And now, as a speeding bullet...

Greetings. As it has been 10 DAYS since my last posting, I have much to tell you of, and so...in a single post...I give you:

1.) The Most Terrifying Toilet on the Eurasian Continent.
Oh. My. Word. It was terrifying. So, I was in my high school (which is, I should tell you, in one of the classier buildings around town.) It was built during the Soviet era, which means it's good construction, sturdy, rather sweeping, and full of murals of hard working communists in the fields, in the cities, in outer space. It also means that the toilets are to dreadful to recall. So, yes, I was in my high school, and I go trooping to the rest room (please excuse the petty details of my life) and open the stall door and SWEET HEAVENS ABOVE.
The restroom is thus: there are (apparently) three stalls, with three doors with latches. On opening one of the doors, however, you simultaneously discover several facts--a.)two of the stalls are actually one stall. One very large stall, containing two "toilets." Please note the quote marks. Two, non-segregated, "toilets." B.) These "toilets" are of a most "curious" construction. "Curious" here, is meant as "horrifying and dreadful, but I'm too multi-cultural and tolerant to say so." Their construction is thus--you have the floor, and then a tiled platform about four inches off the floor, in which are two round holes which are whimsically referred to as "toilets." There is no toilet paper. Needless to say, I simply do not frequent such places anymore.

2.) No, Actually You Translated That Right...

Yes. So, as you know, I was swamped with Russian from all sides while living in Tomsk, which was FANTASTIC because I learned so so much. It was, however, occasionally very strange. I would translate something correctly in my head, and then reject the translation as impossible. Allow me to demonstrate with a selection of these strange phrases...

--"Well, it's your chicken, do what you want."
--"Gold fish! You, gold fish!"
--"No, they were cardboard policemen."

And I was going to tell you more, but my host mother needs the phone and I've been on the internet and unholy long time. Good night, and good luck to you all. And for heavens sakes, if you are ever in Russia, please, for everyone's sakes--bring your own toilet paper.