You’ll be pleased to know that I remembered how to tie my tie and dress like an adult. One of the problems with wearing shorts and sweatpants every day is that you never get those subtle cues about gaining weight. I wear pants with elastic, no belts, and no shirts that have to be buttoned at the collar. So you can imagine my glee this morning when my pants felt loose, my belt had to be introduced to a new hole, and I could put two fingers down my buttoned top button. This walking every day for hours seems to have some direct advantages in addition to learning my way around town. We had a hurried breakfast and were out the door at 7:10 and at the school at 7:22, no traffic and I found the last teacher parking spot right next to the school.
People who I know have walked right by me today, not recognizing me dressed up and not expecting to see me at AAS. My interview went well and I made a point of letting everyone know that I was to be considered a substitute of last resort. I told them that I was retired and really didn’t want to work very much but as a member of the AAS community, I wanted to contribute when it was needed. They also asked if I might be interested in teaching an after school culinary arts class and doing fundraising with my history of wine program, and of course I said yes.
Cindy and I went to her cafeteria for a coffee and I suddenly realized that I would like to take her to work every day! What a place. Think fresh pastries from Vienna, great espresso from Italy and 1980 prices!! We shared a cheese puff pastry and I had an espresso in a heated espresso cup and it came to about two dollars. All the food is prepared on site and it is all subsidized by the school so that the quality is top notch and the prices rock bottom. I don’t know why I bother to make her lunch! Since it was still morning they were still serving breakfast, which meant fresh eggs, bacon, blinis, cereals, fruits and a host of other goodies, not counting the pastries. Such a deal!
It is now six pm and we have just returned from a long day at the school. Traffic was a nightmare coming home due to a humdinger of an accident. One car across two lanes of traffic and two others blocking a third, leaving one lane open. What a mess. Once pass that, everything was a breeze. I must say, I miss not having my walk today, although climbing four flights of stairs five times today at AAS such helps with the exercising and explains how Cindy has lost five pounds.
If you are interested in seeing more of AAS you can visit their webpage and click on Facilities to see how beautiful and modern this school really is. www.aas.ru
We received information on how we can sponsor visitors as Guest of the Embassy. We had thought it would be a very easy procedure but it really isn’t and will require a bit of work on the part of anyone who wants to visit, not to mention having to pay $140 each. The visas are good for 90 days and you can come and go twice in that period. You’ll need to allow six weeks for the process to work though the machinations of the Russian Ministry and US Embassy, but in the end, it is a much better option that doing it by yourself.
Cindy is too tired to write and now that I see what her days are like, I can certainly understand why.
Best to all, Cindy and Wm
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