Tea outside
The weather here is starting to warm up. The boys and I have put aside our winter coats and boots, but are still wearing what we call our fall jackets, and sometimes a scarf and mittens. Today we all came home without the jackets on. Spring is definitely coming as the crocuses are starting to come out at school, although there are no buds on the trees yet.
This week at school has been particularly busy as I and the Elementary Student Council have been organizing the spirit week that coincides with the Central Asian Basketball Classic Tournament that the school is hosting in the newly built gym. (Don't know if I mentioned that I am the Elementary Student Council advisor also...) Monday was crazy hair day, today was blue n white day along with the pep assembly, and tomorrow will be twin day. The elementary is much more excited about all of this than the secondary, and everyone is coming dressed up - most classes have 100% participation!
It has been a fun week and Didzis and Namejs have been enjoying it too. They both have been planning the dressing up since last week. Yesterday I geled both their hair into interesting patterns, Didzis had many small little horns, and Namejs had something like a mohawk. Namejs even put his blue n white clothing in a special place last week so that Nona would not move it. This morning he woke up at 5:30 and came in and woke me up all dressed and excited for the blue n white day to begin. Tomorrow both of them have pre-organized twins/triplets for twin days. Thursday and Friday the kids have no school, but the teachers have an inservice about teaching English Language Learners.
Today, I came home and made dinner during a power outage. Then after a while, I went to let my landlords, Nona and Ahat, know that the boys would be home on Thursday and Friday. We started talking and then they invited me to sit down for tea. We pulled up a small table with several chairs outside in their courtyard, and began chatting. Soon the boys joined in. Suddenly homemade jam (upenu!), chocolates, and candied dried apricots made their way to the table.
We spoke in an interesting combination of English and Russian. I realized the boys and I understand a fair bit of Russian and can make ourselves understood quite well. It was nice to just sit and talk without the pressures of work and life coming in. We all talked about welcoming the coming spring, and looking forward to the green that would covering our respective gardens soon. Namejs was ready to go to bed after a while, so I went in with him. Didzis stayed, and comfortably finished his tea. He feels safe and good with Nona and Ahat. It is nice to feel that we have something like family right next door.
This week at school has been particularly busy as I and the Elementary Student Council have been organizing the spirit week that coincides with the Central Asian Basketball Classic Tournament that the school is hosting in the newly built gym. (Don't know if I mentioned that I am the Elementary Student Council advisor also...) Monday was crazy hair day, today was blue n white day along with the pep assembly, and tomorrow will be twin day. The elementary is much more excited about all of this than the secondary, and everyone is coming dressed up - most classes have 100% participation!
It has been a fun week and Didzis and Namejs have been enjoying it too. They both have been planning the dressing up since last week. Yesterday I geled both their hair into interesting patterns, Didzis had many small little horns, and Namejs had something like a mohawk. Namejs even put his blue n white clothing in a special place last week so that Nona would not move it. This morning he woke up at 5:30 and came in and woke me up all dressed and excited for the blue n white day to begin. Tomorrow both of them have pre-organized twins/triplets for twin days. Thursday and Friday the kids have no school, but the teachers have an inservice about teaching English Language Learners.
Today, I came home and made dinner during a power outage. Then after a while, I went to let my landlords, Nona and Ahat, know that the boys would be home on Thursday and Friday. We started talking and then they invited me to sit down for tea. We pulled up a small table with several chairs outside in their courtyard, and began chatting. Soon the boys joined in. Suddenly homemade jam (upenu!), chocolates, and candied dried apricots made their way to the table.
We spoke in an interesting combination of English and Russian. I realized the boys and I understand a fair bit of Russian and can make ourselves understood quite well. It was nice to just sit and talk without the pressures of work and life coming in. We all talked about welcoming the coming spring, and looking forward to the green that would covering our respective gardens soon. Namejs was ready to go to bed after a while, so I went in with him. Didzis stayed, and comfortably finished his tea. He feels safe and good with Nona and Ahat. It is nice to feel that we have something like family right next door.
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