Creatures in the Night

Thursday evening one of my roomates and I were borrowing a computer from one of the girls in our building to listen to a specific song. When were done naturally we wanted to return the computer downstairs, plus the battery was about to die. As my roomie walks out the door to go downstairs with the computer she, fortunately, turned on the stairwell light...only to be greeted by a black rat!!!

She came back into our flat screaming and telling me what had happened. At first I was in disbelief but then I realized it had to be true. So, we each grabbed a broom or stick and went back into the stairwell, hoping the creature had gone or was figment of our imaginations. But, no such luck. I walked out first, or rather was pushed out, I can't remember. I looked down the stairs to the next landing and sure enough- there was the black rat staring straight up at me, not even looking like it was about to bolt. Of course I screached and so did my roomie. We used our stick and broom to bang on the walls and railing to try to scare the thing away. I was not nearly brave enough to try to kill the thing. I think it ran away- but are still both afraid that it is living in our walls or building somewhere.

The next night we were both at a gathering where a man spoke of someone waking up with a rat on his pillow next to him. My roomie and I both looked at each other and rolled our eyes- a little close to home! I can handle the MANY geckos and their noises. I can even deal with roaches, yuck! But rats?!?! Umm, no thank you!

Also on the next day we were coming home from being away for the morning. No one had been home all morning. We walked into our flat to this horrendous smell. It literally smelled like something had curled up and died in our flat! The stench was so overwhelming that I had to leave for a few moments to regain my composure. When I came back we searched the whole place to find where the smell was coming from. In the end it was coming from the kitchen. There is a drain in the floor in the corner of the kitchen for any stray water, etc to go. We couldn't tell if the stench was coming from the drain or from somewhere else in the kitchen. Once we decided it was the drain we got 4 pitchers of boiling hot water (straight from the sink of course because that's how our hot water comes out) and poured them down the drain- hoping that would help. It still smelled but not quite as bad. We are still smelling this awful aroma and have no idea where it is coming from. Our next guess is underneath the cabinet that holds all our dishes. I am really hoping that there is not some carcas or something when we move that thing... However I did go to the store and buy some Clorox this morning, just in case ;-)

Just another day in my life- it's always an adventure...

She's a maniac, maniac...

Right now I am sitting in my living room while several men are constructing a cell tower on my roof. That's right- a cell tower on my roof. Why you might ask? I have no idea but I heard that the company is paying a generous sum to our landlord in return... They have been here since I got home from school and are still here, shouting and banging around. I haven't even been up to the roof to see what they are doing but I can only guess from the noises and calamity they are making.

Today was a whirlwind of a day. It started out by receiving a phone call this morning from the main school (Monday mornings I get to sleep in a bit and then teach at the preschool before I go into the big school for work). The call was saying that one of the teachers was sick and I was to sub for her. I apparently have become the permanent fill in sub for anyone who is sick- which I don't mind so much as long as I have detailed plans. It always seems to come at the busiest times though when you have the most to do. Anyways, so I got up and got ready, taught the pre-k class and rushed to school to relieve the person filling in until I could get there. Overall the kids were pretty good for me but the whole day consisted of teaching my worst subjects from school- you know, grammar, language arts, writing, reading, etc. I was like come on, where's the math? So, after school was preparing for the Christmas program- which naturally includes making a cardboard camel (pictures to come soon). I finally got home this afternoon, hoping to relax only to find these men banging around making as much noise as possible. Haha- go figure, right? What a day ;-)

My birthday went really well. Thanks for all the wishes, messages, etc. The night before my bday I went to a joint bday/welcome back party- complete with steak and potatoes, mmmm mm good! I also carved a pumpkin- well, it looks more like a gourd but they call it a pumpkin (pics of that soon to come as well). Oh and we played one of my favorite games, jungle speed. The next day, my bday, we went to lunch at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants and then that evening for ice cream and to a new local hotel for coffee. It was great to share the time with friends here.

Everything is going well- sorry it has been a while since I have updated. Things have gotten progressively more and more busy here. And this week is no exception. Until later ;-)