So cute...

Internet, Schminternet...

We have been having some problems with our internet in our apartment. It doesn't like to work between 7-10 pm. Our best guess is the infrastructure cannot support the volume of internet users each evening, but we wanted to make sure there was nothing else interfering with our ability to use Skype.


So, Gulnara came over the other night and was going to bring an internet guy with her. She came and immediately realized that the cordless phone doesn't work. We knew this and had told them, but whatever... We were pretty sure this wasn't effecting the internet capabilities, since the cable runs through a splitter.


Gulnara called her mom (landlady) to tell her the phone doesn't work and we could tell they were arguing about that. Saida called back to tell Gulnara that the phone DOES work, even though it doesn't. Really.


The next part got Stephen and I chuckling because as Gulnara was on the phone with her mom, her speaking slowed down and her voice got loud and firm as she said, "Mom, eta telefon nee ra-bo-ta-yet!" She pronounced each syllable deliberately, much as I would if I were trying to make a point. The exact translation of what Gulnara said is, "Mom, the telephone does not work!"


We have told this story to our parents on skype and they didn't really laugh. We think it's hilarious! You are probably thinking, "Yeah, that's not that funny." I guess you had to be there.


Sometimes, we just find comfort in knowing that there are similar cultural things that happen, even if you're on the other side of the world. A daughter making a point to a stubborn mother can be handled with pro-nounc-ing each syl-la-ble, care-ful-ly, and loud-ly.


Just thought it was funny.

Could It BE Any Colder...

There is something wrong with this picture:

Can you tell what it is?

Yes, we are inside.

Yes, my students are wearing coats.

Why, you may ask? Well, today, my thermostat started to drop drastically. It started off at a comfortable 23 C. That's what it's set at. For all y'all who don't know Celcius, that's about 73.4 F.

Within a half hour, I watched the temperature drop down to 17.5 C. That's 63.5 F, people. That's when I sent my teaching assistant to find out what in sam hill was going on. She was told they were changing the filter in the furnace.

I watched it drop down to 16.0 C. That's 60.8 F. The F stands for FREEZING. That's when my kids' lips started turning blue and one of them asked me if it was going to snow in the classroom. We all put on our coats and tried to "toughen it out." I'm a very motivational speaker sometimes.

The fix-it man (if you can really call him that) stopped by at the end of the day to say it probably won't be fixed tomorrow. I told him (he speaks Russian) that it dang well better be because I have twenty students whose tails will freeze off if it's not fixed. He just looked at me with that Lady, I have no idea what you're saying and I don't care look.

And here's a glimpse into ex-Soviet living.

This is called: Here's a fancy-schmancy electronic thermostat so you can see how hot or cold your classroom is, but we don't trust you, even enough to control the temperature in your own classroom, so we're going to put a plastic case over the thermostat and a LOCK so that this one maintenance guy in the building can decide if your classroom's temperature is conducive to learning or not.

D to the Dubbs....

Who is the dishwasher in your house?
What's that? You have a dishwasher?

We don't. And we didn't when we lived in NYC, either. I forgot how much I hate not having one.

I despise handwashing dishes. The only time I don't mind doing them is when you have to wash the china.

But I registered for dishwasher safe china, so I will not even have this problem. One day. When I can live in a house with my stuff.

Gotta say: The dishwasher has to be one of the greatest inventions....EVER.

Lucky for me, Huzz is going home soon to do the dishes so I don't have to. Aren't I the luckiest girl, ever?

Riley Update...

Great news, everybody!

Riley's test results came back from her biopsy and it wasn't cancer! The vet doesn't expect her to have any recurring problems.

I am sooooooo relieved!

Thank you for the big P's, if you sent some up. They were definitely heard by Him and felt by me.

I am enjoying my last day of my week off and trying to mentally prepare myself for the next week of work. So, guess what we're doing?

Watching Lost. Yeah!