We're just ready to finish the school year. Only one week left! As a class, we decided to hold our own "Spirit Day" that was opposite day. We turned many heads at school yesterday, wearing our clothes inside out and backwards, but it was our own private fun.

We also went bowling! It was quite the job to get it all organized because we had to pay for the bus ourselves as we were only allowed two field trips, plus, I had heard that some parents felt it was an expensive excursion. Thankfully, all parents were on board with the idea and willing to pay. It was not a truly expensive outing, but gosh, did we have fun!

Last week of school! I have so much paperwork to do! Plus, shipping my belongings. I have to admit, I'm procrastinating, but not worried. I can handle this! I'm getting excited for my trip to England. I've been discovering lately that I truly am going to miss my class. They are such a great bunch of kids, and hams to boot! Batman visited me again, plus, he brought me candy too! How lucky am I?

Our last Spirit Day was "Twins" and we had so much fun! One student asked me if I could be his twin and I said, "Yes, of course." He was very planned and had a drawing of how we should look and all. A teacher loves to see planning, of any type! So, based on his sketch, we were dressed 'mod'. I had to borrow black ties from two of the other teachers here (thank you guys!) and we were chosen by the class to be our class representatives on stage for judging because we hand made our outfits. Other children from many other grades had all gone shopping together, but our class voted (we have a democracy, although I still have the right to veto) and they chose our home based clothes. We came in 3rd place, which is okay for us, because the other winners had true twins. It was all fun though! I got into trouble for being too, "Fonzy" on stage and not enough "Men in Black." We still got some chocolate, and the whole class was happy. Plus, I got this idea to make Mother's Day cards. We had to paint, and that led to other shenanigans! The idea was to make a card just using your fingerprints out of paint to spell out "Mom" and maybe make a flower. I printed out a poem for the kids to paste on the card. Mother's Day here is now lumped in with Children's Day, which is June 1st. On that day, no alcohol is served.

I've had to take all my belongings off the classroom walls and it has left empty patches. The students initially were confused, but when I explained that I had to start my packing, they understood. They were sad, but understood. I decided to make a "Memory Book" which is sort of a year book, but just for our class. The kids love it, and enjoy the idea of it, once they got it. I do have to share one submission with you all. It goes: "The best day of this year was when I met Miss M because she's the best teacher in the whole world." I mean...awwww! Geez! I truly am going to miss these guys! Just today, Batman came to pay me another visit! Plus, he brought candy, and gave me a beaked nosed peck on the cheek! How lucky am I? Students who have not spoken to me since last year has expressed their sadness that I'm leaving, and I had no idea. I also have had multiple requests for my email address. I told them I'll give it to them all before I leave. I do so hope to stay in touch with them. Plus, they say they are going to give me end of year presents and birthday gifts because they won't see me when it actually occurs. I'm sorry, but all I can think is, "I love you...but how much extra packing will this involve?" It goes by the kilo people! I truly am touched, and am grateful to have touched so many lives. This is more than something special. And, it's my life. Again, how lucky am I?

It perpetually appears as though it's going to rain, and there are a few teasing drops, but I miss those downpours you get back at home. That would settle the dust and help my allergies to boot! The blue skies to get you, and the abundance of rainbows. Two weeks left. Oh my gosh!

The end of the year continues to draw closer, and I'm beginning to realize just how much I'm going to miss my class. We have worked hard together, and truly now are a family. For show and tell yesterday, one of my students brought in her brother's Batman costume. One of my boys went to the bathroom and put it on. He came back as Batman and said, "Miss M! I've come to tell you I love you!" The entire class was laughing! The funniest part is when he changed and came back. He pulled a Poke-a-roo from "Polka Dot Door" and said, "Miss M! I just was in the hallway and saw Batman!"

With this too some the stress of packing and leaving, end of year tasks and tidying up all those loose ends you procrastinated until now they are an undeniable task. Oh the horror!

There has been much happening,it seems, as of late. On Friday we had a snow storm. I can't say it was unseasonal or not, but it threw everyone for a loop! The power went out at about 3am Friday morning (I, unfortunately was still up...lots to think about I guess!). The next morning it had still not come back on. I reported for school same as always, but without my usual cup of morning coffee. It was supposed to come back at about 11:00. Well, it was nearly lunch time and the toilets were out of their reserve tanks, and things were beginning to get hairy in my mind. This happened last year and as soon as you tell the students that they have to only use the bathroom for emergencies, they suddenly all have to go! So, I said very little. There was talk about sending the students home, which I thought was a good idea. Most people felt that it would be 'Murphy's Law' and as soon as the kids left, the power would come back on. Well, we got the kids out of there, thanks to the classroom assistants and their phone calls. The power came back on finally many hours later. It was the right decision to send the kids home. It's just one of those days that started off wonky and it was difficult to maintain order.

Some of the other teachers and I went for lunch in town, and enjoyed the hot food and flushing toilets.

Saturday it snowed as well. Huge, slow snowflakes falling. They looked beautiful, but made me just want to stay inside. It still is funny to me that it snows more in the spring than it does all winter here, which is telling of the true cold nature of the country.

I have somehow become an insomniac. Which is very unfortunate for me. Remember when you were "a kid" and could stay awake for days at a time? It wasn't even noticeable on your face then, but you can feel it now. Not that I"m not getting any sleep, I am! Just, you know when your mind won't turn off? Well, that is it for me. I suppose I have some stress, what with moving coming up and what not....heading into the new unknown, but I do have to admit that some of it comes from my classroom. In general I have a very lively and happy classroom. My students and I have a great relationship, and they say anything to me. There has been an issue, basically the entire year, with one student. Unfortunately, this manages to be a wet blanket for me and my days at work. I have had to consider the other 17 students I have, and how this presence effects them. The Big Picture is made up of so many small composites. How this is going to play out, I'm unsure. I can say that I'm unhappy right now. I consider myself lucky to have a few very great people here I can go and talk to. If you can't vent, you boil over; luckily this has not happened to me. I have to call my mom!

Other than this, we had an amazing Science Fair. Every student turned in something. Wow! I allowed students to work in pairs if they chose, and it was a great decision. The work they turned in was incredible. Up above is a portrait that was drawn of me by a student, and man, do I look good! The other is just one dynamic pair that worked well together. Their topic was 'germs' and it raised the most questions. The topics ranged from U.F.O's to prehistoric animals to weather. It was great!

I have to admit, it's nice to look outside and see that beautiful blue sky Mongolia is known for. Plus, there is some green! I don't think I'm the only one who is counting down the days, but there's something like 33 left. Woohoo!

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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!

Apparently there was an earthquake here very early in the morning. I did not feel it, though my neighbours did. I was searching for information about it on the news, but there was no mention of it.

Just two weeks left before my trip! Wooo! I'm also excited because on my way home I will get the chance to visit a friend in England. I will get to see Stonehenge! This is fabulous!

When I woke up this morning, I went to turn on my kitchen light. It blew and must have had a power surge or something because all my lights went off! It's fixed now, so I won't have to sit in the dark tonight.

My students are excited as we had a request from a school in France to do a Flat Stanley exchange. We spent the morning in the computer lab googling information about the town our Stanley will be visiting. It was cute because some of the students added berets to their Stanley, or else turned them into a girl whom I've dubbed "Stanleyetta."

It finally feels like spring has sprung! It was only -1 Celsius this morning, but did not get up to over 10, as we did not have much sun today. There were some ominous clouds hanging over the escarpment near to us, but it hardly snowed. Snow is good though, as that means it's warmer out. The students seemed to think that due to it snowing they wouldn't have to go out for recess. Not in my books! I make them go out, as I've seen the benefits of the 10 minutes they get to spend outside.

Above is a message I received from a student after ice skating last week. I had to immortalize it! Also, me, being impartial during class president elections. And yes, I must have a foot fetish, as I always enjoy taking pics of my feet in various places and shoes.

There is a new bowling alley here! For those of you who know me well, know I love to bowl! Some of us gathered ranks and went for an extremely enjoyable evening out. What fun we had, just to be social and also get exercise. I have to thank Gurjit for organizing the whole thing for us. I got to meet some new people too, which also always adds to anyone's life experience. Plus, I got to bowl! I was like an eager child, asking constantly, "Why aren't we bowling yet? What's happening?" I chose my ball before everyone had gotten their shoe rentals! They gave us these booties to wear in our shoes. I have two thoughts on this. It saves on the spray they put in the shoes to sterilize (fumigate?),which may not be found here. But also, more trash! Regardless of my thoughts on the shoes (which were quite stylish, in my eyes) it was a fun excursion for all.

Report cards are out! I will have to host parent teacher meetings the end of this week. I don't mind so much, because I have discovered any parent enjoys talking about their child for any disclosed amount of time. I know this too, through the old joys of being a dog owner. People who never had a dog could never understand. It's difficult when you don't really have a lot of great things to say, but these things need to be known to any parent. I think especially considering most of my parents don't get to spend as much time with their children as I do. I am happy that this year none of the students have called me 'Mom', but I can only assume that I am a major figure in their life. After all, I see them eight hours a day, 5 days a week. I dissolve disputes, mete out discipline, and make sure they are dressed properly for the weather. Geez, actually, I do sound like a parent!

I am very much looking forward to my trip to Bali. I've got the flight and hotel booked. This is going to be good. I am looking forward to shedding my winter clothes for a week. From the huge down jacket right down to the underlinings I have to wear. The luxury of it all! It was strange, because I was looking for my health insurance information and in the process discovered the flight I had booked last year for Christmas vacation. It reminds me of Gobi, who I had to have put down and was the cause for me missing that vacation, and then on to Farley, who also has been put down, but then back to my students. We recently held two elections in the class. The first was for the Star Name I said I'd purchase in Farley's name. The polls are in, and Starley won.

I have not yet purchased the star though. I will, but it seems I've become a cheap person! I'm getting paranoid about my move this summer, having to be social this summer as well, plus, I'd like to visit a friend I met in Vietnam who lives in England on my way home. I guess I'll just have to sit back and wait for everything to unfold. Unfortunately, patience has never been one of my virtues. I suppose I'd better work on that, perhaps then I'll stop waking at 3 am in a cold sweat from some dream I can't immediately recall. Geesh!

I actually have another funny story to tell about one of my students today. We have grammar every Tuesday and today I made the students try to write full, complete and correct sentences. My joker student saw that I corrected two mistakes he ALWAYS makes, such as never capitalizing the "i" in a sentence if it refers to yourself and not capitalizing the beginning word of a sentence. I told him of these mistakes, he took his notebook away and then placed it in front of me again and said, "Ms. M, you need to have your eyes checked!" Who does this kid hang out with?