curlsicles are amusing

Remember, it's a good thing when I don't update this for a couple of days, because it probably means I actually found something else to occupy myself with. (Either that or the internet broke, or my computer crashed, or I froze to death.) But at the moment it's more the "I actually have kind of a bit of a life," emphasis on the "kind of" and "bit."

Thermal Physics! He lectures slowly due to the language barrier, but the class seems to be going somewhere. We meet two or three times a week for about two hours each time. I really need to get my hands on a copy of that Thermal Physics book, though, which is currently Irina's mission, though she has about 20 million other logistical concerns to sort out at present, so we shall see.

Russian Language! It's fantastic to have a course teaching a language that I enjoy learning and that is practical and useful. I actually chatted with the lady on the 9th floor when Laura and I went on a mission to do her laundry. (Okay, so "chatted with" may be a stretch, but work with me.) I don't mind having a lot of work in that class because it's interesting and applicable and even fun.

Other stuff! ...doesn't exist. Well, techically I'm in Russian Studies Seminar, but more than anything that's a good way to see the entire group once a week. All told, there are about 15 of us. Four are not living in the dorm, and four actually speak Russian. (There's an overlap of three there in case you're wondering.) I'm also in Politology, but that's only met once, and it's a course I'm not overly enthusiastic about. But compared to what I've heard about some professors not speaking comprehensible English, I figure I've got it pretty good. That, and all my classes are actually happening. I may be the only one for whom that is the case.

Research, on the other hand, is not happening yet. Apparently the guy that the other guy who I met with was going to talk to over at the Space Institute is in Germany. I feel kinda like I'm trying to dial an 800 number and am on terminal hold. But hopefully, sometime before May, knock on wood etc., I'll be able to at least *visit* the Space Institute, and ideally get some kind of research position there. Stay tuned on that front.

Orchestra is also not happening yet. I saw a poster advertising the MSU Chamber Orchestra at the main building the other day and asked Dima (speaks Russian and lives in the dorms) if he could call the number and see if they want a violist. So far he's been told to call back later...four times. Irina says there's another connection she has with someone who could get me in some kind of musical group, but who wants to bet that'll happen anytime this month? I figure the most extreme scenario is I find myself playing in TWO groups, which would frankly be amazing. I just want to have some group to play viola in, because it dawned on me the other day that I haven't *really* played in two months!! Not okay.

As to the living situation, rumor has it we're going to be moving from this dorm (kind of far from the university) the the university main building. Slight detail...our admission cards for this dorm expire tomorrow. I think everyone's ignoring that fact. There's about another ton of paperwork to be done before we can move, and it's still not completely certain that we WILL move, though it seems to be more and more likely. Only thing is, the longer I stay here the more annoying it will be when Irina announces "okay everyone pack up, we're moving tomorrow!" I've accumulated some stuff (lamp, hot pot, food, textbooks) that will make moving a bit of a pain. But for now, and as always, one day at a time.

Also, it is COLD. Seriously. Today's high was 4F (don't think it quite made it), and tomorrow's forecast is "bitterly cold...dangerous wind chills as low as -25F." Fantastic. Meantime, Claremont, CA has a "severe weather warning" along the lines of "it might rain." ......

I do have some good news, though - Mike is going to try to visit me! It'll probably be in April as part of a trip to visit friends and family in the Netherlands and Ukraine. Details forthcoming. And of course all of this depends on him managing to get plane tickets and a visa, etc.

Among minor accomplishments: I FOUND SALAD IN A BAG!! As well as little balls of fresh mozzarella cheese. So Russia may not believe in corn chips or refried beans, but I'm doing pretty well as far as food is concerned. In my perfect world I'd eat out a bit more, but most other people in the program want to save money and that means just occasional trips to the grocery store. Along the lines of Russian cuisine, I've had borsch, pelmeni, piroshki, juice, ramen, kasha (like oatmeal), and amazing hot chocolate. (I realize that things like juice and ramen sound silly in context, but both are MUCH better than what you normally find in the states. I suppose it's at the cost of no corn chips...)

The other day I sampled two other "Russian" cuisines - Domino's and Subway! Dima, Nick, and I popped into Domino's and ordered a large pepperoni pizza for lunch. It took about 20 minutes, and we got the most deliciously greasy pizza EVER. I don't know, sometimes greasy pizza is just amazing, the kind where orange grease seriously drips everywhere, and this was one of those times. The Subway, however, left something to be desired. The turkey and ham slices were indistinguishable - square and blotchy. No choice as to cheese variety - American straight from the plastic or none at all. I got "that yellow sauce" (some kind of mustard?) and veggies including lettuce, which was white. Odd.

Hopefully somewhat soon I'll be able to meet up with two people here: Katie Eliseo, another mudder studying abroad in Moscow with a group of students from the US doing a program called "Math in Moscow." The other is Snezhana Zheltoukhova, who was the Russian Language Resident at Pomona my sophomore year.

I'll leave you now with this random tidbit: I glimpsed a crescent moon at twilight last night between layers of clouds and it was really cool. Even though I'm 11 hours away from home and no one here speaks English, we really are all on the same boat. spaceship. planet. you get it. :)