Update (the ultra short version)

So much has happened since my last update that there is no way I can fit it all in. So, here's a super condensed version:

• Robin and I got married.
• Star and I got visas.
• Star started high school.
• I got an awesome job.
• I'm back in school now, but had to start all over since I couldn't transfer any of my credits.
• I'm doing my own version of NaNoWriMo (with music instead of words).
• I've started making my own bread.
• I cut my hair short.

Now, let's pretend I never left!

Yet Another Update

Wow. It's been a while!

Mid-January, our visas were approved. We were back in Edinburgh by the end of the month, with Robin back at work and Star back at school.

I've done some Russian dialogue videos. They are part of the Princeton Russian Course I've been studying, and it's been great fun playing the male characters! http://www.youtube.com/user/writerachelwrite#p/c/0DE7D005FB95CEAC

Robin and I will be married four weeks from today (yay!)

I started walking 10 miles a day. However, I was forced to take a break when I sprained my ankle.

After a ten-year hiatus, I've started back to school. I am attending Open University for Modern Language Studies, focusing on French and German. It's been an interesting experience because university in the UK is vastly different from university in the US. The main difference is that there are no core requirements in the UK – you only study subject matter that relates to your degree. As a result, all of the core credits I had in the US (history, psychology, science, philosophy, math, etc) don't count towards my degree here. And although I think the UK method gives you a deeper knowledge of your field, I think I prefer the US system.

Star has finally created a site for her comics. http://www.komickake.com

I've decided that I really don't like Twitter. And I mean I really don't like it. I'm toying with idea of deleting my account, but haven't decided yet. We shall see.

I keep meaning to update my blog, but things have been so busy that I end up putting it off. So, once again, a list -

Still no news from the embassy. If we haven't heard anything by the end of January, we're going to make our way to Ukraine. (Star and I can only stay in the Schengen region for 90 days out of 180, and we'd like to leave a little time just in case we get a call while we are in Kiev.)

I've stopped studying everything except Russian. Since over 50% of the population in Kiev speak only Russian at home, I figured this was probably a good time to study!

Star has finished her latest comic. Will work on scanning it soon.

Star has also been fascinated with cooking recently. We bought her a cookbook for Christmas, and she has cooked at least one meal a day since then.

Robin is working on a new play. His last play, Broken Holmes, is preparing for its upcoming run at the Leicester Comedy Festival.

I've discovered that my favorite snow is that just beneath a tree. It's the crunchiest.

The yarn here is the cheapest I've ever seen, it's cold and I have lots of spare time. So, I'm knitting a cowl neck scarf.

I have been eating paprikas like apples. Yum.

That's about all I can think of for now. Must sleep.

Пока!

Quick Visa Update

We were denied visas. It seems that poor folk like us don't love each other as much as those with fat bank accounts and cushy jobs. At this very moment, Robin is on a bus, heading for Warsaw. He is making the same trip Star and I made exactly two weeks ago. We are going to appeal the refusals and hope that they are overturned.

I'll post updates when I get them!

Warsaw IV

The British Embassy contacted me Friday to let me know that a decision has been made, and that we can now come pick up our passports. Tomorrow at 15:00, we will know what's going to happen. What we've done the last few days -

Warsaw Uprising Museum - There is a pillar down the center of the building with fake bullet holes you put your ear against to hear sounds from the uprising.

Nike Monument

Pawiak Prison

Star drawing in the sand on the beach in Praga.

From the beach in Praga.

Band statues in Praga. On the drum is a list of songs and a number to text. One to five minutes after texting, your song plays.

Star being Star.

Praga skyline.

I don't care for Amy Winehouse, but I thought this was a very good sculpture. It was in the Koneser Vodka Factory that has since been transformed into an art complex.

Star played chess with no opponent.

This symbol is everywhere in Warsaw. It was painted on walls during the uprising and stands for Polska Walczaca (Fighting Poland).

Warsaw III

Everything is filed with the embassy. Now, we wait. After our second appointment in two days, we went to the park nearby. We saw the Chopin monument and fed things.

Warsaw II

We went to the Warsaw Zoo today. We ate gofry z bita smietana z czekolada (waffle with whipped cream and chocolate) and saw more red squirrels than we could count.

Tomorrow is our appointment with the British embassy here in Warsaw, so keep your fingers crossed!*















*Metaphorically, of course.

Warsaw I

On the bus in Dover

The Channel Tunnel - I thought that this was a tunnel that you drove through. Obviously, I was wrong.

Star eating peanuts on the bus outside of Berlin. (These peanuts have lasted us four days so far!)

Star eating spiral potatoes in Warsaw Old Town.

This old man was handing out bird seed to anyone who would have it.

Star feeding a pigeon.

Star feeding two pigeons.

The pigeons took a break from being fed to circle around the square.

The church that houses Chopin's heart in one of its pillars was closed for renovations. We had planned to take a picture of Star next to said pillar, but had to settle for her pouting outside instead.

I had accidentally given Star the wrong thing to say if someone starts to speak to her in Polish. When a woman started a conversation with her, Star was actually saying, "Yes, Polish." Oops!

Today:

I started to regret cutting my bangs for my Halloween costume.
We came in second at pub quiz.
We got lost looking for an art club for Star.
I found new books at the library.
I ate hummus - and lots of it.
Robin told me my hair smells like old book (yay!)
Star realized she isn't too old for mommy hugs.
We played stand-on-the-lines-in-the-road-or-else-you'll-fall-in-the-lava on our way home.

We've started planning a trip we'll be taking late next year (since I can't work for a while, I have to micro-plan something!) We're planning on Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria - Hungary and Bulgaria are still tied for cabin possibilities, so this should help us decide.

Also, we've got a kitten. Her name is Ninja Kitty Go!