oi, oi, oi...

I don't know why I'm finding it more difficult to keep this updated this year. Sorry to my couple of faithful followers.

So I've been back in Moscow for 3 months now. I can't believe that it is going by so quickly. I feel like we just got here. I haven't told you about the new school year at all. I am still in the kindergarten. It's been great working again with the same teachers and most of the same children. It's also been great because the teacher who did not like me very much quit over the summer. :) I think she moved to America actually. I hope she realizes now how hard it was for me to be living in a new place and not being able to speak the language. She gave me a hard time but I think I'm definitely growing from every difficult person that I come across. I hope she's doing well in America but...I was also very happy to hear that she was gone. :)
I am working in the same grade as last year, but they have also made me the native English speaker for the Preschool as well (which is the same age as American kindergarten.) So the children that moved on to the next grade still get to see me every day. I felt a little overwhelmed at first when I realized that I would be running around all day in two grades. But it has actually been good. It is a little crazy and I feel like I don't have much time to plan, but it's good to see the children grow and learn more and more English. Whenever I come to the 5-6 year old class, they run up to me and ask (in Russian), "I am in your class today?" (Because I only work with a third of them each day.) They actually enjoy being in my lessons. Possibly because they know they can get away with a lot more...but still. It's nice to feel like a teacher and that the children want to have English.
My Russian is coming along. I'm still just teaching myself. I understand most of what the children say to me. If I don't understand a word they will ask, "You don't know that word?" and then I say, "No." And then they will try to explain, still in Russian but with actions. :)
Work has also been great because of new friends that I have made. Our little group consists of 4 American teachers and also 2 new Russian teachers. It is their first year at the school. They speak English very well so it has been great getting to know them. I like that us, Americans, don't just hang out with each other or just eat lunch with each other. Their names are Lelia and Vitaly. They are fun to have around and also good for my Russian. I am constantly asking them questions about grammar or for different words. I recently asked them to speak to me in Russian. I really need practice speaking. I've gotten to the point where I can almost evesdrop on their conversations in Russian. They will look at me and say, "You know what we're saying, don't you?" :) It's fun. But I'm still a very long way from knowing the language.
Being back has been strangely comfortable. I am familiar with Moscow and I have a routine here. There's not as much culture shock or adjustment involved in a second year overseas. It is still difficult at times, but I know what to expect and I don't let things bother me. I know that if you don't have exact change, the woman at the cash register will get upset. I know that in some places, if they hear you speaking English, they might follow you around the store. I know that if you're on the bus with other teachers, you don't let your shoes touch the seat because you will offend the old ladies. I also know that some days are harder than others. Some days you just want to stay in or some days you just want to talk to your family. The hardest adjustment for me, I think, was not having 2 very good friends from last year here with me again this year. I was used to going places with them and seeing them. Different places around the city brought back memories from last year and I would wish that they were here. But..that's life. We are always missing someone somewhere right? Once I leave Russia, I will miss the good friends that I've made here too. Speaking of leaving...No, I don't know about next year. I haven't decided. Three years in Russia? Maybe...maybe not. But you faithful blog readers will definitely be informed. :) Thanks for reading. Type at you again soon!