TAW veteran dropping in!

Hello Rusmeister and welcome! I\'m sure I speak for many here in wondering how you came to be living in Russia? Can you tell us about yourself and your life. I\'d love to hear all about your experiences so far. Is this permanent or temporary or something in between? Thanks, Elizaveta/Lorraine

Hi E/L! (Which do you prefer?) The incredibly short version is that I studied Russian, married one, bounced back and forth for years before settling. Have 3 kids, one is now a teen. Experiences - too many. You know the ancient Chinese curse - \\"May you live in interesting times.\\"? I have survived the 1991 coup, traveled on my own in the dark in the rain on foot in the Russian heartland boonies, been arrested for no reason at all, stripped naked and shook down for money by friendly local law enforcement, just totaled the family car (other guy\'s fault), and that\'s just the icing on the cake! I am a career professional (w/useless state certification) teaching English (EFL) to Russians and love it, and trying to teach my kids to be as American as humanly possible in a foreign land. Was chrismated 5 years ago, still learning the faith - v e r y s l o w l y, because it is partly via Old Church Slavonic and partly via the internet... Appreciate any and all prayers. Holding my family together (myself, first of all - the man needs to be the rock) has always been a challenge, but we\'ve made it through 17 years so far!

you gotta write a BOOK about all this, Rus....in your abundant spare time.....

Hee-hee. It\'s summertime. When the school year starts, I am forced to do something productive... Seriously, I\'m really depressed about the car right now. Appreciate prayers to restore the joy of my salvation and to stop funking over worldly downturns...