16th October

16^th October

“He is both the storm and the ship” Dune

I feel like that sometimes, when I try to instigate changes in the status quo amongst the English teachers here. It may not be comfortable at first, but I promise it will help!

Certificates here are very important, not just for personal pride, but also for job advancement and I got my first one yesterday! Looking forward to my pay rise!

It was the annual teachers 3km ish (7 laps of what was claimed to be a 400m track – looked more like 200m to me, although im not complaining) race in the Rayon (borough/ward) today, and I came third! The first time I have run a track race since I was 15, and I was only inches away from the 2^nd guy. So I am rather pleased with myself. I didn’t take a note of my time, but I will try to get hold of it. It also means I don’t have to run anymore till next summer, which my poor knees will also appreciate. My price was a small vase, and an official certificate. If I was a P.E teacher, I could use it to apply for a pay rise – there are 3 pay scales for teachers, and the way to go up is through articles publishes/ personal awards won and awards won by students.

Oh, Jason came 4^th, and Steven took the photos. There was also a 2 lap woman’s race, and Michelle ran well in that so great Peace Corps representation.

It’s the Rayon mini-football tournament on Wednesday, so I am also looking to do well in that!

All of this was followed up with a celebratory trip to the only night club in town in the evening, where Steven and I danced like crazy people and had lots of fun. Dancing is treated rather seriously here (just like in most clubs anywhere I guess- lots of image concerns) so not just being foreign, but dancing in totally different ways, and just having fun, is guaranteed to get a crowd.