Fall Break was too short for us in here in Moscow. It was cold, wet, and gloomy but we tried to make the best of it while we could.After traveling all the way across town and waiting for another coworker in a metro for 45 minutes, I finally got to go exploring with my roommate at a Children's Hands on Museum. It is something new to Moscow and it was so much fun. It was two floors and we played with everything. I was able to walk through a "fun house," play with very large bubbles, sit on a chair of nails, scream into a sound box, and explore the many different kinds of machines they had. Natalie and I played in this museum for over an hour and then decided we should make our way back to our apartment.
Just a few short days after my experience at the museum, it was Halloween. Now people here in Moscow do not go Trick or Treating and all of that Jazz but who would want to when it is 18 degrees and the snow and wind are whipping around like crazy outside. Natalie and I walked home from work on Halloween evening freezing and getting pounded in the face by snow being whipped around because the crazy amounts of wind that were happening. Later that evening, Natalie and I were in the kitchen talking and I said, "Hey Nat, do you want to go trick or treating in this weather, I'll dress up like an Eskimo and we can ask people for hot chocolate when we knock at their doors." We cracked up for a good 5 minutes after this conversation. The conversations that go on inside our four walls of our apartment crack me up and keep things going bright here in Moscow while everything else outside is so cold and gloomy.
November 1st was an exciting day for me but as well as most of the staff and our Hinkson girls soccer team. It was the day of the "Hinkson Cup" which is when the staff and moms play a soccer game verses our girls team. I was a bit nervous because I am (as most of you know) a very clumsy person, and I was about to play soccer in the freezing weather, snow, and ice. What was I thinking?? We went out and played 2 halves of 15 minutes each so only a 30 min game. The first round I slid about 4 times but was quick to jump off the ice and snow and continue playing. We held the girls 0-0 the whole first round. Pretty good considering we were the "old people." LOL The second round we were all so cold and tired that the girls team scored 1 on us in the last 5 mins. They won 1-0, but we all did a good job playing considering the weather conditions.
So after a lot of praying and emotional long hard days of trying to work through some tough situations, my boss approached me with another job opportunity and I accepted. I now work one Saturday a month monitoring the hallways at our school during the SAT test that are given. I work from about 7:45-1pm. God is definitely working in my life and providing all of my needs at the perfect time. All my praise has to go to Him!
This past week has been a busy week for everyone here as we were preparing for our Fall Festival/Rummage Sale here at our School. We had a great turn out. We had so many fun games, costumes, face painting, decorating cookies, ping pong, video games, prizes, a jail set up that you could pay tickets to have someone chased down- picked up- and dragged to jail, dress up photo booth (which I was in charge of), lots of different items on sale, delicious food, and many other things. The kids and even the parent and staff enjoyed our time together. It started about 10am and lasted until 2pm. This was definitely a huge hit for all of the kids from our school and their families. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this incredible adventure.
I also had the opportunity to go to an English Cafe that some people I work with host at our school for Russians who want to better there English language by speaking to Native speakers and each other. Last night was "Open Mic Night" and I enjoyed listening to many people sing and share their talents! We also sang some karaoke songs together as a whole, which was a lot of fun! I am glad I went and I think I will continue to go each time they host an English Cafe. The people are great. What a way to make new friends!
Now as time gets closer to Thanksgiving, we are preparing for so many different things around the school as well as the holiday weekend plans. I am excited about what is going to take place for Thanksgiving this year but still having a hard time accepting that I will not be home for the Holidays. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is where God has placed me and He has a reason and a plan for me being here!
Just a few short days after my experience at the museum, it was Halloween. Now people here in Moscow do not go Trick or Treating and all of that Jazz but who would want to when it is 18 degrees and the snow and wind are whipping around like crazy outside. Natalie and I walked home from work on Halloween evening freezing and getting pounded in the face by snow being whipped around because the crazy amounts of wind that were happening. Later that evening, Natalie and I were in the kitchen talking and I said, "Hey Nat, do you want to go trick or treating in this weather, I'll dress up like an Eskimo and we can ask people for hot chocolate when we knock at their doors." We cracked up for a good 5 minutes after this conversation. The conversations that go on inside our four walls of our apartment crack me up and keep things going bright here in Moscow while everything else outside is so cold and gloomy.
November 1st was an exciting day for me but as well as most of the staff and our Hinkson girls soccer team. It was the day of the "Hinkson Cup" which is when the staff and moms play a soccer game verses our girls team. I was a bit nervous because I am (as most of you know) a very clumsy person, and I was about to play soccer in the freezing weather, snow, and ice. What was I thinking?? We went out and played 2 halves of 15 minutes each so only a 30 min game. The first round I slid about 4 times but was quick to jump off the ice and snow and continue playing. We held the girls 0-0 the whole first round. Pretty good considering we were the "old people." LOL The second round we were all so cold and tired that the girls team scored 1 on us in the last 5 mins. They won 1-0, but we all did a good job playing considering the weather conditions.
So after a lot of praying and emotional long hard days of trying to work through some tough situations, my boss approached me with another job opportunity and I accepted. I now work one Saturday a month monitoring the hallways at our school during the SAT test that are given. I work from about 7:45-1pm. God is definitely working in my life and providing all of my needs at the perfect time. All my praise has to go to Him!
This past week has been a busy week for everyone here as we were preparing for our Fall Festival/Rummage Sale here at our School. We had a great turn out. We had so many fun games, costumes, face painting, decorating cookies, ping pong, video games, prizes, a jail set up that you could pay tickets to have someone chased down- picked up- and dragged to jail, dress up photo booth (which I was in charge of), lots of different items on sale, delicious food, and many other things. The kids and even the parent and staff enjoyed our time together. It started about 10am and lasted until 2pm. This was definitely a huge hit for all of the kids from our school and their families. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this incredible adventure.
I also had the opportunity to go to an English Cafe that some people I work with host at our school for Russians who want to better there English language by speaking to Native speakers and each other. Last night was "Open Mic Night" and I enjoyed listening to many people sing and share their talents! We also sang some karaoke songs together as a whole, which was a lot of fun! I am glad I went and I think I will continue to go each time they host an English Cafe. The people are great. What a way to make new friends!
Now as time gets closer to Thanksgiving, we are preparing for so many different things around the school as well as the holiday weekend plans. I am excited about what is going to take place for Thanksgiving this year but still having a hard time accepting that I will not be home for the Holidays. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is where God has placed me and He has a reason and a plan for me being here!
