Hello family and friends. It's been ages since i've posted anything - sorry about that. The truth is I haven't really wanted to share because things haven't been going so well, and when you write a blog for everyone to read, it's best to put positive things on it. It's been almost 3 months since I came back to Moscow already but they've been kindof tough - one thing
after another.
As soon as i got to our house, the apartment Pasha bought that he and his mom had been fixing up all summer, I started getting
a rash, mostly on my arms and shoulders but all over too. I ended up
seeing tons of doctors - it turned into a 2-month saga of suffering. No
one knew how to help. I saw allergists, dermatologists, endocronologists,
therapists, gastroenterologists - and bought tons of expensive pills and
creams, but nothing helped. The worst part was the diets. My
allergist gave me a strict diet that included mostly foods i don't like or
don't eat anyway and told me to just eat that for two weeks, then add the
restricted foods (eggs, milk, chocolate, wheat, pasta, fruit, etc) in one at a
time for 2 weeks each. I could not keep the diet strictly, and the itchy
spots kept coming back. I felt ashamed to go back to that doctor because
i couldn't keep the diet for two whole weeks - the longest i kept it strictly
was one week. other than that, it was like everyday i would so almost do
it - but then eat one thing that was not necessarily bad, but maybe
questionable. So that whold day didn't count. I felt like it was my own fault I was sick. I had hit a dead end! It was hopeless and terrible. Also, not knowing what was wrong. Was it serious? Would I die from it if it continues
untreated? Finally, I decided to pray
the rosary everyday until I get well. On
the third day, I found a bed bug in the kitchen. Bed bugs.
It was terrible and horrible and disgusting, but we got rid of
them. No more “allergy.” Thank God.
Also, I
keep getting in trouble at work. I
missed the very first meetings at the beginning of the year, and my boss said
it’s ok but I could see she was pissed.
I wrote her an email two weeks in advance but she never read it and told
me no, I didn’t get an email about that.
Yes you did. But anyway.... I wasn’t about to change my itinerary back
from the states because of the meetings.
I bought that ticket a long time ago and so I feel it wasn’t my
fault. But anyway….
Then I got
an email from the main boss that she needs to see me. That’s really weird – she works in a
different building and usually if she has business with me she can email me,
come to our building or tell me through the manager. It was something serious. So we agreed on a
time to meet and when I showed up she wasn’t there. Her kid was sick. So I emailed her and came to her building a
couple times; eventually we met up and she told me not to do some things I had
done back in sept and long ago stopped – eating on the playground and once I
came in on my day off to work and apparently disturbed someone – basically
small details, nothing serious at all and hadn’t gone on for a long while
anyways. These kind of comments should
be given to me by my manger, but I guess she was afraid to tell me
herself. I can understand she feels
awkward… she works not so much above the teachers as along side us, filling an
administrative roll, whereas we’re the ones who work directly with the
kids. But still, she should have just
told me then and there and it would be done with, plus the big boss wouldn’t
have had to hear about my mistakes, plus it wouldn’t have wasted my and her time. But anyway….
So then
they changed my schedule, in the meantime I’m constantly at the doctor’s,
always running to appointments here and there, I find out my grandma is
seriously ill, but not to the point where she would die, just reducing her
abilities and changing her lifestyle very much.
Then, all of a sudden, she died.
And I wasn’t able to go home for the funeral!
While all
this was going on, I missed a meeting at work; it was on the day I now had off
and I just forgot about it – I wrote a letter to my “boss” in this area –
another class I teach – and she immediately responded to me telling me I had had this
info a long time ago and copied the big boss! I’m sorry, but man. Talk about kicking me when I’m down. So I was a little crazy with stress and grief
that day – the next time I saw the big boss she explained to me that even if
there’s a meeting on your day off, you should come in for it, which I totally
get, just forgot, sorry, sorry. But then
I did something crazy – I wrote her an email explaining that I know about
coming in on your day off – I just read the reminder too late. But then I went on to explain that anyone can
miss a meeting when things are stressful at home - and reminded her of when she
missed our meeting because her kid was sick! I shouldn’t have done that. The second I hit “send” I regretted it. But I was going a little crazy, really.
So then I decided
to not worry about it and let it all blow over. The next time I saw her I apologized for the email
and I think she really isn’t offended. I
am just trying to keep my head down, keep on top of all responsibilities and
deadlines and just make it through the year.
So that’s
all the bad stuff and all my complaining. There are good things too. I took on some more private lessons this year
and two out of three are very enjoyable and I’m making good money. I have friends and my church community I try
to give some time to every week. I am
taking Russian lessons one hour a week and it’s very laid back. My tutor comes over on Wednesdays and we read
a book. I have a loving relationship with
Pasha and he’s coming to the US
Also, in October we had a Halloween party. It was really nice. It was almost a housewarming party too, because it was the first time after so many repairs, so much work buying furniture and cleaning that we were able to have people over without feeling ashamed, lol. It was a small but nice group. I dressed as a witch and Pasha a wizard. I'll post pics soon. Peace!
