LOL OMG TTYL BFFL and all that jazz...

Just in case you needed a laugh...here is a collection of seemingly random references. Some of them are taken from my larger collection of quotes, others haven't been written but are so funny that I can't possibly forget them. They will be shown here for your pleasure. :)

1. Zoltan.

2. Robert's strong NO!

3. Purple pants!

4. You're taking the train to 'Russia?

5. He's the only one who can pull off wearing an orange suit.

6. Baltimore will never rise above mediocrity.

7. El Fatso.

8. A typical wiffleball game between me and Andrew involves scoring no less than 50 runs.

9. Mom, Dad and I watching a game between the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays: "Who's TOR?"

10. Flamngo kumquats!

11. Chiicken!

12. HAM!!!!!

13. The binder...Dif as dispenser of justice, loved by many, feared by few, respected by all

14. The quote book from the infamous choir tour

15.Calling my poly sci professor a bastard only to run into him a split second later...oops

16. lunches at U-Burger and many many hours planning TEFL lessons

17. Oh David...

18. MICHAEL!!!!

19. "Hey guys, where should we have the party tonight?" "Jon..." *sigh*

20. Siberia! Oh wait...Serbia.

21. You're forcin' it!

These are just a few priceless memories I felt like sharing. Please feel free to add your own. I could use a good laugh this week as I get ready for Russia: Return of the Comrade. ;)

R.I.P Teddy...

Not having known Senator Kennedy, I cannot (unfortunately) share any personal memories of him. But having grown up a Democrat in Massachusetts, and watching him on the news and hearing the wonderful stories about him in the memorial and funeral, I can say with full certainty that he has shown that politics can and must transcend party lines. He has done a great deal for his state and his country through his work in the Senate. He has touched so many people. It is unfortunate, therefore, when people complain about there being no other "news" or otherwise disrespect him. Yes, we have freedom of speech, but it is an insult to his memory and to his family to denigrate him during these difficult times. Whether or not you agree with his politics or character, now is not the time for hurtful comments, but for prayer and reflection.

I was riding down to the Cape today when I heard the funeral mass on the radio and was incredibly touched by the stories, the music. This has been a very sad week for America and for the world. But in celebrating Teddy's life, we must remember that there is still a lot of work to be done. Health care reform is one of the most important issues of our time. We must put aside petty negative ads, shun personal attacks on the President and instead work together to give access to health care to all Americans. God bless you, Senator Kennedy, and may the work which you started realize its fruition.

Joining the blogging craze

Hey folks! Following the recommendation of a friend, and knowing how much I love to write, I have decided to write a blog. As most of you know, I'm going to Russia next week to study abroad, live with a host family and begin research and writing my Master's thesis on the subject of teaching Russian through the medium of fairy tales. My idea is to read lots of skazki and try to find some common grammatical/syntactical structures and use them as a basis for teaching Russian. I think one idea might be to find examples of grammar for an introductory Russian class and then find more complex grammar that might be taught in a more advanced class. I'm sort of tossing ideas around, but I do want to combine grammar and pedagogy somehow since I want to teach Russian one day. My thesis probably won't be solidified until I start reading and writing, so I'm not too worried about it at the moment.

Anyways, in addition to my work inside the classroom I will be catching up with friends from Language Link, and continuning to maintain an active spiritual life by joining the choir at St. Andrew's and the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy (both groups meet at St. Andrew's). Even if I cannot play the piano as often as I might like, I will still be able to sing and pray, which for me is very important.

Before I wrap up, I want to recommend a powerful film that I posted on facebook. It's called "Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go" and focuses on a few children who go to the Mulberry Bush school in Oxford, England. It is a powerful, highly thought-provoking film which proves that truly dedicated teachers never give up on a student, no matter what. These teachers are particularly heroic, considering that some of these students are abused emotionally and physically and don't know how to properly channel their feelings other than violent responses. If you are involved in education, particularly early childhood, you must see this film. Here is the link, you can also find it on pbs.org.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/holdmetight/watch_the_film.php

In general you willl find me reflecting on education, on writing, on humor (and the neccesity of having a sense of humor) as well as other completely random topics. You may also find me quoting from poetry, literature, and other sources. I myself don't know where this blog will be going and don't expect to have any overarching themse, but hope that people will be curious to read about and respond to my reactions to the zagadochnaya russkaya dusha (mysterious Russian soul) and my life in Russia. I look forward to beginning another new phase of my lifelong journey to learn, to compose, to laugh, to cry, to eat lots of pel'meni and blini. I close with the wonderful poem by Robert Frost, which I think accurately describes my overall desire to study Russian and return for the third time to the Motherland...

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.	20