Wishing for Summer

As I write this post it is currently -5F, but feels like -18F. I much prefer winter over summer, but every time the end of winter rolls around I can't help but want warm weather again. Honestly, I think winter would be much more bearable if the sun were out longer. The increased hours of darkness kill me, and I think I throw a little party every day, in my mind, when I realize it doesn't get dark until after 6pm now. Soon it will be 7, then 8, then eventually 11! Anyways, this post came about because I went back through my archives to see when it got warm last year. It was the middle of April last year when I was wearing a dress without a jacket or sweater! We are only two months away!

While I was at Innopolis Elmira and I decided to have a photoshoot around the "city." City is in quotes because there wasn't much around. This was actually a two day affair, and I still have more pictures from inside the university, but they are much more difficult to go through and edit. Plus, who doesn't want a reminder of the warm weather? The city isn't big, so I know you've probably seen these views in previous posts. We thought we were going to have to cut this photoshoot early, but it never rained, despite the menacing clouds in the distance. A rainbow even came out to visit us (you can see it in the 5th photo).

First Snow of the Year

Last Saturday (October 29) was our first snow of the year. I love snow, but I wasn't prepared for it coming so soon. I remember we got our first snowed in the middle of October last year, but I don't remember when the first BIG snow came. Since Saturday, it's snowed every day! I have a love/relationship with it. I love it because this time of year is my favorite, and it's really putting me in the Christmas mood! On the other hand I don't miss walking over uneven surfaces and risking a slip on ice because they don't remove it from the sidewalk.

An American Tries Russian Food

Two weeks ago in my adult intermediate English class I showed the Buzzfeed video "Americans Try Bizarre Russian Foods for the First Time." After the video they asked me if I had tried any of the foods because they wanted to know what I thought about it. I told them that I had actually never tried any of the food in the video. I have eaten Russian foods like borscht, blini and solyanka but that's about. One woman told me that she and her sister wanted to take me to try the foods. On Friday, after class, they took me to Ёлки-Палки (Yolki-Palki) so I could sample Russian food.

I've never been a picky person when it comes to food. There are three things I will not eat: milk, bacon, and raisins. I can have milk and bacon if they are in things, but I can't eat them alone, especially milk. Raisins are the one thing I will not eat, but I love craisins. Makes sense. So, I guess it isn't a huge feat for me to try these Russian foods since I am so open to trying new things.

The first dish is just herring with potatoes and onions. If you like fish you will like it. I love fish and seafood, so I thought it was pretty tasty.The second dish is Сало (Salo). This is basically just animal fat. It didn't taste bad it was just really hard to chew. I need jaw surgery to align my jaw correctly, so for me it was even harder to tear the food. I didn't feel so bad though because Zilya couldn't even cut through it with a knife. I was most intrigued to try this next dish. It was actually the first one I tried of the night. It is called Холодец (Kholodets) and it is jellied meat. Yes, jellied meat. In the video everyone thought that this was the most disgusting dish because of the texture. I was so nervous to try it, but I just went for it and to be honest it was actually good. They give you a SUPER hot mustard to put on it that makes your nose feel like it's on fire if you add too much, but I would recommend it.

The last one I tried was сельдь под шубой (sel'd' pod shuboy) also known as Dressed Herring or Herring Under a Fur Coat. It is a layered salad with diced salted herring covered with beets, chopped onions, and mayonnaise. This was actually my favorite dish. It sounds unappetizing, and most people who aren't Russian probably think it's disgusting, but I couldn't stop eating it. I'm pretty sure I could have eaten five plates of it.

They told me that they want to take me to other restaurants to try more national food. You get to look forward to more food posts. Now tell me, have you tried any of these dishes before? Would you try any of them?

Coveting Intangible Things

I don't know about you, but I like things. Well, let me rephrase that, I like pretty objects, but I don't like clutter. I tend to find myself surfing the web (is that even a phrase anymore or did I just bring back 1999?) or window shopping thinking of all the things I want. But lately I've been thinking of skills I want to possess that don't cost money.

Learning about how to acquire languages in my grad school classes made me really want to learn a language. If millions of people can be bilingual why can't I? I'm actually making a conscious effort, among all the stresses I already have, to learn Spanish. I have a basic understanding of the language, but I want to become fluent. I also have spent much time thinking about a zombie apocalypse and how, if you are on the run you don't care about those objects any more, you will rely on your skills.

I decided to make a list of things of intangible things I want to possess:

1. Spanish fluency

2. Ability to sew

3. Bible verse memorization

4. Calligraphy improvement

5. Web page design skills

6. Relearn the how to do the splits

7. French braid someone else's hair

8. Make a latte/espresso

9. Speed reading

10. Shoot a gun and hit a bulls eye

What are some intangible things you are coveting?

El Supermercado Mexicano

I really enjoy being back in school. However, I do not enjoy working two jobs, being in school, and actually being graded. I over stress when it comes to grades. Grades make me a terrible person. But let's not think about that. I particularly enjoy my two language classes. I don't really like my diversity class, but I thought I'd blog about it anyways since it got me to go out of my comfort zone.

For this class we had to do a field experience where we did something related to another culture that we were not familiar with to experience the traditions, values, and demographics. After the experience we needed to write about it on our class blogs. The most common thing for people to do is go to a religious service. I decided against that and wanted to go somewhere they spoke a different language since I want to work with English Language Learners eventually. I ended up going to La Mexicana, a Mexican grocery store in Painesville based on a recommendation from my friend who is Mexican.

My whole intention of going was to speak in Spanish However, I chicken out really easily when it comes to talking Spanish because I am so bad. I don't even like speaking Spanish to one of my best friends because I'm afraid he'll judge me for not being able to have a Spanish accent or role my R's. This field experience was really good for me though. It got me to understand what my future ESL students might be feeling in a country where they don't know the language. I was too intimidated to speak Spanish because I did not want the women working at the store to make fun of me! Pathetic, I know. It was like I had to give a presentation in high school all over again. But it really put me in the perspective of a student who may also be intimidated to speak, and it got me thinking of all the things I could do to make my classroom warm and inviting for someone who knows little to no English.

It was a bit of a culture shock walking into the store. It's a lot different than going to a Mexican Restaurant. I understood a lot of what I read because my Spanish is much better when I can see the words in front of me. For a while, I was the only white person. The only other white person that was in the store was fluent in Spanish, which made things even more intimidating. No one there treated me any differently, although where were a few kids who stopped and stared at me. Maybe I had something in my teeth? For a short while I did feel like I was in a different country. Everyone in the store was speaking Spanish, except a few children, of a the white woman, who went back and forth between Spanish and English. I liked being able to try to pick out words, but my understanding of spoken Spanish is the worst.

Towards the end of the trip I just wanted to get out of there because I just felt so out of place and I knew I wasn't going to speak Spanish. My cashier did seem to know very little English, but she still said "Have a good day" in English. I did manage to get out a "Gracias (Thank you)" and she answered me back with "De nada (You're welcome)." I must admit that was one of the most intimidating experiences I have ever lived through. I think it's time I experience more of a world outside of my white suburban hometown!

Image of my grocery store purchases came from my Instagram. You can view it here.