Kids really do say the darndest things!

Bill Cosby got it right…..kids really do say the darndest things! I am currently teaching kindergarten through 6th grade and one thing that I look forward to daily is the second when they open their mouths and all sorts of goofiness and wisdom pours out! I am so in love with their perspective!  Also, I am basically the only white person at school which does not bother me in the slightest regard; however, the kids have some very interesting views concerning this. I have put together a small collection of my favorite moments( this list is going to grow immensely in the future):

• I asked Syteirni what her favorite movie was. She replied, ” 101 Damnations!”
• “Miss Amy, are you a cowgirl?”-Isha-zayia( because I say “y’all”)
• “You can’t be our teacher, you are white!”- Taeshawn
• “You can’t be our teacher, you are a teenager!”-Isha-zayia
• “Miss Amy, your hair looks like a shark is about to eat your head!”- Sytierni
• “Man, I am so sick of these hommies. I have been with the same hommies since 1st grade!”- Alex( by the way, he is in 2nd grade)
• “Miss Amy, do you have a sugar daddy?”-Naeshawn
• “I am going to be a unicorn doctor when I grow-up!”- Petra
• “I am going to be a vegetarian when I grow up!”-Petra( she meant veterinarian)
• “I am going to be a liar when I grow up.”-Aniyah( she meant to say “lawyer”….I think she was right the first time).
• “Miss Amy, can I call you ‘Miss’?”-Sytierni….” No, you can call me ‘Miss Amy’ though.-Me “Miss Amy, can I call you ‘Constancezzelfashionessencia’?(Thought but did not say….” Sytierni, if you can remember that whole thing than sure!”)
• “My parents held hands once so now my mom is going to have twins.”- Stacy
• “Miss Amy, how old are you?”- Ikie-yaonna “23″-Me ” How many kids do you have?”- Ikie-yaonna ” Well, I don’t have any kids yet.”- Me ” You are 23 and you don’t have any kids!!!?!! What is wrong with you?!”- Ikie-yaonna
• “Miss Amy, why do you paint your skin so white?”-Isha
• “You look like Snow White….except way whiter!” -Ikie
• “I am going to marry Miss Amy when I grow-up!”-Devo
• “I am going to marry Miss Amy, too!”-Giovanni
• “Well, I am going to marry Miss Amy too!”- Daijhon
• “I am going to marry Miss Amy and Sini and Journey and Dominique!”-Devo
• “I like your nailpolish Miss Amy! Red is your color!”- Devo( 3 yr. old boy)
• “Miss Amy are you married?” Devo “No.”- Me “You should wear different clothes.”-Devo

And there is so much more where that came from!! I love these awesome kiddos!

A few old thoughts concerning “Time”….

The beginning of the year always makes me think of “Time” and usually with the theme of there not being enough of it! This year I went through some of my old journals and poems and I found two poems/ thoughts/ stories/ thingy’s concerning elusive time. I am always humbled when I read some of the stuff that I wrote when I was little because I used to be so much wiser! It is funny how life works….I think that kids have a much clearer concept of how the world should function….kids just are not so overwhelmed with details….anway…..I just figured that I would share them with you….maybe they will change your thought process today….

This is one I wrote in 7th grade while sitting on a bench in the woods at Holly Lake on Thanksgiving:

A man walks through the the woods,
Not searching for anything, or running…
Simply taking his time, stopping to smell
the sweet scent of Pine trees, hear
the birds sing their melodious tune, watch
the golden leaves of change float
in sweet descent to the welcoming ground!
It is a simple life….beautiful, rather.

He takes from his pocket the brilliant gold pocket-watch that his father left him.
The battery has been dead for years
But he keeps it for the security of knowing there is time.

He has many things to do….
Clean out the gutter, fix the kitchen chair, fashion the toy train his nephew wants for Christmas……
Still, he takes the time to enjoy the beauty set before him…
Knowing that his Father will supply the time for the rest!

This is another poem that I wrote around the same time. It is not really finished and I think it might win the award for the longest run-on sentence ever….but I figured I would share it with you anyway:

There is a ticking clock in every breath
And time will one day fade
To nothing more than memories
Of lives that could not stay…

And all our words of roses
And all our deeds so kind
Will all amount to nothing
When faced with Father Time. 

For nothing sustains permanence
Upon this battered side…
No birds or beasts or mountains tall
Or rivered valleys wide… 

But beyond the open pastures,
Above the mountains tall,
Far reaching over every sight
The eye could ere recall… 

The soul has found forever
Upon another land
That’s wrapped in Golden Glory
Where only Blameless stands.

So, there are a few of my old silly thoughts about time…..hope you enjoy!

I’m Back!!

Alright, I must apologize for being such a hermit for the past few months. I have, quite literally, been swamped by life and writing has been the last thing on my mind. Anyway, I plan to be much better in the future…that is the plan at least!

Since we talked last I have:

• been part of the entertainment crew for the Frisco Rough Riders
• been a professional mascot
• taught 100 kindergardeners summer school using theatre as a means of teaching
• participated in a concert with my three lovely sisters
• moved to Colorado
• work as the Director of Kids Hope USA
• started mentoring an awesome 4th grader named Petra
• starred as a 1940′s fluesy in “Swingtime Canteen”
• started teaching Piano
• started teaching at Margery Reed Mayo in Denver
• took my non-4-wheel-drive 4-Runner on an incredibly steep Jeep Trail in Silverton, CO
• camped on a beach in Nebraska( I know….who knew?!)
• cut down the greatest Charlie-Brown-Christmas-Tree with Scotty
• and  participated in infinite other oddities and activities

That is the Reader’s Digest run-down…I will fill you in further in the next few posts!

And the Adventures Continue…

Dear Friends and Loyal Readers( haha….if there are any still left out there),

I am so sorry….but you just cannot get rid of me! God has blessed me with an all-too-interesting life and my many zany adventures were not confined to the Motherland. Nope, the adventures have continued and are just as crazy, awkward, and unbelievable as they ever were…..the only difference is that now they are in English! Since returning to the Homeland I have had tons of fun readjusting to the American culture and commodities( Grocery Stores are a gift from God). I have worked countless extremely odd jobs. I have been to Colorado…a couple times. I have been skydiving, Rocky Mountain climbing, and I have been two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu( actually it was one of those wobbly playground animals with the springs that you sit on and rock back and forth on….but…hey….I can dream can’t I?)!

There is a new and exciting adventure everyday and I will try my hardest to be better about informing you of such adventures in the future!

You are awesome and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Amy

P.S. You get 5 gold stars for actually reading this!

Things I am looking forward to…

Ok, so I am getting ready to leave the Motherland and I must admit….I am not exactly a Happy Camper about this! I know that God is truly good in all things and  that this is for a purpose….but I am having a selfish moment and wishing that His plan was for me to stay! Well, my parents are some of the wisest people in this world and they have always told me that “HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE!” So, it has been my lot in life to wake up each day and choose joy. It is always amazing how looking for the positive in painful situations can truly change your entire outlook and ease the pain significantly! So, right now as I make my preparations to leave Russia I am thinking of all the blessings I have had while I have been here and focusing on the wonderful things that I am looking forward to in America! Just in case you are interested……here are a few of the things that I am most looking forward to in America:

• Seeing my wonderful family and friends…..oh my goodness, I cant wait!
• Smiling!!! I cannot wait to see smiles!
• FOOD! If I never see another potato or grechka again I think I would be ok! I can’t wait to eat fruits and vegetables!
• Going to church and not having a headache afterwards from trying to translate everything! It will be so wonderful to listen to the sermons with ease!
• Sunshine!!!!!
• Fellowship with believers
• I can’t wait to see rain again! The first time I see rain you better believe I will be frolicking around in it!
• Grocery stores…..it will be so nice to have everything I need in one place!
• Cashiers that will make change!
• Not worrying that I will be stopped by the police everyday for my documents!
• It will be nice to hear English.
• Driving! I am going to have to take a mini-road trip soon!
• A BED!!!! I have not had a real one of those in months!
• WALKING BAREFOOT!
• Green things…..like grass and trees….and oh man, if I could see some flowers as well….goodness gracious, that would just be beyond awesome!
• wearing dresses! I love jeans and t-shirts but I cant wait to put on a dress again!
• flat/paved streets
• printers and functioning internet
• DRINKABLE WATER
• Sitting down to read a book in English
• getting to teach theatre in my own language….although it has been really fun trying to teach it in Russian!
• MOVIES!!! I am so excited about seeing English movies!

Really, there are so many things that I am looking forward to….these were just a few. God is good in all things and every single cloud has a silver lining!

In the words of Grant Gubser, “What is this, Russia?!”

My days have been very funny. Russia never ceases to amaze and surprise me! Two weeks ago, I went to work with my awesome kiddos from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and it was Muslim New Year so it was all kinds of crazy. Then while I was teaching a Russian film crew came in and started filming. They didn’t really say anything…they just filmed everything so I don’t really know what that was all about. My kids were exceptionally awesome that day, though! We rehearsed and played theatre games for  around 7 hours and they did not get distracted at all…..it was pretty incredible! I love them….they are such wonderful people and so funny!

After that I was walking home and I noticed that this man was following me. I stopped by a church to see if he would walk past me but he stopped with me and started talking to me. I was stupid and I spoke Russian with him( I probably should have just pretended not to understand him).  Anyway, I kept on walking and he kept on following me so I just took a different train and went to a far away train station and then took another train to another crazy station and then just to make sure that I had lost him( or thoroughly confused him) I took another train to another crazy place and then my Russian friend that I met on the bus from Finland called me to say that she was in town for the evening and she wanted to know if I wanted to hang out. I was really tired because work had gone so long but I did not want to go home just yet (just in case) and I really wanted to see her too! So, I met up with her and she took me to the Russian version of a Honky Tonk. She is a ton of fun! She showed up wearing cowboy boots and a pirate hat! She makes bows and arrows and she performs in a Western and Viking show for a living! Their troupe actually offered me a job with them! Haha….they want me to be a Viking and then they want me to be the Indian Princess for the pow-wow part of their Western show…….that just made me laugh really hard!

Anyway, this “Honky Tonk” was one of the most fun yet surreal experiences of my life!  I was really confused as to what country I was in…..there were American flags all over the place( Texas flags and Confederate Flags)!They sang some country songs in “English” but most of the songs were sung in Russian with a country accent…..let me just tell you, you have not lived until you have heard Russian in a country accent…..it is just all kinds of amazing! All the people there were dressed up in their idea of a western outfit, too…..it was so hysterical! There was one Russian man there who had a gun and he would fire it at the end of every song. Then, I got to teach line dancing to everyone….that was so much fun! They offered me a job too( it was a great night for employment opportunities…haha)! Russians are so much fun when they are dancing…..they are completely shameless….they don’t care about looking good or dancing well….they just move around like crazy people and have a great time…..it is sooo much fun!  There was one man that kept asking( by “asking” I mean that he would grab my arm and pull me onto the dance floor with him) me to dance. He was a hoot! He was really a pretty unpredictable dancer and was quite hard to follow….he ended up just flinging me around…but it was still quite fun! He was also funny because the whole time he kept saying, ” You are perfect, I love you!” He was your typical Russian fellow…haha….but I am not complaining! At one point the band started playing this Irish sounding song and the Russians broke out into their own version of River dance…..it was awesome! It evolved into this big kicking circle and then randomly someone would go into the center and “clog.” It was quite fun! It was also really wonderful because my friend, Tanya, did not pressure me to drink and then she decided not to drink either…..so we just had lemonade….that was great! It was just a really surreal experience….it did not feel like I was in Russia anymore….but it didn’t feel like I was home either….it was just funny.

On the way home Tanya and I were on the train and these three drunk men came and piled on top of my lap…they were too drunk to be harmful….it was just funny. Tanya and I politely pushed them off and then went on our way….they serenaded us with a very slurred Russian song as we left….it was a funny ending to a funny day. Oh Russia! I love you!

The Ugly Side

Alright, I truly debated writing this post but came to the conclusion that I would not really be giving a very true-to-form depiction of my time here if I did not acknowledge every aspect of it…..good and bad. The statements that I am about to make do not reflect all Russians by any means….some of the most hospitable and warm-hearted people that I have met have been Russians…in general; however, I have observed that Russians have a severe problem with racism. If someone is of a different race, skin pigment, or looks slightly foreign they are instantly targeted by police and looked down upon by others. On the Eve of Woman’s Days I witnessed this in the worst of ways. I was walking home late that night and I saw two Russian police men throw two Asian boys against a car. The boys were pleading with the police but they just started beating them….first with their fists and then with bats. I have never felt so disgusted and helpless in my life! I quite literally felt like I was going to throw up after seeing this! I ran and ducked into a 24 hour shop to gather my thoughts and to make a phone call. A few minutes later the same two police men walked in and their bats were dripping blood all over the floor.

This past week was a rough one for Saint Petersburg. There were two suicide bombings in Moscow on Monday, two in Dagestan on Wednesday, and one near the border of Chechnya on Thursday. The racist( sometimes disguised as “terrorist”) issues are starting to culminate and bite them in the butt. President Medvedev is promising harsher measures and punishments but I think it is just making things worse. “Violence produces violence,” Zakayev( a Chechen rebel) said in an interview with Associated Press Television News. “A huge state can’t terrorize the population for 15 years without a backlash. People involved in that suffer a shift in their psychology.” This past week the Russian military and police have been out around town in great numbers. On my walk home one night this week, I could not go anywhere without seeing a person of Asian, African, or Middle Eastern descent being stopped by police( usually it is just to see their documents and give them a fine).

It is a very sticky situation. I hurt for Russia right now and the families and friends affected by the bombings. I also hurt for those living here who are abused and discriminated against on a daily basis. Neither side is right……everyone is at fault in some capacity. I love this country and ALL of its inhabitants and it is my prayer that God will heal the hatred and hurt that is so prevalent in this, the Motherland.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100401/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_bombings

Three inches of Hope

As you know from my previous frozen tales and mishaps….St. Petersburg has been quite chilly this year! The other day on the way to school I saw a tiny patch( about three inches) of pure hope! There, buried beneath layers of snow and ice, was a tiny little plop of green( well, really it was kind of a slimy brown color…but to me it was the most beautiful green I have ever seen)! If I had had a camera with me at the time I would certainly have taken a picture…..it really was a momentous occasion! It is amazing how something so miniscule as three inches of green can completely make your day! I love seeing God’s hand in the really simple things in life!

The sun is starting to shine again and the people of St. Petersburg seem to have a whole new lot on life! I think everyone was about to explode from the crazy long winter and darkness but everyone seems to be able to breath easy now! I even got a smile from a babushka on the street the other day! Greatest moment ever!

Timeless Tallinn

I am absolutely in love with Tallinn, Estonia! I think I might even venture to say that this is my favorite city on this side of the world! It has a perfect blend of old and new culture( the Old Town is perfectly preserved from the Medieval ages….complete with castles, towers, great halls, and cobblestone streets….and the modern side of town look like any other city)! There will be more details to follow but for now here are a few of the things that I enjoyed while in Tallinn:

• I got to walk around all of Tallinn…..it is absolutely beautiful!
• I got to eat a wonderful Medieval meal at a Castle/ Tavern. The waitstaff was dressed in the traditional clothing and in the corner loft there were four musicians serenading us the whole evening with beautiful Medieval music. It was lovely! The menu also came in 5 different languages but it really did not matter what language you picked….they were all confusing! They wrote it in the old Medieval dialect and it was rather non-sensical! I ordered something called “The Vegetable Dainties” and was thoroughly made fun of( which is to be expected when you order a medieval meal with the word “Dainty” in it). It was vegetarian and it was oh-so-good!
• I went with a German, a Norwegian, and a Virginian but we all spoke Russian the whole time….my brain was really exhausted by the end of the trip!
• We got to climb up this castle tower….it was lovely and such fun but the stairs were made for giants! I am really quite tall but the stairs came up to my knees, they were winding, and they were very thin so it was a bit of an olympic event trying to reach the top.
• We walked everywhere and one day we decided to take a walk through the park……turned out that the snow was far deeper than we expected! I sank to my knees in some places and my waist in others! Also, I was a genius and had decided that I would just wear tights and a dress that day(laundry day). I was thoroughly soaked and a bit chilly!
• At the end of the park there was a large stone wall and instead of venture back the way we came we decided to press onward and just climb over the wall! I absolutely love to climb things…..but I must tell you…it is very difficult to be lady like when scaling a stone wall in a dress!
• As we were walking an Estonian New Crew stopped me for an interview…..as soon as they realized that I did not really speak Estonian they just smiled and said “Thank you” and moved on.
• After that we walked down to the Gulf of Finland. At this point there was no way that I could have gotten any wetter so I decided( I dont always use my brain….common sense goes out the window when adventure is in sight) that I would become a member of the Polar bear club and go into the Gulf of Finland! Well, there was a large snow hill that led down to the Gulf and it was so deep…..I sank to my waist. Betsy was kind enough to hold my camera and I managed to climb out of the snow. I then decided that the most effective and fastest way to get down to the Gulf would just be to roll! So, I laid down on the snow and rolled all the way down….that was quite fun!
• Once I got down to the Gulf I stepped out onto some frozen sheets of ice and then stuck my arms through the cracks in the ice to the water below….it was not nearly as cold as I was expecting! After that I just stepped in the water( boots and all) and walked back to the shore/ hill.
• We went to a home-made chocolate shop……be still my heart! It was really fun because all of the chocolates were named after plays! I had a “Romeo and Juliet”….I thought the name was fitting because it was wondrously romantic for my taste-buds but more-than-likely rather tragic for my waistline!
• We went to the Estonian Occupation Museum which showcased the history of all the countries that have previously occupied Estonia. It was really quite interesting.
• On Sunday I got to go to a bit of the church service in St. Olav’s church…or as I like to call it….the “Lightning Rod Church.” From 1549-1625 this was the tallest building in the world. The spire alone is 159 meters which subsequently attracted many lighting bolts in its history! At any rate, the service was wonderful!
• We went to the world’s oldest pharmacy. In the back they have Medieval remedies like “burnt bees” and “powdered unicorn horn.”
• Side note….Skype was invented in Tallinn!
• I got to teach the “Amos Moses” line dance to my German friend in the middle of Tallinn Square! That was quite fun! Haha…I knew my Wind River Square-Dance days would pay off!
• We got to see a boy juggle and eat fire.

Really, Tallinn was rich with memories and adventures! It was such a beautiful and peaceful place and I definitely plan on returning in the future!

Finnish Facts

Here are a few facts/ observations that I made while in Finland:

• They have a very different concept of nudity.
• They have a Swimming Hall here where bathing suits are optional. In fact, bathing suits were NOT EVEN LEGAL until 2001! Luckily, they do have separate swimming times for men and women, Haha…..I decided I would wait till I got back to America to go swimming! ☺
• The have assigned seats in movie theatres and they are quite strict about it, too!
• It is amazing how much can be communicated through body language and intonation! I got locked into the movie theatre and had a conversation with two other Finnish ladies. I just nodded my head and said, “Oi!” but I could tell what they were saying by their body language and expression/intonation. And they thought that I understood everything they were saying. It was really quite funny!
• The Finnish word for “where?” is Messå.” This is very useful!
• Finnish artists like to imitate Picasso and his style.
• In Helsinki they have an annual Elvis-Look-A-Like contest!
• Finnish style is VERY unique
• Helsinki is very pleasant at night. I went walking around the city and it was so still and peaceful. Also, I discovered that I am way too easily entertained for my own good…..as I was walking around I started singing(out loud) about everything that I was observing……and also about nothing.
• (To the tune of “The Streets of Lorado”) “As I walked out on the streets of Helsinki, I began to thinky, if you forget your floaties you might sinky, and that would be stinky….so if you come to Helsinki….dont be all dinky and forget your floaties or you will sinky and which would really be stinky because I would miss you!” Yep….look for it at the top of the music charts…..I am thinking this is a real show stopper!
• From what I was told, the Finnish language has 16 cases and no real verbs. Interesting. Not sure I am going to be able to add Finnish to my list of languages!
• Finnish sounds kind of like English if you held onto your tongue while you talked after you have had too much to drink and you have the hiccups……or maybe it sounds like and Indian under water. It is a really fun and unique sound!
• Finland is much more relaxed than Russia and the people smile!

Well, thats all for now……this post is Finnished( haha……sorry….I just could not help myself)!