I'm 24 and it's still snowing

But only sometimes. Usually, it's totally beautiful and sunny when I wake up. This leads me to smile and get all optimistic. I start planning a nice outing under the gorgeous blue skies. And then by the time I've eaten and dressed, heading out the door I notice that thick grey day-ruiners have blown in, probably from the depths of hell, and by the time I've hit "fresh air" it's hailing. This is the typical day. It will remain dreary until I find myself stuck inside, teaching or whatnot, and then the sun will momentarily appear, as if to mock me with it's delightful warm rays which I cannot take part in. Later, when I walk to the metro or back home, it will inevitably rain. My students assure me this is not normal weather, and I'm clinging to their claims of warm and green Mays. I'm waiting for proof that there are other palettes than grey in Russia.

Monday I turned 24. It seems strange a bit. I don't really know what one is supposed to feel being 24, but I might as well be 18 again. Doesn't seem that long ago, really. I guess I'll say the same at 40 :-) Anyways, Petr and I celebrated with a quiet dinner at a Lebanese restaurant, some Bulgarian wine and a spread of exotic fruits for dessert (I'm not wild about Russian cake). I got a beautiful Russian Pavlovsk shawl from Petr, which is a traditional Russian handicraft and tulips.

The shawl is the backdrop, with tulips and fruit

The spread: horned melon, melon melon, kumquat, physalis, date and blackberry

Great photo Petr. I think I'm talking about how odd this Physalis fruit tastes. Try one, they're odd.

This is a kumquat. You must squeeze it to release the essential oils and then you can it it whole, skin and all. It like a weird little orange. Then things a girl from Idaho can learn!

Today we continued the celebration with my friend Elina. I invited her to the Beverly Hills Diner, a 1950s American themed restaurant. In Russia, when it's your birthday you pay for all your friends AND you make a cake for them! I learned this when it was Elina's birthday and she refused to let me treat her to lunch because she explained that she should treat me, being her birthday and all. Well, now I had my chance to repay her in same! It's a strange tradition though. My students were telling me that they didn't like birthdays. I replied, "Of course not, you have to pay for everybody." They didn't understand so I explained to them that in other parts of the world, when it's your birthday your friends pay for you. Several girls decided that they would like to spend their next birthdays in the States :-) Still, I think it's best to keep quiet about your special day here, or else you'll find yourself with an empty wallet!

Yesterday we went to the south of Moscow to an old estate of the Shermetevs, a power Russian family from the czarist days. Again, the morning was warm and fair, and I was stuck inside teaching the most ADD kid I know my favorite subject, math. Afterwards, the skies had clouded over but we still headed off to Kuskovo (the estate) with my new camera and Petr channeled his inner photographer. What follows is a great documentary of the typical Russian Sunday in a park, taking photos with wedding parties and amateur models alike. Enjoy the show, folks!

Typical babuskas lined up at the entrance of a church, begging. Usually they are part of a group with a sort of "manager" which collects all their earnings and gives them a portion. Or not. 

This was the most precious little wiener dog puppy. Too bad his mean Russian owner was yanking his leash so hard I thought his little head might pop off.

It's almost May people, and Russia hasn't got the memo. There is still a snowy mess.

That being said, I guess ice fishing has a pretty long season here.

The first of many brides in the park. They've always got a white fur coat to match.

Photo session on the steps of the chateau. Note the man with wild grey hair and suspicious box.

Part of the wedding party. I would so wear this to my friend's special day. Something about leather-esque leggings and siberian fox fur just screams "classy"

Petr and I have added this pose on our "to do" list. Now all I need is a fan.

Awesome photo Petr! The bride was too busy negotiating her way over puddles in white shoes to see him though.

The bells were ringing!

Ominous, eh?

Just married

This was hilarious. They caught the creeper taking a photo of them. Told us to send them a copy. If you can't tell from the collection on the ground there, they were pretty trashed.

I found a good shot

Noble

Paparazzi shot

Babushka and devushki

These two girls were doing the typical Russian photo-shoot-with-friend thing. Petr took secret photos of them like a creeper.

Professional camera. Damn.

And pose!

I think I was getting tired of all this ridiculousness

New building, same routine. These are gonna look great on Facebook!

Mom, remember all the arguments we had over my wearing sensible shoes? You are desperately needed here.

I refused to take part in the modeling contest.

Petr forced me to be in a photo.

Found me a kitty!

Pitiful little stray with a swollen eye and massively pregnant

Classic grab-the-collar model shot

You know what's the best back drop? A religious building!

Wallet worthy.

And this is the ghetto metro. GHETTO.

The toilet. This place had stalls with saloon-style doors and no locks. This is the Wild East man, anything goes!