School

Several have asked about the school I teach in.  It is an American School which means it is modeled after those in the states.  This allows students to move more freely between foreign and domestic schools.  Some students are here for two years, some for three. Rarely do they stay any longer.  Some parents are with the US embassy, World Bank, USAid and American businesses starting up here.  One is an international laywer.

Twenty-six nations are represented in the student body and after school many different languages are being spoken.  Today one student told me he speaks 5 different languages fluently - and listed them.  He has lived in numerous countries and has picked up their languages.  I'm living here and can now say good morning (gila mashvidobisa)  I don't greet anyone in the afternoon!  They start the 4-yr-olds with Russian; and they pick it up quickly.  Students have the choice of Russian, German, or French.  We also teach numerous Advance Placement classes with some students graduating with five AP courses.

My largest class is 13 students and the smallest is 4.  Several elementary classes have over 15 students but any more and they get another teacher.  The school is run by an organization headquartered in the US.

When we arrive in the morning the gate must be opened and the under carriage of the car checked for bombs.  There are guards on duty 24/7 but the building is never locked nor are classroom doors closed.

The school pays the locals relatively well which resultts in our having an MD on staff full time, and highly educated elementary class room aids.  One Para is an MD who also has her CPA; another is an archeologist and one I just got to know has her MS is something I don't remember what.

Labs are well set up, lab materials sent in each year; but I can not find yellow jello for my cell lab!  I'll order it for next year.