Staying in touch

Classes have begun, and that won`t add free time to my life obviously, so to stay in touch you may watch my usa-special blog (messages and pictures still mean that I am okay, though far away :)).

And welcome everybody to DC! Hey, I know whom I`m going to see soon... Great, great!

Random facts

Did you know?

American University (Washington, DC, the one I am in now) currently purchases 5% of its electrcity from a wind farm in West Virginia.

Also, from another paper (it`s Sunday, and I am going through the stuff been collected during the whole week). One of the AU (American University again) dining place has bought a machine to convert used cooking oil into electricity and hot water.

All that goes with regular reminders to recycle, to use reusable coffee cups (I specifically liked the advice to carry one`s own silverware). Reusable bottles, turning off everything when you don`t need it, recycle bins - all that sounds reasonable. Before coming to AU I saw the mentioning that it has the most green campus. Need to check this information though.

PS: ..just trying to keep myself enthusiastic while going through paperwork.

Russian updates

Hello. Because I am in a desperate shortage of time now, I will be posting small updates in the Russian blog. I reorganized the gadgets on your right, so USA-Special.blogspot.com is seen on the top. By clicking on the text (or the picture) you may go to the Russian blog, where you can enjoy lovely Russian letters or just can see that everything is okay with me (if I have time for writing, then everything is more or less okay). See you!

New camera

I bought the new camera, so here is my first promenade in pictures.
I was enjoying lunch (milk products made of milk, surprise), just streets and cars, signs and several buildings of American University (which I need to visit soon), etc, etc, etc... Just whatever was around. Walking down Wisconsin avenue. The Russian Embassy is also there, by the way (surprise, again).

There will be Picasa web-album by click (I guess).

Washington, DC - summer times

Still need to find housing. Looks like a nice apartment with a landlady from Geneva won`t work. Not good (though all is well in its own time, or something like that; at least have not paid her in advance).

I know, it`s in Russian - http://usa-special.blogspot.com/ - but that is still me, in DC now. The link is also on the side bar on the right (or is it left?). Sort of lost motivation (just a bit!) to write in English here. Hopefully will live with it (with English! not with the motivation loss) for two years since now.
So, so very much excited.

Hot, though very cool in Washington! :)

Busy schedule, by the way. And also apartment hunt. So just generally no time for anything more than a quick update.

Moscow under smoke and in heat.

My flight is tomorrow. Moscow - Washington direct. Tonight going to the hotel for a night. Suitcase - almost done.

Medical stuff

I do not want to talk about it. And I do not believe it. No timing would be perfect to know about it, especially a couple weeks before starting a new "two year long" life in another country. I think I am sad. I think I will be better tomorrow.

One more lazy update

So the summer is awfully hot, and it is not my exaggeration. Plus 30 in Moscow is just a tiny bit too much. Being in the city or in the undeground, you are just constantly wet. Maybe it is the humidity issue, or the traffic is responsible. Or just the fact that ten percents of the country population lives in one town. Just think about these figures. In fact, it is more than ten percents: something less than 150 millions people in Russia, and ten millions registered in the capital. Believe me, Moscow population is twice as much, because not everybody is registered (me, for example, and as a matter of fact I have completely legal reasons for that; though I just hate the idea of registering citizens in their own country).

But that is not what I was going to share today. I promissed it to be "lazy".

News #1: laziness about searching for my Washington housing. Looks like I will postpone any serious movements and decisions till when I arrive there.

News #2: no laziness with visiting theatres. Just realised that I will be gone for two years, and so actively focusing on one particular Moscow theatre: famous "Sovremennik", my recent personal discovery. It is the so-called "repertoire theatre": with definite troupe of actors and certain repertoir. Such theatres are typical for Russia, though nowadays a lot of private more flexible companies also exist. The name of this one means "Contemporary" (as a noun, a person). The plays there have certain qualities (honesty, civil responsibility, to name a few).

News #3: sort of laziness at work. Closing activities of five years is just not pure fun.

News #4: in the process of solving some medical issues of mine, surprisingly discovered in my body. The good news - as far as doctors say - it is not that bad sad thing. Ladies, visit your mammologist regularly!

News #5: that sounds silly after the previous one, but have almost evacuated books and disks from my rented apartment to my regular address (which is almost the synonym for "the place I was once living, and which I visit once a year now"). One of my dreams is to have a house where I can have my own library and "mediatheque" (don`t know English equivalent).

There was somethng else to tell you about, but I forgot it, my brain melts. I like when it`s hot, but - just for information - the temperature might become survivable something at three at night, not earlier. And not for much later. I know that someone has already invented air conditioners, but that is not the case of my apartment (they are seldom to be installed here, only in more or less posh flats, or in offices).

The main news is that I cannot believe that in less than a month I won`t be in my dear, crazy and beloved Moscow, which I so honestly adore. Like twenty more mornings...

Don`t pay attention...

...unless you are somehow interested of course. Just need to check and save this video link.



On the other hand, nothing is for no reason. The story about "Tough route" is here. To be continued...

News and Washington

Yes, it`s Washington!

Maybe that sounds surprising, but those who are au courant might be happy for me now. Yes! It`s finally confirmed! I am going to the United States, and moreover – to Washington! Washington DC, baby :) Whether it`s real America which I hoped to see, or not.

But now it is time to become serious (and by the way, what a serious, tenacious, and industrious person I am..). Anyway! Going to study there for two years. Now, if that sounds surprising (the “study” part) – well, it does not! I am, and was always working. Definitely the larger part of my life, trying to combine both educational and working processes (which was all right, and always my decision, and who else could care). Anyway! Now it is time to support my background with some more knowledge. And that is serious! Wow! I am so very much pleased that I managed it! And thankful for this opportunity, which, again, became possible and real only because of me. Now this is the time to be proud about some achievements, isn`t it?

Anyway! Should I be more specific with names and fields? I don`t know, but will think about it.

First of all, need an apartment in DC. Realistically it will be a room. Something nice with the White House in the window, perhaps. A bit further west maybe. Or are there better places? Oh, I just started to learn prices and locations. Searching the Craigslist and the maps, and asking contacts I have (any ideas?).

Secondly. Arriving early August, which is so soon… And of course I am still deeply in my work and other activities in Moscow. No boring details for now, but with such a speed of everything it is quite lively here, I promise.

Thirdly, and that`s the point (for this blog place). As I need to improve my academic English writing skills now, I need to become more serious about it: about writing, about the whole thing of thoughts delivery, and about writing discipline as well. On the other hand, writing in Russian in this case also has its own advantages: that is my language which always needs practicing, and also – again, the sharing thing… So looks like I need a new place to write, at least not to mix the languages. I am thinking about something ambitiously called like usa-special.blogspot.com in Russian, but still have no definite idea. All I know, there certainly will be something to write about! After I decide, I will put the link on this page, so everything will be in one place, and fresh updates will be seen.

Looking forward to this wonderful challenge which starts so soon. It has already started – packing my Moscow stuff, books and disks…

This is so very much exciting, I can`t describe (it`s not about packing). I wanted it, and I have done it! No comments, I am happy and speechless. Of course I have already passed various stages of excitement. Need to concentrate now, and will come back soon.

PS: I`ve bought a new laptop as well!

PPS: And with all my "I did it" attitude, of course I do realize that the most important part is ahead.

The zero-meaning message

"In Russia, in ten years - everything changes, in two centuries - nothing changes". Just a phrase, heard this week.

Happened to find one of my old "English-language-texts" now. Quotation marks are necessary because it is not English at all. And how heavily do I write... (*embarassed).

Tomorrow attending special reception in Spaso House (that`s the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Russia). Finally there might be some good news soon.

Fake summer snow

What do you think this is? Besides of an awful road covering. This is typical Moscow June disaster – the poplar “fluff”.
(*as usual, pictures are clickable to be enjoyed full size)

That is how this tree disseminates its seeds in nature.

Tiny seeds are surrounded by fluff which allows them to fly to reach a larger territory in order to make new trees (does not work in a city though).

In my native Vladimir, which has the same climate as Moscow, there are less poplars, and they are regularly cut to stop (at least to diminish the quantity of) the fluff.

In Moscow however it is almost a tradition to have the fluff in late May and early June.

Which looks quite nice for me, but I also have some empathy towards people with allergies.

I really like the fluff, it makes some difference.

Birds seem to enjoy the seeds.

It is rather beautiful, though messy. While walking this week, you constantly move hands sharply, because the fluff is everywhere around your face, and nose, and eyes, and mouth. It makes the throat sore a bit, because without doubt you swell some amount of the smallest parts.

Rains help to freshen it up.

Poplar tree.

Voila, that`s all for today.

Promises like pie crust, and French cinema again, actively enjoyable

I know, I know... I was going to post more about lovely Cyprus, and also to open my deep-deep intrigue about something. Not going to happen tonight. Also there was something still uncovered about Lille and Paris in March (more Zoo pictures or just something about our parallel French visit, mine and of Mr.President). Yes, but not tonight and anyway.

I just have come home, and yes, it is not the right time to travel within Moscow after midnight. But the reason looked respectable enough, for me anyway. The first day of the Week of French Cinema (Semaine du Cinema Francais, voila!). Because of the announced Year of France in Russia (and vice versa there) there are more francophone events this year, which suits me perfectly.

I actually planned to visit only one film tonight, but then - why not and how often? - decided to have a fuller program. So thanks to my friends from Cinema-France I finally got:

- the press-conference with Olivier Assayas and Claire Simon. Both are film-makers and very interesting people to listen to. Especially Assayas as he was more on demand tonight. Special thanks and my total admiration to his translator, who was able to interprete and present huge amounts of texts, like several paragraphs non-stop. Actually I always admire French film makers, actors and other professionals for being able to speek so sincere. They can be both simple and profound, they speak easily about their thoughts and feelings, they have nothing of arrogance nor snobbism - I do not know why this is too difficult for their Russian colleagues but perhaps that is the temporal crisis of growth;

- later I had a couple of photo challenges during the interviews with both of them. One - in the smoked cafe and another - just in the crowded lobby. Pictures would be awful, and it was not my camera, but I will think about the documentary value of that material;

- I also had to rent out my dictaphone to the friend who was speaking with Claire Simon (sorry, I was not ready for the talk myself as to that moment still have not seen the film);

- then there was the actual opening ceremony. Quite plain but with the embassy people. In fact I think there was Mr.Ambassador, but I was busy with the camera and, you know, with simple joys of the opening ceremonies like fancy little food (and there is nothing like a free lunch!).

- then there was the first film - "Summer hours" by Olivier Assayas. Briefly, it is a good movie, very French with almost invisible Asian touch, very thoughtful and full of inspiration, the film which questions;

- then there was the improvised discussion about the film (with Olivier) in the cafe. As one of the main participants of the Week, Assayas was going to stay longer - at least till Monday master-class, but had to cancel it because need to go to Paris tomorrow morning. His new film "Carlos" was shown on the Cannes film festival, so there is something to deal with now;

- then I was late for the second film - "God`s offices" by Claire Simon. I watched it almost totally (it is two hours long and I was already almost late for the last metro). I think I`ll search for it to fill in the missed gaps. The film is about the female assistance center, which solves pregnancy issues. Unfortunately, that is still an exclusively female topic, and I saw several men refusing to watch this movie. There will be a meeting with Claire Simon on Tuesday, and if I won`t be late from work and after the theater, I will be there (yes, somehow Tuesday is already like that...).

I certainly liked the first day of the Week (of French Cinema). I definitely did not like the trip on the last metro - somehow the late Sunday crowd looks too depressive and negative: it is better on Friday and Saturday nights when people might be still crazy but at least they have some plans for a weekend. Luckily I am home now, going to finish some web stuff (audio and photos from today exchange, plus commenting), desperately need to sleep, and see you later!

Nine days in Cyprus

Some pictures taken on my beaten camera, in all random:

Cyprus

Real colors

English breakfast in the Indian place, in the center of Cyprus. Three awful pictures (I don`t like to make pictures when eating, so whatever jumped into the camera focus window stays). There also was a nice grilled mushroom on the plate (Portobello or so). I also loved those enameled chairs.

For MG lovers. The beaten Subaru with a proper logo (click to make sure).

For French lovers (*again, sorry for the picture quality).

The old parking meter.

The new EasyHotel. A freshly opened new plastic paradise. I definitely liked the price of staying there. I also stayed two nights sleeping in a car. Or in other apartments on my way.

The parade about something in Larnaka

My hair in hot maritime climate with even some humidity. Can`t do anything about it (not even combing, not even trying).

There is nothing like a cup of tea! Mmm, from such a cup :) (the plaster ad, thanks for appetite). In the apartment where I stayed a night. The kitchen utensils on the table represent my interest in getting the fruit from the tree under my balcony (I failed that time).

But bought them later. Some ancient Greek lady was selling them later from her truck. That was a new fruit for me to taste. In supermarket I saw the name, something like loquat and something in Greek. Looks like an apricot with the bottom like in an apple. With a stone like in a plum, but smoother and often the stone is doubled or even tripled. The pulp is like in a melon, juicy, but not sticky. Sweetish-sourish taste, with some samples being neutral in taste (the price of eating others the best ones). Later I also found an independently growing tree, so got one of my breakfast from there.

And also the way to get some papaya for lunch.

Cyprus is famous for its cats, who are everywhere. Here is the mom.

Typical human question: who is responsible?

Left after the conflict in 70`s.

“My” Nissan Micra. Red number plates mean the car is rented. Driving made my right hand darker than my left one, because of all those consumed sun rays. And yes, they are right-wheeled cars and left-directed roads there (as in UK which colony Cyprus was in the past). And yes, I was trying to change the gear on the automatic car by my left hand as in manual car.

Meal of the day. Bread, veggies and local stuff (dips or spreads: houmous, tharmosalada, tahinisalada).

To be continued…