Jeanette goes to Russia

The gathering last night with the English students of Nina Alexandrovna featured food, food, food and lots of questions and conversation in English. We covered the swine flu…Obama’s first 100 days…winter in California (what winter?) the economic crisis, comparisons of our legal and dental care systems…and much more inbetween. In between bites, that is. Take a look at the table below…so much food there was little room for our plates and tea cups. Nina always spreads joy and acceptance. She loves her work and those to whom she shares her adoration of English. My doggy-bag breakfast awaits me. By the… 

The internet has been down, hence my absence on the blog. And besides, the weather is too beautiful to stay inside. In the 80s–just as I like it. I’ve been on several walks around town and along the embankment of the Volga River. Last night Marina, Slava and I caught the rehearsal for the Victory Day parade…hundreds of marching soldiers, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, a military band, etc. Just as you have seen in the old newsreels of the Soviet army in Red Square. Imagine me on the sidelines… I need to share my wonder at the total LACK of jetlag… 

My incredible birthday party. I’m going to let the pictures speak for themselves for now. Enjoy a glimpse into the Russian countryside, into history, and into the kind of no-rush-to-finish party that lasted from noon to well-past 8 p.m. THANK YOU MY PRECIOUS FRIENDS!   Can you see what’s inside the kiln?

Continuing my airport security adventure… While I was deciding what to do with the Leatherman gift, I was scanned with a wand and then taken to a private room to lift my shirt and reveal my thickly stuffed money belt. I had to remove the belt and hand it over to the security agent (a female, thank God.) She looked inside and then returned it to me. But my heart was beating out of my chest during those few seconds. All of CrossRoads’  finances for the remainder of the year were there. Not a small sum. But, I reasoned, God… 

Wow! Thirty hours later and I’m half-way across the globe, but it seems like home. I can’t explain that, but it’s true…as if I had been here last week instead of last year. Tanya met me at the airport with “Snow drops” – the first flowers of spring. Something new already. I have never seen them before. Since arriving at my final destination – the home of Natasha and Volodya, I’ve had breakfast, a nap, a shower, played games with her grandchildren, lunch, a trip to the grocery store…and at some point I hope to unpack.  After dinner we will…