Month: January 2014

SNOW in Atlanta!!! Everyone panic!

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Yesterday, after my class, a lady from my neighborhood who is nice enough to drive me home told me decisively and little bit nervously: “Let’s go to buy some food-who knows what would happen tomorrow!”  I was surprised:  “And what will happen tomorrow?”- I asked innocently.  “Tomorrow we’ll have snow!  You haven’t heard that yet?!!!”.  “Snow,-I repeated quietly, looking through a car window on + 18 C streets. -“ Are you sure? And what?  Do you want to buy a sled? “ She says: “What do you mean-and what?  We’ll be stuck inside until the weather will warm up, nothing will work!  We have to buy FOOD!!!”

Well, I decided not to tell her that Russians live the most of the year in snow, and it is not a big deal at all.  I nodded and we went to the store.  “Look at the people!”- she told me-“such a line!” -pointing at 5 women peacefully stayed in line. “ It’s good we came so early, you can’t even imagine what will happen after 5PM.”  Again, I didn’t tell her that she can’t imagine how is a big line in the store looks like, but I nodded again.  I followed her while she packed shopping bag with food items.  And I grab a gallon of milk myself…

…That was yesterday.  Today Continue reading “SNOW in Atlanta!!! Everyone panic!” →

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Farewell to Loehmann’s

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How do we know that economic situation is not getting better?  When someone from friends or family is losing a job…, when you have to move to a smaller house/apartment…or when your favorite store is out of business.  (I am not talking about Barnes & Noble, though they go through a hard time as well).

Well, I recently learnt that my favorite store is going out of business.  It was a big surprise, an unpleasant one.  Did I forget to mention that I love to shop?-shocking-isn’t?  I am one of those who shops when stressed instead of eating huge amounts of chocolates.  I do not like chocolate, but I love to shop.  It is more expensive, but probably a healthier habit.

Loehmann’s is my good old friend.  Our relationships started unexpectedly and Continue reading “Farewell to Loehmann’s” →

Happy Old New Year!

Good evening everyone! Today is the Russian Old New Year!) …Don’t get me wrong-I know it may sound a little bit extreme and too much for foreigners to understand, but it is true that Russians (Ukrainians, Belarusians, Serbians, etc ) celebrate Everybody’s New Year on December 31, Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, and Old Russian New year (today), not to mention Russians who live in western countries and also celebrate an additional Christmas on December 25, and those who like read horoscopes (it’s a big crowd by the way) and , naturally, celebrate Chinese New Year as well.  All of this is true. Believe me.  I am going to celebrate Old New Year as well.  And I still have a Christmas tree and lights in the house and outside))

For those who didn’t convinced, here is some trusted info from Continue reading “Happy Old New Year!” →

Merry Orthodox Christmas!!!

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Today is Orthodox Christmas which is also Russian Christmas!  The biggest surprise that there is -15C (I am serious -15!!!) in Atlanta, and +1 C in Moscow.  Unbelievable, but it’s true.  Yesterday I talked to my Moscow friend over Skype, and she complained that winter didn’t come to Russia yet…And it’s hard to imagine/celebrate New Year and Christmas without snow…Of course, if you live in Africa, you probably finally manage somehow to use a palm tree instead of a Christmas tree… But if you are in Russia-snow at the New Year is a must…  Probably all snow was saved for the Olympics…Who knows…But in Atlanta, it’s opposite-today was a real snow with huge and beautiful snowflakes.  Well, Atlanta is not ready for that.  No one has really warm clothes (I personally left all appropriate outfits in Russia), or skates…or winter loving mood.  School was canceled for tomorrow because of extreme (for Atlanta) cold weather!  It was supposed to be the first school day after the break.  Probably it was a special Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost) present for Russian kids at the Russian Christmas!  Merry Christmas to y’all!