Yal Kazan

Another from Liz..... How to get to class in Russia: 1. Get out the door- this is a task in itself and possibly a future subject but let us suffice to say you are stuffed full of food and wearing about seven layers. 2. Forget your student id. 3. Go Back (1 min) take off shoes (30 sec) put on slippers (30 sec) retrieve id (5 sec) take off slippers (30 sec) put on shoes (1 min) say bye again (5 min) 4 ...

... in Kazan are proceeding as they always proceed.  I can't remember the last time I saw the sun, whatever illuminates this globe of clouds sets at about three thirty and several cats tried to steal food from me today.  The Rugged American used to life in the fast lane (or as fast a lane as Greensboro, NC pop. smaller than you think can offer) is suffering from a bout of boredom.  Perhaps it is only the lingering ...

... presents.   I am convinced, though, that it is not worth sending packages.  It takes too long, it costs too much money to send, you have to haul it to wherever your staying (which is never easy) and then you have to either haul it home to the States or leave it here.  If you guys are thinking of sending me packages, please don't. Send my dad a check made out to me instead.  I REALLY could use some funds and in the long run, it saves you money too.  (Just a thought.)  

... Service Bureau") but I have bored you enough with my nonsense.  My opinion and $5.00 will buy you a cup a coffee and that is about it.  So anyway, no more politics!!  Yippee!  So now I can be my normal everyday hilarious (and somewhat) sarcastic self.  See what having a conversation with a Russian will get you?  I think that I should, perhaps, just stay with my English speaking kind.  The blogs are better and I don't have to think.  I like not thinking......  

... Russia we have TWO American Olympic champions.  This makes me wonder and I have to say a bit puzzled.  We are a huge country and we have every opportunity in the world available to us, so why do these men have to go elsewhere to play the game they love?  I mean, I can understand it if they were bad players.  You know, like baseball players that go to Japan to improve their skills in hopes to re-enter the professional level, but not Olympic ...

... the center of the street and direct traffic.  This usually means that someone of importance is about to come through because they always stop traffic to let them through.  It kind of is a pain because it stops not only the traffic but also the pedestrians.  They usually won't allow you to us the crosswalks until the "important" people pass.  So I can't help it, I have to know and see what is going on in this case.  So I stop in the park and sit.  I am facing ...

... 7:00 pm that the program was on, but 8:00!!             There was Iilka in all her glory with a button down polo shirt, amber necklace and beautiful make-up done.  She was sitting face to face with a commentator and sounding very efficient. I had no idea what she was saying but I was impressed.  Kristen took video and I took several pics, then... Idgay came home.  "where's momma?" he asked.  We both kind of looked at each other, "don't know." We replied.  I'm ...

... Luiza who adores her and Hope finally has found contentment in her own place while Brian and Hampton have a place where they can call home as well.  Ironically, as I write this, the Eagles song "Peaceful Easy Feeling" came on through my Ipod and that is exactly how I feel. A peaceful and easy feeling and add a bit of happiness.  I couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now.  I am home.  

... that was that.  I guess skipping class here to go to another city  for a week is no big deal.  Good to know.  I plan I making many more trips in the coming months.              Anyway, so the professor takes us on this tour around the university and telling us what all the buildings are and then we walk quite a ways to this church. He described it as "russkie baroque" although I had never heard of such a thing, but I had seen that style in Kiev, Ukraine ...

... to store so you need not be worried. In one store we were in, if you bought products that were non- food like detergent you had to pay in a separate place. In this particular instance, the non- food items were in a separate room then the rest of the stuff and there was a cashier in the room and you had to pay her. However, this is where the twist begins, there are no bags to pack things in. So you buy your non -food items and either stuff them somewhere in your purse, carry ...