sorry for the delay in reporting. . . we've had a little computer glitch that has rendered my computer unusable. . . but the good news is the computer is fine, the cord's transformer has been fried by the randomness that is foreign current. even though the cord is dual voltage, we were using a surge protector, and i was using a voltage converter, i'm sad to say our lap of luxury computer is in desperate need of a charged battery. rats. good thing is the desktop computer here is back and running, and while is slow and fairly unreliable, it's our ticket to communication and sure beats going to some sketchy internet cafe.
we hopped on a packed bus for an hour long bus ride, and since it was packed, we stood for much of the time. amazingly they let more people on! we got off at the end of that line only to realize that there was not a connecting bus, so we rode in taxis for about a ten minute ride to the town. we stood around for about a half hour because we didn't know where we were going. and to top it off, there we stood in bright red tshirts, standing out like a neon light saying "illegal foreigners!" we don't have official permission to teach, so the hope is not to draw attention to ourselves. great. basically we're standing in the town square, all dressed alike and just as gringo as the day is long. i tried to channel invisibility, but i don't think it worked. i think it was perhaps us worrying more than our hosts. they were completely relaxed about the whole thing.
we hopped on a packed bus for an hour long bus ride, and since it was packed, we stood for much of the time. amazingly they let more people on! we got off at the end of that line only to realize that there was not a connecting bus, so we rode in taxis for about a ten minute ride to the town. we stood around for about a half hour because we didn't know where we were going. and to top it off, there we stood in bright red tshirts, standing out like a neon light saying "illegal foreigners!" we don't have official permission to teach, so the hope is not to draw attention to ourselves. great. basically we're standing in the town square, all dressed alike and just as gringo as the day is long. i tried to channel invisibility, but i don't think it worked. i think it was perhaps us worrying more than our hosts. they were completely relaxed about the whole thing.
the school is right around the corner from an aromatic dump. and the school isn't in much better condition. someone said it is a hundred years old. i think that's the last time it was really cleaned. the classrooms have pitted chalkboards making anything you write illegible, anemic lighting, cramped quarters but amazing little students. they were eager to learn. our team was eager to teach, so it was a super combination. no air, lots of sun and boundless energy added up to a sweaty day but no one complained and it went great.
we celebrated with dinner at pizza hut. to sum it up. . . amazing and we should not have been so unconsciously excited about pizza, but we were and we made it disappear.
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