Completely Random Post

My picture posting and narrative skills are lacking tonight.. I'm sorry for this crazily organized post in advance.

Leah, me, and Kristin eating our apples:













Erica and Tat'yana doing my hair:















Nastya and Tat'yana:

Another week has passed in Moscow. While the days tend to seem long, the weeks fly by. I can't believe that we have been here for over a month and that it will be October soon.

There were a few cold days this weekend, but now it is warming up a little again. The cold weather keeps teasing us. That's okay with me though. I love warm weather and am still waiting on my winter coat to get here in the mail! Oh, but the leaves are starting to change colors, and it is getting to be really pretty! I went for a short run this evening and saw that there were yellow leaves spread throughout the city streets. Also, it is the time of year when many fruits and vegetables (Interestingly, mushrooms are a big one if those are even considered a veggie.), so it has been fun to get to try some of the Russian teachers' harvests from their gardens! Speaking of eating fruit...

This weekend we went to a nice area that has a beautiful overlook of the city. We also passed by Moscow State University, one of the seven sisters that Stalin (I promise it was Stalin this time for those of you who corrected me about him in one of my other blogs :) ) built to show his power. Throughout the night we saw some fireworks, bikers, wealthy teenagers riding limos and dancing in the streets, and probably much more; however, my favorite part of the night was when one of the American teachers, Kelsie, climbed an apple tree in the middle of the city and picked apples for us... It was pretty amusing to see her climb up there, and we were a little nervous about getting caught, so it made for a fun time. Plus, the apples made for a very nice midnight snack. We even hope to go back and pick some more for an apple pie perhaps?

The rest of the weekend was spent resting and getting wireless interent for our apartment finally! Now we can all get on at the same time and skype whenever we want back home.. yes! :) It did stink that we were told that we had to get it on Sunday though, so we had to miss church to wait for the guy to come to set it up. We were surprised that they even work on Sundays.

So, anyways because we now have wifi, giving me the opportunity to get on it as much as I need or want, and in honor of seeing so many incredible dogs here when I go out in the evenings (Seriously, everyone has incredible breeds of dogs that they are always walking. I've seen German Shepards, Miniature Greyhounds, Syberian Huskies, Saint Bernards, Great Pyranises, Newfoundlands and the list could go on...), I am putting up a picture of a cute Newfoundland that I found on the internet, because I am really, really wanting one and cannot wait to get one when I go back to the States!

I am also putting up a few pictures from school. Braids are supposed to be popular here, and the kids, with the help of one of the Russian teachers, did my hair last Friday, so I have to display some of the pictures! It was so sweet.

Polina and Tat'yana:

Kingsley... Beaumont or "Beau..." or some other Old English name I can find :-) :

Moscow International Peace Marathon and 10k

Upon leaving for Moscow I could not help myself but to look for any possible races that would be held while I was here, and to my surprise, I discovered one that would be held September 13, yesterday.

Of course I did not want to go alone though, and so my dear friends Rick and Leah chose to go race too. They did the 10k, and after very much debate, I did the marathon.

Now, for those of you who know how much I love running, you can understand why I wanted to do the marathon so badly. I mean, it is Moscow, Russia! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, I did not run more than 7 or 8 miles this summer in one single day, so that kind of running does not prepare one for a marathon.

Well, the first 6 miles were good. In fact, as expected, I actually went a little faster than my easy pace. Then, starting at mile 7, that's when I was consistently at a pace a little slower than easy pace for the rest of the race. Also, at around mile 7 was when I thought, "maybe this wasn't a good idea." However, the miles started to just run together, and despite the ickiness and soreness I felt yesterday and the soreness that I am feeling today, I am pretty glad that I ran the race.

There were a few interesting things about the marathon that I have to mention. First, instead of gatorade and gu, warm tea and salted bread were served along with water. These things did not settle well with my stomach, but I knew that I had to get something in me besides water, because I usually cramp up really bad after races due to so many electrolites being lost. It's miserable. Fortunately, I didn't cramp up yesterday though- a huge blessing. Another interesting thing was some of the people we saw at the race. One man was barefoot the whole marathon. There was another man who Leah said had a tu-tu on in the race. I saw a few men using the restroom as they were running (not too uncommon in US races either I guess). There were all kinds of shoes that would be miserable to wear in a race being worn. Oh, after the race we saw men just drop their droors right out in the open to change! I could go on...

Then, there was the course. Although the course was pretty repetitive, it was very neat to run in central Moscow. The race started and finished in Red Square by St. Basil's Cathedral, and we got to run by Christ the Savior's Cathedral as well as all along the Moscow River and by one of the Seven Sisters. Plus, there were people from all over running the race. A few people tried to have conversations with me, but most of the converstations ended pretty fast ha. I DID see a few Americans though, so that was neat.

All in all, it was a really fun experience. Leah, Rick, and I are glad we did it, soreness and all! Oh, and we even got to see some friends from church there as well who were participating.

School is in Session

In front of the fountain in the awesome park!






























Some of us in front of a garden



































My honey (not him, the sack!)

























Honey
























At the honey market





















My room

Our living room

The kitchen

Russian nesting dolls

This is a cryllic "P." It stands for Puschin (I butchered that spelling probably!) Cafe

Leah, Julia (my favorite Brit), and me at Victory Park (not the park I talk about in the blog)

Leah and Rick under an arch on the median

A Russian Orthodox Church

The gals on the day we met all of the faculty... with our cool new scarves!

Well, September 1st has come and gone. We had our first day of school Tuesday. The first day of school is done quite differently here than in the U.S., though. Instead of starting in on the rules and even possibly assignments, on the first day of class in Russia education is celebrated. Every school, including universities, start on September 1st each year. On this day, parents buy flowers for their students to bring to the teachers, who are anxiously awaiting for the students to arrive.

Then, to be specific,at the kindergarten where I work a small play was put on, and then a giraffe (the school's mascot) came out with a cake for all to eat. The kids then got to play for a while inside and outside, had lunch, and then left.Then, the last few days have been a time of adjustment for my students at the kindergarten, and the next week will sort of be the same.

Now, I'll have to admit that having 3 year olds who only speak Russian is definitely out of my comfort zone. It has been kind of hard for me to go from teaching a 4th grade class of American students, where I knew what was expected of me and was on top of the game (or I'd like to think I was getting there!), to a class of 3 year olds that I can hardly communicate with as well as colleagues that mostly speak Russian. The three students that have been there this week (I will have 7 total) look at me with extremly hesitant eyes sometimes, and my colleagues are sooo sweet, but we never know what eachother is saying. Oy vey! I know it will get better, but I'd appreciate the prayers.

After saying all of this, however, I am still glad that I am here. Because of its challenges, this year is hopefully going to be a time of lots of growth and learning.

Outside of school, the weather has been really nice here. We went to the park Sunday as well as the annual honey market. At the honey market one can try all kinds of honey from rows and rows of stands. I bought a clear, sweet honey that comes from a white flower. The man was really nice that I bought it from! It was especially neat to watch him dip out the honey out of his big bin and to see all the bees kind of flying around the honey market. It was a little gross when you were sharing the honey with them though! :)

Well, much more could be said, but I think I'll conclude since it's getting kind of long. Miss you guys.