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Showing posts from September, 2009

Slava

Who is Slava? The father of our Russian family is called Slava.   Slava works hard.   He works most days at a men’s clothing retailer and often works 24-hr shifts at the American Christian school as a security guard.   We really haven’t been able to figure out when he sleeps.   When he’s home he is kind, fun, and always smiling.   Usually he arrives hungry sometime after everyone else has already had dinner.   When the kids are doing their homework in the other room, I’ll often sit with Slava in the kitchen drinking tea, eating an omelet, and listening to him tell stories.   Where’s he from? Before moving to Moscow, Slava and Sveta lived in Baku, Azerbaijan.   They have fond memories of warm weather, watermelon, friendly neighbors, and trips to the sea.   Slava served in the Soviet army before the fall of communism.   He was trained as a radio operator and was about to be sent to the war in Afghanistan when the government began unraveling.   He moved to Moscow and joined a friend

Michael Jackson Sighting!

Just outside the American Embassy, the Russian people have constructed their own memorial to the man, the myth, the legend, Michael Jackson. If you're in the area, bring some flowers, a picture, or your own poem to commemorate "the man in the mirror." Michael Jackson, From Russia with love... -rkc

Home Stay

It's been a while since we've had the opportunity to check in...  While in the midst of several conferences both on our old and new sides of the ocean, as well as settling in with a Russian family with whom we'll be living for the next 6 weeks, we've been quite busy!  We've enjoyed getting acquainted with our new family:  Slava (the Dad,) Sveta (the Mom,) and their kids Yan (11 year old boy,) and Dasha (9 year old girl.)  But we've certainly missed access to more consistent connection with many of you back home.  We are a bit unreachable at present, with no internet access at home, but hope to check in weekly with short updates about our adventures and misadventures settling in. First, I thought you might like to see our new place.  It's a two room apartment in the north-east corner of the city, about a 15 minute walk to the closest metro.  It's located in a very nice area, with a park and beautiful Orthodox church just across the street, and lots of tre