This week contained so many random happenings that I just have to share them. Here goes.
Saying Goodbye Suck
That's right. It's no fun to say goodbye to people you've been working with and having a great time with. On Thursday, Lindsey left to go back to America. I met her when I was here this summer and came back just in time to hang out with her for another month and a half. She's now back in Iowa getting ready to go to school for a bit. I'm so thankful that God brought us together this summer and fall- she's been so fun to be with, wise to talk to, and encouraging. I'm praying that the Lord will bring another awesome follower of him like Lindsey to hang out with and be mutually encouraging. Before Lindsey left, a few friends got together at Top Sandwich and made her a fry cake for her birthday. Needless to say, it was probably the best cake ever made and she loved it (or at least pretended to!).
That's right. It's no fun to say goodbye to people you've been working with and having a great time with. On Thursday, Lindsey left to go back to America. I met her when I was here this summer and came back just in time to hang out with her for another month and a half. She's now back in Iowa getting ready to go to school for a bit. I'm so thankful that God brought us together this summer and fall- she's been so fun to be with, wise to talk to, and encouraging. I'm praying that the Lord will bring another awesome follower of him like Lindsey to hang out with and be mutually encouraging. Before Lindsey left, a few friends got together at Top Sandwich and made her a fry cake for her birthday. Needless to say, it was probably the best cake ever made and she loved it (or at least pretended to!).
Worship Night
On Friday, we had a worship night at the church. It was great. I love singing in English and Russian!! Kind of makes me think of what Heaven will be like (see Revelation 5, 7:9). We sang this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4ccyUztz4M (Hillsong: You Are Stronger- I guess it's only available with random paintings of Anglo-Saxon Jesus... we sang it without them btw). Anyways, a great time was had by all.
On Friday, we had a worship night at the church. It was great. I love singing in English and Russian!! Kind of makes me think of what Heaven will be like (see Revelation 5, 7:9). We sang this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4ccyUztz4M (Hillsong: You Are Stronger- I guess it's only available with random paintings of Anglo-Saxon Jesus... we sang it without them btw). Anyways, a great time was had by all.
SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!!
As the title suggests, this week there was snow. I walked to my Russian tutor's house for lessons on Monday afternoon and quarter-sized flakes were falling (and sticking), and when I walked back after my lesson an hour or so later, there was a solid 3 inches of snow on the ground. It was beautiful. Apparently it doesn't normally snow this early in the year- normally it snows after New Years and in January/February. However, this year has been especially cold (it was -7 C during the day today with a wind chill that made it feel at least 10 degrees colder), but thankfully, next week it's supposed to warm up a bit (into the 30's during the day).
As the title suggests, this week there was snow. I walked to my Russian tutor's house for lessons on Monday afternoon and quarter-sized flakes were falling (and sticking), and when I walked back after my lesson an hour or so later, there was a solid 3 inches of snow on the ground. It was beautiful. Apparently it doesn't normally snow this early in the year- normally it snows after New Years and in January/February. However, this year has been especially cold (it was -7 C during the day today with a wind chill that made it feel at least 10 degrees colder), but thankfully, next week it's supposed to warm up a bit (into the 30's during the day).
The Roller Coaster of Success
I've found that my success in Russian is on a solid every-other basis. On Friday, it was awesome. I understood EVERY WORD Tatiyana (my tutor) was saying. Every word. Not just the general jist of what she was saying- EVERY WORD. This has not happened since I met her this summer. It was a moment of victory (that included crab chips, of course- the only food worthy to be eaten in moments of sheer victory). This was a win for me, and a win for Amurica. Now normally I don't keep score (Ukraine: 500,000,000,000,000; Amanda: 4), but when I have a fleeting moment of victory, I like to chalk it up for a win for democracy, freedom, liberty, and the American way. In moments like these, one song runs through my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkINTeCeUw (but in my version the blue angels fly overhead, like in the Superbowl). This was my Friday.
Monday was a different story. It was horrible. Like, I can barely remember the word for blue, horrible. BAD. But on Tuesday, it was great again. On the current trajectory, I'm due for a horrible lesson on Friday.
I've found that my success in Russian is on a solid every-other basis. On Friday, it was awesome. I understood EVERY WORD Tatiyana (my tutor) was saying. Every word. Not just the general jist of what she was saying- EVERY WORD. This has not happened since I met her this summer. It was a moment of victory (that included crab chips, of course- the only food worthy to be eaten in moments of sheer victory). This was a win for me, and a win for Amurica. Now normally I don't keep score (Ukraine: 500,000,000,000,000; Amanda: 4), but when I have a fleeting moment of victory, I like to chalk it up for a win for democracy, freedom, liberty, and the American way. In moments like these, one song runs through my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkINTeCeUw (but in my version the blue angels fly overhead, like in the Superbowl). This was my Friday.
Monday was a different story. It was horrible. Like, I can barely remember the word for blue, horrible. BAD. But on Tuesday, it was great again. On the current trajectory, I'm due for a horrible lesson on Friday.
Never Give Apples to Kindergartners
Don't do it. Ever. Even if you want to teach them simple possession ("I have") and articles ("an apple"). They will destroy it, and if it is your breakfast, you will be sad. It all sounded like such a great idea to put it in a plastic bag (or two or three) and then pass it, until curiosity got the best of the little rugrats who HAD to see what was in the CLEAR.... COLOR-LESS PLASTIC.... SEE-THROUGH.... COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT bag. Breakfast ruined- check.
First, they will blow their noses on their hands and touch the apple, then sneeze, cough, and maybe spit on it before passing it to the next person to say "I have an apple". Then little Elias (a.k.a. child from Hades who doesn't know the meaning of "sit down" in English OR Russian) has to chuck the apple. Really, man? Really? You have an apple and just expressed this idea correctly in English like the 8 other kids before you who ROLLED it to each other on the floor, and you have the obviously BRILLIANT idea to just throw it at a girl who can't catch for beans. Since it worked SO WELL the first time you did it, it's probably a good idea to throw it even HARDER the next 4 times you do it. Great. That's what gets you kicked out of my English class in kindergarten- hitting, pulling hair, pants-ing, screaming, and throwing fruit.
Now you have a bruised, mushy, dripping juice, coughed/sneezed/snotted-on apple that has also been licked by a 4 year old who thought the point of the game was to put it in his mouth... lesson learned: Never, I repeat, NEVER give apples to kindergartners. Ever.
Don't do it. Ever. Even if you want to teach them simple possession ("I have") and articles ("an apple"). They will destroy it, and if it is your breakfast, you will be sad. It all sounded like such a great idea to put it in a plastic bag (or two or three) and then pass it, until curiosity got the best of the little rugrats who HAD to see what was in the CLEAR.... COLOR-LESS PLASTIC.... SEE-THROUGH.... COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT bag. Breakfast ruined- check.
First, they will blow their noses on their hands and touch the apple, then sneeze, cough, and maybe spit on it before passing it to the next person to say "I have an apple". Then little Elias (a.k.a. child from Hades who doesn't know the meaning of "sit down" in English OR Russian) has to chuck the apple. Really, man? Really? You have an apple and just expressed this idea correctly in English like the 8 other kids before you who ROLLED it to each other on the floor, and you have the obviously BRILLIANT idea to just throw it at a girl who can't catch for beans. Since it worked SO WELL the first time you did it, it's probably a good idea to throw it even HARDER the next 4 times you do it. Great. That's what gets you kicked out of my English class in kindergarten- hitting, pulling hair, pants-ing, screaming, and throwing fruit.
Now you have a bruised, mushy, dripping juice, coughed/sneezed/snotted-on apple that has also been licked by a 4 year old who thought the point of the game was to put it in his mouth... lesson learned: Never, I repeat, NEVER give apples to kindergartners. Ever.