It has been too long. I know. So instead of writing a book...to explain all that has been going on. I will just leave you with some highlights.

*I went horseback riding in a village about 10km away from Vologda with my friend Asya. She gave me a lesson on walking and trotting and then she rode for a while too. While she was riding, she fell off her horse once! I have always been afraid of falling off a horse, but she got right back on that thing. After she was done, I asked if she was okay..and she calmly replied, "I was just a little tired, I am fine." ...What I learned...~Falling off a horse doesnt seem to hurt.~

*On Saturday we carved pumpkins (I think it was more like a squash) with our friend Ann. She helped us make a pumpkin porridge, and we also made and decorated some sugar cookies. We took everything with us to the American Corner at the library for a Halloween celebration, where Brighid and I led the English Club. We played games, ate food, read Halloween jokes, and learned about the history of the Jack o'Lantern.

*On Sunday we had another Halloween party at church. The kids were so cute and had an amazing time, and I will get some pictures up soon. Because, picutres really are worth a thousand words in this case.

*Tonight was another party...it was Brighid's surprise party! Now, B doesnt really like surprises...but I thought about it, and decided to plan one anyway. I told her students to act like nothing was out of the ordinary. While my students and I were in the other classroom decorating, setting up the food (and five cakes), blowing up balloons, finding the right music...

So after we had set up, I ran next door to ask Brighid if I could borrow her camera. Now. To me, I thought this would give away the surprise, because it is kind of odd for me to interupt her class. And then I asked her and her class just to come next door so that I could take a Halloween picture of everyone.

She came over and my class had the lights turned out, and the candles on the cake all set. They yelled surprise and sang her happy birthday. She said to me she had no idea til she literally walked into the room.

So we sang, ate, danced, and celebrated Brighid's 24th.

Let it snow....

And I suggest reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-11....to everyone today. We all could use some comforting.

Russian Movies

Tonight I went to see a movie. All in Russian, no subtitles. It was called the 9th Road, and it was about the war in Afganistan in 1988. Although I could understand nothing from the words that were said....I could understand so much of the film. I experienced different emotions, felt the struggles, laughed, and became connected to the characters. It was a great movie, and I defintely would see it again. I would prefer English subtitles next time....but its not a necessity.

I can make an analogy about this movie to my life here....I dont understand everything that is said to me ever. Yet, things dont even have to be verbally expressed, for meaning to be conveyed. People can understand so much just by spending time with someone else....even if one cannot understand the other perfectly. And like the movie...it would be nice if I could understand everyone all the time...but its not necessary.

Winter is coming....And since the weather has decided to make a drastic change, I cannotput off buying a winter jacket any longer. Today Stasey and I went toseveral stores and looked at many different winter coats. Someleather, some fur, some sporty, some dressy. I wanted the first one Isaw, which probably doesnt surprise most people who know me well. Itend to be pretty impulsive...but Stasey made me wait, and look at allthe coats, and told me I should take a day or two to think about it.My mom would like Stasey's influence a lot. So, although it took a lotof discipline....I am waiting and thinking, although I know I am goingto get the first one anyway!This weekend was really great. Friday night we were invited to one ofour student's homes for dinner. And on Saturday I went to a countryschool about an hour and a half away from here.My friend Ilya, who manages the coffee shop I frequent, teachesEnglish to 5th, 8th, and 11th grades on Saturdays. He asked if I wouldcome and talk to his students, and this past weekend was the day. Iwoke up before 6 and was out the door around 630. Ilya, a couple otherguys who teach English like Ilya, Sveta, and I drove out to thecountry. In the first class one of the young girls was a writer forher school newspaper and did a small interview with me after class. Bylunch time the paper was out and the interview and our classdiscussion was on the front page. There is a much different feel outin the country. Part of that was the grayness and rain of the changingseason, and part was the economic status of the community. Idefinitely hope to go back again.One of the best parts of my time out in the country was getting totalk more to Sveta. She and I had a really good conversation thatrevolved around relationships, the need to love, the power and purposeof love, and we even got into some spiritual conversation. I am reallyexcited about the beginnings of this friendship.

St. Petersburg Weekend with the Wonderful St.Petes Ladies!













So in less than three days Brighid and I took two 13 hour train rides, walked, bused, and metroed around St. Petersburg, and got a lot of talking and fun in with some of our teach overeas friends.

I now realize why all of my students are surprised to hear that I think of Vologda as a big city! In comparison with St. Petes its a tiny village. And I like it like that.

Long weekend means...I am tired, and I haven't done enough lesson planning yet. So, I'll talk to you all later.

Just for a quick laugh.

My last assignment to my class was to write a newspaper article on Hurricane Rita.

One of my students titled his article: The Hourgain Ritha.

close, close but no cigar. And the best part about this assingment is that I wrote it out on the board.

The national holiday celebrating teachers is October 5th which is tomorrow. However, our classes started early, and yesterday my morning class presented me with roses. If students gave their teachers roses in America like they do here in Russia, I would be a teacher for the rest of my life. Because obviously I just do this for the gifts:)

Teaching has been going so well and I really do love it (even without the flowers). The lessons seem to be challenging enough and on most days the majority of my students participate. My students are great people, and I am continuing to form more and more relationships. On the weekend I met with three students to hang out, and about five other Russian friends that I have met in the coffee shop and at the American corner. Thanks for all of your prayers regarding relationships. I definitely can see God working in all of them. Including my roommate and teammate Brighid, my family, and my friends from home.

I tend to read the specific Proverb for whatever the day of the month is...but even though its the fourth...I have been rereading Proverbs 3 and I think I will continue for a while. I have been especially meditating on the part where it talks about leaning not on my own understanding. Our perspective is so small, but his isnt. There is so much going on that I do not understand, or cannot control, or overwhelm me. But we all just need to give it on over. Everyday.

This weekend the plan is to visit St. Petersburg. I cannot wait to update you with that adventure and more pictures! Love to you. xo.