Note to self: do not try and flush dead cockroaches down a Russian shower drain…the drains are much smaller than those in the states and the cockroach will not go down the drain. He will just sit there in the elbow of the drain with the dead antennae poking out- taunting you with his cockroachy deadness. I may be Smelly Melissa for the rest of this trip.
Last night (yes, I realize I am posting this at 4am...I need more sleep!)...I went to the young adult/singles/young married bible study that ICF has. IT is hosted at The Fisher's residence (ha! which I found thanks to google maps). They have three adorable children-for whom I managed to procure some space stuff earlier today at work. They were so cute when they saw it-and kept saying they are going to be astronauts (the oldest is 6). Aww kids and space.
The group usually does a big dinner (potluck style) together and then reads and discusses a passage in the bible. In honor of St. Patrick's Day- Rachel, the resident Irish woman, made stew, and soda bread (with Irish butter) and Irish cookies...and a green cake (not 'Irish'). Then we discussed Phillipians 2:5-11. What an awesome experience to discuss God's Word with peopel from all different countries and situations. (Thanks to Emily for these pictures).
Not everything is bigger in Texas...some of it is the same size in Moscow...like...you guessed it...cockroaches...the one in my shower...which is currently dead under a pile of the powdered Tide detergent that the last room inhabitant left (God bless that person!) and my travel can of hairspray...those were the only chemical agents I could find in this room...(and believe me, the fire extinguisher WAS considered...).
So the ADCO on console today (Todd- see, there's your credit) made the following comment about me: "You should come with a warning".
In context, he was referring to my penchant to gesticulate wildly when I talk (something that several people over my lifetime have brought up). Taken out of context...I find this comment wicked hilarious. Of course, I told him this and in true Melissa fashion, proceeded to point out the other areas this statement could be applied to: my randomness, my dorkiness, my quirkiness (yes, I have learned to embrace all of these). Ha, I'm still giggling about it it..."you should come with a warning".
So my neat freak roommates who have guilted me into becoming a neater more tidier person?Yeah...it SO did not stick. :D...I had to pick up the other day because I was thinking, "wow, I think I would be embarrassed for housekeeping to come in here". Ah....untidiness... (hehe, I can hear many of you groaning right now...aww, she was sooo close!).
It was actually a pretty quiet weekend- I know, I know, disappointing to all you folks who told me to go here or there...but it is cold here and I don't do well with long periods in the cold...
On Friday night a group of us went to this great Indian resturant here...I'm the only woman out here right now from work, so its been an adjustment back to "hanging with the guys". But we had a good time...excellent Indian food.
On Saturday I slept in and then hit Ismalova with my co-worker Nik. He had never been and I had a few things to pick up as well. And then I was coordinating a rendezvous (ha, I almost wrote that "rndz"...you work people will find that funny) spot with a friend of Dustin and Megan's (my caregroup leaders) to go to church with today. Unfortunately both the places he mentioned I couldn't picture in my head, so I trekked out to find them. Plus, I had no feel for how long it would take to get there...but I found the big plastic cow we were supposed to meet at :)
I got to go to church for the first time ever while being in Moscow today. The church is called International Christian Fellowship. I met up with Jason and we headed over there. It is such a cool experience to worship with believers from all over the world. Today was pretty neat because it was Children's Day...so the junior and senior high school aged youth ran the service. They have a bible study that meets on Tuesday nights and I am planning on going to that as well. And Sunday was topped off by dinner with a group of guys at the "Raxat Lukum" Uzbek restaurant that I really really REALLY like. Yummy hachipuri (amazing cheesy bread) and shashlikh (shish-kebab).
Here's to launching tonight! Go Discovery!
