Worship with us!

It's COLD in Moscow!

It's been snowing off and on for the last month, but last night we got a bucket full.  I thought it was a lot, but I was informed by a Moscovite that I hadn't seen anything yet.  I left earlier than normal this morning trying to factor in longer travel time, but I didn't expect I would have to wait over an hour for the bus to come!  Not fun when the snow is coming down sideways and the wind is blowing it down the back of your neck and jacket.  

Another loss= A perfect teaching opportunity...

Well if you read the last post, I mentioned there are 2 goals at the beginning of the football season.  And officially FSU screwed up both of them.

This is a perfect opportunity to teach Veta about losing, and how to be a "good loser."

However, I won't be giving her that lesson, I'll let Stephanie take care of this one.  I'm still trying to cool down. 

It comes down to Saturday! SCALP 'EM Seminoles!

Preseason, there are two goals: Play for the National Championship, and BEAT Florida.  One of those goals is still obtainable!

Thanksgiving comes to Russia

Veta and Mommy's Thanksgiving crafts
Veta made a turkey sign from her handprint, a thankful wreath, and a pilgrim and Native American from toilet paper rolls.  We have been working on our thankful wreath over the past couple weeks. Each night at dinner we would all name something we were thankful for, write it on a leaf and then glue it onto our wreath.
(If you can read the leaf that says, "chips" that's not from Adam!)

She gets it from her mama...

We never know what to expect when it gets quiet.  She was supposed to be going potty. 

Christmas Cards

We had some friends ask us the other day if they could send us a Christmas card.  We would love to receive your family's Christmas newsletters and cards!  We'll hang them up and pretend you are just around the corner.  Please email me for the address.  If you don't have our email address, it's Adam.Stephanieourlastname@gmail.com

Lifelong Learner

As a child I wasn't a very big fan of school, and especially homework!  There were so many other things that I could be doing with my time.  Now, 20 years later, I still feel the same way.  Every night I have at least 3.5 hours of homework and that's before I even start studying.  Learning Russian is becoming a 9-10 hour task everyday and I still feel like I can't express myself or ask for certain (often important) things.

Today I asked my teacher how to properly ask, "where is the bathroom." These types of questions are normally constructed negatively such as, "You do not know where the bathroom is?"  He told me that we will learn this in the future.  To which I replied, well that's great, but where do I go in the meantime!!!

For those of you who know me (and my stomach) you know this is a very important question!  Last week after I FINALLY found the bathroom, I realized I had to pay to use it.  There wasn't enough time for me to try to figure out how much it cost…I was about to leave my whole wallet and come back to settle up later!

Does this statue remind you of a recent movie?

First one to name that movie wins.

Some observations...

1.  Shoveling snow on the side of the road is not a man's job.  There are some women around here that make manual labor look like a piece of cake.

2.  People still "thumb it" around here.  It's not uncommon to see people give up waiting on the bus and just get in the car with any random person.  (i'm getting up the nerve to try it)

3.  Bathroom cleanliness--No such thing!!! I've been in cleaner NASCAR bathrooms.  (oh, and if you're at the university, bring your own toilet seat and toilet paper).

4.  I'm mastering the "Donkey-stare," no one makes eye contact on the street or in the public transportation.  You just look through the person.

5.  There is a perpetual smell of Vodka in the air everywhere you go.

6.  No more free bags from the grocery store.  You have to bring your own plastic bags to tote your groceries home or buy them.

7.  There is NO teacher/ student relationship!  My teacher has clapped at me like I was a dog, he has slapped my desk with a ruler, and every chance he gets he laughs at me.  (the cold war is alive and well in our classroom).

8.  Clean yards and streets.  For such a big city there is relatively little litter (including leaves).  As soon as it hits the ground, someone is there to clean it up.

Our God is Greater-- English Version

I know there might be some old schoolers out there that aren't familiar with the song I posted below in Russian.  So here it is…

Make sure to watch the one below!

Наш Бог "Our God"

We visited a local church today with some friends and sang this Tomlin song (one of my favorites).  The video is not from the church that we went to, but I wanted you to hear worship music in the language we are learning.  It was an awesome experience worshiping the King in another language!

She reminds me of the kid from A Christmas Story

Veta is advancing in her AzeriTurkRusGlish

From the moment she wakes up, till the moment she falls asleep she is TALKING or singing!  Don't let the gibberish fool you, she can communicate pretty well for a 2-year-old.  We find ourselves laughing everyday asking each other where she learned to say that.

кислого молока…translated: Sour Milk

Stephanie had a "bloggable" moment the other day.  On our way to the bus stop, in route to the metro we have to cross a very busy street.  There's a crosswalk with a timed light, but that doesn't always stop the traffic, as some of the cars just zoom through.  You definitely want to make sure that you are on the sidewalk when the light changes, because once it turns green, it's off to the races!

To paint the picture, it was a cold, rainy and snowy day.  I was carrying Veta and Stephanie was following behind.  Just as she made it to the curb the light changed and one of the cars "dropped the hammer" (that's putting your foot into the accelerator for those of you who don't follow Nascar).  Right at the same moment I heard the engine roar, I heard a big boom, and then a scream.  As I turned around I saw Stephanie wiping her face and something dripping from her hair.  It was MILK.  The car drove over a liter of milk that was laying in the street and blew it all over her.  As stephanie turned around I saw the rest of the mess.  Her jacket was covered in milk.  It was all in her hair, all over her face and dripping down her legs.  To top it off, Stephanie with her super sensitive "Rin tin tin" nose (pregnancy senses) realized that it was SOUR!

We just turned around and went home.  We had to put the jacket out on the porch because it smelled so bad.  As Veta would say, "Sick!"