The Day before the Last Bell - Son Zeng

It's been a rainy week in Masalli and that means no chance to wash clothes. Host mother does have a washing machine, but what's the point when you need sunny skies to dry clothes on a line outside. Today I finally was able to wash underwear and I'm sure my family thinks I'm rich because I hung several pairs to dry on the line in the chicken yard. There's another clothes line in the front yard for non-underwear.

While I was outside I noticed that the pomegranate tree in the yard is blossoming. I'll miss the fruit of these bright, trumpet-like orange flowers because I will be in America when they ripen. One tree produces a bit less fruit than an apple tree. I remember seeing pomegranates bursting on trees in my yard and mentally counting the price at about $3 per fruit. One tree could make an Azeris rich if they knew how to ship and sell them.

Thursday was not a school holiday yet few students came to school. It was the day before Son Zeng (Last Bell) a semi-graduation ceremony for the 11th form students. Many were at school to pick up a yearbook-like album with their photo plus photos of classmates and teachers. In fact, I saw more 11th form students at the school in the past month than I've ever noticed before. I attribute this to the new no-nonsense school director. Alas, she hasn't totally turned around school attendance, but it is improving.

Only 2 of my 4 English teachers came to school. In the past, all the teachers on this day would be in the teachers' room frantically filling out the registers, i.e. the daily marks for students. Again, thanks to the new director she has them recording marks daily, and not when they remember to do it. Apparently teachers who finished recording marks also thought they could take the day off.

Sally came over in the afternoon so we could swap photos we'd both taken in the past few months. I got photos and video from her of my English assembly program. I'm glad she was there to take these great memories for me and my teachers. I hope to print and give them each a few photos before I leave. The bottom photo here is my singing "London Bridge" for some primary students as they catch a "fair lady." They loved doing this!

I'm starting to get anxious about all the paperwork I need to do in order to finish my Peace Corps service. PC provides us with a long checklist and some reports need to be done a month before I leave. I need to figure out how to recall and document things I did last year. My diaries are back in America and I'll just have to estimate number of children I taught etc. Oy!