How cold is cold?

Ok, so I said I like the cold. Was I sane at the time, or maybe it just wasn't this cold? It's been hovering around 10 F for the past few days....plus a wind chill. Yes, I know my northerner friends are sighing right now, saying, "oh Ang, that isn't cold." Just try standing in it and waiting for a bus! It's stinkin cold! And I don't like it anymore!

I can hardly believe that last Thursday was Thanksgiving. I fully intended to write then, but time gets away from me. Yes, it was hard to be away, though I am somewhat used to that after four years away at college. I spent the day with Embassy friends out at Rosinka, which is mostly ex-patriots. We enjoyed turkey, stuffing, and potatoes, and then a nap on the floor before a good movie. It was a fun day. The one thing that surprised me: I thought I would finally have a white Thanksgiving in Russia, but no. It was just stinking cold! I did have to work on Friday, but I spent the rest of the weekend out of the city at Rosinka, where I was able to relax and read. It was honestly refreshing!

Being here for Thanksgiving did give me a new appreciation for my homeland. I have never been overly patriotic, and at time US policies and practices make me sick. At times, I would rather be the Australian than the American. But on Friday night, I attended a Hail and Farewell Party for the US Marines and their families. The compound here is the second largest for the US. (The largest is in Cairo!?) I dont't think of all the people -- not just the servicemen overseas -- who work for our country and don't spend the holidays on US soil. These people all function as one big family. It was the neatest thing to see the tears and hugs that were shared as one family said goodbye and as others joined the gang. It was truly American to see the support that we can give each other when away from the states -- it isn't something you necessarily see when you are in the states, but it is a strong common bond that joins us when we are away. I don't even work at the Embassy, but all those folks welcome me to all of their shindigs as one of their own. I am very appreciative. And I am proud to be an American!

It was an interesting month teaching about Thanksgiving as well....Russians don't really understand the concept of giving thanks. Especially when dealing with kids who have always been handed things on a silver platter. "Thanks" isn't really a part of their vocabulary the way it is a part of ours. What my lessons boiled down to was convincing kids to thank their parents for their computers and video games. Its wasn't my goal, but it was a start!

One more story: Last night, Derrick, Lydia, Sam and I went down to Gorky Park. I liked it much more this time. Nothing is opened, but they spray all of the walkways down and they freeze --a GIANT ice skating rink! The ponds all freeze too, so you can skate off of one pond, down to another, and then on that one....It was beautiful. The only problem was we didn't bring our skates (we don't have any) and the rental place was closed for the day. But we will return! I am attaching a photo of the four of us from Sunday when we sat around and laughed -- food for the soul. Good friends always are.