First week over

Hi to everyone.

I spent most of the weekend in school as the senior students did exams on Saturday and Sunday so I helped with the invigilation.

I did find time to go the the supermarket where they sell western food at silly prices but did get coffee and milk. It was an adventure in itself. The taxis do not go all the way to where you are going, they ply the main routes, backwards and forwards so you squash in five or six to a taxi and off it lurches down the bumpy potholed roads. Actually potholes indicates some semblance of a flat surface somewhere so bumpy will do. Pedestrians jump out of the way and the horns beep at everyone and everything. One of the pupils went with me, I could never have done it by myself. Had an ice cream, something sweet.

It is still very hot, about 30 degrees and it doesn't cool down much at night but I am getting used to it. To be honest, I don't go out in the full sun much but the terrace upstairs with the flat is nice to sit in the shade. There is a bit of a breeze at the moment so it is a bit cooler. During the day, all the rooms are open to the air with the shutters wide open.

I haven't felt bored at all. On Saturday evening, I played cards with some of the younger boys. I taugt them old maid and they showed me a new game which we played most of the evening. I hope to go to the beach next weekend, I hope there is some shade.

The rice here is quite different from the long grained rice we eat at home. It is round and sticky but is fine with a spicy bean sauce and a sardine or two. I bought three packs of laughing cow cheese spread and a couple of loaves of bread so I have that for breakfast with my coffee. There really is not much to snack on but I am finishing off the chocolate chip cookies I brought with me so I am hoping I will lose weight. With any luck I will be brown and slim when I get back.

Thye older students are doing mock exams to see if they should be entered for the School Leaving Certificate so I sitting with the last few who will finish in an hour. The exam is nearly four hours long. After that I shall go and have some tea and a rest before coming down to help the pupils who live in, with their work.

Miriam has a kitten who lives in the flat and he has become quite friendly, probably because I buy him tinned sardines. The other teachers think I am mad to feed him such good food, they expect him to go and catch his own but he makes a big noise and tries to scratch my foot if I don't come up with the goods.

I can pick up my e mail so anyone who wants to write, please do.

I will post agian in a few days,

Pat