minats_zone

Hi, there. Our return trip to Moscow from Hanoi was rather tiring as we had to stay at the airport for another 7 hours, for the reason that they checked technical conditions of the aircrafr. I think it took place because just a few days before the Spanish aircraft collapsed in Madrid killing 153 people. So we hanged around the airport, had our lunch then boarded the plane. After that some 9 hours of flight to Moscow (thanks God it was smooth and unadventurous). We, finally, got home at 2am Moscow time. So the whole journey took us some 15 hours. Next day was nothing easy either as we were struggling not to get to sleep. But the following days went as usual. I was at RSSU to collect my job register but they tried to persuade me to go on working for them at non-linguistic faculties with the groups of beginners or something accounting for 20-25 students in each group. I rejected this offer as it's not my cup of tea. So, tomorrow I'll resume my attempts there. On my way home, I mad...

So our visit is coming to an end. It's a great pity as there is some touch of freshness and magic in Vietnam. This country is really very different and the difference is in people. Surely, I don't know so many of them, but from what I can see and feel here, I must admit that it's the people who make the difference. Vietnam is developing so quickly, that we, who belong to, perhaps, more 'civilized' but less hard working nations, can only ask: "How do these tiny people manage to do so much and so quickly?" Especially women who are so friendly, good-looking as well as strong at the same time. Well, of course, there are some people sleeping on the banches in the streets and parks, but they are, probably, rural people unable to find a job in a big city. Anyway, Vietnam doesn't give the impression of a 3d world country. On the contrary, it's a fast growing community of quick minded and hard working people. Well, Stanislav was doing his business here, whi...

Oh, I must say time is really flying here. We're leaving for Hanoi tomorrow and tonight I'm sending the last post from this splendid but a bit weird place - Long Hai (a tiny village near our hotel). The thing is that here I really first realized what the tropical climate is like: sudden downpours, sunny spells, thick fogs, starless nights and the last but not least - sand bugs, Yes, they are microscopic, living on sand and flying only to eat human body ( I've been eaten all over while lying on the beach with a book). Now my body is spotted and no ointment helps to stop itching. I had no such problems during my previous visits so I guess the very southern part of Vietnam is not really good for me. Strange as it may seem, but Stanislav doesn't have any problems and seems to be really unwilling to get back to work in Hanoi, Well, now a few words about fun - today we've been to a place called Binh Chau "Hot Springs & Mud Baths". It's different from N...

I could never expect to have something like this in Vietnam. Actually, the day we spent in Vung Tau, the nearest civilized town on the seashore, proved to be absolutely unusual. On that day our friends from Saigon (in fact they are Stanislav’s connections: his student Anh, her Mom - Ms. Lok, the director of an academic research institution, and her Dad - Mr. Tuan, an Vietnam Petro senior officer) invited us to have a look around Vung Tau. We were delighted and decided to set off at 9am.We were driven around the town and had 2 stops, both of which proved to be like a piligrimage. The first sight was a huge statue of the Jesus Christ on the top of a hill, overlooking the bay. It was erected after Vietnam – French war having resulted in Vietnamese decolonization. The statue looks really grand with the Christ welcoming all sailors approaching the bay. I haven’t been to Brazil, where there is a similar figure, but what I saw here, in Vietnam, looks exceptionally beautiful. There is a mus...

Well, it took me some days to adapt to the new place in Vietnam and make some shots to post to the blog. But firstly, I'd like to tell you about the area of Vietnam we're staying in. It's exactly the closest to Ho Chi Min (Saigon)seashore spot. It took us some 3,5 hours to get here by car from Saigon; the Stanislav's colleagues met us at the airport and drove us here. We even used a ferry boat on our way to cross a river. But it was a really quick transfer as everything was well organized. Then we drove through absolutely rural areas, the weather was quite dull and I even got a bit disappointed. But when we eventually arrived at the hotel "Anoasis", I found it really lovely with a breathtaking view over the ocean from the hill where the hotel is situated. Next pleasant surprise was to find that the hotel was almost uninhabitable:only 8-10 families lived there. The people were mostly French and Italian. Though the hotel area is pretty large, there are only a fe...

Well, I've not written for my blog for a while. Actually, I was busy looking for a job, making phone calls and trying to find out about some job opportunities. The point is that my contract with RSSU expires on August 27th. So, I either have to apply for my position again or go away. I decided to do the latter as a new head of the department appointed in March 2008 doesn't seem to be willing to have me as I a teacher. I even was referred to as 'unmanageable'as I sometimes go on business trips for Cambridge ESOL. I already have some ideas about a new job, but it'll be clearer only by the late August when everybody comes back from holiday. I have some regrets about having to leave RSSU as I've been working for it for 6 years already (since 2002). But life is life and I can't be as good as gold to everyone from new administration. Anyway, I don't want to stop examining for the sake of staying at RSSU. Well, now a bit of some good news. We're flying to o...

Dear all. Today is a big day in my life as it's my daughter's Angel Day. Though she was born on July 31st, we decided to give her the name Olga as the nearest Saint born in July was Saint Olga and her day is on 24th July. So my daughter is supposed to be like this great woman, the grandmother of Saint Vladimir who baptized Kievskaya Rus in 10th century. It was the beginning of Christianity in Rus. Here is some information just to remind us about Olga and that time in Rus: "Holy Olga was the first sparkling star on the dark pagan horizon of ancient Russia". The Russian Princess Olga was baptized by the Patriarch himself and the Byzantine Emperor became her Godfather.This left mark on Olga's face. Her spiritual beauty was glowing from within as if Olga were an angel. Even today in remote Russian monasteries and in the crowded towns an observer can catch glimpses of such holy Russian faces. Saint Olga never dared to baptize her grandson Vladimir. But her wise instr...

Dear all. It was a really busy time in my life as within one week I had so many events one by one. First, I had my aunt Irina and my daughter Olga together in my small flat visiting on the occasion of our Dad's 55th anniversary. The occasion itself took place on July 3d in a small cafe called "Gusar" not far from "Kakhovskaya" metro station. The cafe belongs to Stanislav's friend from Dagestan, Aldemir, and, as you can imagine, everything was perfectly organized with exclusive manu (Georgean and European food) as well as professional girls-dancers. They performed every 5-10 minutes and were so gorgeous and amazing that even the oldest among our guests (people over 70) could not help dancing and enjoying themselves as kids. I was really happy as I could see my family reunion: daughters - Marina and Olga, grandson - Stas, he's 16, and my dearest and nearest husband Stanislav altogether. He was, definitely, the highlight of the day, but the girls- dancers o...