Funny Stories...

My priest here is a LEGEND.

During one of my first visits to St. Antipa's, I came to confession with Father Vladimir. I handed him my list, which I had thoughtlessly written in English, he looked at it confusedly, realized what I was (an American) and absolved me. This led him to believe that I spoke absolutely no Russian whatsoever. That same day, when I began to approach him to venerate the cross at the end of service, I heard him whispering to the acolyte, "Here comes the American woman. Here she comes. Do you see her? Here she comes. Oh, here she is. Here's the American woman. She's right here. There she goes. There goes the American. Did you see her? She just passed by."

A few weeks following that great moment, I came up to take communion. Father Vladimir knows my name. I'm the only American in our parish. So what does he decide to communion me as? "American woman". Be sure to say that with a heavy Russian accent. I almost died laughing. On that same day during coffee hour, my friends and I are seated and talking, and down comes Father Vladimir playing the blues on the harmonica. WHAT??? He was actually really good at it! I was totally surprised, however, when he walks up to me and is like, "You're an American woman, you know the blues! Sing with me!!" I, regretfully, said no. He proceeds to calm himself for about five minutes before he gets up again and starts walking behind people, blowing the harmonica in their ears to scare them.

THAT is my new priest. Legend.

Not What I Expected...

When I thought “Hey, I’ll move to Moscow”, there were things that, despite all of my scheming, I could never have imagined would happen to me. When I think of Moscow, I think of wild fashions, grumpy babushkie (grandmothers), and enormous churches in the midst of a rapidly disintegrating (yet still very prevalent) Soviet atmosphere. I think of McDonalds on ever street corner, and the groups of young teenagers that loiter there. I also thought, “Yes! The Orthodox Motherland!”, but as it turns out, my naivety and ignorance to spiritual things inhibit my connection with this beautiful piece of Russia.

Many of these things are unexpected but entirely joyful situations I have been placed in as of late:

The gay community in Russia is, I have been told, a rising phenomenon. While many of my students cringe at the mention of gay men, it nevertheless seems to be a force to be reckoned with here. My assumptions as to why this might be are not the point. The point IS to say that, ironically, I have become acquainted with about ten gay men that have treated me better than most men I know ever have. Plus, they’re really fun ☺ They love helping me with my Russian, respect that I am a “religious” Christian (although I’m sure many of them have had negative encounters with religion), produce deep conversation, and are very protective of my eyes and ears. I am very, very appreciative.

I also never thoroughly thought through the process of becoming involved in a church parish. It’s not been a negative experience, merely prolonged. After about 6 weeks, I have finally settled on St. Antipa near the center of the city. Through Matushka Nektaria, I have met friends James and Alevtina, as well as a few others who, in turn, have made kind efforts to include me and encourage me. I wondered if the feeling of awkward solitude would pass because it seemed to last forever, but I think I’m finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I guess I just assumed that since Russia has a rich Orthodox heritage, that I would be swept away in its wake. I will just say that solitude makes you realize more about yourself than you are probably willing to admit. Alas, things are improving, and I continue to hope that they will keep on doing so!

From St. Antipa, I have also been given a few job offers that seem rather promising. One of them I started today—tutoring two young girls (ages 5 & 6) English. They’re seriously SO adorable. Also, my friend James is leaving in December to go back to England, and we’ve been discussing the possibility of me taking over his job. It’s a rather “advantageous” kindergarten teacher position. I was thoughtlessly resigned to my career at Language Link for the next two years, but it’s funny how God is stealthy like that. The only thing is that it would most likely change my plans of moving to a smaller city, and possibly change my summer plans. I’m not worried. Whatever happens is for the best.

Playtime is Over

For the last two weeks, I'd just been meandering around Moscow seeing the sights and doing what tourists are supposed to do. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), playtime in Moscow is over, and I have been given work.

My group Russian lessons have been replaced by individual lessons which began on Monday. My tutor is so helpful and kind. I think she'll help my Russian improve a ton. I'll be meeting with her twice a week for two hours (four hours total).

I also started working yesterday (Tuesday). I'll be teaching on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a school here (as opposed to a building in which Language Link just HAPPENS to have a location). Each time, I have three classes of children ranging from 6-7 year olds, one class of 9 year olds, and one class of 10 year olds. I then have 2 hours for a break that I spend travelling to my next location for a class of beginning adult learners. With lesson planning, preparation, travel time and the classes themselves, I am running to and fro for no less than 12 hours on those days. My young students are absolutely adorable and so well-behaved! It's so nice to have the innocent faces of children looking to you for help rather than the typical Russian skeptic that one usually encounters. But even my adult learners had fun in their class--and after all, that's what makes learning worthwhile, right? I hope to be a teacher who makes learning enjoyable.

I really think I'm going to enjoy this :)

My New Home

St. Basil's...with Freckles?

Some friends and I were out walking around Moscow, and I just thought this was a really neat picture of St. Basil's in Red Square...my camera, on the other hand, thought it was lame and sabotaged it.

The Metro

This is just one of the beautiful metro stations I go in every week. They're typically crowded with people though. Metro stations are perfect places to people-watch. Hilarity ensues.

My Room

This is my room from the doorway. My window faces out onto the street, and evidently everyone who has lived in it hates all the noise and consequently moves to a different room/flat. I, however, fell in love with the noise of the city, so this room and I are a perfect fit. You can't really tell, but the room is very, very long, but not very wide. About 20 ft. x 7ft.

My Bed.

This, quite obviously, is my bed. It has a race car comforter (either that, or it's some awful 1980's mess). It was free, it was clean, so I took it. I don't think you can really tell, but above my bed are some pictures I sporadically collected before I left. Send me pictures, and they will go up there too.

THE WALLPAPER!!!

This is the wallpaper I told you about. Note the lovely garden-like ivy AND the brick--the raised brick. Ridiculous. I love it.

The Kitchen Table

This, ladies and gentlemen, is where it all happens. Actually, you can tell that we don't often use it for the dining table it was meant to be. Anyway, this is how most flats are. There is room for 2, sometimes 3 people to sit comfortably in the kitchen. 4 or 5 people if you cram.


The Other Half of the KitchenI think this is self-explanatory.

You've just had the mini-grand tour of my flat here. It's special.

This is a typical Soviet-style apartment here. Everything is old, and I love it.

New Developments

As of today, I have internet and a telephone in my flat. You can either call me or contact me on Skype (providing I'm there...).

Flat Number: 8-495-369-7127
Skype: Shwalizabeth.

This also means that I don't have to travel 40 minutes to get to free internet anymore!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I'll post another blog tonight with more developments.

Blog By Popular Demand..heh heh

So there are a few things about Moscow that you should know (if you do not already):

1. The smells of the city (exhaust, gasoline, paint, cigarettes, etc.) eventually start to smell fragrant to you. For example, as I was walking home the other day, I began blissfully inhaling what I thought might be flowers. I was so convinced! As I got closer, I realized a block of flats was being painted. I immediately questioned why God allowed me to continue life on Earth, as I obviously did not know how to enjoy it.

2. British people exist here in abundance. Sometimes I have a harder time understanding them than I do the Russians. No. Really.

3. Grammar, contrary to popular belief, is NOT fun.

4. Bruce would have a heart-attack with the disorderly communion line at church. Pushing and shoving included here.

5. Only in Russia does ONE switch control the electricity in a building, looking exactly like any other light switch that you can thoughtlessly switch on and off. "Blackouts" (aka someone pressing the "electricity off" switch) that include NO internet are NOT okay. THEN! It would take all day for the ONE guy who knows how to turn it back on arrive to actually turn it back on. Why in the world is their only one guy with the knowledge to do this, and why does it take him an entire day to get here?

I've now been here for two weeks. It feels like I've been here for a month. Classes are over on Friday, and I finally become a real teacher. Unfortunately, they're not really certain of where they will place me yet. According to my contract, however, they are forced to pay me whether I teach or not. YES. Why can't all jobs be like that? Although it's only been two weeks, I've already been considering different places to move after my four months here are over. Volgograd? Ekaterinburg? Those are the two I'm really considering. Whatever God places before me, I know it will be for the best. I'm just really hoping it's not the ginormous city of Moscow. Actually, I'm not really certain of that...I HAVE only been here two weeks. I might end up really, really loving it!

Also, I'm teaching a lesson tomorrow about Amish people using the words "can" and "can't". Only in Russia...

There's not really a whole lot else to write--BUT NOW YOU CAN WRITE ME!!!

Russia
Moscow 127-55
Ulitsa Novoslobodskaya 5/2
Language Link
Shannon Berry

Pictures will come soon enough. I have to have things to take pictures of in order for there to be any of those...

I'm here.

I've finally arrived. Months of waiting, and I'm here. It's still hard to believe.

I got off the plane, struggled for about 20 minutes through passport control, then for about another 20 through baggage claim. Finally, I meet Alexei. He is standing there with a sign that says "Language Link", and he smiles sheepishly at me. He asks me if I speak Russian, and I stupidly respond with, "No. I'm an American". He manhandles my baggage all the way to the car, and doesn't let me touch it. When we get to the car, I go to roll down my window because it's hot, but alas, the handle is missing. He rolls down his own window, and then hands me the handle as though the situation was totally normal. Only in Russia. Our drive was about 40 minutes in traffic, and it wasn't until "Dancing Queen" came on the radio that I realized he had put it on an English station for me. "Dancing Queen"...seriously??? We talked about traffic and how old we were, and then he had me listen to some random stuff on his phone to make me laugh. That's as far as my Russian could take me in that situation, and the silence was awkward. OH! And he took me to an ostrich farm. That's right. Ostriches.

My flat.

So I get to my flat, and no one is home. Alexei drops me off and I start to unpack. My roommates are missing, but I've since learned that one is French and the other is Italian. This is going to be hilariously fun. My room is about 7 ft. by 20 ft., and has ivory wallpaper with fake, raised bricks and ivy on it.

Thus far, I have been totally humored. I wish I could write more, but my time on the internet is running out, and I'm starting to get "the eye" from the directors (who've got tempers like lions..eek!). Love you all! I must go!