My time left in America is steadily ticking away. It is May 14, I leave July 30th or 31st. 77 days left. I’ve got a little over a month left of work in Cincinnati–I am really looking forward to the end of 2.5 hours of driving a day. At the end of June I’m going to Washington D.C. for a Fulbright orientation conference. July is my last month in the country so I’ll be packing, getting ready, and spending a lot of time with family and friends.
I’ve been trying to speak, read, and listen to Russian as much as possible lately so I’m ‘in the groove’ when I get there and can hit the ground running. Finding time isn’t easy, particularly with work and driving all the damn time, but I’ve been able to meet with my Russian tutor Natasha once a week, watch a few Russian movies, write some letters to my Russian penpal, and religiously read the always useful Learn Russian community. I also work out from time to time with a guy from the Urals named Azat @ the Bally’s near my house, and we’ve got plans to go for a beer some night this week. I suppose if I keep up this pace from now until August my Russian should be in acceptable–not great but acceptable– shape when I touch down.
