Event after Event

Isn't it beautiful outside the city?

I had the opportunity to go visit a village about 2 hours way by car.  I think the tallest building in the village was the school.  Everyone lived in little houses without indoor plumbing.  

While in the village, we visited the school where we were asked to answer questions in front of all the children.  It was a very enjoyable time.  Can you tell who the foreigners are?

The kids in the school did a program for us.  This outfit is what their warriors used to wear when they went to battle.

This man is the grandfather in this house.  He is 92 years old, and still up walking around.  He came and sat at the table to eat with us.  He said he is just waiting to die, but wants to live till he is 100 years old.  

The way of life of this man with the fur is to round up wild horses and train them to be race horses.  He came by on a sled with 3 horses tied to it.  

I look like this after being outside in at least -40 for only 30 minutes.  Under all this fur, wool and down I was quite warm.  

When we went to the village we had to drive across the Lena River.  From what I understand, it is about 2.5 miles wide where we cross.  While we were crossing it, a tracker trailer drove right by us.  It shows how strong the ice is still.

My landlady and a friend were making banana cookie pie with layers of ice cream for dessert.  It was very sweet, but very simple.  My landlady is on the left in the photo.

I am a part of an international club at the university.  We get together occasionally to make food from different countries.  Many of these students are from the dorm where I used to live, while the rest are a part of the university. 

I attended a birthday party of one of my friends from the international club.  We were playing a game here where you must figure out what the word is that is written on the paper plastered on your forehead, by asking yes and no questions.  

Glimpes of First Impressions

I wanted to add a picture of the car that I loved, but also ran over my feet/legs!

Friends in Moscow - we went to eat at...  I think you can figure it out. :)

I had the opportunity to visit some friends from my time last 3 years I had been here.  

So, if you don't receive my emails, This is a glimpse of the "hotel" room I  stayed in during my  18 hour delay in Moscow to go out to Yakutsk.  The room was cold, but it had a shower and a lock on the door.  The airline paid for our "hotel" stay.  

This day it looked like there were 3 suns in the sky.  It was so neat!  It had to be a reflection on something.  

My 2nd full day here I went to a local museum.   I have spent some time with quite a few of these students.  It is a good group.  

One beautiful Cold day!  Yes, this is me!

This is a group of students that I have gotten to know a bit since being here.  They are so helpful  and kind.  2 of them took me boot shopping!

So these are some of my classmates on the first cold day we had here.  -43*F/-42*C.

In this cold, people generally leave there cars running so they can start them again.  

This is very close to the university, an area where people have built their own homes.  

Enjoying Friends and Family!

I had a wonderful Tea Time with some friends.

A friend took me to Biltmore House - a beautiful day, also very  windy!

The rolling hills outside of Biltmore House were very peaceful looking.

I had to get one picture that looked like I was posing for a picture in Russia.  The flowers were gorgeous.  

Mom came to visit a week after I hurt my feet.  We had a wonderful time together.  Thanks, Mom!

Walking Again...

I had an accident Wednesday morning, the 26th.  I was running back into the house to get a sweater.  I thought I had put the car in park, and left it running.  Actually, I had only put it in reverse, but did not realize it until I had gotten out of the car and saw the car rolling back.  I tried to get back in it to stop it, but it was in gear, so it was going pretty fast.  I could not move fast enough to put on the brake.  I got halfway in, but it continued to move, so it knocked me under the car.  The front wheel rolled over both my feet.  I let the car go.  It hit the hill on the other side of the road.  I realized that if I left the car in the middle of the road, another car might hit it.  So, on injured feet, I jumped up and ran over, got in the car and drove it back in the driveway.  I then got out and called my neighbor to help.  She took me to the ER. 

I have no broken bones, but some scrapes and bruises and a lot of pain.  I have been resting at home ever since.  A friend came to stay with me for a few days right after the accident.  

In the Hospital ER

At Home a Day later - too many cuts and bruises

About 4 days after the accident

I am healing well, and even walking now.  I am so thankful it was not any worse.

Heading Back Soon

I have been trying to spend as much time with my family as I can, since I am headed back to Russia soon.

My nephew, Benaiah

Two of my brothers were here for a visit, Jason and Jonathan, as well as Jonathan's family.  We all had so much fun together.  

My family decided to throw a surprise Birthday party for  me.    As you can see on my brother's face, he was quite proud of himself for keep it a surprise.

Everyone had so much fun.  I enjoyed watching the kids get into it.  

I had to include this picture.  It was almost pitch dark out and yet my camera it look like it was dusk.  It was such a nice night to go for a walk with Mom in Florida.  This picture was taken in July.

I successfully made it to the top of the tallest lighthouse in Florida!  I think it was 206 steps and I am scared of heights!  I was glued to the wall in the photo and every limb was shaking as someone took the picture.  And of course it was very windy.  :)  

Ponce Inlet lighthouse.  Mom and I made the trip before I left her to head back to North Carolina.  It was such a beautiful clear day!

So Many Experiences

I went to see my grandparents in New Hampshire, after having not seen them in 4 years.  It was a wonderful time. 

Hanging out with friends in New Hampshire

I took my grandparents to Olive Garden.  They had never been there, ever.  It was so much fun,and they loved it! 

I had the opportunity to visit some friends' parents in PA.  It was so enjoyable being on a farm for a few days.  I love farms.

I went to Germany for a conference.  While there we had an outing to an outdoor museum.  There was a horse, but the girls I was there with would not get any closer to the horse.  Poor horse.

 CAMP

A friend of mine found out that a camp in the area needed a Camp M to come speak with a bunch of girls.  I was excited to visit and help out.  I managed to direct some of the girls to draw their transportation during a camp scavenger hunt.  Can you guess what they drew?

Since being Stateside...

Some friends of mine, a family of five, has been living at our home with me for the last month. It "snowed" a few days after they moved in, and we had great fun scraping snow off the ground to make snowballs. We were determined. (I am in grey in the back.) Suzy, the mother, is taking the picture.
This family's home is being repaired after the floor in a good portion of the house was found rotting. I helped clean and move furniture one day.


I got to be in Missouri for my neice, Shaddai's, birthday. On her second birthday was the first day that I ever met her in person. Such a special day!
I stayed with Mom in Florida from when I came back, through the Christmas holidays. My little brother came for Christmas as well. It was just a nice time with family.