just another tuesday

Living in St. P has allowed me the privilege of meeting many brand new families. I met my friend Jenn when she and her husband were here adopting their gorgeous son. Lauren invited me meet the amazing Cupcake while they were waiting it out in Moscow. And, Rachael graciously let me spend an evening with her incredible new daughter, reassuring me about some age questions I had about d2b.

Ann Marie and Zach came and stayed with me while they were here meeting Bee. It was fun to see the city through a new pair of eyes. They appreicated the stunning architecture of the city. Ann Marie claims to like driving in Russia (note: she only rode...which may alter her opinion). They enjoyed blinis and hot chocolate and fish "pie" (Stolle's was out of chicken).

It was funny to see what cultural norms I've taken on board from living here without even realizing it. On the first night, Z asked me how to say good evening in Russian. I told him, thinking he was getting ready for a trip into a shop. A few seconds later I realized, with great shock, what it was he planned to do. "You're not going to talk to people on the street? Just people we're passing?" It hadn't even occured to me that he would do that when he'd asked. And, I am the person who makes it my mission to make x number of people smile at me when walking down the streets of NYC or London. It's usually an easy task--smile and they'll smile back. But, the thought of simply greeting people on the street had completely left my daily life. (I still smile--which marks me as a fool. "What do you Americans have to smile about all the time?")

Here's one thing that made us all smile. It's one of my favourite directional indication signs in St. P:



Obviously, it's the right lane that makes me giggle. It thought we could all use a giggle right about now.