The Purge

 Last few days have been dedicated to the purge!  We have been politely warned that all the local population 'purge' their intestines on at least a bi annual basis.  What they are rooting out is anything that might take a fancy to living there!  Grossed out yet?  I was.  But also pro active enough to buy the tablets and do the deed.  Luke was forced, kicking and screaming.  A lifelong nature lover to the extent that everything has a right to life...

No way.  Tablets taken.  One a day for three days.  Then the weekend was planned around places within easy reach to previously researched toilets.  Nothing dramatic happened.  Nothing.

We started French lessons last Friday.  It was pretty much a recap and I can confidently get to the airport on a bicycle now.  Or even on a horse.  Luke was keen to explain that he do both of those things confidently in Spanish.  I came away with 2 new phrases that I pulled from the back of my memory as soon as he said them.  Hier, how did I forget the word for yesterday!  I have been able to ask for avocadoes to either eat today or tomorrow for a while.  Although I don't need to ask for yesterdays avocadoes, I feel complete being able to describe yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Kind of a wraparound period of time.

The other phrase was a better, less formal, way of asking someone their name.  My notes are on my desk though, so that is one for a recap in the morning.  My teaching assistant is getting a lot of laughs out of this!  

I can understand more than I can speak which has caught the students out a few times.  It also led to a shocking discovery this afternoon that 'merde' is apparently not a swear word if you are in G2/Y3.  Surely not a word for the classroom?  I have tried not to use the word 'shit' as an assessment term for years (even if I think it).  Preferring phrases such as "maybe rethinking where your eyeline on that portrait should be would be a good idea?" Therefor, lets leave 'shit' in any language out of the classroom for a while longer, unless reading out loud from a text or dramatics on the stage.  Does this make me old fashioned?  As an art teacher, with the older students, all sorts of nudity and obscenities are acceptable.  It is contextual.  I described Tracey Emin as a proud self declared slag the other day.  Not to G2/Y3,just to clear that up.

I have been putting up a large art exhibition for the past few weeks.  It takes ages and is going to be great.  I am saddened not to be able to take students out and about on trips.  At present, the MASSIVE African Art Biennial held in Burkina has had to be cancelled.  It was a platform, amongst other things, where I hoped to meet and bring in contemporary artists to work with the students.  So I am having to set up skype interviews where artists are willing.  Everyone is understanding but the impact on students work when working with 'real' artists cannot be replicated online.  They are just left with my direct influence and interpretation.  And I won't even let them say 'shit' in any language!

It doesn't feel like Christmas is remotely near.  It is just too hot.  The librarian was wrapped in tinsel today on her way to decorate some far recess in the library.  With 60% (I think) of the population being Catholic, I am guessing we will experience something?  School is putting on Elf the Musical.  I have been asked several times if I am Catholic.  If I am am not Catholic, then it is expected that I must be Muslim.  I have taken to saying that I went to catholic school.  That seems to be a better answer than just plain no to anything-which doesn't seem to be an answer of any sort apparently.  And I really did go to a Catholic school.  Seems I left before I caught anything though...