My new address is Gorky Street 32 apt. 17
The street is named after the Russian writer, Maxim Gorky who supported the Russian revolution and wrote of it often in his works like in his novel, "Mother". Nearly every Russian city has a Gorky Street (along with Karl Marx St., Lenin St., Red Army St., etc.)
Now that I shared that tiny bit of history I now switch to topics of less worth, and much more characteristic for "Vanessa's Ventures": roaches, a cracked toilet, and tinfoil window shades.
I have been blessed with a studio apartment near the university (a 10 minute walk) and not far from American friends (a 25 min walk and even shorter bus ride). It’s the first time for me to rent an apartment here in Russia by myself. I have lived here by myself for 2 weeks and with a roommate for 3 weeks (a friend that needs a place to stay while her house is getting indoor plumbing).
Like most things in life, there are pluses and minuses to renting "my own" place:
+'s
Space to unpack and make “my own”
Being able to clean the place like I want to
Inviting guests and practicing hospitality
Within walking distance of nearly everywhere I need to go
Quiet neighbors
Normal, reasonable landlords
Fresh milk and curds are sold right outside my door (how many of you can say that?!)
Comfortable couch/bed
Open layout that makes having guests easier
Working fridge and decent cabinet space
-'s
Cockroaches (who have since been defeated – thanks to poison and prayer)
On a street corner where there’s more noise and dust than what I’m used to
An ancient soviet toilet with unattached plastic toilet seat and multiple cracks that cause me to frequently mop my floor
Concrete building on the fifth floor with west facing windows = 80+ degrees F
Gas oven that seems impossible to use
No washing machine
But even with these minuses – God has helped me to adapt and blessed me with things like friends who let me do laundry at their house and use their oven to bake cookies (thanks Lucas and Jamie!) I haven’t seen a roach for 3 weeks after lacing the place with a yellow “miracle gel”. I found some thermal-blankets at a camping store and put them up behind the curtains to alleviate the heat (though, my landlords and other guests have looked at them wondering if it's normal for American's to put tinfoil on their windows). A fan has also helped with the heat, my roommate says spraying yourself with water helps too…but because I’m already wet from sweat I don’t see a need to spray myself…Russians don’t seem to sweat as much, perhaps its because they don’t drink very much water). And as of today, my landlords bought a new toilet (with an attachable toilet seat!!) It’s still sitting in the box, but is supposed to be installed on Monday.
I am blessed to have such a nice place to live, and pray I will be able to bless others with this space. I have already had several guests and even had a "taco night" with some Dutch Blitz for classmates from China and South Korea.
At first I was reluctant to invite my friend to come live with me – wanting “my space” – but she has been a blessing to me. Sure we have plenty of differences and the “ideal” open layout makes the bathroom the only place of privacy, but this sister prays with me and gives me constant Russian practice. She also helps cook and provides company around the dinner table.
I’m sure I will have more stories to share from Gorky Street, so until next time!
Drove in the Sayan Mountains for an hour and a half
Stopped at the pass and climbed a hill that looks out over a beautiful valley (there wasn't even much wind! They say you usually can't even stand up straight when you get out of your car there because of the wind)
Drove back into the Taiga (forest) to have a picnic before collecting pine-cones
Picked two 1-gal jars of blueberries
Collected a gunny-sack full of pine-cones
Finished just before getting rained on
Drove back to the Alash River and set up a camp fire (it only rained while we were in the car :) )
Headed back home where we ended the night with some Dutch Blitz (AND I won :) )
