6 Weeks Completed

Now I have lived in Moscow for 6 weeks. The time is going by fast. I'm in my routine. I know where all the companies are located. I know what metro stations to go to. Also, the security guards at the companies know me too, so that is cool. They just let me walk in, and don't ask me tons of questions. They just say to themselves, "There's that crazy American teacher."

Even though I am in a routine now, I am still confused everyday, all day. My Russian is slowly improving. Honestly, I wish it would improve faster. I'm taking a Russian class twice a week. I also study my Russian on my own almost every night. It would be wonderful to know what people are talking about as I walk by them. Sometimes it can be frustrating not understanding simple conversation taking place around you. Many times when the people talk it is like a fast mumble of words that blend together. I listen really hard to understand. Shoot, most of the time I just try to listen for the verb so I know what action may or may not happen. I believe these feelings are the usual pains one must go through when trying to learn a second language. I'm working through it.

This is a picture of the building that I live in. My flat is the balcony with the green plastic wrapped around it. It is on the 4th floor in the middle column on balconies on the left side of the picture. I've never gone out on the balcony because it looks very unstable.

Well, it is official. I have slipped on ice and fallen down in the streets of Moscow. It was a tricky patch of ice. When I walk I am always scanning the sidewalks and streets for shiny patches. Watch out because the shiny patches are ice. However, I did not see this patch on the sidewalk because it was covered by some snow. So, I was walking to the metro station close to my flat early in the morning. It was around 7:00 in the morning. I was going to my first lesson of the day. I took a step and dropped like a lead balloon. Don't worry; I sprung back up like a puma. I immediately looked around to see if anyone saw me hit the ground. (Never mind that I could be hurt. We're talking about public humiliation here.) I was lucky because there were just two ladies walking about 30 yards behind me. I could see that they were giggling. It could have been much worse though. This sidewalk is the main sidewalk that leads to the metro station. During the afternoon and evening, this sidewalk is packed with people. I wasn't hurt, but after about 15 seconds of walking I started laughing at myself. I can only imagine how funny I looked when I hit the ground.

Some of the great food/candy I have tried since moving here:

The Big Datskee Hot Dog - Yes, that's right. They make a mean hot dog here in Moscow. They sell these all over the city in these little kiosks on the side of the street. I tell you what there is nothing like a Big Datskee Hot Dog after a night at a bar or after a cold day of walking around the streets. I'm not sure what "Datskee" means, but I think it might mean..."Hmmm good." They have the usual toppings like ketchup, mustard, and pickles. What makes them so good is the chopped up, fried onions they sprinkle on the hot dog as they remove it from the oven. It has the equivalent impact of the two pickles on the Chic-fil-a sandwich. They provide that extra push over for the edge..."when you need to go one louder...to eleven."

Chicken Shnitzel - I have eaten this dish at a couple restaurants, but there is one cafe in particular that makes it extra special. This dish is grilled chicken wrapped up with a fried egg. The Coffee Den adds cheese with the eggs to make it so delicious. Now, I am sure this dish is also made in America, but I just haven't had it before until here.

Kondeterskaya Fabrika Chocolate Bar - Wow...how do I describe this amazing chocolate bar. There are no almonds or anything like that. (There are many different kinds that do have almonds and other nuts.) It is a milk chocolate bar, but there isn't too much chocolate. I personally like chocolate to not be too heavy and rich. It is about 40% chocolate. What makes it so great is that somehow when they bake the chocolate they put tiny air bubbles all in the chocolate. What is so great about this is that when you bite into the bar it just gently breaks apart into your mouth. The chocolate isn't too strong and overwhelming, so it is just a little piece of heaven. I can't help myself. I eat one bar every two or three days. I need to eat these damn things. Ohh...what have I done? I need to go to the refrigerator and grab a bar right now and eat it.

First Month

I have completed my first month in Moscow! It doesn't seem like a month. It seems much shorter. I completed training, and now I am teaching during the weeks. I travel to companies all over Moscow to teach English to employees of the specific companies. I am getting to see many parts of the city. I am also learning my way around many places that I would otherwise never see.

(This picture is of a Russian Orthodox Church just down the street from my flat. It nice to hear the bells chime when you walk by.)

Let me describe some of my classes. Some companies have a group of students, and other companies have only one student. All of the students are cool. They want to learn English for their jobs and for traveling. I teach many different levels. Some classes are upper intermediate, and other classes are beginner intermediate. All my time during the days is spent either preparing for a lesson, traveling to the company, or teaching the lesson. Some companies are located fairly close to my flat while other companies are on the complete opposite side of the city. Usually it takes me an hour to get to a company for a lesson. Although there is one company that takes me one and a half hours. After a certain metro stop, I have to take a trolley bus to this client. That adds more time to the trip. Ohh...quick note...trolley bus drivers hate it when you do not have exact change. Hhaa...one day I didn't have twenty five rubles exactly. I think I gave him 30 rubles or something close to that. It was no big deal...five rubles change. Oh no...he didn't like that! So, I have learned my lesson. I also make sure I have twenty five rubles for the trolley bus.

I'm making good contacts by teaching at many different companies around Moscow. The companies vary from a oil/gas to railroad shipping to up-scale real estate development. It is interest to ask the students about business in general in Russia. In many ways it is the same as America, but in other ways it is different. It seems so far that they like to really know there customers or clients. Almost to the point of being friends before business partners. They get to know each other over many lunches and dinners before deciding to do business.


Now, we should talk about the weather in Moscow. Of course, it is very cold and windy. It has snowed about 3 - 4 inches over the past two days. It seems that whenever I walk outside, I am always walking against the wind. Your face and hands begin to burn after about 15 minutes. Then they get so cold that you don't even feel them anymore. The coldest it has been so far is negative 20 degrees Celsius. (That is about negative 4 degrees Fahrenheit.)

(This is a picture of a street that I walk down to get to the metro station Shabolovskaya. It is about 15 minute walk from the flat to the metro station.)

The next couple of pictures are from the flat that I am staying in. One picture is of my bedroom. Another pictures are of the kitchen and bathroom.






















The next two pictures are from the school. One is the main entrance into the central school location. The other is a picture of a classroom.



















Funny things witnessed over the past two weeks:

I saw a guy slip on some ice and fall while walking on the sidewalk along a busy street. It was so funny because I saw the big patch of ice he slipped on just as he stepped onto it. I said to myself..."oh man...that doesn't look good. He should slow down." Within 500 milliseconds after saying that to myself, this guy dropped like a bag of rocks. He fell so fast. He didn't even have time to catch himself or break the fall a little with his arms. He drove his shoulder right into the concrete. I know I shouldn't have laughed, but this guy thought he was too cool, so he wanted to walk fast. He slowly got up and walked to the side of the next building to gather his thoughts and put his pride back together. (I am bound to slip on some ice sooner or later too.)

Another funny thing that happened was that I was pushed in the back buy a tiny 4 foot 9 inch old lady on the escalator in the metro. Apparently, I was not walking up the escalator fast enough for this lady, so she pushed me in the back. I was shocked when I turned around to see this tiny old lady standing there. She looked innocent enough, but watch out! It is all fun and games until you get pushed in the back by a tiny 4 foot 9 inch old lady in the metro in Moscow.