Eurovision 2016

So, how was Eurovision 2016 for you? A fun-filled evening of cheesy pop (evenings, if you also caught the semi-finals). Here, for one half of the household, specifically the white-blue-red striped half, it was too much too bear...

source

The good news

The good news is that the Moscow Times reports that the suicide rate is the Russian capital is falling.

 The bad news is that...

If you can't do it right...

...don't do it at all.

The president has faced a lot of criticism recently...

Competition time

Saw this beauty on a Russian social network...

Can you tell what it is yet?

keeping abreast of the information

As a native speaker English teacher, you're prepared for all kinds of questions about the language and sometimes really having to get into the nitty-gritty, nit-picking nuances of language use but nothing prepared me for a most surreal debate involving senior staff.

baby food

The Director of Studies and I had to interview a five-year old with a view to her having lessons. The little girl, having lived in Boston, USA, for 2 years had an impressive level of English for her age. Also there were her mother and 6-month old sister. Using a book for prompts, she was asked about her favourite food - burgers. Then Helen asked, “Does your sister like burgers?”

Meat disguised as chewing gum

AFP report that Russian customs officials have seized EU meat disguised as chewing gum...

The Smell

I could smell it. Walking around our 8th floor flat, there was a definite smell. I was walking around the flat, in that manner unique to locating an odour - head up, neck stretched, nose jutting out, like a feeding chicken stuck on peck.

could be a chicken; could be me sniffing in search of a smell

Tales of Fire #1

Some of the teachers had been out for a drink or two and got back in late. Two colleagues, Ian and Tim, had already fallen asleep in the lounge and I went to bed . The excitement for the night was not finished, though I didn't know it until the following morning.

 When I got up, Ian recounted the drama thus:

Tales of the Russian Post Office #2

The Russian Post Office can be a mixed bag. Sometimes they go the extra miles and then some; other times...

You can always visit their website, if you're prepared to wait.

Tales of Russian Banks #1

One day, three intrepid teachers ventured into a bank in search of travellers cheques - even then an anachronistic means of cash transfer, but the best way for us in Russia in 2006. We left feeling lucky to escape with our lives...

No to Halloween

With the end of October fast approaching and the accompanying annual festival, it is only appropriate that Russian politicians come up with some of their own appropriately creepy ideas. Russia Today reports on one such suggestion from the Public Chamber.