Oh, how I love the country lifestyle! Fresh air, peace and quiet, wholesome food, afternoon naps, and friendly folk. Jealous? Then plan to join me next year for my time in the village of Pestravka and the Salvation Rehab Center. I want to tell you all about it–but I left my camera at a friend’s house today and so my pictures are held hostage until we can connect again. I can just say that unlike last year when the Center had some, well, shall we say “tense moments,” this year was all smiles, joy, and a spirit of cooperation and…
School’s out!
Thanks to Russia’s recent retaliative response to the USA’s “Magnitsky Act” my invitations to visit school classrooms have been postponed indefinitely or cancelled. The connection between those connected with gross human rights violations (on both sides) and an introverted ambassador for mutual respect and understanding is hard to make. I checked, but I’m definitely not on the list. But no matter. The directive says a teacher must give a month’s notice to her boss if a foreigner is to come to the classroom. What a country! SO, WHY NOT JUST GO SHOPPING! – Retail therapy, right? Natasha Valkova and…
Reunited
Suddenly it’s Monday. I’m finally emerging from the fog of jet lag and culture transition (culture shock would be an exaggeration.) Not many hours after my arrival here in Russia on Friday, I was already out on the street walking to the bazaar. My head fought against the reality that the (long) day before, I had been in pastoral Atascadero and now I was in a big city surrounded by foreign-word billboards, buses, and bustling. Welcome to Samara! I’ve already reunited with many friends (and missed getting pictures with some!) Of course, Tanya was waiting for me with flowers at…
Zero minus 12 (hours)
So, by this time tonight, I’ll be buckling my seatbelt, saying a prayer for protection, and taking off for the other side of the world. LAX to Munich to Frankfurt to Samara. Whoa. Sometimes, I still can’t believe I do this thing. But before I go and am out of touch for almost 30 hours, I want to say THANK YOU to: – those who encouraged me – those who donated money to CrossRoads – those who collected and made gifts/souvenirs (one suitcase is 50 lbs full of them!) – those who have joined my blog! WELCOME! – those who have committed…
10 Days till take-off – Eeeekkk!
Taking off weight? Taking off my makeup? No, taking off for Russia! With my shiny new THREE YEAR MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA! Whoo hoot! This is almost as exciting as the day I got lasik surgery. Both are like miracles for a gal who couldn’t see clearly past 3 feet – and who has STRESSED out every year for 13 years juggling the never-the-same rules for getting a Russian visa. Thanks to some strategic hand-pumping and schmoozing between the US Dept of State and its Russian counterpart, our two countries now have “equal” terms for visiting one another, making business and tourism…