I have not been as good at keeping you updated as I intended to be. So often my intentions are better than what actually ends up happening. Such is life. My own journal doesnt get written in as much as I would like either. But I think its because I am more of a talker. I like the verbal processing and give and take of a conversation. Alas, no more excuses....

It is a beautiful 75 (24 c) degree day. I took a walk while listening to some music on my ipod that makes me feel like everything is alright in the world after going to a modern art gallary with my friend Nastya. Im reading Jeremiah and John right now. Im contemplating how I run to broken cisterns day in and day out when the living well is there for me moment in and moment out. Even good things like; sermons, going to church, more spiritually mature believers, books by well known authors, songs, serving,....and the list could go on....if I come to depend on those things to fill me up, I will still remain empty. If I think thats where I will find the answers...the answer will always elude me. I know. Yet I still run to other things.

So... May 1st was Labor Day. International I might add. I hope you took work off too. I travelled with Brighid and our student Alex (and his wife) to a couple towns about 120 km away. We went to see one of the oldest and largest monasterys in the region. Kirelov was amazingly beautiful...and the blue sky and brilliant sun helped me to see it in its glory all the more. We went to a much smaller one in Ferpontov as well, which holds some of the oldest icons. I could try to talk to you about the places, but once again, the pictures speak more eloquently than I.

After our touring of the towns, we ventured into the forest, made a fire...and waited...and watched the fire...and waited....and I kept putting on more wood because I was worried it would burn out, and Alex didnt seem to be in any hurry to put the meat on. He just sat and watched the fire burn and burn. And we sat for a while maybe a half hour or more, with the meat ready to go (for shish kabob) and I didnt really understand the waiting. And I didnt want to ask, because I thought it would be rude. But then he started taking off the big pieces of wood, and stamping out the fire. I then saw what he was doing. He wanted hot coals. Long process....for what would have taken a small grill and a couple coals at home. But it was the best shish kabob pork Ive ever had!

Only a couple more weeks here. Im starting to see the end. And as one would imagine, it is a mix of emotions. One of the things I am most looking forward to is seeing you.

Love. Peace. XO.

only in Russia....

would there be a leak in pipe, that causes a flood in our bathroom that takes--- two days, five random boys, one 'under the influnece' plumber, many phone calls, and skills in miming-- to fix.

would you sit around a tiny table in the kitchen drinking tea with the five boys who tried unsuccessfully to stop the leak with a pencil and then, because there is no one common langauge between the bunch, go around the table taking turns singing, to pass the time. i sang amazing grace when my time came. its the only song i ever remember under pressure.

(this all happened a week or so ago...but it was a good time...and i wanted you to know!)

Its been sunny as of late, and the day light hours are getting longer and longer. The sun is up before 7 in the morning and goes down well after 9. I know in the next month it will just keep getting lighter. Sadly we will miss the "white nights" that come during the summer months.

It is strange to think that we only have four more weeks of classes. Ive begun to plan things for the summer and year to come. I am excited about the next step in my life...but I really am trying to live in the moment, and be completely here. Which depending on the hour is very easy or quite difficult.

To not yearn for the past or future, but to be in the now and to live here. That is a hope I have for all of us.

Birthday Extravaganza!

Last week a few of my students told me that they would be unable to attend class on Monday evening. Normal reasons....a mothers birthday celebration, a business meeting, a trip to St. Petersburg.... And I remember saying to Brighid that I would have a small class that day. She suggested that we combine our classes and do a movie (which is good for English aquisition! dont you worry:) ) So, we were getting ready for class....and Brighid was feeling a little sick and kind of cranky...the movie wasnt working...and five minutes after class was supposed to begin, there were only 3 students!! A combined class should have at least 20. Brighid was frustrated and said..."Ugh, they must have skipped class today..because we were planning a surprise party for you tomorrow...and they must have thought that meant they didnt need to come to class today...gosh!" (FYI we dont have class Tuesday....so it made sense that if they had to come on Tuesday they may think they didnt need to come to class Monday). Anyway, my first thought was that I felt bad for her because she wasnt feeling well...and I felt like the students had taken advantage of her. But my second thought was, 'Why did she tell me that! I love surprises! I wish she wouldnt have said that...shootface.'

Then one of the three girls who was sitting there suggested if it was just going to be the five of us...maybe we could take a walk, it was a nice day. And I was so irritated. Why would they suggest that...cant they see Brighid is upset? Another one said, 'maybe we could go to a cafe..Im hungry'. So I said fine. Lets go...but we are talking in English the whole time ladies. So we were walking downstairs to leave the building and a student was running up the stairs. Tanya said "Sorry Im late!" I told her she wasnt late, and about our new plans about going to a cafe. She said that she thought her dad was still here (he had dropped her off) and she suggested maybe he could take us. I thought to myself that it was a nice offer...but Russian cars are pretty small...so I asked if she thought it could fit all 6 of us. She said that her dad drives a van. Great, I thought, how lucky.

Well, we drove around and headed to a cafe I had wanted to go to, but hadnt been yet. One of my students just a week ago had asked me if I had ever gone....hmm, what a conicedence I thought. So we walked into the cafe...and around the corner, were all of my students!!! A huge Happy Birthday banner...pizzas, chai, and lots of smiles. I was so surprised...and was very excited. We all talked and had a great time. They even gave me amber earrings as a present...and amber is my favorite...and the earrings are kindof obvious...because I wear earrings everyday. But, it was so thoughtful. I loved it.And that was just Monday.

Tuesday was my actual birthday. I had class at 930...and I got the key to open up my classroom and headed to class. Strangely none of my students were in the hallway waiting for me. But I soon discovered why. They had locked themselves in the decorated room (with the help of another teacher.) So I unlock the door, and they are all waiting for me...with cake and juice and icecream and then they sang Happy Birthday in English and Russian. We talked about Birthdays...and common traditions that we all have....After class I went to the library...and at the American Corner, Elena and Sasha had another cake and tea party for me. Afterwards I met with Asya...and then Dana...and then had another classroom party...roses....Then I saw Vera...lillies....Then I went home around 530.


Brighid and Stasey and I had planned to go to the pink Cafe to celebrate...and so we left shortly after I returned home. When we arrived, there was yet another surprise! Yuri, Katya, Kostya, and Galya (and the baby Irina)...were all there. It was a marvelous. I was surprised throughout the whole day...even the very end...when we returned to the profolactory and the fire trucks and fire men were taking care of a fire that happened in the building. We werent there to see any flames, but the smoke has sure lingered.

The day started with a cake and candles....and ended in smoke. Just how a birthday should go.

It was the best 23rd birthday I could have ever asked for. Also...recieving the wonderful emails from friends and family from home as well, topped my day off and made me feel at home at the same time. And...the packages I got and the phone calls I recieved each made my heart so full.

And the girls and Joel are coming from St Petes this weekend too which makes me feel like birthday is lasting even longer. Oh birthdays. Shootface.

Today we went bowling with our good friends Dana and Nastya (also our students).

And I just had to post some pictures, because I have never before bowled what I bowled today...and I dont know if Ill ever bowl it again.

The bowling alley was just like the one in Brighton...crowded and full of smoke. Ugh. But it was really fun and we plan on going again with some more kids.

(Oh and it was my sister Sam's bday the 23rd:) So if you see her, you can wish her a happy belated.)

Stasey and Brighid after Bliny making!!

The 300,000 people were on this step alone. Shoot.

The burning away of Winter.

Sunday March 5th....was (Molly Hincka's 15th birthday in Michigan!)
But it was also the celebration here in Russia called Maslenica where they wish out the winter and wish in the spring. There was a mini carnival for children, lots of food, balloons, music, tons of people (it seemed that all 300,000 people in the region were here!), and the burning of the woman winter. Which is a stuffed doll that they burn away, symbolically like they are burning away winter. In some ways this day was similar to our Fat Tuesday where we eat and celebrate before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. After that celebration Brig and I went to Stasey's to learn how to make bliny (pancakes). We ate half of what we made during the cooking process, but Stasey's mom said that is the way you are supposed to cook, so we just followed her lead;)

Then on Wednesday March 8th we had International Women's Day! A wonderful day where the women here are appreciated and celebrated for who they are in the lives of others. No one had school or work, but on Tuesday and Thursday Brighid and my students gave us gifts to celebrate us as their teachers.

Now its the weekend again...and I just cant believe how quickly the time has gone. We got our return tickets home finalized, and we are leaving here in only 10 weeks. I am starting to get spring fever and want a change ( mostly concerning the weather...ha) , but at the same time, I want to be right where I am and not let these 10 weeks slip on by.

Today we are heading to Stasey's again, this time to teach her mom to make a chicken pasta...oh the cultural exchange. Goodtimes.

I have been reading a lot as of late, and have been challenged and encouraged in much of what I have read. Thus, I wanted to share a little with others...and this is one of the only ways I can overseas.
"In the Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life. Only he who gives thanks for the little things recieves the big things....We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack deep certaintly, the strong faith, and the rich experinence that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious. We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things? If we do not give thanks for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experiences, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"What may appear weak and trifiling to us, may be great and glorious to God." --D. B.

I'll let those words just speak for themselves.

Russia is warmer than Michigan. Now, that is something to write home about!

It was 29 degrees today...and I didn't wear my huge Russian coat or a hat and I was very comfortable out there.

Of course I am not bragging that I had it warmer...Because you and I both know that when the snow is melting mid March, I will still have a full month of it to go.

Enough about the weather...This week was great...Full of surprises, birthdays, and Valentines day, of course. The best thing about the week is that Stasey is back! We had no idea she was coming home and when her mom invited us over...via a letter, because she does not speak English...She said that she had an interpreter there for us. Little did we know that interpreter would be Stasey! If you remember Stas is Brighid and my friend who goes to church with us and is one of the first friends we made here. In January she was offered a great opportunity to spend the semester in Moscow and long story short, she went. Getting her email while I was in Europe was really hard because although I was so excited for her, I was selfishly sad and knew Vologda wouldn't be the same without her. Anyway, the program did not end up being what she hoped and she is back. She is really happy with her decision though, and is looking forward to returning to Moscow in the fall for University.

As for birthday's this Friday was our school administrator Diana's birthday and Amanda from the St. Petes team!

And lastly Valentines was wonderful. Brighid and I took our friend Dana out to the one and only Mexican restaurant in town. It was fabulous! I haven't had that good of salsa in a long time. I had forgotten how much I love it. We also gave our students Valentine cards and candy (that was so thoughtfully provided for by my parents' package they sent for the occasion.)

Classes started with a John Steinbeck quote, "I believe love cannot be bought except with love." and a question, "Do you believe there is one perfect mate for every person?" The theme of love, and discussions on American Culture and dating were very interesting this week. Students had a lot to say. And that's the point after all....getting them to talk. In English that is.

Well it is Saturday night, and after a semi-busy day I wanted to sit down and write out a blog. The sole purpose just to let you know what things have been going on over here. As I stated in my last blog classes have begun, and they have started out really well and I want to run through a lesson.....

So my last lesson (I am teaching American Culture this semester) began with a quote by Thomas Edison. "Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits." I asked my students what they thought of this, and after I explained the new vocabulary term 'hustles', I had them discuss its meaning, implications, if they agreed or disagreed, and how they thought other cultures would interpret this saying. We talked about how we spend our time (do we hustle while we wait?), I gave them facts on how statistically Americans spend their time, and then we talked about our priorities. Do we say what we mean, and do what we say.

For instance, it would be extremely rare to hear someone say that they value their TV more than their family...but people often spend more time in front of the TV, than in conversation with their family. You say you prioritize your kids but you sit and watch tv for an hour and only talk to them for 15 minutes. Maybe its not tv for you...but what is taking away your precious time. We all have 24 hours in a day. Thomas Edison used 18 to work. That was his priority, and he seemed to walk the walk. Not everyone's priority is work....and it should be different for differnet people.

Anyway, this class got me thinking outside of school too. And I just started thinking about what I say are my priorities and what I actually spend my time on. I recommend this to everyone. Not so that you can get down on yourself, because obviously that isnt the right response. But just so you are aware.... Ignorance isnt always bliss. Actually it rarely is.

Okay...well, I will write another blog about the rest of the week later. A priority has come up! :)