I realize I should write more often and not worry about writing so much. I think that tactic would appeal to readers too, no? The latest news is that I’m doing all Marvin’s classes with someone checking in on me or sitting in the room with me to help deal with discipline while Marvin takes care of his 24-year-old daughter who had surgery last week. No. No one asked me if I’d do it, if I wouldn’t mind doing it, if I’d bend Peace Corps policy just in this special circumstance. Somehow they figured out that I care about the kids and the quality of the classes and I’m not going to sit at home just because Marvin managed to get a special dispensation from the superintendent. It might help that he’s also the head of the teacher’s union. I have a feeling that affords him a few favors. Whatever. It’s about the kids who at times I want to strangle but I don’t think that makes me any different from other teachers. Marvin has been decent enough to come over for coplanning. I humor him and then give the class I want—in accord with the MinEd curriculum—that’s what I’m getting out of this arrangement. I do whatever I please with the students. Today, in 7th grade (in my sixth hour of class) after we’d all sweated through our clothes, we played a wicked round a Bingo with classroom objects, colors, and classroom commands. Everyone played, and everyone talked at least once because I made them draw the words out of a bag and read them aloud. Tomorrow I have to take prizes for the winners: Eddys (2 times), Ana Maria, Tamara, Leopoldo, and Mario Jose.