Moscow and Thanksgiving

Snow in Vologda! I had my first snow ball fight today after church with the Sunday school kids. Nikitia threw one (on accident) right at my face. I ducked...but it still got stuck in my ear. Hilarious. I definitely got him back though:)

I also got to see my first Russian football game today with Dana, and got together with Sveta for another interesting conversation. She told me about how she feels like her soul is still searching for something...we talked about reincarnation, and the different ideas about how the world came to be...and I just threw out the question. Can something come from nothing? She talked about how people may go through cycles like trees. Trees have their leaves, shed them, and then regrow leaves. Maybe people are like leaves....one spirit, and our body comes back as different leaves. She said that we may have to do that until we become perfect. So we discussed perfection and the possibilities of that here on earth. Oh, how I love Sveta.

It was so good to be out and about today. Yesterday I slept most of the day, trying to get over a cold, and because my overnight train ride was horrid-to the point where I hardly slept at all.

And although the train ride was pretty bad this time around (snoring...and the heat), I am so thankful for the train!

Here is why....we literally almost missed the train. And we didnt. By mere minutes. So although I barely slept, at least I made the train. Whew.

So Friday night was our last night in Moscow, and we had called a taxi well ahead of time to come pick us up at 630. It had taken us maybe 20-25 minutes to get to our apartment from the train station earlier in the week, but we were driving at 6am and there was very little traffic.

Thus, although our train didnt leave until 819pm, we wanted to be early because of the traffic we anticipated. I am always aware of time, and so I was very happy that others were taking the traffic into consideration as well. I was glad we were leaving 2 hours early, even if that meant sitting in the station.

Well, we were in the taxi for about 45 minutes, and I was so thankful that we had left early. I kept thinking to myself. Wow, its only 715...I cant imagine if we had left at 7...and it was 745...I would be freaking out. But its only 715.

30 minutes later, we are dead stopped in traffic. We had gone down so many side streets, turned around so many times, driven on the side walk, back tracked, driven on the wrong side of the road....and we were still undeniably stuck. I could see bumper to bumper traffic for what looked like miles. Our driver was talking to the other driver( who was driving the other 4 girls), and kept jumping out of the car in the middle of the street. To run to the other car. Why? I have no idea...it looked to me that their walkie talkies were working fine. But whatever.

Anyway...by this point I am freaking. I am no longer on schedule...and my train isnt going to wait for me. Omg, I dont want to be here another day...the next train didnt leave until the next night. So anyway, Amanda (can speak Russian) asked our cabbie about the metro....could he just drop us off so we could try to make the train? Its 748...

He knew we wouldnt make it in the car, so he stopped again, in the middle of the road, popped the trunk and wished us luck. Brighid Amanda (because she can read Russian too) and I started for the metro. We rushed past everyone, and actually met some really helpful people along the way, pointing us to which metro to take and which way to turn. Its 802.

After we run up the steps we see the station, its 805...Now this place is a heck of a lot bigger than Vologda's two tracks.... We need to read which track our train is on. We ask these two guys who definitely point us in the wrong direction....We keep running...and see a sign, we keep going...Oh, there it is...its 811. We are car number 9. The cars start at 1...we start running faster. We get to the car, and out of breath, thrust our passports and tickets at the woman standing there. Its 814...we are on the train.

5 minutes later...the train is rolling....

Relaxing....

That is what yesterday and today are all about.

We have a week off from classes to have a retreat with all the other TeachOverseas teachers in Russia and Ukraine. We are meeting in Moscow, and leave tomorrow night! Another fun adventure on the train....this one is a bit shorter of a ride (9hrs instead of 13), and we get to Moscow Monday morning before 6 am.

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving together....

and I just wanted to say some of the things/people that I am very thankful for.

*that my students participate, and seem to enjoy their classes
*the friendships that I have been building...my friends here are great
*that Brighid and I are learning to cook more and more...this was much needed for me (and Im thankful for Brighid herself!)
*that Kostya opens up his family's house to us so we can do our laundry in a real washing machine, and the our school admin Diana is buying us (and future teachers) a washing machine for the Profolactory.
*the church family I have here; they have been so welcoming
*my church family in Brighton that supports me so much even though we are 8000 miles away; I appreciate your emails and prayers more than you know
*jaime b for calling me in Russia. seriously.
*my sister...who might be coming to see me
*my parents who are most definitely the best parents ever.
*my entire family who has supported me in everything Ive ever done, my whole life. I am so blessed.
*russ, who is an amazing friend and boyfriend
*all my girls who mean so much to my heart and soul, (my girls know who they are)
*my ipod works again
*My Fairway Trails family, and second family
*I have the opportunity to be in Russia teaching students, and learning about others and myself in the process
*The packages that I have gotten here
*The things I am being taught
*The love in my life
*God in my life
Oh my gosh, I could go on and on...

and I will in my own personal journal...but its getting long here folks.

Happy Thanksgiving week:)

Brighid Deb and I in front of the University (and Lenin)

So... what a fun weekend we had! You knew that Deb and Joel were coming...and since their train came in on Friday at 9 am...I haven't stopped moving.

Friday Brighid and I got to be the tour guides around Vologda and show them our favorite places...to eat and the sites to see. We met with our school administrator Diana, and then Deb and I went over to the Russian Banya, with Yelena from the American Corner.

Oh, the Banya was quite the cultural experience...but I am sure not all of you want to hear about it, so if you do...you know where to find me.

Saturday we went to the monastery with them...and luckily Joel didnt stay. He is strongly considering becoming a monk, and told us there was a possibility he might not leave with us! We were happy Joel came home with us, because I would have missed his amazing karoke skills at the wedding that we went to.

The Russian wedding of Brad and Natasha was so much fun! The wedding itself only lasted 10 minutes. They just signed some papers...and then every one that was there, presented them with flowers and well wishes. Pictures took some time, and then we went around to all of the monuments in the city, and drove over the bridges which is one of the Russian traditions. The reception was quite different from one's I have been to in America. There were a lot more games and customary things that went on. It was also a bit smaller than most, making it more intimate. I got to try Russian vodka for the first time...and I didnt realize that the first course was just the appetizer...so I definitely was surprised (and full by the time) that other dishes kept being served.

The weekend was amazingly refreshing and we laughed the majority of the time. Thanks for coming guys:)

Tomorrow Deb and Joel will be in Vologda! For those of you who don't know these names...they are Brighid and my directors from Teach Overseas. They left California a day or so ago, arrived in St. Petersburg today, and will be in Vologda bright and early tomorrow morning.

And to make this an even more exciting weekend, Joel and Deb are staying in the Profolactory with us. In our very rooms! The rest of the rooms were taken in the Profolac, so instead of staying in one of the hotels...we will be having a big slumber party. Joel in my room...and Deb me and B in Brighids room.

Good times....that are sure to bring us all that much closer.

Now...Brig and I just have to get to that cleaning we've been putting off for such an occassion.

Now its dark by 430. And it was rainy all day. Perfect day for homemade chili. Oh my gosh, was it good. That is all I wanted to tell you really. B and I are becoming quite the chefs over here in Russia. I must say this is a vast improvement from the college days of frozen food and cereal.

Friday Brighid and I went over to our friends Kostya and Gilya's house to babysit their 9 month old daughter. When Kostya came to pick Brig and I up at the Profolactory (home sweet home), I asked him where he and his wife were going. He seemed confused so I rephrased the question and asked if he and Gilya were going out for a night on the town. I thought this was a normal question for a babysitter...however we soon came to find out that the definition for babysitter seems to be quite different. Because our night consisted of the four of us adults playing on the floor with the baby for a couple of hours, while they did our laundry. (Machine washed--first time that has happened since we have been here.) I think the whole idea of parents leaving while others watch the child was lost in translation, but the night was great nonetheless and it was great to be around a family.

Asya and Stasey came over to our place Saturday night for dinner and a movie. It was B and my first time hostessing Russians. We would have had friends over earlier, but our home has a number of restricitions and curfews and thus only a week or so ago were we allowed to invite people in. So anyway, we had slippers out for them to put on, and I offered them chai as soon as they were in our flat. Then we watched, The Notebook, in English of course...and made them quesadillas.

I tell you this, so that if you are ever in the neighborhood and want to stop over...I am pretty sure my hostessing skills will be near perfect and thus, please come over when ever you have a chance. I would love any and all visitors:)

Hope all is well on your side of the world. Love and peace.