end of a cylce

It`s the end of the current adult intensive course and I´m pleased that all my students have passed.  At first I was daunted by taking on 2 level one classes because I wasn`t sure if I could teach them from scratch.  I wanted higher level classes where I could actually have converstaions with my students.  In fact they´ve progressed really well and even the students who seemed slow at the start have improved loads and we are all really friendly.  One class seemed to have a bad blip at quiz #3, but recovered in time for the final.

Sometimes they drive me crazy in tests, its hard to keep them quiet and you really have to put your foot down.  One woman actually wanted to answer her phone during a test and I had to confiscate it.  It´s not like when I was at school!  But then, they are adults and they are paying my wages so the relationship is different.  The local attitude towards cheating is staggering!  They are totally shameless.  Some students just blatantly copy and they don´t care if you see them.  I dont really get it.. what do they gain?  They come because they want to learn English, they pay quite a lot of money and then cheat in tests as if anyone else actually cares about their result except themselves.  It´s like cheating at patience... where´s the satisfaction?

But most of them are genuine and try really hard.  Some of them are always tired or have issues at home that affect their work.  It´s just the national culture doesn´t seem to see anything wrong with copying.

This weekend is the national census.  They have a law for times like this called the ley seco (dry law), so that no alcohol will be sold from midnight on Friday until Monday.  The census is on Sunday and it´s illegal to leave your home from 7am to 5pm: if you are seen on the streets you can be arrested and detained indefinitely.  I guess this is all due to 2 things: the lack of a postal system (you have to get things sent to a PO box), and... the local attitude towards cheating.  If any little lie could cut your tax bill or something the average Ecuadorian wont hesitate to lie through their teeth... even if it´s obvious.  This extends to everything from arranging a meeting to giving directions, it can be infuriating sometimes.... Kallen has mentioned it before.

So... I´m off to stock up on food.  I`m too late for beer!

Meanwhile the All Blacks are busy thrashing my team (Wales) at rugby (again!).  You can´t see rugby or cricket here but I keep up on internet.  Unfortunately, both the Ashes and the Autumn Internationals are going badly for the UK - no change there.  Here you only get footy, maybe tennis, nothing I enjoy.  I think rugby and cricket are the things I miss most.  Any kiwis out there - wipe that smug smile off your face!

• Ecuador