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This year there was an exhibition in Moscow, put on by four expat ladies. It was called 'How do YOU Do Moscow?' It was a collection of opinions and photographs, assembled by these ladies - all 'accompanying spouses', as the lingo would describe them (wives whose husbands' jobs have relocated them here). They spoke to a wide cross-section of the expat community and canvassed their views about this city. It was really interesting to find out the similarities and differences in their opinions. Those questioned included an ambassador, a journalist, a teenager, a hockey player, a headmistress, a Russian repatriate, a financial expert and sausage maker! What an amazing group of people we have here.
One of those questions summed Moscow up in the three words, 'fasten seat belt'. We've had a week like that over here. Take deep breath.....(another good group of three words to sum up this city...)...and...
Monday...work a full day, then off to the Peugeot dealer to collect the car. As everything closes late over here then that meant a 7pm appointment. We picked it up and then drove home. On the way back we stopped at the junction with Leninsky Prospekt. In front of our eyes, we saw a crash worthy of one of a 'reality TV' show. A Toyota Camry stopped correctly at the lights. Seconds later, a Zhiguli slammed into the back of it, denting its bonnet, smashing the boot of the Camry and pushing it forward about 2 metres. Both of us were momentarily stunned. The DPS (traffic patrol) officer who was on duty at the side of the road just next to where it happened, just wandered over to check everything was OK and to start the formalities. We drove back home, still unbelieving at what we had seen.
Tuesday...The temperature dropped to -25 today. This is the coldest it has been for three years; the last two winters have been nothing to write home about. So the children have had to stay inside - much to the disgust of our Year 5 and Year 6 boys, who were desperate to go outside and play football! The first round of Christmas parties this evening. For me, it was our staff Christmas meal at a Mexican restaurant near to Oktyabrskaya metro; for Nataly, our church's Young Adults' party. Still lots going on at work, so Nat stayed late and went to the party late; our staff meal finished in good time and I worked when I got back. On top of this, British Airways announced that they are going on strike, just at the time that we are going to be visiting the UK, so our trip is now up in the air. They are offering the option of free rebooking 48 hours either side, so Nat spoke to the lady at their Moscow office and there are spaces available on both flights on the 21st. We are therefore monitoring the situation and waiting to see what transpires in the next couple of days. 'Keep Calm and Carry On!'
Wednesday...some degree of normality this morning, then sugar overload this afternoon as we had our school Christmas parties! We played old favourites such as 'The Mummy Game', 'Flap The Fish' and 'Musical Statues'; the children brought in lots of food - some of which was still left over at the end of the week and therefore the technical staff took it home. It's amazing how some of these games transcend culture, age and country. In the evening I went with my friends for our monthly banya with some of our friends. Now, whilst a banya is an experience anyway, to go from -25 to +90 within in the space of 15 minutes is quite a feeling! It gives one a feeling of how Russians living in Siberia must feel, jumping from the hot house into the snow to cool down. Now, we always take food with us for during 'rest periods' and Roger had made mince pies - the first time in 7 years I have had home-made mince pies here in Moscow. He had been to the meat market and found suet; bought mixed peel and all of the other parts; and created his own mincemeat. It was more complicated than buying a jar of Robertson's from the shelf, but the end product was worth it - they were delicious! We also had a 'new member' who came along with us today: Nikolai, Roger's neighbour from Lyubertsi (a suburb of Moscow, part of Moscow region) whom he and his wife have got to know since both couples have small children. I think that Nikolai enjoyed it, although he did spend a lot of time on his phone! Phew....the banya was scorchingly hot tonight. All of us came out with 'banya back' (the red blotches that you get from being in there and making the transitions from hot to cold). None of us have gone Russian enough to use the venniki - we leave that to Jonathan (who wasn't with us tonight).
Thursday...We rebooked our flights to the UK this morning, as the strike was going into its second day of resolution talks with no signs of things being worked out. Nataly worked quickly and spoke to the lady at BA again, and we have our tickets fo the 21st. - same flight times, just two days earlier. Praise God!
There are a lot of stereotypes about the activities of expats. Some true, many false. Tonight Nataly and I got to take part in a rare but very pleasant luxury that you get as an expat: an invitation to dinner at an embassy. The children of one of the ambassadors to Russia attends my school and he kindly invited the staff to dinner with him and his wife as a personal thank-you for the work we have done with them.
When the invitation came I wasn't quite sure what to expect. When we arrived we were received into one of the anterooms at his residence and greeted by his wife (he was stuck in traffic - not a surprise!). Shortly afterwards, he arrived and introduced a student from their national school, based at the embassy. She sang two very different songs and, it transpired, she had won national competitions that year for her talent. Well deserved! We then went through to the main dining room and began a full formal dinner - everyone had specific, pre-arranged places; there were a variety of appetisers before the main course and dessert; we then finished with a choice of teas. All of the selection were national dishes and it was a pleasant change to have food from a different part of the world. Vegetarian choices were provided for those staff who don't eat meat. The ambassador explained what everything was as the meal progressed.
It was one of those evenings that all those present would add to their list of Favourite Moscow Memories. Surely we have an amazing job where we have the opportunity to be invited to a country's embassy as part of it!
And the BA strike is called off! Never mind, we get two extra days with the family :o)
And Friday!!!!!!! Finally it arrived, with a sense of relief almost palpable. The children were excited, the staff smiling at the thought of 3:40pm and holidays. It has been a long term: the Christmas term always is, and there is a lot to do. Not just in Moscow, but in schools everywhere. We all made it as fun as we could for us and the children: my class rewrote the 12 Days of Christmas to make their own versions. That and some Christmas Maths saw to the morning; the afternoon was for toys and games as a last day treat.
There have been lots of 'little extras' on the administrative side to being deputy head and I have learned a lot this term. One of the other sides is that culturally, at the end of the year and at Christmas, parents give presents to their class teachers and to the head teacher and deputies. Stuart and I have therefore come away extremely well with bottles of various types, chocolates and innumerable other items. Our parents are extremely generous, more than they need to be. I staggered home via the Metro, carrying everything. Friday evening was spent collapsed in a heap on the sofa - not drunk (the irony is that I don't drink!) but just resting. Nataly was at her firm's Christmas party and didn't get in until about 2300.
And it didn't stop there.....
Saturday...You'd have thought that we could make use of the weekend to rest up and get organised in preparation for our trip. Not quite...
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