A Friday of Firsts

Today has been an interesting day to say the least. It was an eternal day at school. I don't think I've ever been bored at school until today. I only had to teach 2 classes: English 6 and English 3. In English 6 the students presented their advertisement posters of self-created products (demonstrating persuasion). They were very creative and quite comical. In English 3 we watched the cartoon of Robin Hood (from the 1950's - what a great cartoon) and discussed doing what was morally right and morally acceptable. We also divided the story line into Setting, Characters, Conflict, Solution, and Conclusion. Sure that sounds interesting and it was. However I had a lot of free time and I had nothing to do but dawdle. I guess that's what happens when you're an overachiever and a week ahead in grading and planning. Time just seemed to stand still. I'd rather be busy than sit around.

As my title said - it was a day of "firsts" - and all of these firsts took place after the school day. I had my first big disappointment. I was supposed to be adopting kittens from the vet. However, when I went there - there were only 4 to choose from (which apparently is very unusual because usually there are 2 dozen or so to choose from). Kitten number one had an amputated leg and could barely walk. Kittens two and three were too young to be taken away from the vet. Kitten number four (I am convinced this is true) was a spawn of Satan. I'm sure that kitten number four and my high school baby-think-it-over baby would be the best of buddies. My baby-think-it-over baby, which was named Lucifer, was an evil doll that cried every fifteen minutes on the dot for five straight days. I left the vet feeling really sad. I know it is a little bit lame, but I was looking forward to getting them all week. It was all I talked about. We are supposed to go back in two weeks because the two babies will be ready to go and there are supposed to be a better choice of kittens. In the mean time - I have many eyes looking out for me - just in case :)

My next first was trying a new Indonesian fruit called Rambutan. You buy it on the side of the road, and recently vendors have been popping up because they are finally in season. The fruit looks like a golf-ball sized strawberry with an outside that looks like a blow-fish. To eat it, you crack the skin and out comes a fleshy white ball (which looks like a translucent plum). It has a really sweet taste. There is no taste that I can compare it to. I'll try to think of it as I eat my way through the bunch my neighbor gave me.

My last first (and probably the most reckless one of them all) was carrying a three-tiered end table in my arms while driving a motorbike in the rain. First of all, you have to understand, when it rains here - it blows horizontal and pelts you before a splash explosion. Driving in the rain is always a challenge - but try it with a table cupboard and you'll think again. The end table was considerably light and easy to weave my arm through so I could hold on to both handles. However, it was heavy enough to make the weight on my motorbike unbalanced. It wasn't the smartest thing I've done while I've been here - but it was the last end table in stock and I am in desperate need of an endtable in my basement. Besides - it was on sale - 7 dollars! Who could pass up a deal like that? Not me!

Anyway, that was the extent of my Friday in a nutshell. Now I am just lounging around, trying to figure out what to do with myself until bedtime.