Things I notice

There are few things I have noticed since I have arrived in Russia.
1. Abby is a little copy of my mum.

2. The best way to see fireworks is on the roof of the 17th storebuilding.

3. I have a family in Mongolia. That makes me a little bit Asian, I guess...

4. The best food is at restaurant "Mou Mou". That means when I am feeding Abby it is...Restaurant "Mou Mou"^2

5. It helps to take little Marusya (local name for Marie) to different public offices. How can one be unnoticed with such a smile?

Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

Besides being the title of one of my favorite U2 songs, it also nicely sums up my wishes and the situation at the present time. I've had to send my girls to Moscow in order for Zhenya to sort out the things that need sorting out with Russian authorities. Do I like that I had to send them away? No. Do I wish they could stay here? Yes. Was it absolutely necessary they went? Unfortunately yes. However, I keep reminding myself that this is for the greater good of our little math family and that this will be the only time we are apart like this. While they are away I bury myself in work to keep my mind occupied and not to miss them too much - although I do miss them very much.

It is not all misery though as we fortunately live in 2008 and not 1998. This means a wonderful thing like video phone calls over Skype make it possible to follow the adventures of our girls even when they are far, far away. The highlight of my day comes in the evening when I get to see them and talk to them. Yes, Abby is well aware of the face appearing on the computer screen! :-) It feels so good to be able to see them, to see all is well. A heartfelt Thank You to the good people at Skype for making it happen.

Soon my beloved girls will return, one will have grown a lot and one will have turned a perfect number. I am counting the hours...

"We don't want you here"

I didn't want to come back here. I was forced to do so. I was kicked out of the house Monday morning in order to get to the plan. Our good old Aeroflot upgraded me to Business so we flew with style. Stuff, all of them, were so kind and helpful that I have decided that they probably thought I was someone important. That was just awesome.
Moscow met us with +11, and today it ended up to be +2. Going from +20 was tuff, good I happened to take warm clothes with me.
Today I almost got cheated in supermarket. 1,5 rubles! (25 øre). When I discovered taht I decided to get the money back. It was not a question about the money, but a question of princip. it took about 45 minutes of explanations and discussions but the fact is I got the money. I don't want to be cheated here and there and they need to learn that some customes do care what and how much they are paying for.
Yesterday, while registrating Abby I have been told that "We don't want you here". That is so correct, unfortunatelly. Most of my life I have been living abroad and when I come back to Russia I understand it more and more that I dont belong here, what so ever. I don't think like Russians, I don't act like Russian, bottom like I don't consider myself as Russian, and hopefully I will not be so on the passport as well.
All of the people consider me crazy, I guess. Think about it, how often do they hear "Thank you", "Please", "Excuse me" and with the smile (so far). I didn't morally kill anyone yet here. For details one can always ask Morten.
And finally today I have discovered that people do remember me. I was at the tax office today, and told my mum that one of the offices looked familiar. To my surprise he remembered me, and not only my face but my name and what I wanted in there. Weird... (Last time Zhenya was there was 15 months ago! -Morten)