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.