Okay, so things seem to be turning my way. I decided to check again to see if I had the 'Star Movies' channel. Well, there was a new sports channel instead of the usual blue screen. This meant there was some shuffling of channels, finally. I've been living without hot water for the past week and no movies on tv for more than a month. My tv diet has consisted of NatGeo. Well, I discovered tonight that I have Global! Global! Oh my! How exciting! Right now I'm watching "Prison Break". I wasn't into the show when it was on before, but it's like giving food to a starving child. I'll watch anything in English! Woooo! And there are no commercials!

This is me right now :)

Okay, the bad luck is over...for now. I've been informed by Anne, a Brit, that troubles come in threes. This is something my mother has also told me for years. If I'm counting correctly, there is still one more evil left to befall me. What is left to fall on me, I'm unsure of. However, the sheer boredom of being at school with no students must make up for something! I can feel my face light up when the kids come into the room. I know parents are using it as some sort of free daycare, but I don't care. I'm just happy they are there.

I got robbed again, in a different sense. The last taxi I took home the driver tried to charge me 6,000 Tg. I laughed at him and said that was riduculous. I gave him all the money I had and he kept pointing at the meter saying I owed him more. He kept counting the money, as if to prove a point. I just looked at him with my hands posturing to say, "What can I do? I have nothing more to give you." He took what I gave him and, thankfully, let me out of the cab unscathed this time. He did drive me all over the city on purpose, trying to run the meter up. I kept saying, "Zaisan? American School?" He reassured me we were going there, but how the meter got up to 6.000 is what I'm wondering. At the most, it should cost 2,000 Tg, I pay 2,500 just to keep them happy, but 6,000? Too much. Too bad my Mongolian is so terrible I can't even argue them down. All I can do is shake my head and say no. That leaves me open for more, buts there's nothing worse than being ripped off just for the sake of it.

It's been the consensus around here, I have the worst luck! On Friday night my wallet was stolen right out of my back back that was on the back of my chair. Sure the place was busy, but that's something you think you'd catch. It has been said that I'm a freak magnet. Tell me something I don't already know! Richard wondered if it was due to the fact they sensed a kindred spirit in me. I said either that or I portray a sucker!

I got to see two students today. Mika came by with her mom and gave me a necklace she'd made for me. It's cute! I also got to see Yumchigmaa. I told her to stay out of trouble. They're coming back for Friday to get their yearbooks. I also had many parents drop in today to get the homework packages and purchase last minute yearbooks. I have a bit of a math tutorial going on tomorrow. A few of the students were worried they weren't understanding the math. One of the parents said she'd tried to explain it, but that perhaps I'd do a better job. This from the mom who was screaming at me the last time she saw me. How nice to see the turnaround!

The yearbook is almost done and we're holding our breaths, hoping the publishing company comes through for us. Uyanga came by a bit crestfallen today to show me the editing copy. She was disappointed in the photo quality and she'd told me what steps she'd taken to make them better. We had to discuss the number of coloured pages and where to place them. As it turns out, if one half a page (which is on the other side of the book) is in colour and the other half isn't, the non colour page turns blue instead of being pure black and white. We reorganized the book and I think it's going to be okay.

Richard has put me in charge of photographing and putting together the end of year slide show for the students. I went around a bit today but had the funny feeling that my batteries were going to die. Sure enough, after a few great candid pics, when I had this amazing one all lined up, my camera died. I made sure to buy new batteries tonight, after I went through the maze of buildings to the card centre of my Mongolian bank and got my new card. We checked the balance and it looks as though everything is there. Geez, just my luck, eh?

I finally had the best taxi driver ever tonight! I've been a bit paranoid after my experience. I had taken to just automatically overpaying and holding my keys upright between my fingers. But this guy tonight! He spoke much English and decided we needed a field trip on the way home. He took me to the Buddhist monument just near where I live. We walked around it, rang the bell and beat the drum. It was like he knew I was needing some reinvestment in the people here and just made my day. He was sweet, didn't try to get my phone number, and only charged me $2. I shook his hand and thanked him. His name was Amraa and he was 41, although he didn't look a day over 35. It's been the small things lately; the necklace Mika made me, just staring at Yumchigmaa and us laughing all of a sudden in unison, the rainbow the other day and the taxi driver. These make life great.

The weather here has been very up and down. As of late it has been rainy and cold. Plus, the classroom is cold with out all my little bodies filling it up complaining they're hot. Then, on Sunday, it was summer full force sun. I was hot and sweaty getting my passport pictures for the upcoming visa and work card. Then today, it actually snowed!

I still can't wait to see Farley! I have begun to dream about him. We're actually not doing anything, just hanging out and being happy together. Just over a month and I'll be home!

The school year is unofficially over for me! The Ministry of Health has decreed no children from kindergarten and up shall attend school. I put all sorts of homework into another package along with a letter telling them how much I missed them. I also graced the letter with Batman! One day Ankhiluun and Suzy forced me to walk around the school asking everyone I met, "Did you know that I love Batman?" Another time, we were in Math discussing probability. I asked, "What are the chances Miss M is going to have coffee today?" That's certain. Then I asked, "What are the chances Batman is going to come and ask Miss M to marry him?" I went into this huge story where I played Batman and he comes sweeping into the classroom, telling me he couldn't live without me any longer. While I'm down on one knee, the class door opens and everyone's eyes were fixed on the entryway, half expecting Batman to come in! It was my new TP, but we laughed very hard.

It's sad to know that the year had to end so abruptly. I'm grateful I will be returning next year so I can see those students who come back to this school. Other teachers are not so lucky. They are off to another foreign country and will probably never see again those students who lives they touched in such a meaningful way. And, vice versa. I'll never forget my first full year teaching. It was full of ups and downs, but has left me with a glow of unconditional love from my 24 students. I was constantly told I was loved, I was beautiful, and the best teacher ever. I will have to dismantle the "Wall of Love" but took some photos to forever remind me of the sweetness of my class.

It has actually rained here! For the past three days we've gotten some rain. It's really cooled off, but was so nice to hear and smell a fresh rainfall. We also were graced with a rainbow! Try to ignore the vast amounts of construction going on around it. I tried to leave most of it out of the pictures. I went up to the roof and could see it in it's entirety. It was uplifting!

Okay, it's officially been handed down from the health department. No kids again next week. Man, I miss them! I've been busy doing all sorts of things, but now I wonder why. If I can't have the kids back, then I can't teach them anything! All my photocopying gone to waste! Well, I can keep it for next year, of course. I'd hate Nasaa's hard work to be all for nothing! He's one of the best assets we have at the school. Talk about multi-tasking! Geez, so much more to talk about!

Well, apparently this all ties in with the fact it's an election year here. No one wants to be the guy who did the wrong thing. The numbers of those infected has been rising, and there's talk of closing the borders. For my first year teaching full time, it has been quite the year! I'll see what happens on Monday. This is a picture I took at the beginning of the year, but you get the idea. No kids! We now sit in six groups of four. Handy for so many reasons!

On a brighter note! We did still have the party for Doogie yesterday night. It was a smashing success, what with all the people and food. It was more than I could ever had hoped for and Doogie was really happy. I told her this picture I took myself of the two of us was going on my blog! It's not very flattering and she said, "Okay, whatever you do, it's okay." I just laughed! We all got to get together and have some fun. Doogie was overwhelmed by the amount of people who came and that made me happy! There was so much food and drink! I made this massive amount of pasta salad and was concerned I'd be eating it for a week afterward, but everything was gone and we were all "full" as they say here (that means drunk!). Afterward, we all invited the TP's who stayed to go on a kind of "apartment crawl" so they could see, finally where we lived. I gave out beer and apples to those who wished, but mostly Doogie and I just talked. We weren't into all the crowds and stuff, so we just got caught up. It was fantastic! I saw an Eeyore toy and bought it on impulse for her. I almost kept it, and told her so! Eeyore was always my favourite character, because he was sad and it was okay. It's okay to be sad sometimes. I liked that. She did say that she wasn't going to give it to her baby straight away, but keep it for a bit. But, I made sure there were no buttons or anything she could choke on!

Needless to say, it was a fun time. All the teachers were really supportive and donated time, money and food. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them. It wouldn't have been what is was not for them! It was great! As I previously said, Doogie was surprised and happy by the attendance. We needed a party!

Oh, and I have an update on my taxi driver incident. My new TP was dragged outside in her bathrobe by one of the guards to help translate that night. Well, the driver told her (upon seeing the guards come, I asked for all my money back, I'd already paid this man over 11,000 Tg, much too much) that the one bill for 5,000 Tg, I did hand to him. However, apparently, I ripped it in two and then decided to give it to him as a show of who I am. The bill got ripped in the struggle. I would never, EVER, do anything of the sort. I was disturbed my new TP believed this man over me. He said I was uppity. That is a way I have never been described before. I have been saying for a week that he was lying. When I explained to her that I had actually paid as much as I had, and that he still wouldn't let me go, she began to realize. No one grabs onto you like that just to give you your change. They just keep it! When I write it, it becomes even more absurd! Now, I carefully check all drivers before I get in. The older, the better. They're the nice ones. I had a great one today, as I already said earlier. "Wayne Gretzky!"

It's been a quiet, but active week here. With no students all day I have managed to get an insurmountable amount of work done, but miss them terribly. It's too quiet. I feel they're all up to something, but don't know what! All but two of the homework packages I have prepared have gone home. We actually are still waiting on the health department as to if we can open our doors again to the younger students. We have to wait until tomorrow at 2:00 to find out, but we're hoping for the best. It's not just us though, it's every school. It's due to the viral life span. Since it is so contagious, it lives for quite some time out of the human body. From 3 to 7 days they say. So, we have to clear everyone susceptible out during that gestation period. You'd probably be better off asking my brother about it. I'm sure he's got more of a handle on this than I do. All I know is what others tell me. Some of the schools who had an earlier end date than ours have just closed for the year. We have also said that we will add an extra hour onto our regular schedule to make up for lost teaching time. Thus far, it will only include next week, but we still have to see how many days total are lost. Hopefully no more! I miss my kids!

We will still have the party for Doogie tomorrow. I was beginning to wonder, since no one spoke to me about it. I happened to see a TP trying on dresses in the staff room and asked if she had a date. She said, "No, it's for Doogie's party tomorrow." I said, "What! You're coming! No one told me!" Turns out everyone, and I mean everyone, is coming. I was so distressed. I hadn't heard any response and assumed no one cared. Well, I'm more than happy to have my frown turned upside down! I made pasta salad and bought some drinks. I think everyone is looking forward, right now, for any excuse for a party. We have to thank Doogie for this!

Things have been so quiet this week thus far! The students have basically been informed not to come to school for one full week. This is the amount of time it takes for the virus to die. Things may still be contaminated for all I know. We have put together a homework package and many parents have come in to talk with me and pick it up, but I cannot take the papers back in case they are infected as well. I included a letter for both the parents and the students. I let everyone know that life just isn't the same at school until they get back here!

There haven't been any more illnesses at our school, and the grades 6 to 9 are still expected to come, however, many have chosen not to. This poses an issue for credit reasons. Luckily, we (Grade 3) are mostly finished all our instructional units for this year, but a lost week is still a lost week. That's what the homework packages are for. Plus, it has been decided that the following week there are to be no extra-curricular activities and instead an extra hour of school is to be replaced.

Don't think I have a week off! No, no! Initially we did up the homework packages. That took most of the first day. I still am continuously working on yearbook and breaking in a new teaching partner, so that amounts to some running around. Needless to say, after the first day I was surprised to see how time flew! I spent today cleaning up the classroom and working on my curriculum review. It's quite a daunting piece of literature that has to be generated. I spent the whole day today and 9 pages, and am only half way done. However, since I've been doing my review I've come to realize how little resources I have had for Science and Social Studies. Now I also have embarked on additional work for my requested supplies for next year. I felt I had completed it, but still see some gaps where more texts and manipulative's would be more than helpful for the following year. Plus, once you buy them, you have them for a long time!

I am doing my best to stay up until at least 8:30 today because if I go to sleep any sooner, I'll wake up too early. My eyes are sore and tired from doing nothing but working on the computer (SDES strikes again!). It has begun to get light much sooner and it wakes me up now about 5:00. I have to try to force myself to go back to sleep but I finally put my blanket over part of the window to block the light.

My planning for Doogie's party is going very poorly. It would seem that no one is checking their mailbox at this time and I have had hardly any response! I am desperate for this thing to go off, but it would seem everyone is otherwise occupied. Well, all I have to say is, who wouldn't look forward to a party! Especially after this week!

Oh, sweet bejebus! I miss Doogie so much already! We have been in steady contact due to the issues at the school, but I miss her steadiness and ability. She is a strong, steadfast woman and never needed much direction. We, over the year, had developed this symbotic relationship that just grew off of each other. Oyunaa has good intentions and ideas. She'll be an asset for me as well, it's just hard making such an adjustment this close to the end of the year. At first, I was all for Doogie taking the time off and resting, but I hadn't realized how much I'd miss her! I have talked to her in the past about me being a selfish teacher and wanting to keep the status quo. She said, "No! What if I end up with a bad teacher next year! I want to stay with you." I was happy. Well, we'll be having a shower for her next Friday (due to no more health emergencies!) and she's not superstitious about receiveing gifts before the baby's due. I hope many people will come and show their love and support of her. Luckily, I have a dinner date with Doogie tommorow (Sunday) and we can talk!

I'm feeling better today, after my freshly ground coffee. I still am a bit shaken and don't know what I would have done if the guards hadn't come last night. Still, I wish they'd come sooner. My big bro sent me an email asking if I could have punched the driver. Well, I tried to kick him, but the seat was between us, so I just just kept pulling at myself and due to the angle, my kicks to his hand weren't enough. I was half in and half out of the car, just trying to get away. He had quite a tight grip and had no intention of letting go. Still, I have found that it's beginning to be quite an ordeal meeting new people here and trusting them. They seem to live by the rules that it's me first. That is evident in the way they "line" up. Everyone is pushing and shoving, no respect for women and children. Plus, on the bus last night into town, it was once again so jam packed. It is the perfect opportunity for pick pockets, and Rory (the new science teacher here) caught them red-handed.

I realize I'm being negative right now, and will feel better soon. It's just too many bad things happened in one day and I needed an expression. I do still love my apartment and all the people I work with. This is actually out of character for what I've learned Mongolia to be.

It has definitely been quite the week here in Mongolia, for me at least.

We had a film crew in to put us on the news! I got video taped talking with my kids about the happenings in Myanmar and whatnot. The crew was telling my students in Mongolian to keep asking me questions, and I tried to pretend they weren't there, but I think we'll be on the news. Me, slouching in front of a computer and pointing and talking. Afterwards, they had our class and the grade 6 class (the boys of which are monsters! What huge boys!) all standing in the foyer and saying "Welcome to the Amercian School!" Sometimes waving, sometimes not. I finally left for lunch.

I suppose the biggest happening was one of my students was diagnosed with something I believe is called 'hand-foot-mouth disease.' It is highly contagious. I, of course, was ground zero again. We were quarantined all day and finally the health people let us go at noon. Meanwhile, we had been stuck in the most disinfected classroom with no way out all day. We just basically played games. I tried to make it as educational as I could and we played a lot of word games that made you think, but I also had to be aware that there shouldn't be alot of interaction between students. Especially since many of mine were tagged. I did try to make a break for it, and get us outside, but there was a camera man from the news station and the whole quarantine thing. We had the health department in, they looked us all over, made us gargle and sent us all home withstrict orders to stay confined. Well, the students. It's not contagious to adults who have more developed immune systems, but the kids at least.

I had a more disturbing occurrence tonight getting out of a taxi. The driver tried to charge me too much, so I gave him more than I should have and tried to get out. He grabbed hold of my backpack and wouldn't let go. I started throwing money at him and he still wouldn't let go. I finally began to scream for the guards. After a few minutes they came. I know the driver was lying to them. I know he saw these men come for me and he suddenly said, "Oh, I was just trying to give her her change!" I am still a bit shaken and crying, he just would not let go! I really wish it hadn't happened, at least not today, on zero ground day and all.