Teachers Day

Teachers day is something I havent experienced before. I started with the first period but the kids knowing they were going out after, were not really in the mood to work and I let those who wanted to work, work and those who didnt, sit and chat.

I then rec'd 5 presents from different kids.. its a strange experience its like having a birthday with the kids bringing you gifts which varied from a pre colombian style letter opener (Yes I know they didnt open letters in pre colombian times .. but the design was pre colombian), chocolates, a cake up to a laser pointer. Its strange to accept gifts though I found myself wondering if the reason I got a gift was as the Colombian teachers suggest that the kids like you, or whether its a type of personal interest because they have exams coming up and it never hurts to have some one on your side. Either way the gifts were lovely.

I had duty at 11.30 the rest of the morning was my own. At 1130 I went out to supervise the kids around the football field where a match was taking place between a mixture of the school staff and grade 8 and above pupils and the local Soap Opera TV Stars ! needless to say the girls were all cooing over one of the soap stars who was in their opinion "hot". The game was fairly even until near where I was standing a foul took place that resulted in some very hot latin temprement with punches being exchanged by the 2 players concerned both adults. Needless to say the referee took instant action sending both off... But the incident didn't end their one of my 15 year old grade 8 boys who was playing let his feelings be known (He wasn't very happy) the result though was unexpected when the closest oppostion player to him grabbed him by the hair and floored him ! I was on the field at a run as were the head of secondary and head of high school seperating the two players I helped to hustle the Grade 8 boy away who was it could be said was a trifle annoyed !! My feeling was if he went back up against his assailant he would get more seriously injured as the other guy was about 30, 6ft tall and just as wide. Both players left the field.

Overall the exhibition match was not what was expected. You have to think in UK the assault would have been reported to the police as its was nothing more than common assault. definitly not the sort of behaviour you expect in a school friendly match with 1200 kids watching.

After the match had ended (Very quickly with alas a win for the Soap Stars) it was off to the restaurant booked for teachers day where 160 teachers and admin staff gathered for a very nice lunch a lot of free beer and the usual draw for prizes.
Diana's name was drawn out of the hat and she received a voucher for 50,ooo COP about £12.00, On collecting her prize she drew the next ticket out and up came my name... (She's a good girl is Diana..) my prize 50.000 COP for spending in EXITO !!

Finally as those who have followed the blog you will realize I have had some issues with the water company .. first complaining I wasn't using enough water (My bills are about 40.000 COP every 2 months (approx £10) then they cut me off for not paying a bill, which had been paid...Well they got their own back with interest yesterday. I picked up my latest bill and nearly collapsed !! instead of the usual 40,000 COP bill the bill was for 297,515 COP approx an 800% increase.. I had heard of this happening before and the onus is on the apartment user not the school or the water company. So my first thought was OK where is the leak because I must be haemorraging water to run up that sort of bill.. After an hours checking all inlets outlets and taps I discovered the small toilet cistern which is rarely used was overfilling the ball cock failing to stop the flow and as such was running out on the overflow pipe. It appears from my stripping the system down that one of the 2 rubber seals has failed but only enough to allow a trickle feed which was constant but so slow that wasn't noticable and had I not got the bill I would never have known. Making use of a spare exito plastic bag I vreated a temporary seal and have managed to stop the leak for now but tomorrow I need to get a plumber out to fix it properly..

The school will pay for the repair, just not the bill.. bet the damn seal is about 2000 pesos !! and the work about 8000 pesos That will really p*** me off !! cheapskates.

So until tomorrow when I will be poorer, but wiser !!! Adios mi amigos