Regina Hotel Kazan

... included, even though it's hardly worth mentioning. On Sunday morning (I arrived on Saturday afternoon) I also met two Australian guys in the hotel. They were on their way to Vladivostok and Japan, and I spent a coulpe of days with them strolling around the city, playing cards and billiards in the hotel and the usual stuff (drinking beer). This is my first trip by myself and at least so far, I haven't regretted it. Sometimes you may feel a little awkward ...

... picked it out so it was my fault, but I have to say that it was delicious! Now I wish I had eaten the Duck la orange.....             Anyway, it ended up being a great evening.  We had 14 guests, three of which were Tatars, and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.  We played games and at the end of the night we had ice cream from.... Baskin Robins! (they have it in half pints here..yummy!) So I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll.  I know that we did!  

... is not all about killing yourself and wasting precious time in the "office" or whatever your job is.  Life is about just enjoying the time that you're given.              Don't get me wrong.  I am not begrudging the fact that I decided to do this little adventure.  I have seen many countries and fulfilled my wildest dreams.  I honestly can say that I have been truly blessed.  I have found my best friends in the whole world ...

... low 20's?).  We both took pics and I took a small video that showed the snowflakes literally dancing with the light pole.  "hello" the snowflakes said, "I'm baaacckk!"             We ran in the kitchen like children on Christmas morning and told Iilka that the sneg (snow) had come.  "Look outside!" We giggled "It's so kraseevi (beautiful)!" She looked at us like we were bonkers.  I'm sure that Iilka, in her many years of ...

... Here I have to admit that we have no idea about what war is like on our soil, but we know what war is.  She has been through it on her soil and had numerous family members lost because of it so I concede that point because of that.  However, I will never admit that Americans love war.  She then asks us what we would think if they made our brothers go to war.  "My brother has been in the military and fought many battles.  I have ...

... or true theater.  It's really sad and if by an off chance we have some kind of theater then it is not respected like it is here.              Then on Monday, I had a birthday dinner at a favorite restaurant here in the city.  I had several people show and we had great conversation and great times were had by all.  I cannot express how wonderful it was to have friends that love you enough to celebrate a birthday for a whole entire weekend!!  I mean, really how lucky am I?  

... I ate the stuff and it wasn't so bad.  However, those three fateful days have ruined that particular Russian tradition beyond repair.  Which is unfortunate because if food could be worshipped, then Glous would be worshipping this stuff.  It is almost akin to the dad in My Big Fat GreekWedding who believes that anything can be fixed by Windex.              Anyway, that particular day, Ilka was feeling a bit more feisty than usual and it seemed that every ...

... of it. At one point, it was suggested that she speak English so I could understand better (because I had made a few faux pas when it came to following the conversation) but I steadfastly refused.   (Somehow I kept hearing Kathleen in the back of my mind... "Go find Russian girls and have a conversation, who cares if you suck." Well, she never said suck, but you get the drift.) But at one point she asked what books I liked to read and I told her my favorite books were by Boris ...

... They take care of each other and they take care of you.  Well, it is usual the middle age and the older generation, but still.  I can't see any one of them letting things happen to you here like they would in the states.  Don't be a fool and walk blindly through the streets and not take caution but I think that you are very safe here.  If you are good to people here then they will be good to you.             Even though I can't sleep, I feel content.  I ...

Sometimes I wonder if the idea of me being in Russia has actually settled in my family's minds. I know that they understand that I am gone and that it going to be for a while, but do they really understand that I am in RUSSIA? Russia is literally a half of the world away and 8 hours ahead. My day is over before their day begins. I know that they don't understand the circumstances in which I live. I say this because I was talking to my mom the other day and I told her that ...