There is only one week left before the April vacation begins. Now I understand why there is a "March break" in N.America. March is sooo long! It felt like it would never end, and officially it still hasn't. We are all just exhausted. This is probably going to be my busiest week teaching thus far as well. There is so much to do. Good thing I've always been a procrastinator! I know how to allot little time into much. I just think though, in less than a week I'll be lying on a beach or riding an elephant, or perhaps gazing at one of the amazing, lush waterfalls on the island of Thailand I will be staying. Ahh, it's worth it! So far, nothing major has messed up, but I still have my fingers crossed. It would appear that the fates have destined me to stay put thus far. Maybe they'll grant me this one little wish? I have already promised to come back next year!

I know all you seasoned travellers will be so disappointed with me, especially those to Thailand. I have no real tour or travel plans, but, I have encountered some hitches, so have had to make accomodations. My plan to go on a 5 day tour was thwarted due to the fact I was a single person. This is disappointing. I assumed (and yes, I realize the irony now!) that I would join a tour of a mish-mash of people and we'd all just make it out as best we could. Well, Of all the tours I found via the internet, no one was willing to include me. If I did a private tour, or even just the join in single one, it would have cost triple the amount I had originally agreed upon. Plus, extra for the single room. I thought, well, I'm tired of this, and tired in general. I need a resort where I can take day trips. The resort I found is reasonably priced to me and I have a ride to and from the airport. Two things that matter much for your vacation well being! I have the opportunity to do day trips and relax at will. How loverly!

It hardly seems feasible that I will be relaxing soon, but I know because I've seen the tickets!

I know I've been terrible as of late for writing in drips and drabs, but I feel the need to share simple little things with you. My eyes have been getting bad again due to the dust and whatnot. Doogie went to the trouble to buy me my eye drops. It's very specific, they have to be artifical tears and not have any preseritives. Unfortunatley, these do and when I put them in, it either helps or no. I found it funny that Doogie said my eyelashes are pointed the wrong way. Mine are not directed downward to keep things out. I said that I never do anything to them, that's just the way they grow. I'm adapted to a different climate. All these little things. I wonder if I stay for more than two years if my body would adapt more in such ways. What do you think? Is human evolution possible in a lifetime, or just through gene selection? I"m sure my brother would have something to say about that. But, you do have to think, that once you have lived in a place, you do get used to certain things. Is adapation a form of evolution?

I had the opportunity to play checkers with one of my students, Chinzorig. He's on the left of Spiderman (taken during our dress rehearsal for the Christmas Talent Show). If it hadn't been for Tergelbold's assistance (just behind Spiderman, AKA, Tuguldur), I would have lost...badly! I don't really remember playing checkers as a child. Just backgammon and Chinese checkers. Well, of course Uno too.

I am getting very excited as my trip to Thailand is booked. I have one more week of school left before my vacation. Wooo!

I must be turning into the incredibly forgetting woman. I knew when I started this post I'd forget the main thing I wanted to talk about! Is it just that I'm old, or tired, or both? Well, I was walking to the store tonight and I saw these two boys fighting. It appeared that the older boy was harrassing the younger and he seemed to be winning. Being a teacher, I gave them the stare and it seemed they were okay, until I saw what I saw. The older boy had his back to me, but I saw a golden arc coming from his pants and realized he was peeing on the other boy. Initially, I saw some faux karate chops and the like, but I see that every day. I'm not sure if the pee boy was trying to impress me (I'm unmistakable with my full moon white face) or just mark his territory. It was strange.

The trip to Thailand is booked! I am more excited than I should be, but I think it's due to my missing the Christmas trip. I am very much looking forward to getting away from work and all that stuff, you know; things, stuff and such. I was planning on doing a tour, but when I tried to book they emailed me back saying they don't do singles. I had just assumed that I'd be lumped into a group but unfortunately that is not how it works. I would have been charged triple and plus extra for the fact I'd have a single room. Instead, due to my exhaustion factor, I have booked a stay at a resort. Yes, it's on a beach! I have a ride to and fro from the airport and really have nothing to worry about. Just what I need! I hope I will meet people there and I'm sure the opportunity for daytrips will come up. I'm actually saving a lot by staying at this resort, so I won't mind spending some for whatever I feel up for!

I know it's silly, but I have an update on my coffee press. I went back to the UB Mart the other night, and as I was shopping one of the sales girls recognized me and brought me to my old coffee press. Yes, it's still on display there, crack and all. I had to mime to her that when I got home and took it out of the box it was cracked. I pretended to get home, open the box, and take the carafe out. My look was as shocked as I could do. She seemed to understand, but I still think they feel I broke it accidentally and just brought it back. Not the case! If I broke it, I'd take responsiblity! I think I managed to make it clear there was no bubble padding on the glass and that's why is broke.

My class is good. They are offically obsessed with Greek mythology. They initally didn't understand that these are just stories people made up so long ago to make sense of the world. One girl in my class said, "Well, who is this Zeus person, and why does he think he's any better than us?" They got worked up about all the shenanigans those ancient Greeks were up to and wanted answers! I talked to them about the "big questions" but I had the sense they have never before wondered why they were there or what it was all about. They still haven't been introduced to Aesop and his fables, or even the idea of fable and lore. They, of course, know all the Disney movies and they were making connections between the characters they have seen there to the ones we were talking about. One girl told me that she went home and told her mom and mom's friends about how she was learning Greek mythology and how she did her own research on the computer. They were very impressed and that made my day!

I have invested in a few plants, seeing as how the contract for next year is signed, sealed and delivered. You forget how such little things make a house a home. I missed having plants, but I miss my dog more. It is now written officially that there are to be no pets. Mom, the Saint that she is, has agreed to take my Farelypants for one more year to accomodate my resume bulding.

It is funny though, because you get the feel, from the students and staff, that the year is nearing an end, and I keep thinking how it's getting closer I will see my baby again. I will be brushing my teeth one morning and realize I'm just a few short months away! A few short months from seeing him, my brand new niece and my best friends' baby for the first time ever. I have so much to look forward to. Everyone at home has been busy, has have I, and I can't wait to see and talk to you all! Be it said, there are so many dogs, and as much as I'd love for them to all be my friends, they run from me! Do you all have any idea how long March is? Gesh! No wonder in N. America we have a break then. It's too much.

I also was admiring my little apartment, and how happy, and lucky, I am to have it all to me. As much as I miss Farle's nudges on my arm and giving him the good pets, I can't really complain about my quality of life.

Plants, a great vacation coming up and a coffee press that works (the kind of time language barrier works, not at the bank though!). It makes report cards worth it!

I have been having issues with my coffee press. I bought my third and final one a couple of Sundays ago. I say final one because if this one broke it must be the universe's way of telling me I am not to own one. When I got home and pulled it out of the box it had a crack in the glass. I finally brought it back to the UB Mart. It was quite the ordeal! The girl who was helping me took me all over the store searching for someone. When we found her she said, "I'm sorry, I don't speak English. Do you speak German? Russian?" When they discovered how linguistically challened I was they then tried to recruit an English speaker from the customers. They found a woman who claimed to speak English, but truly did not. I kept repeating that I did not want my money back, I just wanted the glass replaced. Another woman joined the crowd who seemed to understand me more. I just had to mime out what I wanted. The people trying to help me just kept staring at the press and passing it to each other. After about 45 minutes, they handed me a new press and took the old one. I mime a lot here. I was thinking that the amount I have heard Mongolian spoken, I should be able to pick out some words. Unfortunately, this is not the case! I can't understand anything.

I forgot that it is Easter! We don't celebrate it here in Mongolia, so I'm jealous of all of you who have 4 day weekends! We did have a nice day yesterday so that makes up for it. I hope everyone has a nice holiday and eats lots of Easter ham!