Blogs from Centre, Russia, Europe - page 14

I know I have been suppose to add pictures and blogs for over three weeks now and I told myself, I am not going to bed tonight (Sunday) until I get my blog caught up so here we go, get the popcorn out, and start reading as there will be several as I break them up into the different places I have been visiting. Also, I will update the Easter blog as well so you have some additional information on the Easters here in Russia if you are interested. I had some friends over for a small going away party. They are moving from Obninsk to Moscow to make more money. They have been a lot of fun so I had a small get together for them here (at my flat) that lasted much later ... read more

First I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter. This year the Russian Orthodox Easter landed on the same day as the Christian Easter. I know there are two different calendars, but not sure how Easter is determined, but it too was yesterday (Sunday). It is not really celebrated here. I know they have a lot of Easter cakes for sale, but I do not think people do anything much different, as general statement. As for weather, I think our weather is much the same as many of you are getting back home. March was awesome here, but April has been cold and windy (I guess like spring is suppose to be). We woke up to everything covered in snow. By the evening, it had melted off, but did continue to snow later that evening. I ... read more

I went to a different clinic today and felt a lot better with this doctor. I actually got my blood pressure checked, temperature, asked about medical history, etc. and she was a lot cuter! I forgot how to say her name, but she was Russian but educated and trained in the US with excellent English. I was late for my appointment due to traffic, but they got me right in so no complaints. She laughed at my bruises from my vacuum massage (Dasha said that is normal) and could not tell if the swelling was from the massage or part of the problem. She did not think it was anything serious so does not want to take x-rays or mri until I get back from vacation, but she made me promise to continue doing the excercises ... read more

I am not sure Russia will ever be home, but I must say I am feeling more and more like I am at home. I can not remember what day it was, but one day last week I was having dinner at Dom da Doma (local restaurant near my flat) and while I was there I ran into two people I know. The first one I did not see, but he saw me and came right over to say hello. He is a friend of Dima and does not speak a word of English, but wanted to say hello. Then I saw a couple I met at one of the parties come up the stairs so I waved at them and they came over and joined me. He speaks okay English so we had some conversation ... read more

Not a lot to write, but I had to share the pictures with me being so famous by signing the students calendars. I have to admit, it did make me feel important. I feel bad, Natalia, their teacher, always thinks she has to get me something. This last time, she got me a book, in both Russian and English, about the Kaluga region, which is where I live. The one downfall of the book, it does not have a lot about Obninsk and I am not sure if that is because it was one of the unnamed cities or why, but it is a very nice book to have as part of my collection of things from here. I did not get a thing done today at work. It is "Women's Day" tomorrow (Thursday) and everyone ... read more