Apartment

I moved into my apartment last week. Well there was not much to move but at least I unpacked the backpack completely for a change. My apartment is furnished, including a computer, and is about two thirds of the way between the center of town and the CCS office. It is a one room apartment, much like a studio apartment in the states with a separate kitchen. My landlord is the head of the English department at a local university so she speaks better English than I.
I am taking language lessons two or three times a week from a professor who teaches Russian to foreigners at the university. She is an excellent teacher and tutors other CCS volunteers who want extra language lessons. Even though I am only in class 3-4 hours a week I spend about 20-30 hours a week studying and I still feel behind. But nothing worth having is easy. The person who invented that saying must have been taking Russian. :)
It is snowing again tonight and is beautiful outside. It has not been above freezing for several weeks now and has gotten down to about -24C which is -11F. But you actually get used to the cold (if the wind is not blowing) if you are dressed properly. And Russian know how to make and wear warm clothes.
This is Pancake week in Russia and Yaroslavl is center of the festivities so there is something going on every night. Fireworks over the frozen Volga river, outdoor theatre, folk dancers, music and pancakes, pancakes, pancakes.
Until next time......До свидания ! (goodbye--pronounced da svi-dan-ya)