Welcome to the first day of Spring

Spring has sprung - in many forms here in Damascus.  First, there's the laryngitis that has accompanied a nasty viral infection.  Then there's the allergy acting up that led to said infection, then, of course, there's the rainy days and sunny days that make it impossible to know what to wear when one leaves home in the morning.  Regardless, it is Spring and that is an exciting time of year.

I'm afraid there isn't much new to report in the last week.  I've been home, in bed, for much of the week.  I did have a chance to visit a doctor other than the bone-head endocrinologist that I've been seeing.  It was this new doctor who put me on complete vocal rest for three days when I lost my voice.  Although the voice has yet to return, I did come back to school today, 'cause really, if I stayed home every time I had laryngitis, I'd probably have missed more than a year of work by now :)

All in all, I am feeling better...sort of.  My throat still hurts, which is a new thing for me.  Therefore, I am listening to my body and trying not to talk at all.  Today is a good day for coming to school.  I have to teach my kids for a grand total of  70 minutes...and of that I might need to talk about 15 minutes.  They are working on assignments they started last week and preparing for Mother's Day (which is tomorrow in Syria).  Then, as our culmination activity for our literature circles (which were an astounding success) students in all of fifth grade will be watching Where the Red Fern Grows later today.  They are quite excited about the whole thing - probably more because they get pizza then they are watching movies.  Kids are super easy to please :)

And on that note, I best be off.  Seeing as I spent the majority of last week at home, I do have a thing or two do to at school to be all caught up - although, it doesn't seem like I have nearly enough to do - a week out and I hardly have a pile to work through.  Go figure.  Hmmmm....perhaps I am too productive.  Meh, it's how I work.

If all goes according to plan, I will be leaving for Bangkok next week.  I'm sure I will have an interesting story or two to tell once I'm back.

Sending signs of spring your way...

Tylene