лето и осень (summer and fall)

So it was a crazy summer and oh how I had great intentions of writing an update last month but time got away from me (that and traveling home for Abby's wedding). For anyone interested, here's a brief update:
My brother Michael and I had some adventures together on his 'last hurrah' trip/internship before he gets married this May. He helped me to stop and admire areas of Moscow I'd never had the chance to explore. From shopping the markets together his first week here to the last pub crawl his last weekend, I will always treasure the time spent with him in Russia. I hope he will too!
I also had some adventures in July when I traveled to Ukraine for vacation in Crimea and an unexpected visa run to Kiev. It was nice to relax on the Black Sea but Kiev was the real highlight of my trip. What a wonderful city! I met some amazing people through a contact of Michael's at couchsurfers. And the girl I stayed with just happens to work for UNHCR in Kiev so I got to visit their office and learn more about the refugee resettlement process from the other side. I also enjoyed 24-hour train rides across the country, meeting interesting people and understanding why they called Ukraine the bread basket of the USSR (miles and miles of gorgeous wheat and sunflower fields).

So we're now in the last week of October and I was hoping there'd be snow by now. My students tell me it'll come in a few weeks. In the meantime, I've been enjoying the leaves changing around town; especially the birch trees. This is truly my favorite time of year.


"premium" Ukrainian countryside

swimming in the Black Sea, Crimea

beautiful birch trees changing color

Russia Day weekend

Last weekend Russia celebrated its independence. Instead of trying to figure out from whom this great country became independent, I decided to grab my brother Michael and head for the countryside. I wanted him to get a taste of the "real" Russia outside of Moscow and St. Pete. Here are some pictures from our adventures in Kostroma and Vladimir:

at Ipatyeski Monastery, Kostroma

on the banks of the Volga River, Kostroma

making chili with friends one stormy night, Kostroma

swimming and shashlik with friends on the outskirts of Vladimir

birthday, etc.

Traditionally on the 30th birthday one reflects on the past three decades and what has been accomplished up to that point. Maybe I've just been a shallow thinker lately (listening to bad English and correcting pronunciation mistakes 24/7 will do that to you) but all I can think about is how blessed I've been in my 30 seemingly short years of life. All this reflection started last Wednesday when I picked up a hefty package at the local post office from the USA. Inside was a photo album my family had put together with pictures from each year of my life. Looking back over the years to all the people and places that have shaped who I am--what an amazing stroll down memory lane it was! After that things got crazy and there was much celebrating this past weekend. I missed having family and friends from home here but my friends from Moscow, Vladimir, and Kostroma made it very special.

Celebrating at the Hard Rock (they actually didn't allow us to eat the cake on the premises. ahh Russia...)

so we took it to Starbucks where the staff happily provided us with forks to eat it with

friends from Vladimir and Moscow

currently listening to: Club of Sons, new Conor Oberst and Mute Math (thanks, Tim!)

весна (spring)!

Spring is finally here! We had our (hopefully) last snowfall last Monday and now I can leave the house without a scarf and wear tennis shoes without fear of babushkas yelling at me for not dressing warm enough.
Top 5 ways you know it's spring in Russia:
1. your neighbors are all out painting the miniature fences around the building neon pink, green, and yellow (hey, after long winters here people want to see color!)
2. your shoes are caked in mud/dirt/anything that's been under the snow for 6 months
3. Orthodox church bells are ringing (one of my favorite sounds of the city)
4. All talk at work is focused on how one will spend weekends/vacation
5. One can run in the park without fear of drowning in puddles of melted snow


*Be looking out for my next post with some pictures of ultra chic fashion trends I've discovered here in Moscow. But first I need to find a USB cable for my phone so I can upload the pictures. My phone is a newer model but all the cell phone salespeople in town say they don't make a cable for my phone. Ahh...Russia.

A winter's day, in a deep and dark....March?

So Moscow's had her second snowfall of the weekend, this time turning the slush to ice all over again. I thought spring was around the corner so on my way home from work yesterday I bought a bunch of hyacinths from a babushka by the metro. That flower always reminds me of springtime and Easter. Dad would always go by Publix around this time and buy hyacinths to make our house smell nice and springy.
The snow here is still beautiful though...it sparkled this evening as I walked with friends to the metro from an "English Cafe" meeting. I had worked all day and decided to "relax" by leading a conversation group for two hours. :) But I did enjoy having a colleague from work join me as well as a guy from Donna's (my roommate) Bible study.
Last night I celebrated my "ML has been in Moscow a month" anniversary by watching an old Soviet movie (Старики-Разбойники) with friends and eating pizza. These past few days I've been reflecting on how blessed I am to have such good friends (old and new) here. God is always providing!
*highlight of the week: one of my colleagues commented that a mutual student of ours told her how "active and positive" I was in class and that she had a smile on her face all the way to the metro after she left my class this week.

this week...

Top 5 most interesting things to happen this week so far:
1. Being asked to join a rock/blues band...as a vocalist!
2. Finding knock-off Bath and Body Works lotions and gels at a local store (same fragrances, different brand)
3. watching Flight of the Conchords with my sister via skype
4. Being asked at work to teach an "English Through Music" class using Beatles songs
5. Already getting to wear my light-weight coat here...spring is on its way!

Masha and I (and all the ladies in the house) received flowers at church for International Women's Day on Sunday.

Масленица

Maslenitsa is a Russian holiday that marks the beginning of Lent and the official start of spring. You're supposed to eat блины (blini=pancakes), drink медовуха (medovukha=honey drink) and listen/dance to traditional folk music. I celebrated with friends on Red Square and also at a beautiful park in the southern part of Moscow where a recently restored palace is located (called "Czaritsino").
The snow still falls here but is starting to melt...spring is on its way!

my neighborhood

Here are some pictures taken this week at a park near my house. It was a beautiful day to be alive! :)

First week in Moscow

Well, I've made it through a week of Russian life. From the carnations I received at the airport from a friend (thanks Masha!) to the beautiful walk on Red Square last night, I'm starting to feel at home here once again. As I look out my window, snow is falling and, at the moment, all is right with the world (the picture was taken outside my building).
After arriving Monday, I started work at Speak Up (my school) the next day. They didn't waste any time and by Thursday I was already teaching five classes. Needless to say I was looking forward to the weekend! And when I found out it was a 3-day weekend because of the armed forces/men's day holiday I began to relax a bit. I'm pretty sure jetlag is over but I still manage to stay up half the night and getting up at 6:30 for work will take some getting used to.
So far, I've been able to see friends over the weekend and hope to get out and explore my neighborhood more this week.
Top 5 highlights of the 1st week:
1. Learning that my school is behind the Bolshoy Theater and that some of our students are ballerinas. How cool is that?
2. Eating my first bowl of pelmini (meat dumplings)
3. Talking to friends in Vladimir on the phone
4. Listening to the babushkas talk below my window (I'm in the second floor right above the building entrance)
5. Hearing Russian everywhere :)

I'm going!

Well, I’m finally leaving for Moscow! You were probably starting to think this day would never come. I received my visa invitation from Speak-Up (the school where I’ll be working, see picture) on Thursday and went straight to the travel agency to send my paperwork off to the Russian consulate. I should get my passport WITH VISA back by February 11 and then I’ll fly out Sunday, February 15. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement during this waiting period. Once in Moscow, I’ll try to keep you updated via blog, email, skype, facebook, and all the other technologies that seem to bring our worlds a little bit closer.
For those in the Atlanta area, I’d love to see you before I go so give me a call/email!

Наконец-то я скоро уезжаю в Москву! Вы наверно уже думали, что у меня не получится. Но я в четверг получила приглашение от иститута Speak-Up (где буду работать) и сразу поехала в туристическое агентство, чтобы отослать мои документы к российскому консульству. Я должна получить паспорт С ВИЗОЙ к 11 февраля, и потом я улечу воскресенье, 15 февраля. Спасибо за ваши молитвы и поддержки в течение этого периода ожидания. Когда в Москве, я буду пробовать держать вас обновленными через blog, электронную почту, skype, facebook (в контакте), и все другие технологии, которые, кажется, приносят наши миры немного ближе. ;)