Category Archives: Moscow

MY MOSCOW FAVORITES

  MY MUST-SEE PLACES & THINGS TO DO –BANYA BEATDOWN: On a wintry day, what could be better than watching women of all sizes beat each other with birch leaves, sweat and pray in the steam room, or plunge in … Continue reading

Posted in Bucket List, expat, expatriate, Moscow, moving, Russia, Summer, trailing spouse, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

STALIN’S SNOW

Puffed white seedlings float through Moscow’s hot summer streets, alighting on park benches, gathering on corners, or flitting through crowds, before a gust forces them onward. Often, the millions of ever-present puffs hang, suspended in mid-air as if they are … Continue reading

Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, moving, Russia, snow, Spring, Summer, trailing spouse, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TEA WITH THE LADIES

Entertaining neighbors is always a good idea. Here’s a shout out to the ladies who came to the tea today and to those not anywhere near us who thought the menu sounded tasty. So glad everyone liked the food. As … Continue reading

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READING CHEKOV IN ANTALYA

“Both our children have scarlet fever,” I told my husband. As the sentence escaped, I too felt light-headed, as if a wind blew in beneath my feet and I were hovering a few inches above the Bukhara carpet in the … Continue reading

Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, moving, Parenting, Russia, snow, Spring, Travel, turkey, Winter | 1 Comment

PANTIES IN A PERIHOD

Moscow is melting. Slush and puddles fill our yard. Everywhere I hear the glorious drip, drip, drip of SPRING! But that also means our time is running out. After two years of exploring, we only have three more months before … Continue reading

Posted in Bucket List, creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, ice, literary, Moscow, Russia, snow, Spring, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

THIS ISN’T SEX IN THE BIG CITY, THIS IS LOVE IN A SMALL ROOM (ALMOST)

The ballroom of the United States ambassador’s grand residence in Moscow was dark. On the ceiling, above the ornate crown molding and the arched windows, yellow and blue geometric patterns swirled and then faded in their weak attempt at a … Continue reading

Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, Spaso House, Teeth, trailing spouse, Travel, Vice President of the United States, VIP Visits, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DENTAL-EVAC

I know my overseas life is crazy. But needing to travel to another country simply to visit the dentist confirms that my situation has entered the realm of the absurd. The back of my mouth is killing me. Pain shoots … Continue reading

Posted in Airport, creative writing, dentistry, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, Teeth, Terrorism, trailing spouse, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Life With Monkeys

I am convinced that I live with monkeys. Take today, for example: Me: M, please sit down and eat your breakfast. M: Ooh, oohh. Aahh. Ahh. Seconds later M is standing and jumping and running up the stairs. All the … Continue reading

Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, monkeys, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ice, Ice Baby

The streets are slick with black ice. A huge chunk of frozen snow hangs precariously above our side door. Yesterday, in Saint Petersburg, a six-year-old was killed by a falling icicle. All I can think of is that thin, wet, … Continue reading

Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, ice, Moscow, Russia, snow, st. petersburg, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HOUSEWIFERY

I’ve spent the last few weeks channeling January Jones. Like the blonde bombshell on Mad Men, I donned attractive frocks, carefully placed the crudités on the coffee table and, drink in hand, presided over receptions for my husband’s colleagues and … Continue reading

Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments