It's a rainy day in Phuket, we'll have to cancel school, can't go up the muddy hill on a motorcycle. I know the children will be disappointed because we were up there yesterday checking out the building, and most of the children ran down to meet us although it was not a regular school day. So they spent the time crawling over the tri-motorcycle and trying on my helmut.

Four of my little ones, sat in my classroom with their little book sachels, waiting for class to begin. They didn't understand like the older ones that we were not there for class. One of my favorite little boys, I won't call him 'bad', puntai, he is about 4 years old, crawled up the wall, and in and out the window opening of the unfinished building. I tried to tell him in words and sign that he would fall and hurt his head. He seemed to understand me better than any of the other little ones. He shook his head, and tried even greater feats. Of course he did eventually fall, but tried to act as if he were not hurt. He is a character. He is always trying to make some sort of weapon, fights with the others boys, pushes the girls, and does the opposite of whatever I suggest. He usually spends the first part of class time running around doing his own thing. I've learned to ignore him, because eventually he will rejoin us and participate.

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August 22, 2009

The men in the camp, mostly fathers, started on the building. I wasn't able to go, I didn't know they planned to start at 6a, so Jerry went without me. They really needed my input, although they probably wouldn't have wanted it, because they put up the structure, the walls and roof, before the floor/foundation. They completed 3 sides, and most of the roof. It looks ok, but is not sturdy. They plan to complete it on their next day off, about 2 weeks.