Joel: Last week brought about "Friends, Episode 2: The One Where The Real Competition Starts". We spent a few hours on Tuesday and Wednesday tweaking things and on Friday travelled north to Nong Bua to perform the play in the second round of the English Drama Competition. It was a top day. There were loads of other things going on to see: Thai plays, brass bands, a scrabble competition, fruit carving - the sun shone and there was a real festival atmosphere. Fortunately for us, the plays from the other schools weren't up to much (two Cinderellas, I mean!) and we won without breaking a sweat. In fact, the actors were brilliant. They've really got into it now and all the visual comedy means people don't hve to understand all the language to enjoy it. There will be a short break before round three which for us means another school trip. Woo-hoo! Bring it on.

Arm, Su and Ome: or as I'm sure you've guessed, Ross, Rachel and Chandler.

The students wait nervously for the results.

Joe cools down with an iced coffee.

This week at school no-one has wanted to study. Tomorrow, "Sports Day" begins, a three-day sporting festival this seems to more closely resemble the Olympics than a conventional school sports day. All the students have been practising chants and dances every day (including weekends) for about a month, missing many my lessons in their quest for perfect synchronisation. I hear a torch will be lit to get things going and a procession including a full marching band will begin making its way to the school from the towns railway station at eight in the morning. I'm sure the whole thing will be pretty spectacular. With all the preparation, it bloody well should be!