minats_zone

Hey there, I'm writing from Novosibirsk where I'm on CIU assignment. The city gave the impression of a very spacious place. With wide streets and many new business-like buildings in the centre. I live just here, at Hilton DoublreTree hotel. My visit is for two nights so I'll see more tomorrow. I'm also happy that Olia and Andy enjoy the new car. Yanochka also looks great on it. Love and hugs to all my nearest...

Hey there, This winter and March are unusually warm and snowless. Late March was very unusual too - on Friday it was cold (-10) and showy but Saturday and Sunday were  very warm and sunny, + 10-12C. Marina, Kostya and Stepka visited us on their new car. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Oryol for CIU assignment. Do not expet it'd be good, but who knows. Love and hugs to all my nearest..

Hey there, Here I am in Tbilisi on CIU assignment trip. It's only one- night- and-a-day trip and I was unable to enjoy Nanra, Sofa, Solomka, Natashka and Zurik's company for more than one evening but I liked seeing them and enjoyed Tbilisi's sun a lot. It's not green here and I was upset by the sight of some ugly buildings, erected by Saalashvili, at Avlabar. But Tbilisi is my nativ town and I felt this atmosphere, typical of the place. Hope to come here again. Love and hugs to all of my nearest...

Hey there, here I am in Murmansk, Kola Peninsula. I'm here on  CIU assignment and I looked at the city   from another angle as before I'd been here during Polar Night (some 4-5 years ago). So it was dark, but now it's very different and special. it's surrounded by mountains and this makes everything  look special. I liked the view of the city, but was disappointed at the fact that the fish (which Murmansk is famous for) can be bought in a shop with the strange name "O'KEY". Have a look at some pics. Love and hugs...

Hey there. today we've been to see Stasik and his family in their new flat in Maryino. it is only one bedroom flat on the 9th floor of a 10 storey block of flats. It is small but well done with fresh design and repairing, which Stas and Katya's brother have done. Looks good and they are happy there as it is their first place to start living independently. Klimka is a lovely smart boy who can say some words and is really funny. Katya is a good wife and Mom. Thanks God for them!

Hey there it was my B-day yesterday and I spent this day in a routine way - home classes then online coordination 4 CIU, but in the evening we had a glass  of champaign with Slava and I enjoyed my presents and online greetings (mostly Facebook ones). On the following day we got an e-mail from Olia with my Green Card attached, so it arrived exactly on Feb. 27, my B-Day. Another biggest present! Now we won't have problems with visas etc:)) I am really happy to finally get it! Hugs and love to all of you...have a look at the cropped card..

Hey there, I've been adapting to Moscow  time for quite a while as it's much more difficult than when you fly to the West. Now I'm fine and the problem is that I feel the lack of my HSE students and I really miss my classes. Now I have only FCE and PET classes at school 1359, but it's a big difference, they are kids...Anyway, I need to accept this situation:((. Meanwhile, the weather iin Moscow is absolutely warm and it feels like spring in the late March. Bye for now and remember me...

Hey there, Here I am, in Moscow and now at dacha. We arrived on Feb 8 and went straight to our Moscow flat. There we stayed for the rest of the week and then I got to dacha. The weather in unbelievably warm here,  it's +5C now. Snow is melting and it's like spring in March! The climate has changed a lot both in Russia and America, where there is draught in California and frosty and snowy winter in NYC. We haven't received Green cards yet but hope they arrive soon to Olia. No pics now as surroundings are so bleak that we only entertain ourselves by watching Olympiad in Sochi and supporting our sportspeople! Hugs and love to all of you:))

Hey there, our stay in SF has come to an end. Tomorrow we're flying back to LA and then to Moscow. Long way but we've already done it so I hope it'll go fine. Olympiad in Moscow is starting in 2 hours so it's another hotly discussed (on Twitter and in the news topic) as they keep complaining about Russian corruption in Sochi. I want to support my country anyway and will do so during the games. I climbed to San Bruno mountains yesterday and it was as usual impressive, though without rain the hills look bare and not as good as in normal conditions. Looking back to our visit, I can say that it was very warm, homely and memorable thanks to little Yanocka, Olia, Andy, Jim, Sue and other good people. Now we're looking forward to our Green cards and skype sessions with Olia and Yana. Many hugs to all my nearest and dearest:)

It was so great to enjoy symphony orchestra with Stravinsky, Sibelius and Rachmaninoff''s Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini Opus 43 at SF Symphony. The Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov coupled our pleasure playing brilliantly on the stage. He's from NNovgorod and now works on contract in the USA. There were so many elderly and disabled people there. Buses drove them to the concert hall. Great to be happy at the old age! Love and hugs to you;))

Hey there, We've just got back from Morgan hotel near Cambria, San Simeon beach with elephant seals. They are amazing, stay there for 3 months without food for mating, birthing and molting. And they stay unhurmed as people around just watch them on the beach. There are many sea gulls that eat what is left after young seals are born. So the place is really fabulous and worth visiting. Another attraction - Hearst Castle was interesting but after seals it was less impressive. Yanik behaved herself well and was really good girl both while driving and visiting places. Have a look at some pics. Love and hugs:))

Hey there. Today is probably the happiest day in my life as I witnessed my granddaughter Yana being baptized in the main SF church named after the Virgin 'All Sufferers Joy' on the Geary street. It was a really hard day for all of us, especially for little Yana and the others. We arrived at the place at 2:30pm but had to wait because the church was busy - services there and people collecting Holy water from the church, as today is the All Orthodox Christians day - Baptizing of the Christ by John Baptist in the river Jordan. So Yana's big day was exactly on this great religious holiday both in Russia and other countries. Andy's parents, Jim and Sue, arrived to take part in this occasion. Have a look at all of us in front of the church. God, please save Ioanna (Yana) and bess her life!

Hey there, here I am in SF CA. We arrived on Friday, 10 and spent 3 hours at the Immigration  office at the LA airport. There we were given a paper confirmation of our immigration status - IR-5, family reunion. After that we flew to SF and Olia met us at the airport. We first saw Yana on Jan 11 and she is great! Cute, smiling and tiny girl of 0 6 years. She is quite well-balanced a child who sleeps well and eats well too. The week before we celebrated Kliment's birthday on Jan 7. It was really nice to see Klimka, Stas, Katya and their family alltogether. They are really good and warm people. God save my nearest and dearest!!! Love and hugs to all of you:))

Our stay here is coming to an end. Though it was pretty cold and cloudy, we managed to see the historic centre, the Katakombs and even to see Traviata at the Opera House. We loved all the sights and want to come here again but in warm season. The trees will be blooming and the city will come over in a new way. Have a look at some pics here. Love and hugs to you and Happy new year ahead to all!

It was really nice and homely atmosphere at the New Year party with typically Odessa's jokes and food and people. They were mostly from Odessa and the fun they had was local and warm too. So we liked both the fun and the food, which was also local - stuffed fish, sardines, duck and salads. We made some pics there, have a look. Love and hugs to all of you:))