Back in Russia

After 36 hours and three different countries, I arrived safely in Siberia. The snow was falling when the Aeroflot plane landed in Tyumen; it was could and I had lost one of my gloves… But inside my heart the joy of returning to this exciting city was present. Jim and Sally were there at the airport, sharing a warm sense of welcome. Yes, Moscow continues to be a beautiful city too, but Tyumen occupies a special place in my heart.

I am serious about learning Russian and I have found out that now the sounds of that beautiful language are easier to understand this time around. I hope by the time I return to the U.S., I will be able to speak a little bit of it. But until I am able to speak Tolstoy’s language, I am relying on a number of excellent coworkers for my work here. I am glad that Jeff, my new roommate, is quite fluent in Russian and he is already being a wonderful source of help.

Another blessing in disguise is that I am going to loose all the added fat that I gained during my last visit to Brazil and during the Christmas season. I don’t have a car for the entire three months of my stay here; my “chauffer James” will be back in the States soon. Thus, I have a lot of walking to do, besides the healthier food that we are enjoying here. Chances are that I will return home in pretty good shape. Besides, I love walking and we live about thirty minutes from the Cultural Center and the Church.