The day started off pretty much like any other, classes in the morning, lunch and then a break. As I went downstairs for my usual afternoon coffee which is when the kids have their snack time, I was told that is was Aisha's birthday and we would be singing to her and having birthday cake. Aisha is in my middle group and has just turned 4. It's certainly interesting to see how different cultures celebrate different things. Firstly, all the other kids make a ci...

What a win! While gulping down my morning coffee, one of the teachers asked where I was off it using hand gestures and of course speaking in Russian. I mentioned I was on my way to Moscow for the day and she said something to me but of course I had no clue what it was. As I was waiting at my usual spot on the side of the road for the bus, I saw one of the other teachers walking towards me. I guess the first teacher was trying to tell me that Galia was also go...

As I started my first lesson of the afternoon, I saw a lady walk in and sit down to watch me. As I turned to look at her again, I recognised her as the one lady I had an interview with on skype, my boss! I wasn't aware of her coming over to the school. Not that it made much of a difference to me but it would have been nice to know. I found out afterwards that she only comes to the school about once a week as there are other schools she goes to the other days ...

Woke up to grey skies! Russia welcomed me with warm weather and beautiful autumn shades but after four days of being in the country, it decided I needed to know what was to come, so out went the blue skies and they were replaced with grey skies, a soft drizzle and a cold wind. Cold enough for me to have to put on a jacket and a scarf as I headed outdoors. I wasn't going to let the cold or the ever so slight drizzle get me down and I wanted to explore my surroun...

My first trip into the city and wow, what a trip it was! Just getting there is an adventure on its own. Fom the estate, I need to walk approximately 1km to get to the "bus stop". It's not an actual bus stop so all I really need to do is stand on the side of the road and wave down the bus as it comes past. The bus ride is 30 minutes to the next destination which is the train station. From there, it's a train to Moscow which is only about 20 minutes but the tr...