Send it through the window!

The apartment two doors down from me is home to one of those classic "crazy old cat ladies". Granted, she only has two cats and regularly feeds 2-3 more that don't live with her, but at 79 years old she is still spry enough to roam the driveway whistling for her cats at all hours of the night. She is rumored to search through everybody's recycling, and she has a poof of stark-white hair that makes her a good two inches taller, wears bright purple makeup, and is one of the skinniest people I've ever seen.

It's not what you say...

In theory, there are 6 official languages at the United Nations. However, it's a popular joke that the 7th UN language is "UN-ese". It turns out that in order for the UN to successfully make any decisions or statements, they have to water down the way they word things, otherwise various parties (ie: countries) would object, and nothing would ever get done.

The Miracle Egg

Easter. An elaborate and treasured tradition, especially in Russia. But this post is not about the holiday, it's about a family that invited me to enjoy Easter lunch with them. The art of receiving guests is also a cherished tradition in Russia, and I was shown the warmest of welcomes.

The key to [success] found me

My supervisor gave me a task. It wasn't a challenging or glorious task, she simply said, "Please make two copies of this key." She also gave me directions to a nearby key shop. Simple.

Delegates on the loose!

Today in my consecutive interpretation class we were joined by the German and Korean groups. We role played an meeting to set up a joint research lab on stem cells

Who's human, anyway?

When I write a comment on my sibling's blog, I am asked to type two image-words, to "prove I'm human". It seems to me (perhaps I'm the only one) that websites are getting better at recognizing my attempts to read their letter imposters.

Nine Eggs

Anyone who's been to Eastern Europe knows the babushka. Literally, "grandmother", in Russian, this is very much a separate class of people. Their lives have been trying and tragic, and their experiences have made them self-appointed order-keepers in society. They force young people to give up their seats on buses, scold kids for rollerblading on the street, and dish out advice to willing and unwilling ears alike.

Just ordinary and decent

I'd like to write more. It clears my mind and reveals my soul. Naturally, as soon as I decided I would begin to write more, no ideas came to me. So I will start with someone else's writing.

It may be hаrd for an egg tо turn into а bird: it wоuld be a jоlly sight hаrder for it tо learn tо fly while remаining аn egg. We аre like eggs аt present. Аnd you cannоt go оn indefinitely being just аn ordinаry, decent egg. We must be hаtched or gо bаd.
C.S. Lewis