I'm trying ( unsuccessfully so far ) to recover from two days of intestinal problems and a constant low-grade stomach ache which have made it impossible to sleep well or to muster up any energy or 'focus' for whatever I do.Not sure what actually caused it, but for sure I will be more careful about what I eat from now on - and not go on routinely eating whatever is put in front of me when often it's stuff I don't even like - especially all the squishy, doughy things that everyone here seems to crave, and blah pastries.

I've been enjoying All Things Considered and Morning Edition - thanks to my new internet connection. The computer guy, Ari, and a helper put it in a few days ago in about an hour.The signal comes from a little radio receiver high up on a new pipe above my carport. Of course it's no faster than the connection at work, but I can use it at less-busy times and usually get audio if not video without much re-buffering needed.

Not much to write about this past week except teaching. I felt the need to 'lay down the law' to some ( guys ) in my Monday Curriculum Development class, who are still coming late without having done the reading or bringing a dictionary, and turning in homework done with only a token effort. Some really don't understand ANY of the English I'm throwing at them.Clearly they've been allowed to coast along learning nothing substantial for two years.If they were all like that it would be one thing - I could blame it on the local culture.But most - exposed to the same instruction - have learned a lot and seem quite motivated and interested.The non-performers look sheepish, eventually, but whether they will actually shape up…..too soon to say.I did end the class on a high note, teaching them Knots - once with guys,then with women.I also told them about Back to Back and said I'll be teaching several games like that at next Wednesday's 'event' outside.Even early this morning it was so hot that my shirt was totally soaked with sweat all through class.Not even a fan in that room - inexcusable.

I've come to realize that Tuesday's C.D. group is NOT weaker than Monday's on the whole, and more were in class on time and prepared.I was more prepared as well and the task I gave them went better than on Monday since I took the time to go through the homework reading with them first, line by line.I was impressed that they sat quietly and listened throughout, though I'm sure some did not understand much of it.The heat was as bad as yesterday.Again I showed them Knots and Back to Back at the end, to much laughter.This morning at the language center I talked with them again while they were waiting for their 10 am class. Ronnie 'the Clown' told me that he has no intention of becoming a teacher and only chose English Ed. because he hoped to improve his English and this was the only major that would help him do that. Unfortunately he seems to think he will learn it by osmosis with no effort on his part.

This week Writing III had 27 people, half of whom were still about 5 minutes late but no more - not bad, considering.The said they like my insistence on beginning class on time.They also like that I ( as opposed to other teachers ) never shout at them, insult them, punish them, etc.Mainly today I used the board a lot and tried to hammer away at the basics of what makes a 'good' short essay from a Western perspective, looking at several example essays and then outlining the gist of a short essay in pairs/together on differences between studying English with a native speaker vs. with a local teacher.

With the faculty class we looked at more short videos, captions on, and as always had good discussions using my 'personally speaking' question list and various 'Rotating Discussion' question lists.I'm getting a better sense of which ones don't understand me, or English in general, by making them speak more to me rather than just to each other, as I did at first.

It's been so hot lately - no daytime rain - that even with the AC on the house feels warm.I've been living in my bathing suit at home for days now.No one has a clue when to expect the true rainy season to begin - local weather patterns have been totally disrupted by global warming or something for the past 2-3 years, I'm told.I stopped carrying my big 'rainbow' umbrella to work; since no one else carries one, it would make me stick out even more than I already do.

On Thursday Herizal's wife came to the Language Center with a different kind of chicken/rice ( lots of peanuts mixed infor one thing ) and a dense prune cake to surprise Herizal for his birthday.Everyone around the office came in - there was way more than enough food.Yani got him into the classroom where we had set everything up, on some pretext or other, and he looked at least a bit surprised when we all launched into 'Happy Birthday' as he entered.He's so low-key and self-effacing it was hard to know if suspected something was up. Then the Indo Vision TV guy came by the office - Yani had set it up the day before, it turned out - and I agreed to get a basic package with CNN, BBC, NatGeog, etc.Herizal decided that the Language Center should also get cable TV - we'll set up the 32" flat screen TV that's been sitting in its carton in front of my desk since I arrived, and mount it on the wall in the lounge area.

With internet at home now, and feeling a bit sick, I did not go in to the office today. To be honest, I'm ready for a day at home, if not two.Next Saturday I'll be at the English teachers' big meeting presenting on 'trends and issues in TEFL', and then on Sunday will leave for Bandung/TEFLIN early.So I will just laze around while I have a chance.

As of the last couple days I'd have to say the 'honeymoon period' - if there ever was one - is over.Nothing in particular has changed; if anything, internet/TV at home will make my life at home less boring, more normal.But the unrelenting heat, isolation from friends/family who seldom if ever write anymore, air that often reeks of burning garbage, etc. all are taking a toll.Foods I ate at first out of courtesy or for the novelty value are now getting tiresome, to say the least; none of it is anything I would ever choose on my own.Constantly being warned that I should keep my doors locked at all times and not travel around Palembang on my own - even though there's no place I really want to go - is depressing.The teaching is interesting, though, and I still appreciate being treated as an honored guest.