Galileo's Daughter

 Our book club will be discussing Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel, first published in 1999. (I'll miss the discussion because it will happen while I'm teaching in Thailand.) Galileo actually had two daughters but one Virginia, later Sister Maria Celeste, "... mirrored his own brilliance, industry, and sensibility, and by virtue of these qualities became his confidante." Born out of wedlock Galileo put her in a convent when she was thirteen. Much of their correspondence has been preserved and provides the gist of the book.
  Reading the book taught me much and I particularly liked the understated way the book ends on a surprising note.  (No, I'm not going to tell you; read the book yourself!)

Preparing for Thailand

  The 6th graders at Noble Academy have written their letters for me to bring to students at Wat Klang School, Ayutthaya, Thailand.  I've addressed the 5th, 6th and 8th grades at Noble about my plans to teach in Thailand for the 5th time.  I've disseminated the address of this blog so now I though I'd post some pictures from past years of  teaching in Thailand.  I'll depart on January 7, the day that Noble students return to school after vacation.

Creating an educational opportunity..

 January 7, is the departure date for my 5th Thai teaching experience and 4th at the same school.  Students at Noble Academy, where I volunteer here, are very interested in the Thai students and the Thai students in their American peers.  I'd like to be a bridge between them.
  Last year the 5th grade at Noble wrote letters to the Thai students which I delivered.  The students in Thailand wrote letters in response which I brought back.  In return the 5th graders wrote more letters which we mailed.  That is the last we heard.
  I learned that the this exchange overwhelmed the Thai students English capability.   Therefore, I've proposed to the teachers at Noble we try some different things.  One Noble class could write very short, 3 or 4 sentence letters, on one side of a sheet of paper.  On the other side they could write a  "fill in the blank" response template such as "Hello my name is ______________________.   I am _________  years old. I have ___________ brothers and _________ sisters.  I like to ________________________________.  etc.  Other ideas:  through this blog send me requests to have my picture taken with people/places/things.  Research news events and ask me what Thai media are saying about them. Other ideas from readers of this blog are very welcome.  Just post them in the comment section.
  I'm looking forward to returning to established relationships at the school and with family with home I stay.  Our recent snowy weather makes me look forward to tropical temperatures even though the house does not have air conditioning.  Even sleeping on the floor doesn't seem all bad.  :)

Thailand is coming.....

 Perhaps better said is "I'm going to Thailand.".  I'll be leaving on January 7, which will be the date of my mother's 113th birthday.  I'll be teaching in the same school and boarding with the same family.  I'll also blog more regularly.

How you can tell that your dog is your best friend!

 It was 6:00 a.m. and Trygve (dog) and I were out for daily morning constitutional.  As we passed the old Federal Building a soldier was emerging and he asked to pet Trygve.  As he was petting Trygve we engaged in a bit of conversation.
  He said he liked dogs better than people.  A dog is even more loyal than a wife and said he could prove it.  He went on "If you lock both your wife and your dog in a trunk for a couple of hours only your dog will be glad to see you when you let them out."
  People I meet.......

A Hunting Tale

  It was a Saturday afternoon about 1:30.  We were driving between hunting locations in eastern South Dakota.   L.N.  and I were in the old Ford F-250 pick-up that I keep in S.D.  We were being followed by D.N. and W.N. in W's pick up and, a few miles behind, F.A. in his Prius.  A "sproing" sound from the front of my truck followed by a change in the steering made me think "flat front tire."
  I pulled to the side of the road and got out to look but the tires were fine.  However, I could see a belt hanging below the chassis.  Opening the hood I could see that the serpentine belt was off and that the idler pulley with the belt tightener was gone.  It being the day of cell phones we started calling the nearest towns and were told that the only possibilities for repair were in Mitchell,  approximately 45 miles or Sioux Falls which was about 55 miles.
  When F.A. arrived with a tool box in his car we began the necessary dis-assembly. L.N. sat in the truck reading The Harvard Business Review.  Near us was a sign that said "Wingen's Garage, 2 miles, Epiphany.  I had one, epiphany that is, and asked W.N. to drive into Epiphany and see if the garage might be open which he did.  About five minutes later he called to say the garage was open and needed to know the model and engine of the truck.  A couple of minutes later he said "they have the parts."
  I was able to drive to the garage before the engine overheated, the belt drives both water pump and the fan.  In about 10 minutes the mechanic had installed the pulley and a new belt, charged me $12.00 for labor and we were on our way.
  How big is Epiphany?  About 35 people! :)