January 15, 2001

School is back in session. A memorial tree was planted today on the Patriarchate lands in Tayasir nearby. Otherwise, things are returning to a sense of normalcy, though nothing is never normal after the death of a student. There is a vacant seat in classrooms, in the line-up for assembly. Teachers gather in the teachers' lounge a bit more shell-shocked than usual. But we continue, and grades are still due for last semester.

Today was the beginning of basketball practice for the girls, an event Elizabeth had been looking forward to. But with only four girls, there's not much room for drills and practice. Nonetheless, they did some practice dribbling, and hope for a bigger turn out next week.

A little ping pong.

The boys, never ones for organization anyway, gathered around the school's ping-pong table for matches that last until people get hungry. Marthame was humiliated by the school's coach (21-4!). Ouch.