April is Spring, right?

It seems especially dark in here today.  When I get back to the states, in order to use the internet, I'm going to have to turn off all the lights, and play the soundtrack that is always playing here, or it won't feel right.

Today, we had visitors from Westpoint in our history class.  They're here to do an inspection of some sort because two of the guys on the program are from Westpoint.  They didn't say much, but how much is there to say about Stalin?  He had a very nice mustache?  ;)

30.March

Tatiana pulled out a stone and started cracking nuts open with it.  I suppose the nutcracker is one of the few luxuries yet to be invented in Russia.  Let’s add it to the list with the Ziploc bag, and the street drainage system.  I'm still unsure what kind of nut a фундук is in English.  Thus, we started to discuss them.

M: What kind of tree do фундуки grow on?

Т: A nut tree.

М: HAHAHA.  Of course they do…

Next, Tatiana dragged a bag of stones in from the balcony, that she apparently brought home from the sea.  She proceded to stand on them and look up at the light as if it were the sun.  I joined in by making sea noises.  It was very peaceful.  For just a moment, she was transported back to Sochi. 

We laid on the floor in the main room with all of the stones sprawled out before us for almost an hour.  It’s incredible how much each stone differs.  Some are smooth, or rough, or green, or black.  Some have stripes.  Some are round.  Each is an individual.  A beautiful individual whose appearance makes sense.  I rolled some of the stones around in my palms.  So calming.  So beautiful. 

Tatiana asked me if I’d ever seen a shark.  I told her I grew up in Delaware and that it’s a coastal state, so I went to the beach every summer.  She was jealous.  She told me to tell the next shark I saw that she said hi.  Now I miss the beach L

Saturday was quite the day.  The morning started off with a lovely all girls excursion to the banya.  We rented out our own room, ate food, sweated, beat one another with branches, and relaxed in the little pool.  Yay for naked girl bonding time!  I’m sure we’ll be back soon!  After banya, I went home to Tatiana’s birthday party.  It’s crazy how much they can drink.  After every toast (there were eight, one of which I proposed of course), Tatiana took a shot of vodka. She certainly can hold her liquor, which actually surprised me, because she never drinks when it’s not a holiday.  I’d never been to a Russian birthday before, and I’m glad I can say that I have now.  It was interesting talking to her Dad and her brother-in-law.  I don’t have much exposure to the older generations of Russian men.  Sergei, the brother-in-law, was hilarious.  He sang happy birthday in English, and told me that if I don’t start eating mayonnaise, then I can’t stay in Russia because Russian girls eat mayo.  I insisted I didn’t need to because I’m an American girl, but he refused to conceded, telling me that if I stay here much longer I will be a Russian girl, and Russian girls eat mayo. Below is a pic of (almost) everyone sitting around the table during the party.  There was so much food!