Just say no to hotplates.

So yesterday (Monday) I learned why hotplates are a royal pain. My roommate has lovingly tagged me in the aftermath on facebook. After making myself pasta for dinner, I set our (plastic) strainer back on top of the pot to wait its turn to be washed after I had devoured my dinner because there is a premium for counter space. However, unlike the gas stoves that I am used to using, hotplates stay really hot. For a long time. Needless to say… disaster. The strainer had melted all over the pot and was beyond rescue, so guess who had to buy a new pot and strainer today! Lesson of the day: plastic strainers are a bad idea. Hotplates are a bad idea. The two should never mix.

Today’s (Tuesday) adventures thus far are not particularly noteworthy, but since I’m going at it, I will make note. We had our first exclusively conversation oriented Russian class today. I was pretty sure that my brain was about to burst. I am also positive that our conversation teacher does not like us very much, and myself in particular because I am the least adept at holding a conversation in Russian. My Russian education so far has put extreme stress on reading, writing and grammar and next to none on speaking and conversation. So I feel as though I could easily handle the highest level of grammar, but simply listening to my teachers teaching exclusively in Russian is a challenge and a half. I will admit that my comprehension of spoken Russian has certainly improved and I’m usually able to follow when she speaks to the other students. However, when she turns to me and speaks, I have a brain block and can’t understand what she’s asking or how to answer her. Hopefully a few more week and it will get easier. They always say that immersing yourself in the language is the best way to learn it… But boy is it intimidating and strenuous.

I had a PB&J sandwich for lunch, which made up a little bit for the stressful conversation class. First PB&J since I left the states! As my friend was preparing sandwiches, I noticed a familiar face on the peanut butter jar… Teddy Ruxpin! However, no one recognized this childhood toy and I felt very alone in being excited about it. I hope some of you at least know what I’m talking about.

 I was also very excited to end up spending less than $15 for a replacement pot, a decent kitchen knife, a binder and an eraser! I love exchange rates.

I also made it over to the McDonald’s again tonight, although I didn’t order anything because we came directly from eating at a restaurant… still can’t figure that logic out. The Russian McDonald’s makes me laugh because the majority of the menu is transliterated into Russian, so you can say “chicken mcnuggets” or “big mac” or “cheeseburger” and they know what you want. The power of branding at work! After eating there previously, I am of the mind that the french fries are better here in Russia! At home, the fries aren’t crispy and then McD’s has a tendency to way over-salt the fries. Here, they’re crispy with a light salting and oh so tasty. It probably also helps that there is a perpetual rush, so its always fresh! This concludes my review of the Russian McDonald’s.

Well, now I need to go finish my homework and skip off to class. I guess once again, I will be postponing the remaining portion of the first post for a later date. Until next post… farewell!