After the week’s hiatus, classes resumed today to be much smoother than last week. Well, almost. Ra’ouf had to quit suddenly and permanently, citing personal issues. I’ve only known the guy for a week, but since we were spending 9 hours a day together with Jeff and Aaron, every day, I feel like I’ve lost a close friend here. There was little time to dwell on that though, as the students apparently started showing up 2 hours early again. I certainly didn’t envy Aaron’s position, as apparently half a dozen Iraqis showed up around that time and asked to be put into classes (you can probably guess which one they were asking for). Aaron let in a few of them, but had to turn down the rest of them and it didn’t exactly go smoothly.

Without Ra’ouf, Ahmad was pressed back into service as the office translator. As classes started for me, Ali was kind enough to work as the translator for me again. I can’t emphasize enough how great this guy is; he is up there translating for me, not getting paid for it, taking my questions, automatically deciphering my Midwestern euphemisms and in general being extremely helpful. At lunchtime, I offered to get him anything he wanted for food and drink and he politely declined everything. I told him I wanted to hire him as the translator, and he told me he didn’t want money, he was just doing it to help his fellow Iraqis. “All Iraqis are like brothers, and if I can help you help them, than that is all I want,” he told me, shaking his head. Unfortunately, his family is relocating to Britain a month from today, so he and I have limited time to work together.

At the end of the class, many of the students came forward to shake my hand again, thanking me for coming (I think), and asked me what we would be doing the next day. I am already planning on bringing some “life” to the bare white walls with some diagrams and posters of computer technology, and tonight I need to work on a work sheet with different types of motherboard connectors on it for a review tomorrow.

Here are some pictures of Sheraton the little kitten. He has been greatly enjoying living here with me (and occasionally Philip when he visits his own house!). As I write this, he’s curled up on my lap, purring his low rumble-kitten purr and patting at my hand as I typed on the keyboard. Occasionally when I move or clear my throat, he looks up at me and squeaks indignantly.

Nancy presents: Sheraton the cat!

Sheraton hides in Philip's indoor garden

Also, I’ve made a Facebook album of the construction of Ayn Al Basha. Even though it isn’t completely finished yet, I think it’s close enough that I can make a photo album of what’s happened so far. Here’s the link below (you don’t need a Facebook account to see them).