The closest I have ever been to an explosion was yesterday. In my room. My light switch is a little stubborn and thus sometimes I must flip it on and off repeatedly. Yesterday in the midst of my flipping, a little spark shot through (but I kept flipping), and then what seemed to be fire and a huge puff of smoke came right at my face. So, now I am without light in my room. But it is okay....I asked Diana at school about it and she said she would send someone over in the "morning". I knew I wouldn't get a specific time and I didn't...so I am up early 'waiting' for the guy who may or may not come in the next 4 hours or so.

Brighid and I met some more Russians yesterday. We are making a laundry list of names, and trying to keep them straight. One guy came to our office, because he wanted to talk with the American teachers. He spoke English very well and told us of his times in the States, and how he spent 42 days in jail in Jefferson City MO, for an expired VISA. (Who stays in Jefferson City? My cousin lived there for a few months, but only because of a job.) We met four other people at the American Corner in the library. Thursday evenings at five, there is always a movie playing in English with Russian subtitles. Last night it was As Good As It Gets. We chatted afterward and answered questions about the movie and about ourselves. Most of the questions were the usual sort, but as we were standing up to go...this one gentleman asked if he could ask me a political question. (We are told prior to coming to Russia not to voice any political opinion whatsoever.) He asked what I thought of previous leaders (one in particular) in the Middle East. To which I replied, I don't really know much about that. Although I really do know about that, and I could say some things on the subject. But I am afraid that conversation would have been a worse 'explosion' than the one in my room earlier that day.