Friday, February 25, 2011

Just call me the Muffin Lady

Happy February! hope everyone had a nice VDay (I, unfortunatly, had to spend my away from my valentine) and presidents day. its the same old same old here. I have been teaching, sleeping, watching movies, reading up a strom; and just hanging out with myself. my site mate and I did buy an oven so we are now official bakers. i have made 2 batches of peanut butter cookies and ly site mate has made like 11 batches of chocolate chip cookies. i htink my cookie quota was reached for february.

Teaching has been interesting. i dont think my 6eme kids had ever seen an analog clock before last week when i taught them. i was a wee bit caught off guard by that, since i thought i would just have to teach them the number in english, but no. wrong. I had my older kids write a dialogue for their last test and some people wrote really good dialogues, but didnt include any of the things i asked for so they failed. i felt bad but they didnt do what i asked. then another girl wrote/i know copied a dialogue about yearbooks for the assignment and i know they dont know what a yearbook is. i have to give my little ones another test this week, so it will be another round of grading tests where most people fail. I literally cant make my tests any easier. they just dont study.

So this last week i lived through a cyclone which was pretty cool. very wet, wind, and cold. its lasted like 4 days, cause it came through once then boom-a-ranged back once more. so now i have lived through a coup and a cyclone. wonder what other C events I can live through? Cattle stampede? Collapsing building? Car accident? Corruption scandal? so many possibilites! i have been cooking a lot recently and have perfected a tomatoe spaghetti sauce. its so yummy. its spicy and has got a kick to it. i am going to make imitation tacos this week so Im hopin those turn out ok. not that I have the oven I am going to make banana bread and other delicious things. i have read a lot but i am going to put up that list next time I blog, which will be the first weekend of march madness. gots to check how my teams are doing. plus by then I will need money.

wow im kinda boring. sorry my life isnt more exciting to read about. let me try and think of a few more things to tell yall.... Im coming back to teh states in April! i am very excited. i will be mostly in DC with brian but I will be making a 3 day cameo apperance in seattle. I wont have a lot of time but enough to see those people that really matter. i cant wait to get my grub on. chipotle, CPK; Wendys; 5 Guys, Matchbox, Panda Express here I come! plus a host of other places. I am going to ea till i burst. my tummy will be happy while im eating but probably not too much a few hours later but if will be totally worth it. PCs 50th anniversary is coming up so there will be some sort of party here for that so that will be fun. god I really dont have much else. i know I will get back to my site and say ugh i forgot to say that but cest la vie. I miss everyone and i hope everything in the states is peachy keen. I am going to post my predictions now, which i made back in august, for my 2 years here. I have been meaning to post it and i finally remembered to bring the sheet this time! if there is a name in parenthesis after the prediction it is that person own specific prediction. all the rest were general consensus

1. Lindsey Lohan dies
2. Prince William gets married- holla got that right!
3. Angelina Jolie has another kid, natural or adopted
4. Major natural disaster in usa, hurrican katrina sized
5. USA sends troops to another country
6. A USA political figure gets assassinated
7. Bill Clinton dies (katie)
8. Attempted, but failed, attempt on Obamas life
9. Pope dies
10. Fidel Castro dies
11. Terrorist attack in France (katie)
12. Major terrorist attack in the USA
13. Earthquake high than 6.0 in Cali (josh)
14. A horse will win the triple crown
15. New major social networking site will make it big (james)
16. Mt Rainer blows up
17. Jennifer Aniston has a baby
18. A Seattle sports team will win their respective sports championship

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New PC Volunteers, this ones for you!

hello new March Stage! You only have a few more weeks til you leave the USA to come to good ol MAD. please eat lots of Chipotle for me! Here is a list of things to bring, things that are your choice, and what not to bring. I hope this helps and see you in MAD!

BRING

Deodorant: you can only get the rolling kind in country, which I personally hate and dont think works
Sweatshirt: it gets cold, especially in Mantasoa and in the highlands
Sleeping Bag: doubles as a blanket and very very useful
Jeans: at least a pair
Tie (boys): for swearing in
Solar Charger: make sure its compatible with the electronics your bringing
Digital Camera: kinda a no brainier
Headlamp (2): you WILL need this, even if you have electricty. I do and I still use mine every night. they are just so practical. i recommend 2 just in case yours breaks
Books: you will have lots of free time
E-Reader: ditto above
Rain Jacket: it rains a lot here, especially in the highlands. there is a rainy season
Dri Quick Towel: good for trips to visit friends. you can get bath towels in country
Double FItted Sheet: no fitted sheets in country, unless you want to pay out the nose for it. bring one and you will be so happy. regular sheets are easier to find and cheaper. I brought one from home but not a must
Favorite things from home: cause you will be homesick
Batteries (AAA): not easy to find here
ONe NIce Outfit: for swearing in and any other special occasion
FLat, nice, closed toe shoes: practical and then you dont have to bring heels!
Duct Tape: also good to have
Flash Drive/External Hard drive: to move documents etc? most important you bring the external hard drive if you have a computer cause there is a lot of movie sharing
Hair Control Devices: you will not be washing your hair a lot fo you need something to keep it tamed
Travel Mirror: so you can look at yourself
Travel Alarm Clock: to wake up for events
Sewing Kit: to repair clothes. I already have clothes with holes I have had to sew
Lots and Lots of Underwear: take whatever you were going to bring and double it at least. I would even say triple it
Ziplock Bags: to keep out bugs from food

YOUR CHOICE

Computer: I dont have on and I have gotten along fine. I am, however, going to get one to bring back here because they are useful to have. you wont die without one though
Make-up: i never wear any, some people wear a little everyday here. its up to you
Rain Boots: i like having mine
Umbrella: you can buy here, but if you have a small one already you might as well bring it
Diva Cup (girls): now these freak me out so i dont have one but people who do swear by them.
Pads (girls): very very hard to find so if thats you thing, bring a supply
Tape/Glue: cheap and small, so easy to pack if you have space
Gum: love me some gum and really dont like the gum in MAD
Food: like bars, powered drink mixes stuff like that. comfort food
Pens: you will get some but not right away so bring a few to get started
Jewelry: just a few pieces for formal occasions
Pillow: i love my pillow so i brought it but I was one of the few who did. bring if you are really attached, like me!

DONT BRING

Bike Helmet: PC will give you one
Lots of CLothes: you can buy stuff here thats funny and cheap.
High Heels: everythings a dirt road. nuff said
Cell Phones: you will get one here for cheap
Short Shorts: shoulders are ok to bare but knees not so much. i have not felt comfy wearing short shorts anywhere. that being said, bring a pair of running shorts for loungin around you house or working out inside your house
Mosquito net: you will get one from PC
Lots of 1st Aid: you will get from PC
Lots of hygiene products: you will get from PC/ easy to buy

Hope this helps!

They changed the Zodiac signs? Im not a Libra anymore? but my tattoos for life!

Hello family and friends! this will be a real short blog post cause i am only in town for a few hours to pick up stuff then its back to my site. It will be a real long day by the time I get back!

First, the mail. Apparently, there was a delay for some reason but I called PC today and they said the issue, whatever it was, just got resolved, so mail should be going to the USA this week. incoming mail was affected too, but not packages, which i found strange but Im not the leader. so I got aunt danas and moms packages today (thank you!) and no letters. the following people have letters coming (this is on top of the people I wrote on my last blog): Hanna, Erin, Erin, Diana, Laurie, and Brian. hopefully everything will get to you, but we shall see

Second i forgot to write down the books ive read so here it goes!

Handle With Care
Matterhorn
Dead Until Dark
River Town
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Magicians Assistant
A Gate at the Stairs
White Tiger
Peony in Love
No Place Left to Bury the Dead
Bitter is the New Black
Unlikely Destinations: the Lonely Planet Story
The Emperors Children
Where the Heart Is
The Secret Life of Bees
Seabiscuit
Nine Hills to Nambonkaha
The Rossetti Letter
Never Let Me Go

School is going fine. just cruisin along. I will write more about it next time. I will post again the weekend of Feb 25 so come back and check then! miss everyone!