I don't really have anything to say, but people have been questioning whether I'm alive so I guess it's time to write something. First, YES I AM ALIVE. And still in Moscow. And still in love with Moscow, which is quite toasty at -4C. And not in love with figuring out loan repayments from across the world. I've been working quite a bit more lately (actually working, not just being lazy) since a bunch of new students have gotten added to my schedule, but that just means that I'm no longer ridiculously under hours (though it was nice while it lasted since we have a set salary). Oh and one of my kids won our grant project, which means she gets 6 free months of study and I get a cool placard thingy. Like a boss.
Russian winter isn't freezing right now, but it has managed to destroy my less-than-2-month-old boots (from the salt) and provide amazing sledding and impromptu snowball fights (best snow usages, obvi). There also hasn't been a day without snow on the ground since it started...whenever it started. So long ago that I can't remember, but I'm not tired of it yet.
I also have a question for America: when is the last time you were in a hotel without internet? Not a hostel, not a motel, but a hotel? Jackie and the other Petersburgers visited for a few days this week to attend their midyear Fulbright conference, so I went to stay in the hotel with them in order to maximize hangout time. The downside was that not only were we without wifi, but internet all together. And they didn't understand the concept of amenities like extra shampoo or...anything. Not letting this get us down, we spent most of our free time either traveling to food or eating food as any good vacationer does/as Jackie and I do.
As far as returning to the US, I don't know when that's happening or for how long. I might live here during the summer and just visit home for a few weeks, or I might resign a contract but have the entire summer off (and no idea what to do with the apartment), or I might go somewhere entirely different for the summer; everything is up in the air and will be for at least the next couple of months. That just means you guys will have to get your acts together and visit Russia, I promise it will not disappoint!
Russian winter isn't freezing right now, but it has managed to destroy my less-than-2-month-old boots (from the salt) and provide amazing sledding and impromptu snowball fights (best snow usages, obvi). There also hasn't been a day without snow on the ground since it started...whenever it started. So long ago that I can't remember, but I'm not tired of it yet.
I also have a question for America: when is the last time you were in a hotel without internet? Not a hostel, not a motel, but a hotel? Jackie and the other Petersburgers visited for a few days this week to attend their midyear Fulbright conference, so I went to stay in the hotel with them in order to maximize hangout time. The downside was that not only were we without wifi, but internet all together. And they didn't understand the concept of amenities like extra shampoo or...anything. Not letting this get us down, we spent most of our free time either traveling to food or eating food as any good vacationer does/as Jackie and I do.
As far as returning to the US, I don't know when that's happening or for how long. I might live here during the summer and just visit home for a few weeks, or I might resign a contract but have the entire summer off (and no idea what to do with the apartment), or I might go somewhere entirely different for the summer; everything is up in the air and will be for at least the next couple of months. That just means you guys will have to get your acts together and visit Russia, I promise it will not disappoint!
Nice blog!! About time!!
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