glancing at the letters… 

…and feel the adrenalin rush when staring in awe. I instantly fell in love with the book. One of the reasons is the attention to detail. It really looks like a journal or a treatise tainted with personal experience and many personal ideas of the writer. Scribbles and side notes with explanations and thoughts…Deckard is throwing on us his gloomy visions and colorful descriptions of demons along with words of wisdom no player could obtain. The whole text is compact though and precise in explanation of things exceeding the Diablo 1 and 2 saga as you know it from the game itself. You will finally realize who is the tragic Dark Wanderer and what was Marius’s role in all this epic adventure. Uncover the tangled history of the Mage Clans and discover truth behind Horadrim order. Although short and predictable in its content, this book resonates with magic and arcana.

“For every Diablo fan it is a must read book. For everyone else it will be a spectacular introduction to fantasy.”

Full galery Diablo – Book of Cain on picasa.
Imported from America – Made in China 😀

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Back in classroom with Murphy

Everything goes wrong all at once.

As I came back from Romania, almost all my Chinese world collapsed. I was forced to leave work due to surging competition in our field and area (putting it this way simply sounds much better:). In addition my apartment rental run out. And what a coincidence, also my good old laptop(VBI FL.92) departed to Silicon Heaven.

I started to search the first day I came back. My former manager was very helpful and I have to thank Sandra for her recommendation and contacts. I diced to push it to the public sector since after almost one year experience I have what it takes. Time to learn new things in the field with different set. Verakin High school had perfect environment and great students. Huge drawback though was location. At the top of Nanshan(南山) mountain. Going to the city would take at least one hour and around is almost nothing else than mountains, hot-pot restaurants and an old aqua-park. Second choice was Bashu secondary school. I gave them 2 DEMO classes right on the first day and director of International department was excited. I decided to give it a trial for one week. It is challenging and rewarding in the same time.

Bashu secondary school is now my new place of operation where I hope to disseminate new ideas, open several eyes and inspire dozens of minds.

And what about the laptop you ask…well I am writing from it right now:-) Eventually revived by the same old same old method of “baking the Graphic card(in the oven)” I am still able to use its silicon heart and brainz…will see how long it will last.

Learn more : Bashu secondary shool, Murphy Laws, Silicon heaven

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Life goes ON

For several weeks there was no post. No post at all. It has several reasons:

  1. Some readers told me this blog became more of a food court than a real blog about life in China and my experience of teacher in here.
  2. Few weeks ago I started an on-line course on memrise to learn how to Read a Chinese menu.
  3. I was struck down by Culture Shock and seriously considering leaving China.
  4. Writing nice articles takes time I rather dedicated to meet with friends and learn something new.

What will happen now? 

After a thorough consideration (around 43 seconds) I decided to continue the blog in a different way, with less optimization, grammar check and graphics. Focus more on sharing experience from the class – teaching methods, grammar explanation techniques. Things I tried and failed and things I tried and worked. Adding pictures shared on Picasa. Continue posting Smoments.

But all this will come after coming back…Next week I am leaving to Romania and you can track me on my other blog from Bucharest.