Back To The Rodina Matre

Visa: Check. Train ticket to Toronto: Check. Flight to Moscow: Check. Suitcase full of gifts: Check. Last $10 To My Name: Check It appears I...

End of Act I

Returning to Canada after a year in Russia and a week in England was, to say the least, anti-climatic. The past year that I spent in Russia ...

The Really Big Shawn Burger

I love burgers. The more cheese and bacon and other tasty garnishes that are added to a burger, the better it is in my opinion. Rarely can a...

Russian Culture As I See It

As the city of Moscow continues to endure a sweltering heat wave and the surrounding forests and peat bogs continue to burn and pour choking...

Moscow Burning

It's a surreal scene in Moscow today. This unprecedented heatwave, the hottest Russia has endured since they began keeping records 130 y...

The Lights Are On But Nobody's Home

A month ago the company I work for moved me from my cool and comfortable apartment in Mytischi to a stinking hot and uncomfortable apartment...

There's A Tear In My Beer

One week ago Ms. Australia left Russia. She returned to her home in Perth and left a big void in the communal life of our apartment in Mytis...

The Problem With ESL Contracts

The company I work for, LL, is generally a good place to work. Many of the teachers employed with this large company have been so for years,...

Georgy

As I progress through my 12-month contract with a "McSchool" in Mytischi, Russia (a moniquer that I protest against as the partic...

Burning Meat, Burning Rubber & Burnout

I've come down with a textbook case of Teacher Burnout. It's stressful teaching within the parametres of contract obligations. Less...

Youths

One thing that I think would be good to have with me is a stick. The kind of stick that is thick and heavy-looking and one or two feet long....

Hello Goodbye

April has arrived with all the glory of a sunny, slightly-warm spring. Flowers are beginning to grow and although the trees haven't star...

Dirty Shoes

Some people believe that a quick mind, the ability to be flexible in one's thinking and a sense of adventure are the most important thin...

я люблю москва!

я люблю москва (ya lyoublyou Moskva) is Russian for "I love Moscow!" Moscow is one of my favourite cities in the world. Of course...

The Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro has to be the most breathtaking example of human subterranean endeavour on the planet. To put it in layman's terms, it ...

Feis Kontrol

Last weekend my ego took a hit when I was turned away from a club by the doormen. I was indiscriminately refused entry because of my hat, or...