Happy HOT Wednesday. The rain that surrounded us with cool weather since the weekend went on it's merry way last night. Today is beautiful and sunny, but hot as Hades again and plagued with the humidity left behind by the rain. Ah well. Nothing new.

Today I received a text message 15 minutes before I was supposed to get picked up to go teaching informing me that we would not be teaching today. You see, one of my schools is becoming a "dream school". One would THINK that this would mean that the standards of teaching would be raised and the quality of education would increase. Au contraire, my friend.

In fact, the transitional process from ordinary country school to dream school is also a transition from a little teaching to almost none. The sports days, teacher meetings, aerobics sessions and impromptu "teacher hangout sessions" have not decreased. Instead, added to all of these reasons not to teach are all of the superficial NEEDS to beautify the school. After all, it is now a dream, so shouldn't it look it.

I don't know what they are doing today, as I don't go to school when teaching has been canceled in lieu of vital activities such as painting red and white stripes on curbs, having the students haul dirt for pathways through the shrubbery that other students are planting. All of these activities could be turned into meaningful learning opportunities. Instead, the teachers sit back and tell the students what to do and set them to work like hired laborers. I refuse to be a part of this. Were these activities confined to weekends or after school projects, I would be happy to take part. But, when they replace the minimal amount of classroom learning that is going on, I simply can't watch.

My students cannot learn English if they only study it for 45 minutes a week! Simple as that.

So, I am at home yet again with time on my hands. After breathing through the frustration of the two unanswered texts from the past two days (which inquired into whether or not we'd be teaching today) and instead receiving the message just minutes before I thought I was leaving (Turns out she'd changed her phone number and hadn't bothered to tell me..hmmmm) I called the hospital to ask if anyone was in labor. You see, I'm trying to observe as many births as possible to help prepare me for my future midwifery training. I learned that someone was in the early stages of labor and would probably give birth sometime in the afternoon. I decided to aim for noon and went back to sleep for a couple of hours.

After getting up for the second time today, I had some breakfast, read a little of my National Geographic that came yesterday and hopped on my bike to head to the hospital. After stopping a few places on the way, I arrived at the labor room almost exactly at noon, as planned. As usual, they asked me why I was there (though I'd called and I always come for the same reason) and then informed me that the baby had already been born. My guess was she gave birth around 11.

I know you can't really ever know when a baby will be born. But, why does it feel like they tell me the wrong time on purpose? Alas. Maybe next time.

On another note. Here are some pictures of some of the critters around my house...

Pumpkin caught a snake and proceeded to play with it for quite some time before feasting. (I took this picture while standing on a chair, despite the fact it is a garden snake and it's death was quite imminent.)

This pretty grass hopper was resting on my dishrag on the faucet outside. I took a moment to snap a picture before diving into the dishes. The little guy didn't like his moment in the spotlight much because he promptly flew off, kicking me in the shoulder on his way out!

Here Simba takes a aromatherapy rest on my running shoes. Wouldn't be my choice resting spot, but then he never asked me! So cute.

Today is a rainy rainy Monday. Can't go to the office because that requires riding my bike and that has been impossible thus far today. Instead, I am listening to some wonderful Peruvian music which goes quite well with the steady pattern of the rain. It is a peaceful day.

This weekend was a lazy one. Becasue everything was canceled, I stayed home, cleaned house and layed in my hammock. It was wonderful. Here are some pictures from around my house that represent my days..

My washing machine










My dishwasher






My living room, complete with paper mache solar system that I made for a teacher training. Yes, Pluto stays. I don't care what those astrologists say!








From my "living room" - solar system and new hammock (a birthday present from a volunteer friend). The hammock is so comfortable that I can stay in it all day! (And sometimes do!)

Happy Jewish New Year!

After enjoying the "cool" weather of yesterday I decided to check the high temperature on line. According to Yahoo weather, the high was a mere 88 F. Granted, it may not have reached the high, but if 88 is nice and cool, it is a clear sign I have been here TOO LONG! HA.

For those that don't know, in this movie Tom Hanks and John Candy are both Peace Corps volunteers in Thailand. It is a spoof and nothing like life here. The movie is really foolish, but during the application process for Peace Corps, a friend of mine in Atlanta sugessted I watch it. This movie was his only ideas about life in Peace Corps. (Oh dear!) Anyway, I figured, after the coup, some adjustments should be made to this DVD cover.

In other news, I just read that the US has lost more soldiers in our current war than were killed on September 11th. (And of course, Iraqi and Afgan losses are thirty fold compared with the US.) I think we should all take a moment and remember those lost and say a prayer that this fighting ends soon. Each of those lives lost is a human: with family, friends, talents and dreams.

Today I am helping facilitate a teacher training with my supervisor. She recently spent a month at an English teacher training held in Signapore. Upon her return, she is required to share some of the activities/techniques that she learned. Generally I don't particularly enjoy teacher trainings, but one of the activities today was loads of fun. The teachers were given Roald Dahl's version of Little Red Riding Hood (in poem form) and had to perform it. I love this version and greatly enjoyed their performances.

This is the chorus and the grandmother.

Little Red Riding Hood (Roald Dahl)

As soon as the wolf began to feel

That he would like a decent meal.

He went and knocked on Grandma's door.

When Grandma opened it, she saw...

The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin.

and wolfie said...

May I come in?

And Grandmama was terrified.

He's going to eat me up!

she cried.

And she was absolutely right.

He ate her up in one big bite!

But Grandmama was small and tough and wolfie wailed...

That's not enough! I haven't yet begun to feel,

That I have had a decent meal!

he ran around the kitchen yelping...

I've got to have a second helping!

Then added with a frightful leer,

I'm going therefore to wait right here!

Till little Miss Riding Hood

Comes home from walking in the wood.

He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,

(of course he hadn't eaten those)

He dressed himself in coat and hat.

he put on shoes and after that.

He even brushed and curled his hair.

Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.

In came the little girl in red.

She stopped. She stared. And then she said...

What great big ears you have, Grandma.

All the better to hear you with.

The wolf replied.

What great big eyes you have, Grandma.

All the better to see you with,

The wolf replied.

He sat there watching her and smiled.

He thought...

I'm going to eat this child. Compared with her

Old grandmama, she's going to taste like caviar!

Then Little Red Riding Hood said,

But Grandma, what a lovely great big furry coat you have on!

That's wrong

cried wolf...

Have you forgot?

To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got!!!

Ah well, no matter what you say,

I'm going to eat you anyway.

The small girl smiles, one eyelid flickers.

She whips a pistol from her knickers.

She aims it at the creature's head

And BANG! BANG! She shoots him dead.

A few weeks later, in the wood

I came across Miss Riding Hood.

But what a change, no cloak of red.

No silly hood upon her head. She said,

"HELLO" and please do note...

My lovely furry Wolfskin Coat!

I am excited to be writing my first blog. This has been coming for quite some time, but I just never got myself down to it. I am excited to now be an official blogger. And what a better topic to start blogging about than some exciting political turmoil... read on, friend, read on!

I am officially a "real" Peace Corps volunteer now. Two nights ago, in the middle of the night I was awakened by a phone call from the administration of Peace Corps. After shaking myself out of sleep and slipping out of the room I was sharing with a Thai teacher and several students (we were at a drama camp) I registered what was being said.

Coup d'etat!

Fortunately, this coup has been non-violent. Prime Minister Thaksin was in New York at the time that the military took over Bangkok. Several days ago he made a statement claiming that he was still fully in charge of the country (despite many protests and demonstrations several months ago after which he promised to step down) and that when he returned he would remove one of the "higher-ups" in the army.

Well, the general would have none of that, so (apparently) with the blessing of the King the military staged a coup. This is not unusual here - there have been many in the last 50 years. The last one, I believe, was in 1992, but before that they were regular and often quite bloody. Democracy seems to be difficult here - so corrupt. So, each time there is a new leader, it seems like there has to be a coup to replace him. The passive nature of Thai culture also makes it more difficult to deal with sticky situations, as direct action is often frowned upon. Here the king is widely respected (rightly so, for he is a wonderful leader), but is legally outside of the democratic system. People respect his opinions and suggestions and he does not take that power lightly. He is reluctant to directly step into government dealings or make public statements regarding political 'situations'. Because of this, when he does speak, it is highly respected. He had not publicly condemned Prime Minister Thaksin, but he had made some subtle comments indicating that change was needed.

Most people here seemed to have expected this. Yesterday was declared a national holiday - schools and banks were closed. But, today everything is back to normal and the situation has settled down even in Bangkok. The process has begun to set up a new government. I can only hope and pray this one will be less corrupt than the last!

Peace Corps issued a high alert in the phone call(s) that woke me up two nights ago. The drama camp where I was sleeping with my counterparts was canceled and we were sent home. This was a great disappointment, especially because today the alert was reduced to restricted travel to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but regular business otherwise. The camp has been rescheduled and, hopefully, will happen yet. Only time will tell.