Uh...

So I guess this is where I start typing things. I suppose just some things that you should be aware of. Random rants will happen here. This will not be a "everything about me and everything I'm thinking" blog. Seeing as how people I have a professional relationship with will have access to this, it would be wiser for me to censor myself to a degree. If you can't figure out what the title of this blog actually means, you have very limited knowledge of my residence history. Regardless of where I go from here, the name is not likely to change...I could say that the name would just get so long, but it's really more because I'm lazy. The purpose of this blog is simply to give my friends and family an easier way to access what I'm doing or what I've been up to. Time differences and inability to speak on the phone to everyone at length is the major reason for the creation of this blog.

I suppose I can get into some content. As of Monday, I will have been in Moscow for 8 months. Oh what an 8 months they have been. In my very first year of a real person's job, I think I avoided taking a real person's job. It's still a daily struggle balancing being at college as opposed to being in college. If that makes any sense. For the daily frustrations and challenges that my job gives me, I can still say that I thoroughly enjoy what I do. Most, if not all, of the credit for that goes to the people I work with, under, and over. That said, most of those people are leaving me to go on to bigger and better things. I'm allowed to hate on them a little for that. The year itself has been an amazing experience. Growth, learning, and connections would be the major descriptors for it.

All those things combined to cause me to sign up for another year. It was a much harder decision to come back than I probably ever let on. First, there is no way for me to have the same paraprofessional staff next year, thus it is impossible for me to recreate that part of this year in 08-09. Then, many of my professional colleagues are zooming away. So it wasn't really that this year was so difficult that I wouldn't want to come back. It's more so that this year was so incredibly awesome and it will be difficult for me to have a much better one.

That said, I think a lot would have to happen in 08-09 for me to stick around for 09-10. Vertical movement within the department is essentially becoming impossible, so for the sake of having a career, I would need to be moving on. What this will look like, I have no idea. Where? Some idea. What will I do? Good question. Ah, another purpose of this blog will keep you updated on that.

What's coming up? I am headed home in less than 3 weeks! The ticket has been purchased, the cats haven't taken over that room so I have the means to get there and a place to stay while there. I can't wait to get my ass home. Not that I don't enjoy it here in Moscow, it's just that home is where family is. Well, there and San Francisco apparently. By the time I fly in, it will have been 3 months and 10 days since I have seen my parents. For those unfamiliar, that would be the longest I've ever gone without seeing them. When I'm there, I'll also be meeting the newest family member in the cat my parents adopted without telling anyone.

If all goes to plan, I will also be getting myself a tattoo while I'm home. No, the parents are not fans of the idea. Still, they've very much come to terms that it's fully my decision. In the end, that's all that matters. My hope is that they will not like the idea before I get it, but will really end up liking the design that I get.

Well, that's really all that's been happening and all that's going to be happening in the near future. This semester is flying and I can't wait for spring break. I don't know etiquette in closing these things...bye bye.