So I've spread my clothes all over my floor in my room to dry on the heated floor because I don't have a drying rack, yet another basic necessity they neglected to furnish my apartment with. When I spoke to my mentor teacher this morning to explain that the provincial office of education told me that the school was given money to get these things for me she thought I mean for last year...and explained they spent it all on a BIG bed for the previous scholar. Note, this is not the same bed I have now...so I wonder what happened to all of those things when they left.

I know it seems like I complain a lot about this, especially to people who are here; but it's something I have to deal with every day. Cooking in my apartment means boiling water. That's it. I was told NOT to use my settlement money to furnish my apartment...so I either have instant noodles...or go out. Neither of which are either good for me or my pocketbook. I just need basic things, that's all.

I started teaching yesterday. It seems like a week ago already. The students wear me out. I have first and second grade in the same class every day. Then 3,5 and 4,6 alternating. It was hard at first to gauge what their levels are and what they will respond to. I'm having a hard time deciding what we're going to start off with because some classes, especially the middle 4th and 5th do not really know enough English for the harder games, but too much for simple stuff. I had to actually lecture 5th grade today because most of the class was 10 minutes late, with 4 more coming in 5 minutes after that. I was actually ready to go find someone to ask if class was canceled.

Consensus seems to be with them that animals is a good place to start, so we're going to do that. Then, I will incorporate comparison into this. Hopefully with some good powerpoint games and some songs they will get into this whole class thing and not be too much a terror for me.