Christmas Eve Thoughts

conversation with the seller:

-Are you Russian?- the seller

-Yes, – I

-I have a Russian sister-in-law. She has the same accent. I don’t understand her sometimes. But her English is pretty good and so is yours.

-Thank you. Tell her … – I tried to tell something nice

-She has a happy life with my brother in Сalifornia…near the ocean..- she couldn’t stop talking

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Altai Republic and Altai Krai

RIA Tomsk reported that the Maldives entered the top of popular tourist destinations among Tomsk residents in the summer of 2022*. 

It is clear that not all Tomichi can afford this type of vacation. Many of them choose some local destinations.

“Altai” – you can hear that name quite often. But in Russia there are two Altais that are very different. 

Altai Republic and Altai Krai. 

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Бог любит троицу

или хорошие/плохие вещи случаются трижды

Помните русское выражение “Бог любит троицу”? У американцев есть свое – good/bad things happen in threes (Плохие/хорошие вещи случаются трижды)

Три новости одного дня,которые удивили/ужаснули/ меня.

№1 правда про День Благодарения

Американских школьников учат, что паломники(первые переселенцы в этой части страны) и индейцы собрались вместе отметить первый урожай. Было это осенью 1621 года. 

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God loves the Trinity

or Good/Bad things Happen in threes

There is a Russian expression “God loves the Trinity”. Americans have their own – “Good/bad things happen in threes”.

There are three news from one day that surprised/horrified me:

# 1 the truth about Thanksgiving

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The big shift

I received a no-reply email from Andrew Seaman, an editor at LinkedIn News, with a question:

What’s your advice for people making a shift right now — whether it’s landing a new job or making a career pivot? What’s the best advice you’ve received when it comes to making a job move?

Here are my thoughts. 

For 15 long years in my previous marriage, I dreamed of divorce. I waited and waited for the right moment. But there were always circumstances and obstacles. At some point, I realized that this was never going to be the right time, and I just filed for divorce.

If you think that marriage and work have nothing in common, you are wrong. They are both an important part of our lives.

We often sense that something is wrong. We can even understand that it would be nice to change jobs. But we don’t do that. Once again, we’re waiting for the perfect moment. And to be honest, it’s scary. Right?

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Trust as an engine of progress

“You drive a nice, cheap car,” Daniel said when I pointed out a peculiar sound when the car stopped. 

He’s right, the car is good and cheap. He also wanted it to be reliable. Therefore, we bought it from a dealer, while overpaying. 

But then I did not understand much (all these unnecessary additional insurances, which do not give any advantages), I just trusted my husband.

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Frost is not a hindrance to the rally

… or what does natural gas have in common with an unauthorized rally?

Russian winter

“I’m glad you have a wood-burning stove at home, because the news said that America has a problem with natural gas, ” my sister told me on Viber.

Sisters, they are such sisters.

But she made me really interested in the news. As soon as I got home I turned on YouTube*.

The main topic of the Russian media was the protest marches against the arrest of Alexei Navalny**.

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Fallen Сhristmas tree

...Inspired by Tatiana Spirina-Smetana .

I just wanted to translate Tatiana Spirina-Smatana’s post, but I failed to do so. Here’s what I got.

Natasha woke up at 4 o’clock. It’s legal to sleep until 4 pm on January 1.

Especially after the races of preparation for the New Year.

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St. Petersburg is like Tomsk, only bigger

Trip despite the coronavirus

Usually when someone finds out that I’m from Russia, they assume I’m from Moscow. 

Foreigners have  generally heard of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, two largest cities in Russia, the country’s capital and cultural capital.

I’m from Tomsk, but I love Saint Petersburg as much as my hometown. I think it was my father’s fault. He liked to quote Pushkin’s poem ” The Bronze Horseman”: “I love you, Peter’s Creation.”.. These words were about the city of St. Petersburg, created by Peter the Great. But my father’s name was also Peter, and I was his creation…. it was a pun, but that’s probably why I fell in love with the city.

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Windows of our souls

-You know, when I was a kid, I liked to look in the windows, –  I tell my friend.

-Oh, I still do,- Marina says.- I have favorite ones in a house on 1905 street. Every time I pass his house in a trolleybus, I see a beautiful floor lamp, and then I think that someone is sitting there reading…and it becomes so cozy at heart.

Recently, looking at my windows, I remembered this conversation. And my childhood…

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