Ups and Downs

This past week has had many ups and downs. Mushroom picking was great. I came home with a basket of false morels and made another delicious stroganoff:



It was a short week, but full of long days. I had softball two of the days and stayed to invigilate an IB exam until 6:30. On Wednesday, I had the terrible news that more of the students in my higher level class were part of the cheating that occurred when the substitute was there. In the end, the majority of the class will probably end up suspended. Future exams were taken and copied - on the photocopier no less - and distributed to most of the class. As these were the students that I had put the must blind trust in, I'm feeling especially betrayed.

However, there has been plenty of distraction on my two days off to help take my mind off of them. I went for a really long walk across the city to pick up my summer plane tickets. Into Bangkok July 1st, flying out August 8th. Perhaps a trip to Bali, Cambodia, Loas and Vietnam mixed in there.

Yesterday, May 9th, is celebrated as Victory Day, the day the Germans capitulated to the Allied Forces. Russia lost more troops than any other country, half of the total number of casualties, including those who died in the concentration camps. Moscow is home to the largest Victory Day celebrations across Europe.

I started the day with some friends. We headed out early to try and see the tanks parading down Tverskaya. We just missed them, but stuck around long enough to see them on their return. It was awe inspiring and simultaneously terrifying.

First marching soldiers (there were soldiers and police everywhere!)


Then there was an air show:




Finally the tank parade. These could have spelled disaster to any number of US cities during the cold war:


So many young men (boys) out marching or driving tanks:


And so much of my favorite, air pollution:


Following the show, I went down to Victory Park with my friend Nat. She brought carnations to give to Veterans. The whole experience there was a mixture of somber and moving to wholly inappropriate. Seeing the veterans, all quite old, or the widows walking around with their medals and arms full of flowers was incredible. But you're having to look past all the wig, angel wings and cotton candy stands.

We walked from Victory Park back to Kievskaya where we got on a boat to that my school arranged so that we could watch the fireworks from the Moscow River. That was great too. It's been a long time since I've seen fireworks. Gorgeous.

Reminder

I woke up about 10 times last night because I kept smelling smoke. No, the building is not on fire, that's just the air in Moscow. So when I think about staying a third year, someone please remind me that this is one of the reasons NOT to.

But then again, today I'm going outside of Moscow to a forest to go mushroom picking for morels. Maybe this afternoon I'll have a reminder of why I should stay a third year...

Miraculous!

Our security coordinator just brought me my camera. Now my pictures of the day can continue uninterrupted. Oh, so excited. All my classes are done for today, I'll swim this afternoon, Cinco de Mayo party at the US Embassy tonight, softball game verses the staff this afternoon, and my advisory is selling popcorn for charity during the intermission of the HS play this weekend. It's busy, but it's all good!

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb

Dumb, dumb. Argh. I had a really terrible day Wednesday. One of my students was suspended because I figured out that he cheated on his exam. Not only did he cheat, but it was so obvious that was annoying too. He didn't even have the smarts to make his answers look different from the key - that he'd taken when I had a sub and made a copy of.

So I was in a bad mood. Not angry, but so hurt and upset because this puts him on the border of expulsion. And really he's a good kid, he just feels like he's under so much pressure to succeed that he'll do anything.

Anyway, all this is in my brain as I leave at the end of the day to head to softball practice. I just had to pick up some copies off the printer in the staff lounge to submit to our copy room. So I set down my sweater and digital camera, and go submit my copies. Then I go to practice... without the sweater and camera. I actually realized in the locker room that I didn't have my sweater, but didn't go back for it, because it's so warm out. I assumed I'd had the smarts to put my camera in my bag. But no, I finally look for the camera when I get home to take the picture of the day and it's not there. So of course, yesterday when I went to look for it, the sweater is there, the camera is not. SO DUMB! Oh, so angry with myself.

Grumble.

It's all about the sun

It's really amazing how much more I am able to tolerate Moscow now that the sun has started appearing. My grade 10 students are signing up for next years classes and I think if I have them as grade 11s, then I'd want to stay a third year to see them through, but then that's a never ending cycle, isn't it?? We had parent conferences yesterday and mine went so well. Of course, the parents of students who could really use the conferences didn't come, but still. I had two parents come only to say thank you to me for the support I give their children. This really is an amazing school and I'll just say again I love my job.

Have I mentioned that I'm coaching softball? I am, the boys high school team. In three weeks we're traveling to Istanbul for our one tournament and chance to play against other schools. Anyway, it was so nice to watch the guys playing while standing in the sun. It's still pretty chilly, but today we're supposed to have a high of 57! That's not too bad at all.

So proud!

Warning, this is all me being a proud mama hen.

I use Engrade, an online gradebook, to keep all my grades. It's free, web based and super user friendly. They've just added functionality that I can post lessons or assignments without students having to log in (somehow they can remember their Facebook, etc, passwords, but not mine) - click here to see the general page of assignment calendars. And to some of these assignments, I can set it so that students can respond.

Like my Log Bonus post. Go click on it. Please! Look at the stuff my students are doing! I'm so proud. And this is from my "weakest" grade 10 class.

Resuming normal bitter self now.

Prom

Well, I didn't end up with that many pictures of myself, though I know the yearbook teacher got a few of me. It was really nice, except that there wasn't any dancing. Many of my students were there, a surprising number of sophomores.



It was at the US Ambassador's house, which is beautiful. It was a casino night theme and they brought in blackjack tables and dealers from a local casino and had poker chips made.





Here's my favorite dress, the girl designed it herself and had it made.



And one of my students won prom queen. It was quite surprising actually as she's not the most popular. She was thrilled though and I had fun photographing her along with two of her friends, also my students.

Slowly Spring Arrives

When I returned from the Canaries a week ago, it was a beautiful day. I went hiking the G, a friend of a friend. We couldn't help but be excited by all the budding trees (in Russian, they have separate word for a bud that makes leaves versus a bud that makes flowers).



The trees that are further along have produced buds that have fallen to the ground. To us it looked like a migration of caterpillars.



It was a great way to spend the day. Of course three days later it was snowing. However, the snow didn't stick and blue skies are forcing there way back in. I just went to the market and bought strawberries! Yay, with winter ending I'm finally beginning to enjoy Moscow again!

Last night I had dinner with friends two metro stops away from home. It was such a lovely night I decided to walk back. I haven't done the walk over the bridge at night before so I'd never noticed this huge Gazprom sign before. I don't know how much you hear about them in the States, but they're the largest company in Russia, third largest in the world and do lots and lots of natural gas refining.



Oh, and tonight is prom which means an exciting picture of the day.

La Gomera - Canaries 4

I was reminded that I didn't explain who I went to the Canaries with besides my sister who I always call Sarita. The whole reason I was there is because my sister had planned this trip with a friend of hers, we'll call Sahara because her name is similar but strange and Sahara is all I could think of when trying to remember it. Anyway, Sahara works for Delta and so she and her two kids fly for free and my sister got to fly for 10 cents a mile, so they decided to pick some place exotic for break. My parents donated their time share and it just so happened this planned trip fell on my spring break, so I tagged along.

Anway, on our 5th day there, we took a day trip to La Gomera, the second smallest Canary Island, and is a quick 32 km away from Tenerife. Even on a bus tour, it was stunning. I especially loved the laurel forest we got to spend an hour (not nearly enough time) in.



I wish we'd have spent our entire trip on La Gomera which is far more tropical and humid than the desert like Tenerife. It's far less touristy with only a few hotels and lots and lots of hiking.


Note El Teide (the highest point in Spain, the old volcano on Tenerife) rising through the clouds in the background.

1, 2, 3, Duck - Canaries 3

Tuesday was a great day. Well, in parts. We went to the Camel Park. By now we've learned our lesson about Parks. At least with the monkeys the kids got to pet them. The brochures showed happy camels, if there is such a thing, and people getting kissed by the camels. "Lies" the boys shouted within 10 minutes of our arrival. These camels were not happy, no petting occured and the ride, well only the boys went. They enjoyed it, but it wasn't "the coolest thing ever."



However, our drive there was lovely as was the return. The boys headed to the beach to create sand sculptures. Here they are with their volcano (it's not a pyramid!!)



Sarita and I headed off to an "aqua spa." There were 10 different stations:
1. Massage bath - a huge warm pool, chest high water with many different jets and water falls.
2. Cold Plunge - love them!
3. Hot tub - not so hot, unfortunately
4. Roman bath (wet sauna)
5. Scottish Shower, cold shower with jets all around and a Bucket Shower
6. Flotarium - super salinated water where you have to try to push your limbs under water - my favorite experience. My muscles have never felt so relaxed!
7. Turkish bath - dry sauna
8. "Relaxing" Foot and Leg Massage - walk in a half circle on small pebbles while water is sprayed onto your ankles.
9. Mineral springs mist - another half circle walk
10. Mineral oil shower - we never actually found this.

It was great! A good, laughable bonding experience for my sister and I. And really, after 1.5 hours in water, you skin is so smooth!

We returned to meet up with the boys and their mom and headed off for a great local dinner. On the walk home, I went ahead with the boys and as we were walking along the balcony towards our room, on the count of three we ducked down and hid. It was great fun. We ended the night with a game of Blokus.

Depressed Monkeys - Canaries 2

Today (Monday) we went to the "Monkey Park." I already hate zoos. Caged animals make me want to cry. Animals crowded into cages in a "park" thatsmells of feces where the animals are missing patches of fur, well these make me angry with myself knowing I've just paid to get in and am help supporting the cruelty. The things we do to get along with our family when on vacation.





I was thinking about this while waiting for my sister and the kids to finish feeding the monkeys the dried bread, cat food and sunflower seeds (all the things they get in nature right?!). I was standing near the crocodile pit thinking twirling the car key when "oops" there goes the key into the croc pit. Yep, the animal keeper had to be radioed to come jump the fence and retrieve our rental car key. Yep, that's me, Grace should be my middle name.

The Ocean Scares Me - Canaries 1

I was reading most of the flight to Tenerife (Ten-air-reef-eh) so even though I had a window seat, I hadn't been gazing out of it. However, from Moscow to Madrid I did glance up from my grading as we passed over some beautiful mountains (the Alps?). Anyways, I the flight to Tenerife I was sharing a row with a German Gymnasium (HS) math teacher. He and his wife and another couple were heading to Tenerife for their 11th time!! As we approached the island he drew my attention from my book to the view out the window to the water/island below. I immediately thought, "The ocean scares me." It's so big. how can you not help but feel insignificant when compared to its vastness. If you're swept away, that's it your a speck, a cookie crumb soon to disolve in a big glass of milk. Oh, and don't forget sharks, rip tide, and sand. I fly a lot, as we all know. I'm never afraid, except when I see nothing but ocean below.

Two days later I was up at 7. I walked along the ocean, so at peace with its sound and smell... from the safety of land, I'm in love.

Canaries

And obviously, I'm back. I've started posting pictures and I'll give you a summary tomorrow. All in all, a great trip. Some wonderful QT with my sister. On the last day we went to El Teide the highest point in Spain:

Arrested Development - The Movie

I just watched Juno which was great. I think I'm the last person on the planet who hasn't seen it, but if I'm wrong, then go watch it. Comedies about teenage pregnancy, love them. Though Saved is still my favorite. Anyway, while watching Juno I kept thinking who is that guy? I know him, what's he from? I had to run to IMDB to figure out how I knew Michael Cera... OF COURSE! Arrested Development! How could I have forgotten??? That show was great! Very funny and canceled after only 3 seasons. But it appears they're making a movie due out next year! Maybe they'll have the whole cast...

In further reading he's also staring in a film adaptation of "Youth in Revolt". I read this book when I was in high school and laughed my way through the misadventures of Nick Twisp. I wonder if I'd still like it. Hrm, maybe my library has it...

2/365

Thank you to everyone here, on facebook, via email and skype for the birthday wishes. It was a great birthday!!!


2/365
Originally uploaded by Traveling Em

Here's day 2: me trying to match the smile of my favorite birthday card. When you open it, the cats teeth are actually created with the block letters for "Happy Birthday" but in Russian. Anyhoo, I waited until I looked less hung over to take the picture, but in the spirit of true photodocumentation maybe I should have taken a photo this morning. I think this exercise will be a great reminder to always carry my camera.

I'll continue the photo a day but I won't be able to put any up for the next week because in 5 hours (at 4 a.m.) I'm being picked up and taken to the airport. Yep, I was just in Thailand, but that was work people! Seriously, even though I was in Thailand it was 24/7 with the kids. But this, this is April break. I'm flying to Tenerife, which is one of the Canary Islands where I'll be meeting my sister and one of her friends. I hope to hike, read books and play lots of Blokus. I'll catch you up in a week.

1-Hiding

1-Hiding
Originally uploaded by Traveling Em

Photo 1/365. Me hiding from all the camera flashes of the two young photographers at happy hour. To the right are the roses given to me by a student.

LOG!!

Remember this? I'm introducing logarithms and tonight's homework was answer the question, "What is a log?" I said I'm not talking about the one that's "big, heavy and wood." I was met with many blank stares, so their bonus work is to find this video!

Another year gone by

Well, I have now entered my 30th year, to steal Mickey's way of phrasing the fact that today is my 29th birthday. And as such I think I'm going to steal Minnie's 365 idea to commemorate my 30th year of existance. So I'll be taking a picture a day of myself to watch my transition of moving towards being the age that I feel. Really I feel more like I'm 32 or 33. But anyhoo, stay posted for 1/365. I'll have to wait until I get home to upload it :)

Thus far, I've been given 3 plants (yay!), homemade tiramisu even made with marscapone which I didn't even know you could find in Moscow (double yay!) and a box of Ladoo - Indian Sweets (huge YAY!). After school a crowd is heading to my favorite brewery restaurant.

Update: Add to the list 7 long stem white roses from one of my Russian students. This one means a lot because he's one of those kids that was a big trouble maker last year and I've got him in math and advisory and he's doing really well.

A few photos:

Me and the tiramisu maker:


Young Photographer:

Korean Dinner Wrap-Up

Last night 13 people came over to my apartment for dinner. I had been gifted some kimchee which was good and spicy - so spicy it made me sweat - and I made some roast pork. We had cucumber salad, green onion pancakes (my favorite!), an Indonesian potato salad, humus and pita (this was earlier before dinner), someone made me a chocolate cake (my birthday is pretty soon), carrot salad, mangos, seasoned spicy spinach. It was great. Then after dinner when there were just 7 of us, we played SET. I tried not to dominate too much, but I'm still looking for a challenger in that game. Anyone?

Here comes the sun!

"Do da do da, here comes the sun and I said, 'It's alright.'"

We've got over 12 hours of day light now and were gaining more rapidly. By 6:30 this morning the sun was up pretty high and my apartment was full of delicious sunlight. I think I'll start hating Moscow less now.

I'm off for a walk towards a purple line metro station. It'll be a nice 45 min or so walk and then I'll take the metro to my favorite rynok to buy pork tenderloin for tonight. I'm having people over for Korean dinner to share the kimchee that I got from one of my students.

But before that I'll head over to a stone fair and maybe buy some more jewelry.

It's shaping up to be a good day :)

Also, all the Thailand photos are up in a flickr collection.

Photos of our students playing with Thai students:





And photos from an orchid farm:

Thailand!!

It was so hard to come back. I really like Thailand. The people have such big smiles and are so friendly. The kids are so photogenic:



We had a great trip. It was so neat to get our students out of Russia, especially the one Russian who hadn't ever been out of Russia. It was a bit of a culture shock for them and a class/spoiled shock for me: "I'm spending the summer in Paris and my mommy's giving me a gold card for it!" "Um, Ms. S, I've never flown economy class before..." "AAAAHHHH, there's a bug in my bathtub!!!"

However, over all the kids were great. They hardly whined at all about the hot days 36+ C and about being out hiking, biking or rafting in that heat. It was really a fun trip. I ate mango, papaya and or pineapple every day. I introduced the kids to the pleasure of banana chocolate roti. Unfortunately durian was not in season. I managed to find just a bit on the last day in Chiang Mai. And I got kissed by an elephant:



When elephants kiss they suck, it feels really funny! We also went on an hour elephant ride. It's terrifying. The whole time I felt like I would tip off!



The company we worked with, the Maekok River Valley Resort was great. We had two wonderful, knowledgeable guides who were a ton of fun. I hope that I get to host the trip next year.

What's that smell???

No it's not my dirty laundry, though that was definitely ripe upon my return from Thailand. This was a strange odor in my classroom yesterday. I was teaching my grade 11 students. One of my favorites, the one who calls me at least once a week, came over and asked a question. As she walked away I noticed the smell of cigarette smoke. I've never noticed this on her before and then even after she walks away I can still smell it. I look up, sniffing the air and another student is making a sniffing face similar to mine. I say "Do you smell that?" and she says, "It smells like burning, but not like before (when a chemistry experiment went wrong)... like a cigarette." So I step into the hallway. There is a student coming from the bathroom who notices me smelling and says, "I just came from the bathroom, it's not from there." I grab my department head who smells it as well. Then a see a man standing at the top of the stairs. He's not a school employee, but has on a visitor's badge. I walk up to him and ask in Russian if he's smoking. He shakes his head no, but then I look down and see smoke coming out from his palm! WTF?! This is a school! You're not allowed to smoke on school grounds much less IN THE BUILDING! WTF people.

Stats from an ABC Australia article:

While in Russia, a very huge proportion of the population smoke. More than 70 per cent of men in the age from 20 to 30, 35 smoke. What is most important is that teenagers start smoking and among teenagers, those who are 14, 15 years of age, of the proportion of smokers, among boys is about 40, 50 per cent. And among girls about 30 per cent.

The life expectancy of a Russian man is 58 years old. Holy cow!

What do you think?

Before:


After playing around with the picnik effects:


Too much like a greeting card?

I'm off

Well, the congestion is still here but breaking up. So I'm heading off to Thailand. I can't resist the call of the fruit, papaya, mango and oh yes, the durian. Oh right and to share a world experience with a group of 13 teenagers. We're taking 10 girls and 3 boys. 1 of the boys is notorious at school for being a trouble maker. I really hope I don't have to fly him back (on his parents dime) for misbehavior.

Full trip report when I return.

Oh, and I uploaded a bunch of wedding photos I took a few years ago. Here are some of my favorites, but click on any of them to get to the set.

Can you hear me?

Yep, I'm so congested, my left ear is congested. That's what the doctor said. Gave me ear drops and everything. He also recommended that I not fly on Saturday - not really an option since I'm a chaperon - and immediately recognized my last name as being Lebanese, something that rarely happens.

Yep, it's exciting here. Back to work tomorrow for sure.

Oh, in super exciting (to me) news, one of my Korean students brought me some kimchi! yay! Of course, I wasn't at school yesterday to get it, so hopefully I'll get it tomorrow. That's sure to kill my cold right?

Sick of being sick

So I'm home sick, again. In SF, I used all my sick days, but the majority of those were "mental health" days. Here however, I've already used 4 of my sick days and all of those I've been legitimately home sick. Like today. I'm once again all congested. And I've been taking my antihistamines daily - much to my dismay. I haven't had to do that since living in Houston. This is now the 3rd time in as many months that I've been this sick. I just stopped taking antibiotics 3 weeks ago for a sinus infection. I haven't taken antibiotics since 2005!!

Add this to the list of reasons why I'll be seeking a new city to live in after my 2 year contract is up rather than adding a 3rd year, because even though I love my job, I really think living in Moscow is bad for my health. Sigh.

Grumble.

8 Mapta - Women's Day

The 8th of March is Women's Day in Russia. A day to honor women. Around long before mother's day. Most women are given small gifts and usually flowers. Two of my students brought me gifts!! A photo album and a box of chocolates! I was so shocked and honored. I really love my students - not because they bring me gifts, but because they are so thoughtful.

Anyway, I wandered around Moscow on the 8th of March to take pictures. Along my walk I stopped at a French bakery that I like and bought an 80 rubble (about $2.50) danish. I was given a flower and a small bag of confections too for women's day. They also gave one to my friend Erin who didn't even buy a pastry! We then went to the flower market at Kievskaya metro and took several shots, a few of which I like. Before I was yelled at for the third time to put the camera away. I'm not quite sure why I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures. Maybe they wanted me to be buying flowers instead. All I know is that I like my old zoom lens, a Pentax that met with a terribly unfortunate washing machine accident better than my new Sigma. Sigh.

Anyway, here are the photos (as always click to be taken to the flickr set).

Trip Round-Up - Back in the Motherland

Ok, I really need to finish these trip posts, because in less than a week, I'm off to Thailand and I'll have new memories to record.

So, our last day in Norway was the snow shoeing. This was also the only evening that we didn't have an activity that included dinner. Left to our own devices we went in search of a meal that was not bread and cheese. We found the one Chinese restaurant in town and being the only two people there, recieved great service. We had a complete vegetarian meal of soup, salad and spring roll all for the bargain price of $40... each.



Not daunted, we continued on to a local pub. Where we were harassed by drunk older Norwegians - apparently it was pay day. We were assured by one man that he was "a good man... I have a job, I'm a mechanic... I don't normally get drunk on Wednesday ... I'm a good man." And by a woman who once she found out we were American, first told us to "Piss Off" followed by a "F*ck you" and who then came and put her arms and saggy breasts around us telling us she was sorry and she doesn't actually hate Americans. However, we also met a very cool woman who must have been in her 60s. She had been in the Navy and traveled all over. In fact, she was so interesting we ordered a second round (at $12 each beer) to continue talking to her. Of course, she left 1/4 of the way through our second beer.




The next morning we had our last breakfast and headed off to the teeny, tiny aiport. Where there was a big stuffed moose. I'm not quite sure why, but here's a picture for you:



We took our very short flight into Murmansk. With the time difference (2 hours even though Kirkenes is almost directly north of Murmansk... for some reason the Norwegian government thinks all of Norway should be the same time zone...) and the hour bus ride, by the time we made it to our hotel we were hungry. We headed off to the Red Pub:



It's all red inside and the walls are covered with revolutionist posters:



Ah! Back in the Mother Land. Home of cheap vodka and beer. We immediately ordered 200 grams of vodka along with burritos (food gifts of the Mexican Revolutionaries). After the vodka, since it was so cheap we decided to order mixed drinks. Here's my cranberry margarita:



Approximately 30 seconds after that photos was shot, the entire margarita ended up in my lap. Yep, right onto the only pair of jeans I'd brought for the trip. Since it was just us and one other table (it was only around 6 pm), the entire bar staff saw it happen and they were very amused.

By 7:30 we were contemplating having an early night. However, the bar was beginning to fill with people wearing Spar Tak scarves (one of the Moscow football teams). So we decided to stay and watch the game. And if we were going to be watching football we, of course, had to order a beer. We ended up staying to midnight, talking with this guy (who may have wanted to marry me):


and some of his friends. It was when his friend the white supremest joined us, that we decided it was time to leave. So we get our coats and walk out. Followed by these two guys - who have not got their coats. They are telling us we need an escort as "People have been killed in Murmansk." "Yes," Bree and I think, "by people like you!" However, in the end Bree and I made it back to our hotel, alone, only to wake up 6 hours later for our flight to St. Petersburg.

There's not really much for me to say about our time in St. Petersburg other than:

The flight was so turbulent in a small, boat riding waves in the ocean sort of way, that the guy behind us puked... without a vomit bag.

It was rainy and grey

We only left Peter's apartment twice, once for lunch and the following morning for the bus station.

We took a bus from St. Pete to Novgorod. We were only in Novgorod for about 6 hours, but I really, really liked it. It's quite small both in population and building size. There are big, wide side walks everywhere and the people were friendly... well for Russians.

We went and saw Saint Sophia Cathedral, built in 1042 this is the oldest church in Russia!



We tried very hard to find Bree's boyfriend and his ultimate team who were in Novgorod playing frisbee (in truth hanging out with them was the whole reason we tacked Nogorog onto our trip). However, all 10 people we asked said they'd never heard of the address Dim had given us. I was amused... Bree and Dim were not. Eventually Dim came and met us at the train station. And at 9 pm, we boarded the train back to Moscow. We were lucky in that we didn't have to share our berth we anyone else!


Train Station Ceiling


Bree relaxing in our train car.

So that's the last post of the February break!