Monday - Oct. 11 Another day in north Africa!

Well another day in north Africa is coming to a close.

The sunsets at Sunny Beach are pretty amazing some evenings as we take our evening walks. This night a lone fishermen awaits the big catch.

Things are calm here tonight. Last night the wind and rain were very, very strong. At 1am Marcia came knocking on my door to tell me she had read about Hurricane Otto on the weather site and wondered if that was the cause for our heavy rain and wind. It was quite a distance out in the Atlantic, so I doubt it was the reason, but the lights were flickering, the shutters flapping and rain was pounding hard till late in the night.

Today and tomorrow are teacher inservice days. Typically those are planned out and very productive....not so much here. Some of the teachers went to breakfast together. I decided I would spend that time trying to go to my bank and get some money. Okay....I have been here for nine weeks now and STILL do not have a pin number for the lovely bank card I carry in my purse. The first month check came and I had it cashed and just took the cash. The second month I thought I had auto deposit. What I didn't know was that the bank I chose (there were two to chose from) is only open from 9 - 3 Mon. - Fri. Small problem....I work those hours!!! So, that is why I thought I would skip breakfast and go in this am....well, that and the fact that I owe three different people money after using my last dirham last Friday.

So, I go to the bank only to find out....I have no money in my account! Why can't ANYTHING just be easy in this country???? So after talking with FIVE people in five different offices back at school I find I did not have auto deposit this past month. Instead my check has been sitting on one of the finance gals desk for the past 10 days! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Let's see.....next, I walk by a room full of teachers and realize I just missed a whole staff meeting. I ask when where we told about this meeting and am told the director emailed everyone Friday afternoon, but the server was down. I think to myself....who waits until Friday afternoon to tell everyone they have a meeting on Monday am???

Next, I am asking the finance guy to explain the French words on my paycheck....what are these words and numbers that are deducted from my paycheck?? He explains and then proceeds to tell me that I owe for the last three months of health insurance. What?? I figured that was taken out of my paycheck?? Nope....and now you owe us for three months. And why would he wait  three months before telling me this??

Okay, I am just going to settle in my classroom and get some work done. I spend the next 50 minutes on the computer. I'm finding pages that go with my curriculum and copying them to the printer. Then I walk down the two flights of steps and down the breezeway to the printer room and ..........

nothing copied off!

Again....grrrrrr!

Are you getting the drift of this crazy life I am living here?? Every day this kind of stuff is happening! It's VERY, VERY frustrating and I'm not even really a type A personality!! :)

But.....the day ended with a wonderful meal at the local gas station with good friends, so not all is lost! Hoping life is a little easier on your side of the Atlantic! :)

Blessings!

Jill