February 9

Computers can be really frustrating. I have been having the worst time with compatibility issues between the linux computers in the library and the windows machines everywhere else. Yesterday I tried to copy the text of all my emails into a text document on a floppy so I could read everything later but now I can't get the floppy to work on the linux machine. This week, though, has gone well. First I got mail on Monday for the first time since I have been at site. Then, I was able to watch the Super Bowl on Monday afternoon, yes a replay on ESPN. The real reason the week has gone well though is that teaching went better this week. This is our second time through the timetable and the grade 8 learners are understanding me better. I try to give a lot of visual cues to help them figure out what I am saying and one way or another I think we are communicating a little more effectively this week. I kind of feel like I'm killing time with the grade 8 because I want them to get used to my voice before we do anything too important and because we don't have paper. The kids are supposed to have a writing book for each of their 9 subjects, and in the past the government has supplied most of these books. This year we got a few books, but not nearly enough. Today we bought about 500 more but that is still just a drop in the bucket. Next week we'll be able to start doing more homework since we'll have paper, but even then I have been asking around for over a week now trying to locate the grade 9 physical science textbooks. So far I have been writing a lot of things on the board and going pretty slow, but we need those books so I can assign more homework.

Right now I am watching the Conference USA championship game between TU and Central Florida on video thanks to Brad. Its about 9:30 at night which is my bedtime these days but I want to finish the first half before I go to bed. I know we have to find a way to live without Mills, but how good is Tarrion Adams and I haven't heard any talk about Tennial lately? We have 4 returning players on the O-line and some good tailbacks coming back, but who is Mr. Smith going to throw the ball to besides the leathel screen pass to Adams?

Now I have to say something about the Super Bowl. First off, what was with the technical problems? Did they ever have a sideline report? They tried to go to Michelle Tafoya early on and had troubles, but seriously its the Super Bowl. You have to give props to Hines Ward making the big catches at the critical times all through the game for the Steelers. Seattle had some chances but their big talking tight end kept having the ball in and out of his hands except for the gimme touchdown that I could have caught. The strangest thing about the Super Bowl is that people all over the world were watching the game but no one is Coblenz even knew it was happening until I brought it up. At the same time none of you know anything about how Ivory Coast and Egypt are playing in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow evening, but everyone here has been following the tournament for a month.