minats_zone

Yesterday it was the 'Black Monday' - March 29th, the worst day in my memory. I really had bad dreams about sth terrible the night before the day. Two big explosions broke out on Moscow subway at 7am at 'Lubianka' station and shortly after that at ' Park Kultury' station killing 39 people and about 90 seriously injured and now in hospitals. It was done by Muslim women terrorists ('Shakhids') who blew up themselves in vagons. Mostly young and Slavik people died. The plot was executed long before the Black Day. Our Militsia/Police was helpless, us usual. All this happened on my subway line - a red one and when I tried to go to HSE at 15pm, all passengers were made to leave the train at 'Komsomolskaya' and after that I had to walk for 40 min to reach the place as all taxis charged very high prices taking advantage of this horrible situation. No compassion to other people whatsoever, really sad... This Black Monday was the following day after our Ort...

Hey there, Just got back from Saratov where I examined FCE with Margarita Tulnova from Volgograd. All was fine there as it's not my first time there and I know the people - Anna and Liza. They are really nice and friendly as well as very hospitable. This time it was not easy to move around the city as the whole of it is still covered in huge snowdrifts and many roads are simply blocked. It's even worse than in Moscow where the roads are cleaned at night and driving is possible. But in Saratov it's much harder, indeed. Well, the exhibition of Mark Shagal - "Biblik stories" was the highlight of my visit. It was accompanied by a young girl as a guide who proved to be both very knowlegeable and a beauty. Have a look at some shots are made there...

Hey there, Today I got back home at 10pm as my favourite group at school 1359 are sitting FCE on 13,14 March. They are very nervous and so am I. Let's keep our fingers crossed for them as they are really very bright and friendly Ss, who set goals in life and try their best to achieve them, I've been teaching them for over one year already, but I'll certainly miss them just because of their good personal qualities. It is really so rare nowadays... There are also some pixs on the last performance at the Central Railway Station- Workers' Concert Hall. It was fabulous as it has been repaired recently as well as the theatrical group is really very strong...

Hey there, It was my B-Day yesterday. Really, it was not an easy day for me at all. God knows how I survived and managed to get over it. We drove there in Stanislaw's car with Georgy as a chauffeur. It took us 2,5 hours through the traffic jams! Awful! And not only this, psychologically it was really hard for me, though I invited only close friends, Marina and Kostya. Well, now it's already over... Have a look at some shots I made there. There was Russian striptease show in the background. Girls were very prefessional...I published an album on Facebook,too.

Hey, there, I've just got back from Nizhny Novgorod, which is on the Volga and Oka rivers. I went there for a day (a flying visit) as I took part in the HSE conference there. I've been in NN several times before, but this time I was in mid February so it was pretty cold and snowy there. The city is beautifully located and has a splendid embankment along the Volga. It was early in the morning (7.30 am)when I took a walk there and it was almost empty. There was one jogger there and me. Another very pleasant surprise was the trains: they have become really modern and comfortable with flashy bio-toilets and smiling conductors. Sth really good to perlace our previous rough trains!!! Love and smiles from me to all of you...

Hey there, Bitterly cold weather at the beginning of February gave the way to windy and harsh days on the Eve of Easter fasting (Easter - April 4th this year). But now we're enjoying the so called 'Maslennitsa' or a 'Pancake Week', which ends up tomorrow. We've been eating pancakes the whole week with various fillings. Today I've made some shots of'Russian Sledges' with kids and also Stanislaw's cooking some fancy cake stuffed with ground meat and potatoes puree.All this is covered with the thick coat of cheese. God knows how he manages all those recipes??? Real Talent!!!

Hi everyone, I decided to post this update right now after walking around our dacha and thinking hard over John's set of pictures in a slideshow that I got yesterday. Those slides show mostly dark sides of our Russian life; people drinking, kids taking this example, messy situations etc. It was a kind of promotion of a very negative image of Russia. Surely, some aspects of life here can be really rough, ecpesially for those who are seeking only them. But generally, I wouldn't agree with the message of those slides as in any country one can find sth reflecting only dark sides. So today, on this bright and sunny day (-20C) I've made some funny shots which show other features of 'Russian Character'- extremely odd for foreigners behaviour (those people are not drunk) and love for sth else except drinking. Anyway, Jon, thanks a lot for the slides and keep sending sth like that. It gives food for thoughts. Have a look...

Hi there, Have a look at some photos of our 7 month old Stephan. The shots are of poor quality as Kostya used his mobile and sent them to me. But you can clearly see how he has grown up. Probably Granny feeds Stepka very well as he seems to be quite a big baby. Love and take care...

Hi there, A week already passed since we got back from the warmth of Vietnam to freezing cold Moscow with temperatures unusually low -15-25C below Zero. On the other hand, this winter in Moscow is very sunshiny, too. This is something I really enjoy, especially when outside Moscow. Another good news is that Kostya eventually found a job as a lorry driver with a shoe-making company. It makes and distributes very popular winter style shoes called 'Proschai Molodost' all over Russia . His salary is not high yet, but after so much time out of work it's better than nothing. He has to drive his truck to Murom, Smolensk and other cities. Marina resumed her classes at school. We haven't seen little Stephan for a long time but they promised to take some new photos so I'll post them later. After the holiday, I have a lot of work to catch up with so sending my love to all of you and getting back to my routine...

Ha Noi met us with grey skies and drizzle. It's only +14 here. Tomorrow we are leaving for Moscow. Big 'Thanks' to Vietnam and all of you for remembering us. Much love, as usual. Спасибо Отправить эту открытку Разместить в блоге/на сайте   Открытка предоставлена: SonyaKa

Hello everbody, Christmas is in Russia and everywhere in the world where Russians live. Merry Christmas to all of you!!! I wish I could hear church bells aroud but here I am, in Vietnam. However, Olia was at the church service in SF and is going to do it again. She will pray for all of us on these days. God, bless her and all of us scattered around the world... Well, the last days in Vinpearl were very memorable as we spent them at the Hot Mud Bath Park in Nha Trang, where I met John and Honey, soaking in the next tub. Surely, the place has become even more comfortable and attractive. Massage and hot mineral baths made us feel totally relaxed. Stanislaw even got some sleep, but not me. Sadly, but we had to say 'Good Bye' to Vinpearl and Nha Trang. Hope to come there again... Love and CHRISTMAS greetings to you...