3/14/06 Yes, Aaron this experience is full of ups and downs. I went to class tonight with no formal lesson plan because I had no idea who would show. I do have, however, my own traveling show now -- in a bag AND a box -- so to prepare for the class I just reviewed lesson plans and materials I'd already prepared -- some I'd used and some I haven't had opportunity to use yet. Well -- Guadalupe and Manuel -- the regulars came. That would've been fun. But then 7 new students showed up!!! Chaos. This was my first night on my own -- so I would've been responsible for teaching the guys plus registering and administering tests to newbies. Thank goodness Genia was there finishing up some paperwork. She did the testing while I tried to work in a very noisy situation with the guys plus help her with the testing. Testing took the first section of the class. After break I had time to welcome the new students (I got 3 of them for my beginner group) and lead a discussion in English where we all got to know each other. I tried hard to tell them in Spanish to come back, the class would be fun, what we would learn (from my objectives). But there is no way to know if they will return.

So -- Chandrika, when you come to observe Thursday, I will have a whole new class -- maybe -- starting from scratch. It's like playing Sorry and being kicked back home.

I told Guadalupe that he really should go to Betty's class. He is way past novice, actually doing very good. He's my favorite student. He's reluctant but I think he would be really bored (aburrido) sitting in a beginner class.