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. ;)

stories

I love hearing people tell stories. Listening to them tell me about how life used to be and how it continues to impact them is something I wish I had more time for. In my line of work it's so easy to become jaded by the stories of my refugee clients. Well...maybe jaded isn't the right word; maybe it's just the fact that I get so busy with daily tasks and trying to stay afloat that their histories get pushed to the back of my mind.But as my time with World Relief is coming to a close, I have begun to reflect more on the last two years of interacting with my clients. Particularly in this past week, the burden of certain people's pain and suffering has consumed my thoughts. How some are able to even get up in the morning blows my mind. But then I know that years of learning to deal with it--whether it be through faith, family connections or through self-medicating--can still leave them in such an unsettled state that I have only begun to understand. I will take their stories, and memories of my interactions with them, "along the side of my life" always.
some of my stories (and pictures that follow):
-talking politics in a doctor's office with a young Iraqi girl who worked with our soldiers in the war
-hearing a North Korean sing a line from a song by his favorite British boy band
-dancing in a Turkish wedding
-listening to one man's account of his time in a Vietnamese prison after the war
-escorting the first refugee family I met (from Afghanistan) to the airport as they were moving to California
-witnessing a grown Sudanese man cry as he was reunited with his wife from Dafur after 8 years
-trying to get "personal information" from a Burmese couple without a translator in a doctor's office
-buying a hot meal from Krystal for new Iraqi arrivals--their first fast food experience!
-translating for a Turkish woman during her gall bladder surgery
-proudly sporting my Karen Burmese skirt at the ESL gradution--handmade by one of my students (see the pic above---she wore a matching one!)
My "New Choices for New Americans" class at GA Perimeter College, spring-summer 2008
my first Meskhetian Turkish friends, 2006
the last World Relief ESL for Jobs graduates of 2008 CNN tour/MARTA training with Bhutanese, Burmese, and Iraqi clients, 2008
my 3 Iraqi sisters reunited with their family in Atlanta

I'm going!

well, I talked with the director of Speak Up Language School two weeks ago and accepted the position of English teacher there! So now they've got to secure a work permit for me and then I'll get a visa. Pray that it will be a speedy process! They told me it will be around mid-October before I can set foot on Russian soil again...

Moscow calling?

So I may be moving back to Moscow soon. It's been three years and I just can't seem to get Russia out of my blood. I'm excited about the possibilities but anxious at the same time about leaving my job and the wonderful people in my life here.
Here's one of the places I might be working:

live music fanatic

I caught a Guster song on the radio on my way to work today and began reflecting on the many times I'd seen them in concert. I think I've reached my quota at 5 times. Then I started thinking of musicians I'd seen live at least two times or more over the years and some of the random places I saw them perform (a rodeo arena, an abandoned steel mill, and Red Square to name a few). What happy memories.
Here's the list:
Nickel Creek(5)
Vigilantes of Love/Bill Mallonee (5)
Jars of Clay (5)
Andrew Peterson (4)
Modern Skirts (4)
Gomez (4)
Bob Dylan (3)
Over The Rhine (3)
R.E.M. (2)
Paul McCartney (2)
Mute Math (2)
James Taylor (2)
Joseph Arthur (2)
Magic Numbers (2)
Chris Isaak (2)
The Who (2)

-most $$ every paid for a show: $80 (Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon tour)
-artist who I would pay $100 to see: Radiohead
-furthest traveled to see an artist perform: from Atlanta to Bahamas to see The Roaches (now known as the Return)

R.E.M. is coming

get ready for the new album featuring this song!

government conspiracy

music I'm listening to

Recently my friend Tim inspired me to publish a list of songs I listen to. They aren't necessarily from albums released in 2007, but rather songs I've appreciated over the last year (some within recent months). Now that I'm writing this out, I can think of a million other songs to add but I'll settle on the following top 10:

1. "Reckoner" by Radiohead (from In Rainbows)
It was hard choosing one song cos I can listen to this album straight through without wanting to skip anything. But this is definiately my favorite.

2. "Tattoo" by Joseph Arthur (from Come to Where I'm From)
I saw this guy open for Gomez in London almost ten years ago and I was in awe of his stage presence and cool guitar looping tricks. I remember him playing this song, too.

3. "On" by Bloc Party (from A Weekend In The City)
I love Kele's vocals on this song in particular.

4. "Mistaken for Strangers" by The National (from Boxer)
I just discovered this album recently and am so into this song!

5. "Monster Ballads" by Josh Ritter (from The Animal Years)
You know when you buy an album and start out by listening to one or two certain songs but forget about the rest of the album? This happened to me with The Animal Years. I was obsessed with "Girl In The War" and "Lillian, Egypt" and overlooked this gem of a song.

6. "Simple X" by Andrew Bird (from Armchair Apocrypha)
I'm no drumming expert, but the drum track on this song ROCKS. And Andrew's got some mad whistling skills.

7. "Louis, Louis" by Teitur (from Stay Under the Stars)
This guy played at HRC Atlanta last year and was very underappreciated by the crowd. He's got that endearing Scandinavian folkie style that we know and love.

8. "Scenic World (version)" by Beirut (from Lou Gisland E.P.)
I would love for this song to be a processional at a wedding.

9. "Guyamas Sonora" by Beirut (from The Flying Club Cup)
I LOVE THIS BAND.

10. "Carousel" by Iron & Wine (from The Shepard's Dog)
haunting lyrics and groovy music.

I don't think I could ever have a job as a music critic. It's hard for me to articulate why I like certain types of music and dispise others (my comments above are case in point). I think I could be the person that gives stars though. That job seems alot less complicated.

What are some songs you'd give 5 stars to?

what to do?

So I realize I haven't posted on here in a long time. Well, grad school was my excuse but now that I'm done, that's no longer the case. Maybe I'll try to update this more regularly like some of my other diligent friends.
Now that I'm done with school and working full-time at World Relief, I'm trying to decide the next step. Here are my top 5 thoughts about the future that are bouncing in my head at the moment:
1. Move to Moscow and teach English somewhere.
2. Take a month-long trip through Russian, Ukraine and random Central Asian countries and see what types of teaching and ministry opportunities are available.
3. Get a job with the foreign service at the Moscow embassy.
4. Stay in Atlanta and continue to teach.
5. Improve my Russian by getting an interpreter's certificate.

Graduation Day

We had an ESL graduation party for my Somali and Sudanese students last week. I'm going to miss their bright smiles and joyful attitudes.


Here are some more of my past students from Vietnam, Burma, Turkey, and Somalia. What a blessing it has been in getting to know these refugees. I am continually amazed by their perserverance and motivation as they try to make a life for themselves here in America.

one orphan

This video features a few of my friends so dear to my heart.

travel

I miss traveling!
Places I want to go where I haven't ever been before:
1. Nepal/India: to see the Himalayas (goal: to get to Mt.Everest base camp)
2. Peru: to visit my pastor friend Marco and his family and go hiking in the mountains
3. New Zealand: To visit Rohan and Minas Tirith
4. Ukraine: formerly the breadbasket of the USSR...I hear the land is beautiful (and the language too)!
5. Turkey: I've worked with many Turks lately and have become quite interested in their culture

ML's top 5 albums of 2006

A coworker let me borrow the new Beatles "Love" album the other day and as I was listening, I was thinking of other albums I've enjoyed this year:
1. Modern Skirts "Catalogue of Generous Men"
I saw this band from Athens, GA perform a few times this past year. They put on a fabulous live show and their album is packed with well-crafted, popy tunes. Favorite tracks: "Pasadena" and "My Bully"
2. The Weepies "Say I Am You"
Great music for coffeehouse listening. Favorite tracks: "The World Spins Madly On" and "Painting By Chagall"
3. Beirut "Gulag Orkestar"
Old-world, gypsy music at its finest. Favorite tracks: "Postcards From Italy" and "Scenic World"
4. Gomez "How We Operate"
Of course I'd have to put Gomez on here! They are one of my favorite bands...and their new album is now getting some radio play (is that a good thing these days?). Favorite tracks: "See The World" and "Girl-Shaped Love Drug"
5. Mute Math "Mute Math"
So what if the MTV crowd has embraced them? Their lyrics give a powerful message and they put on a killer live show complete with keytars and atari (my ear drums are still recooperating). Favorite track: "Noticed"

What's some music you've been enjoying this year?

Happy Christmas everyone!

jobs are good

This week it's been nice to see some refugee clients find jobs. This may seem like a small feat, but for those who have only been in the US three months, not knowing English, who are required to find work upon arrival, it's a pretty big deal.
I take so much for granted as a native English-speaking, American citizen. The privilege of being born in this country allows for so much opportunity that much of the world will never experience. I am humbled daily by the stories and current situations of the refugee families and immigrant friends I have the privilege of knowing.

cool concert alert: Chris Thile @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta Friday, Nov.17

toothpastefordinner.com

ob-la-di, ob-la-da

Life has been pretty busy lately. My job has required that I accompany refugee clients to doctor's appointments and surgerys and vaccinations so I'm learning new medical terms in Russian like "anesthesia" and "IV bag." I have not been to the grocery store in two weeks as these refugee families like to feed me when we return from the doctor's. I'm eating more Russian food now than I did in Moscow!

In other news: one of Moscow's premiere football teams, CSKA (Central Sport Club of the Army), beat Arsenal on Tuesday! I'm still a die hard Spartak fan, but am happy that Arsenal got beat by a Russian team.

Have a great weekend! I'm headed up to north Georgia for the annual Blairsville Bash. My family's been in attendence since I was a wee lass. It'll be nothin' but BBQ, bluegrass, and...sitting around campfires all night. I can't wait!