Visit from an old lady who lives nearby and other happenings

One week after the haircut and I am getting used to it though I still get comments. I no longer can get away with saying I'm looking for my twin brother who works here. It has been raining a lot the last two days and the snails are out in force: don't know if these are edible but they are fabulously slimy when picked up and generally look gorgeous. My pepper plants luckily don't seem to be attacked.

This week has been quite busy with the first exam in Immunology, the students did pretty well and only one multiple choice question had to be discarded because of unforeseen interpretations. Not bad in my experience since it is amazing how many interpretations there can be.

We have been having some parties this week at the college since it is the annual clinical conference when course directors from hospitals that take our students are brought to the island. They discuss some educational things and have a good time (largely a thank you with not too much arduous work). On Wednesday night, the conference dinner was held: very nice with wine (something we don't get at parties on campus where there is an absolute ban on alcohol). We were entertained with some super dancers and then earsplitting music that meant most gave up staying for all that long after dinner. I wandered home since my apartment is near the hotel, in fact just across the street then up the hill behind the casino in Maho, and on the way saw yet more dancers finishing their outdoor act for the casino. Maho casino has a 9:00-9:15 dance display outside each night - it is usually is a lot of hip thrusting and jerky movement, done by girls in short shorts and a cute boy, but this time there was music from Carmen and Spanish dancers in long dresses who did beautifully; finishing off, so as not to change too much from the routine body exposure dances, with a raucous cancan!

The following morning, actually today, I went out to get my bike from the corner of the garden/yard and had a bit of shock coming back around building to meet an old neighbor who I hadn't seen since Carol was here. She's a bit blind, was here for a bit of scrounging, and had placed her big black body right in from of the apartment stairway (see picture below). A bit of slapping my hands and pushing her got her to make a reluctant and loudly complaining retreat towards home.

Lots more rain today and Saturday is the annual graduation - then back to routine