Just what I needed...

So, after yesterday's random nuclear threat, today was so much fun! 3 of my students invited me to go ice skating with them. Nastya, Zhenya, and Ira are adorable but aren't really my best English speaking students. So, I was a little concerned that this would be an afternoon filled with awkward silence and miscommunication. But of course, I was worried for no reason. We went to a cafe for a little while before heading to the ice arena and the girls were so cute because they talked in English the entire time. I really feel like in 3 months of classes...I got to know more about them and understand their specific difficulties (as students) this afternoon. And for that, I'm so thankful. The girls kept cracking me up because whenever one of them would start speaking in English, they would look very seriously at each other and say, "In English please." I couldn't handle it. :) After some time at the cafe we headed to the ice arena, where I was more than a little nervous about ice skating. Even after today's experience, I can count on one hand the times I've skated. I mean, I'm from Alabama for goodness sake. Again, I was worried to no avail because it was sooo much fun! I guess I seemed a little bit tense though because Zhenya looked at me and said (and oh how I wish you could hear her Russian accent), "Miss Traylor, no stress!" So then I just died. It was hilarious. She kept saying it over and over. I have to tell you why this was particularly funny for me...it's exactly what I would tell my class when they looked overwhelmed by an assignment or task that I asked them to do...which I had to tell them A LOT! So, today Zhenya showed me that at least in those moments...she was listening :) I love it!

Everything seems to be fine...

Well, as fine as it normally is here in Russia. :)

Sorry If I caused any concern...

It was just such a strange thing this morning and so uncertain.

A strange wake up call...

It's probably always a strange thing to wake up to someone calling to tell you that there has been an explosion at a nuclear power plant outside of the city you where you live. And for some reason...it's a bit more unsettling when you wake up to this news and you live in Russia. Anyway, I don't know much and I'm sure everything is fine BUT please pray for us no matter what. Oh boy...this is making me even more ready to be home for a little while.

Here's part of a news report I found on CNN.com:

"Three people were injured in what government officials were calling an explosion at a smelter furnace on the site of the Leningrad nuclear power plant.
The explosion at the furnace of the Ecomet-S enterprise -- a sub-contractor of the nuclear plant -- took place about 3 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from the government of St. Petersburg, located about 50 miles from the plant.
According to Rosenergoatom--a Russian state body in charge of monitoring nuclear safety--the incident did not increase radiation levels in or around the plant. A statement from the nuclear power plant calls the accident a "splash of smelt" from the furnace, which it says was caused by the violation of safety rules.
The Russian news agency Interfax reported that three people were injured in the incident, but did not elaborate. "

So, it sounds like everything is ok but when we talked to the consulate this morning...they were not very quick to assuage our fears and that is the only thing that keeps me wondering...

Oh life in Russia! Thank you for your prayers :)

Quotes from my students...

Today I recieved another wonderful gift from some of my students on our last day of class. My favorite part was the card that went along with the present though.

Here are some quotes from the card:

"There are a lot of wishes and greetings but actually everybody wishes the same main things to each other, so and I wish you love, happyness, and devoted friends, and...love, and...hmm...love! And I want to confess You, that You are the best teacher that I've ever had!"

"Each morning should bring you a smile! Enjoy everything you have and know that you will have more... I believe you are the best and I want everything that you dream about come true! I'm happy that I know you..."

"I am happy that met you"

"I want to tell you "Thank you" very much for being here, for teaching us! You are very interesting, kind, and just the best! Thank you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

My students are so adorable! I will miss them so much over the holidays.

Almost finished...

Only one more week exactly until I go home for Christmas. I'm so excited but a little nervous as well. There are so many people I want to see and so many things I want to do that now 3 weeks seems like such a short visit. When I bought my ticket, it seemed more than sufficient but that was a silly thought in retrospect. How can 3 weeks ever be more than sufficient time with your friends and family? So perhaps it's not enough time but it's all the time I get so I'm more than thankful for it!!

So, my first semester as a "professor" is wrapping up this week. I'm extraordinarily busy trying to get grades finished up, last minute work from students checked, and everything else that comes with the end of classes. It's funny because you never know what people really think of you until they actually tell you. I had been pretty disappointed in my lessons (yes, I admit that I can be perfectionistic about some things) but yesterday in my first 2 classes the students presented me with gifts and cards to thank me for teaching them. Here's an excerpt from one of their cards: "Dear Miss Traylor! Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to you! We would like to say a big thank you to you for your marvelous lessons, which we greatly enjoyed! We will never forget how much encouragement and support we have gotten from you! It was a truly amazing pleasure for us to communicate with such a versatile and interesting teacher like you! Best wishes, your students F-142" How sweet is that! They'll never know how much I needed to hear that right now. The picture above is of me with the F-142 group.

One more class today, one tomorrow night and "все" (vuh-see-oh which means, that's all in Russian). Interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about this whole teaching thing anymore. Maybe I actually like it. Don't hold me to that statement though :)

What's going on here?

So, most of the time I forget that I’m in “Russia”. I mean, I don’t actually forget where I am but I forget that I’m an outsider here. However, today I was reminded multiple times of my status. The first time was this morning on the Metro when I leaned over to Katie to tell her something and she shushed me and discreetly said “not now”. I then looked to her left and there was a member of the Militsia standing next to her. He seemed nice enough and was reading a book. But despite appearances, I knew better than to open my mouth and start speaking in English. I’ve heard one too many stories. Then the next time that I was reminded that I “wasn’t in Kansas anymore” was while talking to a friend at church. He asked Katie and I about the NGO bill that the Duma is trying to pass right now. (One of my students--who enjoys stirring up trouble--mentioned this bill a few weeks ago but his English isn’t very good and I didn’t really understand what he was telling me.) Anyway I went home and researched the bill and it’s very interesting. If it passes, I’m not sure whether or not it would affect ESI but it’s entirely possible that it might. Oh Russia.

The following is an article that gives more information:

NGO Law Defended By Kremlin
By Meg Clothier
Reuters
MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday brushed off sharp international criticism of a draft law aimed at tightening state control over non-governmental organizations, saying what it did at home was its own affair.
Last month parliament backed a bill that would bar foreign human rights groups, green organisations and medical charities from working in Russia. It would force local non-profit groups to re-register and make it harder for them to take foreign cash.
U.S. officials said Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns would use a trip to Moscow this week to discuss the legislation.
“This is our internal right,” Interfax news agency quoted Mikhail Kamynin, the Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, as saying.
“Passing laws is the sovereign right of every state.”
He added that close allies of Washington had similar laws to the one Russia is planning, although it was not clear to which countries he was referring.
U.S. President George W. Bush has already personally raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin.
NGOs, defending their work in Russia, have said the bill reflects unfounded Russian suspicions that foreign intelligence agencies could exploit them to stir up dissent, triggering a revolution like those in ex-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia.
Russia’s Kommersant daily quoted a source in Washington as saying the State Department was fed up with Russia’s attitude.
“If previously we pretended that Russia was our partner and the Kremlin pretended to cooperate with us, now the Russians don’t want to play even that game,” the source said.
Putin has already voiced distrust of foreign-funded NGOs, saying: “He who pays the piper pays the tune.” Last week he backed the bill, saying it would not undermine civil liberties.
His 5-1/2 years in the Kremlin have been marked by greater centralisation of power and tighter media control. The influence of the security and military establishment has also grown.

Jingle Bells, Sunlight, and the last week of Classes

The past few days have been wonderful. Partially because I’ve been procrastinating doing all the work that I have to do to finish up classes this next week. And partially because I’m going home in just 11 more days and I think that it’s always so much easier to enjoy wherever you are when you know the time is short. Last night, I went to Sarah and Amanda’s apartment where they were having a Christmas Party for some of their students. It was so much fun. We played American games and CRAZY Russian games. Oh and there was a little Christmas carol karaoke, of course! The students got so excited and into it. They didn’t really catch all the words to Jingle Bells but that made it all the more endearing.
So…there was actual SUNLIGHT today when Katie and I left church and we were SO happy! It was -3 Celsius (and don’t make me do the math b/c I have no clue what it is in Fahrenheit) but I mean it’s obviously not a super warm day. Anyway, we had no regard for the lack of warmth because all we could focus on was the lovely blue sky! We wandered around the center for a few hours, took pictures, and watched some crazy Russian pop singer perform in front of one of the ugliest Christmas trees ever. I have video and it's hilarious.

Check out the Russian Christmas tree in Palace Square. Here's a lovely photo of Katie and the sad lopsided tree...

View from Nevsky Prospekt overlooking a frozen canal  

Enjoying the Sunshine :) 

Sunrise, Sunset

Dec. 2nd 9:35am 4:01pm
Dec. 3rd 9:37am 3:59pm
Dec. 4th 9:39am 3:58pm
Dec 5th 9:41am 3:57pm

So, 6 hours of daylight…soon to be about 5. My friend Jane, an eternal optimist, pointed out to me the other day that the winter solstice is in a few weeks and after that the days will slowly start getting longer again. I know it’s silly but it gives me hope too.

daylight

So the sun came out today for the first time in weeks, it seems. Being quite a bit closer to the Arctic Circle than ever before, I’ve never experienced such short days. So even though I wasn’t feeling spectacular today, I simply had to venture outside to enjoy a rare glimpse of blue sky. It was a beautiful day and I really wanted to get some photos of the neighborhood, so I discreetly carried my camera around and snapped some photos. All that to say that the following are pictures of my hood. Enjoy.

Katie and I were talking today about our lives here. We think that the lack of daylight is affecting us. We’re both just kind of dragging and apathetic lately. If you read this, I’m sure we wouldn’t mind some prayer for that. We’re both looking forward to traveling in January and getting out of this joint for a little while. And on another note, It’s taken me about three months now but I think I’m really settling into life here. I mentioned to a friend the other day that when someone commented that they couldn’t understand what my life must be like here my first reaction was to think, “Oh, its normal!” Anyway, it’s strange how quickly one can adapt. I think I need to remember this when I go home in January. Sometimes, I think, it’s more difficult for me to adjust to life in the South than to adjust to life in foreign countries.

The entry into the courtyard of my building and last night there was a drunk man passed out in the middle of it. Yep, right in the middle.  

Oh Russia... 

Blue Sky! How exciting. This is the building across the street. It's a pretty cool neighborhood... 

So this is my building...my room is the bottom window on the left. How about the fancy steel bars? Oh yes, they're pretty rad, I know.  

This is the main street near my new house. We moved away from the high rise flat that was on the gulf a month or so ago.