Good question. It's hard to come by here in Moscow and on a rare day when the sun does come out, it's about -10 (Celsius, that is, but still cold, brrrr). Snowed all day again yesterday, I swear we must have about 4, maybe close to 5 feet of snow on the ground. If I'm exaggerating, it's not by much. Oh well. Lots of time to read and thesisize. :)
Right now I've got about 3 pages done on the thesis. I've said repeatedly that my main academic goal for the semester is to finish a working first draft so I can spend the summer doing revisions. I don't pretend that my work will be publishable by any means, but I'd like to know that if I do a good job with my thesis, I can maybe then rewrite it so it can be published. I love classes, but at the same time am pretty much at the point where it's now time to take everything I've learned in 7 years of trying to understand verbs of motion, let alone PREFIXED vom and apply myself to research. I do love to read and write and I'm sure I can find several topics which I might like to develop into an article or, (I'm being super optimistic here), a dissertation prospectus. I'd love to do research on pretty much anything from Soviet cartoons to the Gulag to the stylistics of a favorite Russian author, etc.
Talking of classes, I'm only in class once a week at the moment, but am still trying to keep up with all the readings, mostly for linguistics, but just got a seminar assignment for my Russian music class. Totally managable, with some very interesting topics like "cvoi" and "chuzhoi" in Russian musical culture, origins and development of art in drevnii Ruc', and so on. My listening comprehension is getting better by the day, as is my reading. Still working on trying to increase my vocabulary, but not trying to overdo it. I know my strengths and my limitations.
Outside of academics, I'm enjoying a very busy social life. Choir is going well, staying at church (I gave up going to the Diner for Lent, but I'm afraid I may fall off the wagon, LOL...). And yes, for those of you who don't know (which I suspect by this point is probably only one or two of you, hehe) I'm dating a cute Russian girl named Nina. It's nice to be in a relationship, and also nice that it has in no way detracted me from my studies. All in all, a healthy balance of linguistics, God, and good friends.
I can't believe I've been back for three weeks already. Seems like just yesterday I was home, waking up at ungodly hours but elated to be home. Looking forward to another brief respite in the Throp before I go back to Vermont and wow Middlebury with my thesis. :) It will be very difficult to leave Russia, possibly for the last time, but I still have four months to enjoy to the fullest, so my dear Moscow friends, you don't need to miss me just yet. JT is sticking around for some laughs, some great music, and, it goes without saying but I will anyway, Strategic Command. "Welcome to hell!" (inside joke, no need to look shocked, hahaha)
Talk soon, everyone! Sending you my love from the Motherland! Do keep writing back! :)
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