Monday, October 25, 2010

Anyone Listening?

Living in Moscow for over a year and a half, we've gotten used to the idea that most people around us don't understand us.  We absolutely don't accept this as a universal rule and are pretty careful, but we're not as concerned as we probably would be in the States.

This past weekend Beth and I were meeting someone for lunch and sightseeing.  Because Liam was up most of the night before, we were running on very little sleep, and had no time to grab breakfast before the meeting.  So naturally we were more argumentative (honestly, I get upset when my anger is blamed on "being hungry" for being too simplistic.  But it's usually always true.  Am I that predictable??).  It all led to the silent treatment as we took the metro to meet our friend.

There we found a seat next to a pleasant-looking girl and waited.  It took a couple minutes, but we began talking.  We apologized to each other, but also explained what got us so irritated in the first place (I will always defy the fact that it's just mere hunger).  We were going on and on in a "This is what you said and this is how it made me feel" therapy session/venting for about 5 minutes or so until the girl beside us turns around and says "Excuse me, where are you from?"

She spoke English. 

For a split second Beth and I froze.  This girl, right beside us, speaks English.  And she probably heard everything we were talking about.

Fortunately for us, she acted like she didn't.  It turns out she (her name is Anna) is a Muscovite and visited Los Angeles and New York during the summer.  She studies English in the Moscow State University of Linguistics.  We had a good conversation and actually exchanged contact information. 

All I know is that now I'm cursed to be extra doting to Beth whenever Anna's around.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

It Was Just a Routine Traffic Stop in Russia

Until.....

(wait for it)

Our (very brief) Autumn

This year we have really tried to treasure the Fall season.

In Moscow, it doesn't last very long.  A month.  If that.

This past weekend we grabbed our friend Andrea and hurried to the center of Moscow as fast as we could.  We made it in time to get some pictures at a nearby garden and Red Square.

















It's already begun snowing in Moscow (although only in brief moments, here and there and then gone), and the temperature has been hovering in the 30s and 40s.  There are many things I'm going to miss about the Summer (other than the insane heat and smoke).   I'm going to miss the walks through overcrowded parks, with nearly every Muscovite trying to take advantage of the incredible weather.  I'm going to miss the produce stands on every street corner and in every neighborhood (I think for the entire Summer our dessert was simply strawberries and vanilla ice cream). 

Not to sound pathetic, but I'm going to miss the sun.  I'm going to miss the get-togethers that involve simply walking around the city for hours. 

While I am actually looking forward to snow and Winter, there is nothing like a Summer in Moscow.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Learning How to Make Borsch

On Saturday, Beth and I were picked up by our friends Andrew and Ira, and taken to Andrew's childhood home to meet his mother.  There his mother taught us how to make delicious Russian food.

Andrew drove us outside of Moscow to his hometown of 60,000 residents.  It was close to Moscow, but just far enough away that everything felt so much more calm and peaceful.  When we arrived, we only expected Andrew's mother to teach us how to make borsch-- but she had prepared an entire feast!




Olivie Salad (Mayo, carrots, peas, ham, boiled eggs, cucumbers, etc.)

Fish and beet salad



All of the food was incredible, and we look forward to making some of these dishes soon.