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 :)