complain not and be thankful

Seven thirty in the morning and the swamp cooler ran all night and continues to do so.  Did someone in the home office read my whiny blogs and tell the boss here to keep it running? 

What a difference it makes to sleep well.  What a difference it makes to feel ready to do some work.  But I wait, any second the power will go and temps will rise again, but really, we’re talking almost 12 hours of no sweat.  Let’s take advantage of the time. 

4.27pm

One class is finished, another one in an hour.  I am sleepy.  Today I got measured for some local threads and had a decent lunch of bread that is, what is the right word here, softened with juices from meat and potatoes.  A lot of bread is eaten here.  This morning we had eggs and Rezek laid out fresh bread and that is good bread.

I am teaching the American English File series in two intermediate classes and the students in the first class called me out on a grammar point.  In the book when a past tense sentence is reported one must use the past perfect.  I said you could use the past simple as well.  Well, the two boys who are eager and fun to have in class showed me in the grammar section in the back this wasn’t the case.  Well, back in the room I found another book which agrees with my assertion that it doesn’t matter.  I will show them tomorrow.  Why do two grammar books differ in this case?  Pffft.  I don’t know but I should know, shouldn’t I. 

7:55pm

I am getting another Toefl class, ha ha ha.  What the hell am I doing, ha ha ha.  Two days ahead of the students I must always be. 

Rezek came into my room with a bowl of chopped pieces of red watermelon.  And this kind man is also the only one who keeps the swamp cooler full.  God bless you every day. 

I haven’t received my contract yet and the letter of intent doesn’t state how many hours I am expected to teach.  In Kabul they teach 20, I will, beginning next week with this second ha ha ha toefl class, be up to 24.  I don’t mind so much as long as I have time to prepare and am not drowsy and loopy from the heat. 

I asked the student who lives in Dubai what area he lives in, ‘I live on the Palm’.  La de da.  Rarely do I equate wealth with the Afghan citizen but they’re here.  How did they make their money, real estate, security.  They are though, the half of one percent in this country.  And the students who are living in this new city have it a lot better than the rest and I can only imagine how the remaining survive.  Life is hard.  Forgive me Lord for complaining so much. 

Tonight’s swamp cooler is sponsored by solar which means I’ll have a comfortable setting for three or four more hours.  Outside it is dead calm with clear skies and the temps are moderately warm.  Around three in the morning it’ll be cool so I’ll open the windows and my door and pray for a breeze to let me sleep.  

Fezel just invited me to eat more watermelon.  Ay ay yi yi, how can I say no.  Lord.