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Bogged down with alot of work. I thought I could spend some time after dinner doing some of the things, but I just fell asleep right away. This morning some of the students are out on excursion to the Dead Sea. The rest are preparing for the exam. this Saturday. The breakfast table was very animated with discussion because Wojcych (I think that's how you spell his name. he's polish.) preached during Mass about "God's right hand" as mentioned in the 1st reading. Someone brought it up and the discussion went on the God's arm etc.... and mind you, they were using aramaic sources, rabbinic sources ... it was a very academic breakfast. Found it hard to digest at such an early morning, so I went out to feed the canaries.

The Dean, during breakfast, had asked Marco our Mexican student to clean out the Crusader Hall because it was pretty messy and the students use it to play ping-pong and weightlifting. I know Marco has to do his exam. so he was abit disappointed, but he said he'll ask a couple of other students to help. I volunteered to help, but only after I clean the canary cage which is absolutely filthy (didn't clean it for a week. Was busy with Lang!). Marco told the Dean he'd ask the "ragazzi" (boys) to help him, and then he armlocked my head and said "like this one". We laughed and the Dean said "Careful, Lionel is not one of the ragazzi. He is a senior." Boy that made me feel old! Well you could take it two ways I guess - senior meaning older than the rest of the students in age (which I am. In fact I'm the oldest student here!) or senior meaning doing the doctorate and not the Master's degree as the rest of the students are doing. Marco took the second meaning and began teasing me; which I wasn't in the mood as I wanted to clean the birdcage as soon as possible; and then finish off my other work. It's fun living with these younger friars but it saps the energy from a "senior" like me.

Marathon morning - vacuumed my room, clean out everything, threw out the rubbish (meaning going to the school, down 4 floors and into the courtyard where the rubbish bin is), cleaned the birdcage, spoke to the Dean regarding two matters, was too late to clean the Crusader Hall as the other guys finished it very quickly (4 of them), said goodbye to Osvalda because she's returning to Italy for a month for her mum's birthday and Christmas, printed some articles, all before 10.45am. Now exhausted and hungry so cooked 2 packets of instant noodles and a cup of pomegranate tea (from Turkey - love it!).

OK my rest time is over - must get back to work. Oh one other thing I want to share. Last night I couldn't find something important that I had put away. Searched everywhere and couldn't find it; worse I couldn't remember if I had thrown it away. Was so tired searching I fell asleep while searching! Weird! This was before vespers - 6pm that is. This morning at 4,30am continued searching for it. And also later this morning. Was pretty angry because it means I have to walk 2km to the New City to buy another one, and I don't want to go out today because I've got lots of work to do. Then as I opened the cupboard to get my kettle to boil water for my noodles and tea, there it was in front of me, next to the kettle! I've checked that cupboard 7 times and simply overlooked the thing directly in front of my eyes! I was searching at the back of the cupboard! Well a lesson everyone has experienced; nothing new; but very very important lesson. What you're searching for in life may be alot closer than you think!