Quiet. Joan and Vanessa took me to Metropolis, the big new shopping centre a 15 minutes walk from here. All the big UK names, though generally more expensive than home. There is a big local supermarket which is cheaper than Billa, but you do have to walk home.
Friday night was interesting. There is an excellent Uzbekistan restaurant just down the road from school where we went about 6 and left between 9 and 10. Lots to drink and lots of chat. The belly dancer came round at about 8. She’s a regular. I sat back people watching, enjoying my meal. Some went into the city for the nightlife, but I headed back here. Everyone is really friendly.
Today even quieter. Vanessa has a bad leg, so can’t walk far. She did suggest going into the city, but then changed her mind and went into school. I’ve been for a long walk exploring the area and picking up food. It’s a grey day and muggy.
I have caught up some sleep so feel better and hopefully going to look at another flat tomorrow.
My impressions of Moscow
Where I am is green. The streets are wide with trees and green spaces. You often walk along paths set away from the traffic. It is also clean. Teams of street cleaners sweep the paths every morning. The hundreds of dogs use the green spaces. Most families seem to have a dog despite living in a flat. Some have country houses where they go at the weekends.
Yes there are lots of flats but it’s not oppressive. School people say the south is more built up and less green. Many of the buildings here were built for Stalin’s people so are roomy and light. Some are old fashioned, but they are being done up in a modern style. There are also new blocks being built. The hallways can be dark and smelly, but once inside are ok.
Walking around is interesting. There are lots of little stalls or booths all around the place. They are usually covered in with a tiny window for serving. Each one sells something different. One may sell fruit, another papers, cigarettes and booze and yet another groceries. It’s the best place to get fruit and veg. The root vegetables are usually covered in mud and all are odd sizes and colours. At the moment there are water melons being sold everywhere. They are huge. On the streets they are sold from open cages together with a local something, possibly squash. The biggest problem is, it’s one melon to two, far too big for me. There a large variety of fruit in the supermarkets and booths all at reasonable prices. I’m having to survive on pointing, but I did get some plums and tomatoes from a booth this afternoon. Yesterday, cake from a beautifully clean booth. About home prices so good for a treat.
Public transport is excellent. I’ve only used the 57 trolley bus, but the metro is 10 minutes away as is the tram. Yet to use either of those, but tomorrow after school we’re off to the medical centre with the staff from school 2, so a new adventure.
Cathy and Tracey (been here for a year, and new like me) are away with some people from Rosinka ( the BIS school beyond the city boundary) at a place called Suzdal. I’m hoping next weekend we can go out exploring together. Tracey has travelled a lot so may be game for an adventure. Cathy is interested in visiting St Andrew’s church, which is the c of e church here. We’re hoping to go to the morning service together soon. There may be a school trip to Ikea and I may be moving, so nothing is certain yet. I just take each day as it comes.
When I can I hope to find out how to load photos onto the blog, but though it said I’d uploaded it, it didn’t appear on the blog. Not easy to play at school, and yet to get the internet here. A problem to be solved. It may have to wait till I get home.
Apart from the family, I’m not missing much. Suddenly strictly doesn’t seem important, or the threatened postal strike – has that been resolved? A big bath towel and my flip flops need to come out and more t-shirts. It’s turning chilly here at the moment, but today is between 11 and 14 so my long sleeved shirts are fine. Come the winter summer shirts for indoors, layers for outside. The heating goes on when it has been below 7˚ for three days. Play ground duty is grim as it’s damp. I think it gets better when it gets colder and dryer.
Well I have survived my first week. This week will be different as Nadine goes to the states for her sister’s wedding so I have the whole class. Once she’s back then we can split the class and start in earnest. Lots to think about and lots to learn. I must concentrate on learning the alphabet to recognise places and shops, and some more basic words and phrases. I have thank you, spaszeeba, and please, pashalsta (well sometimes).
Cooking again tonight and I think we’re watching the History Boys on DVD. It was Mrs Henderson last night.
A new week begins.
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