Dim Sum and Mormons...the stuff that dreams are made of.

Admittedly rather strange and twisted dreams...but never mind!

My sister and I are both theatre fanatics...both as audience members and performers (many moons ago in my case!). Because of this, it has become a wonderful Christmas tradition in our house that most years we receive theatre tickets for the whole family to go and see a musical in the awful limbo period between Christmas and New Year (thanks Mum and Dad)! Each year the tickets are nestled expectantly in the tree in an envelope addressed in Mums familiar handwriting

Living so close to London means there isn't much we haven't seen and some shows we've loved so much we've gone back for a return visit (is seeing Wicked 7 times a little excessive?!) therefore its always exciting to see which show Mum has picked for us.

I must say I nearly keeled over with excitement when I heard...
The show that beat several others to adorn our Christmas tree this year was *drum roll please...*

The Book of Mormon is something I've wanted to see from almost day dot. My first run in with the show was when the Bath Student Musicals Society (BUSMS for short) performed 'I Believe' in their yearly variety show 'Encore!'. It bought the house down not only because of the wonderful performance but because of the show's unusual choice of subject matter and the ballsy hilarity with which the lyrics bring it to the stage.

Here is the very talented Andrew Rannells performing it at the 65th Tony Awards:
From that point on, I had to know more about the show then a smash hit on Broadway and soon to be previewing in the West End. After watching the amazing Broadway cast rock 'Hello' at the 66th Tony Awards in 2012, I knew I had to see it live.
We tried to no avail to get tickets for my 21st birthday during the preview run - a sell out, the performances were met with rave reviews.

I absolutely squealed when I found out we were finally going....needless to say I had MASSIVELY high expectations of the West End Cast.

Before the show (the Saturday matinee), we headed over to China town for Dim Sum, a Chinese equivalent of tapas for those not in the know. I've been to Joy King Lau before and their service is always so quick and efficient...we were on limited time (too much time spent sale shopping in H&M - sorry, my bad) but to our amazement even with a queue snaking out of the door and half way up the stairs we were in and out within half an hour.

In such close proximity to Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus, this is the perfect place for a transition lunch between Covent Garden and Oxford Street.

 The trouble with Dim Sum is that its a minefield of dumplings, dishes and noodles and rice - I don't often know where to start. As my Mum comes fairly regularly on work lunches here, we let here weave her magic whilst slipping in a few suggestions of our own.

As per Chinese tradition, the youngest of the table poured the Jasmine tea...she did better than I would have - It would have been everywhere if I'd gone near it!

 A few quick snaps of the food - most of it was gone quicker than I could photograph it. I am a rubbish food photographer - my favourite dumplings (the scallop ones - to die for, literally!) were gone in less than one bite...my poor lens didn't even get a look in!

The table was certainly in a bad state when we left it...ah well, at least they knew that we enjoyed our meal.

Then it was off at double speed to the theatre...

I vaguely remember going to the Prince of Wales Theatre before when Mamma Mia was performed there but never remember it being so opulent inside - it was literally like stepping back in to the heyday of art deco. Grand pianos, the dimly lit bar, the gorgeous gold wallpaper and vintage posters of revue shows of days gone by. It would be a beautiful corporate venue if anyone had cause to use it...maybe a 20s/Great Gatsby Theme (If anyone needs a party planner...you know where to find me!)

Taking our seats...

By the time the curtain fell on the first act, I wasn't quite sure what I had just seen - stunned is the word. But something told me the first blasphemous act was not as crazy as it was going to get. Written by the makers of South Park, the script certainly does not take in to account the blushes and humour fueled outrage it will cause the audience. Like Avenue Q (on which Robert Lopez also collaborated), it is beyond me how they manage to get away with putting their content on the West End. Whatever powers that be that allow such things to go on, I thank them because The Book of Mormon is truly a revelation! From Ugandans cursing Gods name and reenacting fictitious sexual acts with frogs to the campest group of Mormons I have ever seen turning off their gay feelings 'like a light switch', with every song the show gets more and more risque and more and more hilarious. I have never been so outraged and never given heartier applause. There is a reason The Book of Mormon won The Times Best Night Out award!

I did wonder, however, what Mormon's themselves thought of the whole thing - seeing as it kind of defaced their entire religion! Judging by the 3 pages of adverts they put in the colour program, I guess they see the statement 'Any publicity is good publicity' to be true!

The Book of Mormon - I couldn't recommend it more!

January already?!

So here we are…the third of January already.

Life since I got back from Russia has been a whirlwind of wrapping paper, family visits and full glasses. I feel like the festive season kind of ran away from me. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am the biggest Christmas nerd – I LOVE IT. As soon as December hit, Christmas films dominated my laptop screen, I coo-ed over decorations in the shopping centre and the excitement of having Christmas at home was building. But when it came down to it, it all went a bit too quickly.

I find that in December we all find ourselves counting down the days until the next party…pondering outfit choices, thinking about the perfect gifts, wondering if we’ll have someone to share a smooch with at midnight on the 31^st. And after it’s all done and the decorations are packed away for another year, January falls a little bit flat.

It’s a time of evaluation and self-scrutiny, but also one of new beginnings, new goals and aspirations to be fulfilled.

With want of a new project to sink my teeth in to, I have signed up to a new challenge set by Emma from Made in Hunters. The challenge: 52 lists. Every week for the entire year Emma will send out a topic and an army of bloggers will respond with their lists.  Though a little daunted (disorganised me shudders at the thought of commitment and lists), I am excited to get started.

So here is my first list:

Topic: List your goals for the New Year.

1. Document my life.

This is something I have always been quite rubbish at. I have scores of abandoned journals, scrapbooks never started, empty photo albums, a memory box in disarray. Though blogging has gone a little way to help, there are still posts that I planned left unwritten. This is the year to take the plunge.

I need to:

• Finally put my photos from two years of Holiday Repping in to the beautiful albums I have sat on a shelf.
• Sort and print pictures for my first year abroad album: Russia.
• Get organised on the blogging front: a post a week, a notebook in my bag for ideas, catch up on posts that were meant to be written from Russia.
• Make use of my beautiful five year line-a-day journal. One line? It can’t be that hard can it?

2. Be more motivated and driven

To me these are two very different words. Motivated is what gets us out of bed to do that work out or stay that extra hour at the library – the more everyday things. Driven is actively going out and seeking the tools to get ahead –asking that professor what he wants from that essay, going for that work placement.

I want to:

Be more motivated:

• To get fit: half an hour of PopPilates(via Blogilates) per day, and swim at least 3 times per week.
• To study hard: to get my dissertation done and study hard (must remember that year abroad isn’t all about fun in the sun/snow!)

Be more driven:

• email professors about final year units, 
• try to secure work experience for a week in the summer in a field I’d like to work in after graduation.

3. Be more positive.

It’s easy to slip in to a negative mind-set, to talk yourself down rather than talk yourself up. I want to focus on what I have got instead of what I haven’t. Not look at something as impossible but look at the steps I need to take to get there. Be a bit kinder to myself.

I want to:

• Start a gratitude journal and try and scribble a few words a day about things that have made me happy or that I’m grateful for.

4. Be less afraid.

Most people would label me an outgoing person but a lot of the time I talk myself out of trying new things or going to new places. Picture the mental conversation: ‘you could go to that new zumba class’ ‘But I don’t know anyone and people might think I look stupid, they might not like me’ ‘ok, we could always stay in and have a nap instead’. :| Not great is it? (Especially referring to myself as we – bad times!)

I want to:

• Be more outgoing  and have a can-do attitude – how else will I make friends in Spain??

5. Learn a new skill.

Sometimes I feel a bit stuck in a rut – maybe a new hobby would make a refreshing change and it’s a chance to meet new people! Looks like number 5 could help with number 4.

I want to:

• Try my hand at Flamenco and Sevillana whilst out in Spain and maybe try a cooking lesson or two.

So that’s my list…here is Ema’s list from Made in Hunters.

Looking at it I guess what I need most is a change in attitude and mind set.

Here’s to that New Year, new me bullshit ;) Maybe this year I’ll actually pull it off – come on Number 2, let’s get motivated!

So long, farewell...

So here I am at Moscow Domodedovo International Airport, taking advantage of the free wifi to say hello to you guys. I never thought that leaving would come around so quickly! It’s one of those surreal situations where I feel like I've not been here any time at all, but, at the same time, like I've been here forever. Voronezh most certainly has become like home to me - four months is more than enough time to make friends, to get in to a routine and to know then real ins and outs of a place. It was sad to say goodbye to the lovely Galina (with whom I've been living all this time) and even sadder watching the city roll away through the train window. 

Our journey was pretty uneventful. Плацкарт is not an enjoyable place in which to cram an overweight suitcase (26 kilos I'll have you know). Hoards of Russians had to help hoist it far above our heads and we all spent most of the night fearing the shelf would collapse underneath it and kill us all. Apart from the one snorer and the unbearable heat, it was as good as a 12 hour night train could be.

I kept waking up at random times throughout the night and, what with the snorer to keep us all awake, I had quite a bit of thinking time. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Russia has taught us a lot. It can often be a weird and wonderful place but I can safely say that I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. What has made it the most special are the people I have met along the way and I want to thank every single one of them for helping me to have such an amazing time. Goodbyes have been hard and heartfelt!

Just wanted to give shout outs to a few special people:

My lovely students from VGY

I don’t even know what to say – you guys have been so friendly and welcoming to me and I have thoroughly enjoyed being your teacher. You are all so talented and I have no doubt that in the future you will go far! Keep practising and keep in touch – if you’re ever in England (or Spain) you know you’ll always have a friend to call. I will miss you!

Fifth year: thank you for all the champagne filled evenings, falling on your bums with me at ice-skating and also for all my lovely presents (I’ve been so spoilt!). I’m grateful for the guy who let off a pepper spray bomb on the second floor on Monday night – our café send-off was much better than a boring lesson ;)

 Nataliya's wonderful baking skills (Bird's Milk Cake!)

 'This is how you wear it like a Russian!'

Fourth year: you need to send me our group picture!! Thank you again for my lovely gifts!

Irina 

You have been the most amazing teacher. We have left your class feeling so much more confident in our abilities to speak Russian. I will miss our customary чаепитие before every lesson and the whole class laughing together about our mistakes (‘я предпочитаю злоупотреблять белым вином’). Thank you for all you have taught us and I hope to see you again soon!

Galina

My wonderful хозяйка! Thank you so much for looking after me so well, for putting up with my mostly questionable Russian and for explaining the ways of the world to me. I will especially miss our morning chats over porridge and I hope I will come and visit soon!

I may be leaving the motherland on a 7.30pm flight but don’t worry it certainly won’t be the last post about the land of snow and vodka.

For the last time on the soil of Mother Russia...

With Love from the Motherland

xXx

A rather Russian weekend actually...getting in the spirit and all that!

It feels very surreal to be writing about my very last weekend in Russia. Just a few months ago I was taking my first few tentative steps on to Russian soil and now here we are...

Thursday (weekends can start on Thursday right?!...that's where our party begins even if you disagree :P)

This was the dreaded sight that greeted us on Monday morning but...

After a dreaded four day 'finals' period, all our exams were finally over! We decided that celebrations were most definitely in order (a last hurrah if you will)...especially because we were going to be three men down as of Friday night. Yes, our forces are depleting as people go home for Christmas. A few of us went to a favourite restaurant, named Bistrot (yes with t on the end) to fill up on Italian food. It is a hard thing to explain to people that have not been to Russia but a lot of the time international food served in Russian restaurants just tastes like Russia...maybe its the way they cook it, or maybe they sneakily add some dill (Russians have a disturbing love affair with dill)?? Who knows! Luckily, Bistrot isn't one of these places and Italian food actually tastes like Italy. Christmassy decor, brushcetta, pizza and wine...what more could one wish for? Needless to say it was lush!

Our lovely adorned chandelier...

Precursor to a great night...imported wine that doesn't taste like nail varnish remover (WIN!)

Bruschetta

Gorgonzola and Fragrant Pear Pizza!

Friday

As soon as we saw the advert for this baby back in October, we knew we had to see it. Disney's Frozen or Cold Heart as it is translated in Russian is the best we have to work with this year when it comes to Christmas films. Having seen a few dubbed films, I held the highest hopes for this one - mainly because with a target age of around 6 or 7 I thought I stood a good chance of understanding! Turns out I was right...I loved it! Isobel and I fell in love with the cheeky reindeer Sven (don't know if he has a different name in English?). I would love to see it in English as well, mainly because Idina Menzel plays the voice of Elsa - musical fans will know what I mean!! A nice, chilled last night for Isobel before she jetted home on Saturday morning!

Saturday

Definitely the most Russian of all nights! Aware of a looming leaving date, I've become very suddenly aware of all the things that I intended to do in Russia that I just haven't quite got round to...Ice Skating was one such thing. So I took the plunge and invited some of my 5th year English students along to the local rink...we were escorted by two perfect gentlemen - Max (Russian) and Brandon (American) - who held us up for the remainder of the night. Considering I only fell on my bum once and the only injury to speak of was the massive blisters I got from my rented figure skates, I deem the adventure a success. Followed by a round of vodka in the local cafe, it was definitely a night to remember!

Kira, Svetlana and I.

My lovelies!

Nataliya, Svetlana and I

Sunday

As you guys know, on Sundays I teach English to kids in an Immersion Club at Linguist. It was our last club and we completed the Christmas project we had started the week before. Sam and I told the kids of British club all about how we celebrate Christmas. The more we told them about all our traditions, the weirder we realised British Christmas sounds when its explained to foreigners! Neither the Russians nor the Americans knew about Christmas Crackers (no silly hats, toys and jokes for them on Christmas!. They were horrified by the idea of gravy and bread sauce. One thing they did love, however, was the idea of setting Christmas pudding on fire. They made a mini presentation about all they had learnt to show to the American Club, whilst American club performed a rather lovely waltz rendition of the Jingle Bell Rock - much classier than the Mean Girls one we all know and love! We then shared Secret Santa presents from under the tree and played a few rounds of Articulate...it was sad to say goodbye to the kids but it was a pleasure to meet and teach them.

British Club, Sam and I

American Club, Dominique and Brandon

Staff (left to right) Dominique, Sam, Me, Brandon, Max, Rada and Gleb.

After club, the lovely Gleb invited us to his place for pizza, youtube surfing and general merriment as a little staff goodbye - he is the best host (would definitely recommend popping round if you're ever in Voronezh ;) )!

Cold related anecdotes of the week:

I was running late for work so I had to brave the -9 temperatures with wet hair. In the 10 minutes it took me to walk to work, my hair froze solid.  Don't tell my Babushka - if the cough I got as punishment doesn't kill me, she will!

All in all, my last weekend in Voronezh was one to remember - simple pleasures and time spent with new found friends.

С Рождеством (Merry Christmas) from Ploshad Lenina!

With love from the Motherland xXx

Don't worry - this won't be my last post from Voronezh. Look out for a couple of quick ones before I depart on Friday...

Baby, it's cold outside!

Indeed it is...-15 when I left the house to be precise.

So, it finally happened! We've seen a glimpse of the freezing Russian winter we were promised (i.e. days with double figures below 0!). Up until now we thought that we we're cheating - you can't live in Russia and not have anecdotes about the cold (its like saying you've lived in Spain and never drank Sangria!).

Catherine has the winning anecdote so far! On her walk to uni this morning, she decided to pull her scarf up over her nose. Cheeks always end up the coldest and her reasoning was sound: breath is always going to be warmer than braving the wind! Little did she know what was to come - it was so cold that her breath made frozen droplets on the inside of her scarf which then proceeded to melt on her chin. FAIL. Stupid Russian weather. 

As well as gaining some cool stories to tell in the pub when we return, we've also gained some sound scientific knowledge. I was walking to uni to teach a class when I bumped in to a colleague. She asked if I'd noticed that the snowflakes had started to sparkle? I thought it an odd question but when I had a look they had a different kind of sheen to them, almost like glitter or shards of glass. She told me that it was a sign that temperatures were sure to drop as the snowflakes themselves have frozen even more than usual. That conversation took place in balmy -5, and sure enough, here we are a day later a full 10 degrees colder! The Russian's certainly know their snowflakes! 

 Thought I would share with you some pictures from my way too and from uni (can't beat slipping and sliding in the ice and snow!) and also some of the perks of the chilly weather...

Have the birds found some kind of warm patch that I don't know about?

 Perks of cold weather...

 Not having to feel guilty about indulging...this little beauty cos me £4 but when its 20 degrees colder than your home town you tend to think 'why the hell not?!'

Our favourite 'after uni' haunt (an amazingly cheap sushi place) giving out free hot drinks with every order when its below -10...to be honest hot drinks are only 20p when you have to pay for them but I'm a sucker for a freebie!

My favourite perk of all...coming home to a toasty flat and getting straight in to fleecy pjs and slipper socks and lounging about in bed for the rest of the night!

Until next time,

With love from the now rather frosty Motherland x