Another change of scenery.

Since coming to the Philippines I've decided that whenever I'm given an offer or an invitation to take it (unless it is dangerous/stupid/etc.). As a result, I'm actually house sitting for the next couple of days. I'm doing it for a woman who is teaching at the school for one of the elementary grades. She asked me the day before she left, so I'm not sure if I'm a last available option or what---but it is interesting.

It shouldn't change much of my daily schedule. I'll still each most of my dinners with the Hause's (the family I'm staying with), and I eat and get all of my lunches at the school. However, after dinner finishes I'll pack up some stuff and walk toward the school to the house that I'm taking care of. I really don't have too many responsibilities. My main duties include feeding and taking care of the dog (he has two names---Duke and Sampson) and cat (whose name I forgot so I just call him kitty). I think I've won over the trust of the dog, but the cat still seems very suspicious. Its been a few hours and at least he a 1) ate some of the food I gave him and 2) has stopped meowing at me. Still, he runs away whenever I get close. My mission: to get that cat to sit on my lap before I'm done at the house.

While it will be weird to be once again in another house, I'm trying to look at the positives. Tomorrow morning I am going to have the first warm shower I've had in over four weeks. I have more to spread my books out for my intense lesson planning sessions. I'm closer to the school, so my 10 minute walk is now closer to about a 1.5 minute walk... I'm thinking of this as my midway vacation. 

p.s. I have found the "do what people invite you to do" strategy to be great. Becasuse of that strategy I've had dinner at a variety of houses, played a bunch of pick up sports, and have been busy each weekend. Just remember that when overseas you might want to extra wary to not do stupid things.