Hi!
I'm here at school with a free hour because of yet another schedule change (7am is too early for teaching anyway...) One of the first things I wanted to do here (after having the schedule changed on me, not to mention the students, almost weekly, was get all of the classes, teachers, students, and schedules online, but, after meeting with one of the IT guys here who had a similar idea, he told me that the school is waiting on a world bank? (possibly different organization) proposal to get a dedicated server, so we're stuck with the changes as it is for now, which gives me the opportunity to update the blog, and of course, listen to Taylor Swift's new album, and abuse punctuation marks.
At school, I've just finished a unit/personal teaching goal on cover letters. After researching online for jobs in Cambodia, seeing the necessity of the cover letter in Cambodia too, realizing that none of the students had written a cover letter, and that the class I was teaching was called "Business Letters I", I decided to stray from a presentation of British business jargon, e.g., pro forma invoices, loco ex works, tenders, and carriage quotations, and focus on something I hope will be practical. After grading the papers at a commencement ceremony yesterday (for some kind of center that the deputy prime minister and UBB set up. I didn't have any hand in the matter, but went for appearances,) I was generally impressed by what I saw, which is always a good feeling for teachers. In my other classes, we've got midterms this week and next, and then it's back to California for Christmas.
One work related issue that came up recently was a hidden set of limitations on the amount of teaching hours I would be paid for. I wasn't ever told about it, until I investigated two months in to the job, which was upsetting. Long story short, I won't be staying here as long as I'd originally planned. I'll be home for three weeks, come back to finish the semester, and then be home in March until I start law school in the Fall. I've heard back from Santa Clara, got in! Still waiting on the other schools, but it's nice to know I'll be going somewhere.
A few weeks ago, we had Thanksgiving at my place, which was great, although I was wiped. I got some kind of virus directly following a weird leg infection and an ear infection (which have cleared up). Luckily, there's a real MD in town, who helped and drugged me through the various issues, quotes from him: "health is a moving target." also "take off your pants." I'm feeling healthy now, back at the gym and running. I ran into a fellow expat who'd had malaria; count your blessings.
Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving from Libby:
(Deserted beach in Bako National Park, Borneo) 
