Last English Class

Again, a highlight of my time in Moscow was English class.  We always had fun and laughs just chatting and helping these ladies work on their English.  Amazing women... I really respect and applaud their efforts to learn and speak English.  I am so not sure I could do the same!  I will miss our time together ladies.  And cherish the memories of our times together.  Farewell to all in English class in Moscow!

Sculpture Museum

I spent this morning with a tour outside the New Tretyakov gallery and just across from Gorky Park in what seems to serve as a place for 'Fallen Monuments Park' and in some areas looked like a sort of Island of Misfit Toys for statues. It's was a fantastic place to stroll on a beautiful day.  For the historian in us there is an area devoted to Soviet leaders and propaganda, for the artist and sociologist in us there's some beautiful and tragic work done during the difficult Soviet regime and for the children in us there's a wonderful area of monuments of Pinocchio and others....and right outside the park and in the backdrop of this picture you can see the large Peter the Great striding a huge ship and watching over the river and nearby park. The statue of Peter the Great, like many of the sculptures, is generally considered something of an embarrassment to Russians nowadays. But for me it became a familiar landmark and friend and always brought fun and interesting conversation.  Often rumors and stories are retold of it originally being Columbus and given to the US in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the American continent and then offered to Spain and several other countries.  But it was turned away.  Eventually the monument was reworked with Peter the Great and kept in honor of 300 years of the Russian fleet!  And who knows the truth- in Moscow it is often not what it seems!  

Spring Concerts

High School and Middle spring concerts brought much fun and familiar tunes like Puttin on the Ritz which had some choreography as well!  Clara also played a few pieces on her viola and some percussion.

And here is a nice picture of Clara's viola teacher - Galima - at their last lesson before our move.  She was really good teacher for Clara, pushing her and believing in her.  She told me over and over that Clara is really talented.  On the other hand... she was really rough, and often really fussed and fumed with Clara.  I was really proud of Clara to not loose heart under the demands and stress of a tough teacher.

Another Lucky Winner

John seem to be the lucky winner!  After given a kit to construct their own little boats they were facing off down their lane to see who could blow their creation the hardest and the fastest (without passing out!) towards the end and claiming the pride of first place!  Well done John... and a cool trophy to boot!  Do you think the skull and crossbones gave the advantage?  What fun!?!

John Lennon

John Willem dresses like the celebrity John Lennon for spirit day!  

Norway

AFASA (Armed Forces Attaché Spouse Association) coffee morning at the Norway Embassy in Moscow and with my dear friend, Irena, in her grandmother's traditional Norwegian costume.  

A very special morning!  

Happy Birthday to me

So on my birthday there was a luncheon for the US ladies that teach English at my friend Unzile's (from Turkey) house.  I told noone it was my birthday!  But somehow she found out!  She was so sweet to give me a beautiful teal green turkish scarf/ shawl.  It really brought me to tears!  She had prepared a beautiful spread of food and we also had the traditional turkish coffee and with anticipation listened to her reading of our coffee grounds.  Now mind you, she had not been at the luncheon about a week before... and so weird... but she read nearly the exact same things in my cup as Gulsum.  Although she had a few things to add like your husband will take on a lot of  responsibility and have  power.   And you will have a beautiful house.  Really she said these things!!!  Wow... and Happy Birthday to ME!
In the evening we attended a choir performance of Reuben's at a really nice venue.... which I can't remember than name of right now.  It was really special though as the choir assistant's was an accomplished violinist and her grandfather was a professional oboe player and he arranged this very nice evening!  What a neat experience!  Reuben will never forget.  But in addition... earlier in the day he got his braces off!!!  Now isn't he handsome and all grown up!!

Embassy Art Show

Yes, another day for the arts!  Clara plays her viola in a recital with the US Embassy youth along with has several pieces displayed with the art class she has attended this year on the Embassy compound!  As a result she sold her first piece!  Look for this in a later post!

To end the day Seth and I had a date to the opera, a first for both and we saw the classic Barber of Seville.   Knowing pieces of the music from Bugs Bunny we enjoyed our evening of culture together!

Cinderella

Hiroko and I at the ballet - beautiful evening and now wonderful memories!

Clara, a star or a martian?

Clara and Yuval, Caleb, and Maggie in the Martian Chronicles middle school production!!

Red Square and GYM in the Spring

What a gorgeous day to walk Red Square, take pictures of St Basil and enjoy the spring decoration in GYM.  Thanks Karin and Carolyn for getting me out of the house today!

Derby Day 2012

This Derby Day Celebration we were able to host 6 couples (Italy, Japan, UK, Lithuania, Slovenia, and India) along with Carolyn and Karin for the big race!  I hoped to have hats for all the ladies and so Jenny sent me some tulle netting and bling and Karin and I began creating.  They all loved learning and being involved in the Derby traditions of Mint Juleps and big hats!  We drew horse names and enjoyed watching the race together.  And of course finished our fun with Derby Pie and Toffee bars!

Turkish Coffee

At our monthly AFOSA (Air Force Officer Spouse Association) luncheon we met this time at the Turkish Attaché's apartment at the Turkish Embassy.  She had a lovely spread but her activity for the afternoon was to demonstrate making of Turkish coffee.  It was a very fun experience and got even more interesting when others began the reading of the coffee grounds.  Once you finish drinking turkish coffee there is a sludge of grounds at the bottom of your cup.  It is "tradition" to turn your cup over and let the grounds fall out. Then you turn your cup back over and the pattern that if left is "read" to tell something about you... maybe tell about your future.  My cup said things like I would "going on a long trip in an airplane"..."moving far away, lots of baggage"... and there was something about "horses" in the future!  All eerily quite true to be a part of my future right now!!

can you see the horse in the center of the picture below?

My dear friend Wendy and I danced with Turkish coins jiggling around our waists! What a fun afternoon!  Thanks so much Gulsum!  I hope to see you one day in Turkey!  

Korean Ballet

When you visit a city like Moscow your tour is not complete without heading to the ballet.  So I took Carolyn and Karin with my friend Wendy to my favorite theatre "The Stan and Dan" to see a dance company visiting from Korea.  I can't remember the name of the ballet right now... but it was really lovely!

Painting Matroshka Doll Tour

WE love company... give me an excuse to find tours, and new ways of experiencing the city!  For Grammy and Aunt Karin's visit I set up a Matroshka Doll tour where we went to the factory in Sergiyev Posad and after the doll tour we enjoyed touring the local monastery and cathedrals as well.  

Watching the doll be cut and drilled on the lathe.  It was incredible how fast he was able to make 3 small dolls and quite amazing how uniform in size they were! Below... yes this is the little "factory"where the dolls are made.

We all had an opportunity to paint a doll our selves.  Above my friend Jenny McCoy with Clara.  Below all our treasured artwork!  Boy did we all learn to appreciate the work and difficulty by which these little dolls come to be!

I never tire of the beautiful onion domes in all their glory.  

Clara had the camera and captured some really nice shots of the light inside.  

Looked like the Holy Spirit was just hanging out above us!  

On our way out Clara made friends with the pigeons... and she didn't even any food really.  

What a beautiful young lady she is!!