Filling In

Right, we forgot to mention the classes. Sorry, and thanks to Bob and Heather for reminding us. They have started - we've been teaching for a couple weeks now, and we're enjoying it a lot. Sean teaches two three-hour classes each day, and Ruth is in the computer lab from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., facilitating interactive exercises with which students practice what they learn in class. Every student spends three hours in class and one hour in the lab each day, and there are roughly 110 students in the programme. Ruth also does some administrative work between labs.

We live close enough to the university to walk there. For other destinations, the public transportation is wonderful (beating New Brunswick by a long shot, I'm afraid). Every few minutes a small bus rolls by - more of a van really, Toyota's answer to the VW Westfalia - with the side door open, and you hop in. Any time, day or night, you walk out your door and within three minutes you're on a bus. It will take you through town for 20 Rials, or to another town for 30 Rials - about 15 and 20 cents Canadian, respectively. They are in various states of age and repair, and this makes it fun. You can cruise down the highway in one, and since the door is open and most of the windows are missing, the wind is always blowing around you and it feels great. If most of the roof is there, you can get out of the sun, too. The towns are an average of fifteen minutes away from each other, and at 20 cents, it can't be beat.

As far as driving your own car goes, it can be done if you know the rules. Here they are. 1) General: the best defence is a good offence. It's true in hockey and it's true in Yemen. 2) Intersections: if your bumper is in front of his, you have the right of way, no exceptions. He who hesitates loses his bumper - make a new one out of old exhaust pipes. And that's about all there is to that.

Last weekend we went hiking and climbed up - and into - two volcanoes. In the crater of one was a lake, and in the other one was sand, bones and fossils. The beach beside them was littered with bits of coral, very beautiful. Every weekend tends to turn into an adventure like that. We love it.

The food is wonderful. Each day around noon our assistant goes out into the town and comes back with the best grilled chicken we've ever had. And another thing: wander anywhere in this country and you'll soon pass a man with a pile of fresh fruit, a blender, and an extension cord. He's waiting to make you some juice, and you should let him; it's phenomenal, and it'll cost you about a nickel.

That's all for now. A long weekend is upon us (Wed-Sun); we're heading up the coast a little ways with the rest of the staff, and it should be a lot of fun. We'll let you know;)