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!

Beirut (the band) 9/26/06

I just randomly found this from the show Sunday night. The band jumped the stage for a little gypsy song and dance with the audience. I'm standing on Zach's right (the trumpet player)! What a night...

The Wings Look Nice On You

Sufjan Stevens 9/20/06 Fox Theatre

Paste Rock N Reel

If you're in the Atlanta area now (or if you're not, get over here!) I highly recommend making plans to see some artists at the 2006 Paste Rock n' Reel Festival. You'll see me spending all my money to see Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond, Bain Mattox (an old high school friend!) and Beirut. You're welcome to join me!

So I got a new job a few weeks ago at World Relief Atlanta. For the time being I'll be a case worker and an interpreter for many of the Russian-speaking refugee families we are resettling in the area. It looks like my Russian will be better than it was in Russia! It's been fun so far trying to translate concepts like 'food stamps' and 'checking accounts.' I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be apart of something like this.

I miss the "currently listening" feature on xanga cos it's interesting to know what people listen to when they write their blogs. I for instance am listening to Beirut. This old world gypsy rock music fad is pretty groovy.

last roadtrip of the summer

I traveled to Mississippi to see friends from Moscow and on my "way back" decided to drive all the way to the gulf coast. Here are images from Gulfport, MS. The landscape was such a contrast that included dilapidated structures alongside the new or refurbished buildings. Next week marks a year since Katrina struck this coastline and everywhere I drove, from Biloxi to Mobile, were reminders of her distruction and the effects on the surrounding communities to this day.

I thought of a verse in Hebrews that talks about the removing of created things so that "what cannot be shaken may remain" that is, the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. It's still really hard though to see this mess and think of God's plan through it all. Then some song lyrics came to mind (imagine that)and helped me: "earth has no sorrow heaven can't heal..." (be the first to guess who sang them, and I'll buy you an ice cream cone)

back to basics

So I've decided to come back to my blogspot page after being away for so long. I'm learning how to do all kinds of fun stuff on here! And it seems that everyone and their brother has blogspot these days. So...expect more random ramblings here!

This time last year I was spending my first day back in America after being away for about 3 years. Here's a last picture in Moscow (Red Square at midnight)...

Bittersweet Me

Well, I did my duty as a US citizen today....put my little vote in the ballot box! I must say I'm feeling quite patriotic. I was supposed to have an absentee ballot in my hands by now, but it still hasn't come and I couldn't wait any longer (that and the fact that if I waited for that ballot to come through the Russian postal service, I might be waiting until the next election). I hope to use my ballot, if/when it gets to me, for a lesson in school about how we vote in America. Hmm...I should probably study up on that myself since everything seems to get more and more complicated as time goes by. My roommate asked me when we'll know who the next US president is, and it was hard to answer that question. The embassy rep. said it could be months after the election (was he joking?). I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of our complex political system. Anyway, I don't want to write about politics anymore. It puts me in a bad mood.
I said goodbye to a friend today who's ending her term here and headed back to the US next week. The lady who sold watermelons near my building has also vacated her watermelon cage and is probably on the road home, too. Everyone and everything here is always in transition it seems...bittersweet times. I'm given today to meet and reach out to people, and who knows what tomorrow holds?
"Carpe Diem--that's...seize the day" -Cameron from Dead Poets Society (man, urge to watch that movie NOW)
2 Timothy 1:7

Mellowed out

Today was a feel-good day. This is my favorite time of the year when leaves are changing and the weather gets cooler. Here in Russia the cool usually only last a couple of weeks before the MUCH cooler weather sets in. I don't know if it's because I've lived in warmer temperatures all my life, but I actually appreciate and enjoy cold weather. What a blessing! But then again, maybe it's because I haven't been exposed to more extreme temperatures out east...God willing I'll venture out there one day soon. I went on a walk along the Moscow River with some friends yesterday afternoon and felt inspired to take a bunch a pictures among the white birch trees. These are my favorite trees in the fall because of the beautiful color contrast of leaves with the bright white tree trunks. The added blue brilliance of the sky reminded me all over again of the mighty God we serve.
Psalm 19

I'm listening to some great music by Mute Math, a group I discovered in a (Relevant) magazine ad. Check 'em out! They only have an EP out at the moment, but they'll be coming out some more cool stuff soon.

View of the 'hood from my window 

First post, first snow flurry day!

Thanks for visiting my new blog! That word makes me think of mud for some reason. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had no earthly idea what a blog was. Living in Russia for the past two years, it seems I've slowly begun to loose some of my English as I try to tackle the Russian language. So new, western tech terms (such as 'blog') don't help matters. I've reached a point in learning a second language where I am forgetting even basics in my heart language! That doesn't help seeing as a primary purpose for my being here is to teach English. That just goes to show how God can use anyone to accomplish His will.
This morning I was able to chat with workers at my school and get my teaching schedule. So far, today has been a 'friendly day' where most people I've encountered have wanted to have conversations with me (with a smile!). The lady that sells watermelons next to my building told me she's been reading the Psalms from the NT I gave her. She will probably pack up and leave for 'the south' (Caucas region) before next month because it's getting cold (today there were snow flurries for the first time here). People come and go so quickly here it seems...
James 4:14-15