5th Grade

Was, the first time around, not my favorite year of elementary school.  So why not try it again?  A few weeks ago, Elise, DJ and I walked over to a nearby village, where our friend Kirsten and her husband, Mark, attend school (it is an adult degree completion program).  There were three classes that day, English, Arabic and Kurdish.  I understood a little in the Kurdish section, slightly more in the English (the class was still conducted mainly in Kurdish) and about one word in the Arabic.  Each class was around 50 minutes long, and each teacher had a very different personality.  The Kurdish teacher was an intimidating lady who strode up and down the aisles, pausing to stare down at you, which was a bit disconcerting.  Especially since I felt as though I was slacking since I couldn't answer any of her questions.  Most of the time was spent practicing my Kurdish writing in the back, listening to the Kurdish pour over my brain and avoiding eye contact with the teacher.  It was a good experience, and if I do end up staying for a few more years here, I plan on diving into the language (well, it would be a requirement, but at the moment I am just feeling stodgy in the whole language department.  Ishiki crapa.  [bad job])  To the right is a picture of the English teacher and Kirsten in class.  I particularly enjoy their facial expressions in it...