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Back from Bali, all brown and relaxed. I got to do some pretty great things there! I went white water rafting, swung from a "vine" like Tarzan into the pool of a waterfall, saw a traditional folk tale, hung out with drag queens, went swimming in the ocean, got pummeled by waves and had a monkey smear banana all over my shoulder. Action packed, I'd say! I brought back with me movies, clothes, presents for my students and some water from the ocean in my ear! It's been about two weeks now, and I still can't really hear out of my left ear. I promise to go to the doctor next week. I did honestly try this weekend, but was recommended to a cardiologist. She was very nice about me wasting her precious time and told me that they don't have an ear, nose and throat specialist on staff there. She recommended me to another hospital, which was very kind of her. One thing I will say though, is that one week was not enough time! I did most of the things I wanted, but did not get to see a volcano. There are a few of them and I missed it! I was quite literally stunned by the amount of Australians there, and how the bars catered to them. I guess if you know your target audience, it makes things much easier. Plus, it is so close for the Aussie's to fly to Bali. It must be like us going to the cottage for the summer or something. Anyway, they were very fun to hang out with!

I can feel the year winding down now, and I think the kids do too. They have gotten it into their heads that they want to put on a production of Romeo and Juliet in the auditorium for the other classes to see. I have looked everywhere on line and cannot find a "kids" script, unless I pay. If anyone out there has something that may be useful for me, please!, send it my way.

The year unwinding leads me to moving, and packing! I have begun to sell some things: clothes, etc. The teaching assistants are very eager to pick at my meager scraps if the price is right. I actually had two of them want to come to my apartment and look through my closet. I put the nix on that one. They are after my skirts. However, the ones they want are still suitable for Africa next year and I'm not ready to part with them just yet. It would still appear I have amassed quite an apartment full of trinkets and such. Oh, the agony of debating over what comes with me and what stays!