OMG ANTARCTICA OWNS@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I went to Schenley Park to watch this movie. It is a very nice movie. Stirred up some feelings and thoughts about being humble and honest, true to oneself and not try to be someone else. Also watched a documentary about the Blue Man Group. And, the message of the performances is the same - stop to be a turtle and show your REAl self! =) Unique and Interesting...
It was nice to watch these things, because lately I think that very often I am not true to people - I tend to be the way they want to see me. I know, it comes from insecurity and fear... And, we all have those, but I want to be free from those things and allow myself to be ME - because I love myself and I hate myself when I try to be liked and loved by others.
I read Eleven Minutes by Coelho. Before re-read Alchemist Interesting and easy, most importantly, optimistic and positive =) Maybe,EGO narcissism, which is recurrent in Coelho's books (but it's ok and natural - who is not such?) Importantly, he is honest =)
I also went for a night walk with Arash, my friend. It was nice the way we make fun of each other and how comfortable and free I feel when I am with him =) (Salom, handsome Arash!=)
We drank some tea with Mehdi and Navruz, my roommate-friend and a friend-classmate - discussed North Caucasus, Islam, Iran, Central Asia, specifically, Tajikistan - and, of course, language policy.
There are two international student, possibly coming to Duquesne this year, one from Azerbaijan and the other is from Yemen. I went to the office and aksed them to give my contacts to the students if the decide to accept their offer, so that I could somehow help them with finding housing and stuff. Sadly, ois and students themselves do not help much, normally. Nobody really helped me my first year here, so it would be nice if there is someone who can help them. I thought... And, of course, it would be pleasant to meet them.
This Wednesday I am heading off to DC... Ah! Je suis nerveuse, parce que j'ai beaucoup des interviews avec les peuples importants!!!:) Probablement, je dois chercher pour l'information de comment conduir and etre le success pendant l'interview=) Probablement, je dois pratiquer mon Francais=).... Oh, Maaan, language is beautiful, but... need to study more.. and practise.

GOOD question=)

Racism in Russia
I remember there was a moment around March/April day after day reading Russian newspapers about a crime after the crimeS I became more and more appalled by what was and is going on in the main cities of my country.
I know that if this is going on in the center of Russia, it, of course, is in the peripheries, maybe not on the same scale. But racism is THERE.
I also listen almost every day my classmates from the former Soviet Union (Tajikistan and Azerbaijan) telling me about the attitudes of people every time they visit Moscow/St. Petersburg - how they imagined Russia to be and how it turned its back on them with rude arrogance and fake superiority.
I talk to my student of Russian, an 18-year old immigrant from the Soviet Union, who wants to visit Russia some day, but persuades me not to go back after reading about the incidents and the social and political processes that are going on in Russia.
Many of my friends want to visit Russia. They are interested. Of course, I tell them that it is a beautiful country with beautiful people, but I ask them to wait. I ask them to wait, when it gets better, more respectful of other cultures, races, countries, identities.
I think that racism comes from the disillusionment by the collapse of the SOVIET EMPIRE and our inability to adjust. It comes both from the people and the government. There should be a policy from the government, local and federal, to deal with the education of the young and the old. And, there should be a lot of work to be done by the people themselves, by the CIVIL society. Unfortunately, the reality is that it will take time until the society grows up spiritually. We have enough intellect in Russia, but we do not have spirituality, humanity, tolerance, love. There is so much little LOVE in Russia, today. I feel it every time I go back. And, I hope that I will contribute to the growth of civil society in Russia some day. But one person can do nothing in Russia until it changes its old-style Soviet "red tapism" (that is my opinion from my personal experience), many people can do. There should be lobbying from a group of fair-minded people to the government of Russia, lobbying of Putin to put money into the education of the young, educational projects on racism. People should what it means to be racist, liar, thief. There should be special lectures in schools, kindergartens, universities on humanism, ethics... There should be a moral education - not in abstract manner (the way I was taught at the university), but in a human language that any person - from 5-year-old to 60-year-old can understand. There should be special programs on TV, maybe a special channel that is promoting a healthy thinking - not only about sex (if about sex - then show tenderness and softness and beauty it renders) and violence... To me, mass media both reflect and educate the society. So, why not encourage mass media make attempts at educating, not only entertaining???
So, there are two major things that should be reformed - educational system and mass media.
TakignItGlobal is great and I hope that with the help of the Canadian (Global) TIG, Russia will be one step closer to what it really is - beautiful country with beautiful people - that gave birth to Tchaikovsky and Dostoevsky!

I read it long time ago... But it is one of the best books Ive read. It changed my thinking in many ways and made me one step closer to an ideal MOI.
One passage I remember is a story about a thief, somewhere in the middle of the book. The main idea of that story is that the cause of many problems are in us, ourselves. The world can become better only with me and you becoming better...

Persuasive, but... maybe I should read one more time.
Amy Chua is excellent and she is the one who deserves an admiration.
Language is very good.
A bit of intimacy with personal stories with profound ideas about the nature of ethnic conflicts in connection to a G word =)

Simple but profound.
A fairy tale but very close to life (like all the tales).
Beautiful incisively.
Idealistic, some may say... Realistic to many.
Language of the world, personal legend, self-search and self-finding, love and patience, opitmism and dreams (that come true BUT with an (a lot of) effort and perseverance) - keywords of the book. Real alchemy is in human hearts, minds, and in SOLARIS that unifies and leads every human being.............................................. What can be more appealing than this, even if it's in our imagination? But i believe.... and I believe many of us believe

I have a friend whose name is Arash. He is from Shiraz, Iran. We went to the Point with him, reggae concert, ate fried vegetables and then, went to Hemingway's. It was nice to talk to him... Always nice:) For some reason, I feel free and relaxed with him, but he is not HIM. I know that:)! For sure.
Again, reading Alchemist... and reading Solaris... MMMMM! Fantastic!

Another weekend is over. Football is a big news of theweek =). Yesterday was watching the game with a group of Iranian friends and one Mexican:). Of course, Mexico has won the game, but Iranians were unhappy and I felt sorry. Before the game Arash and I bet for an ice-cream. Now I do not want the ice-cream. Plus, I am gaining some weight=). So diet is necessary until it's late.
Also, Martha had a barbecue for Monica, my dear friend. It was a great night out with lots of Colombian-style barbecue, potatoes, and lots of different food... Mmmm! It was delicious!
Came home late at night, read a book, and fell asleep. In the morning one 1 hour overslept. And,here I am at work. But: I was the first one to come to work. Stacey was late=)
Nice day today!!! =)

My sister has finished her 4th semester. She has got one more year to go. She studies Child Psychology at the State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburgh.
My niece has finished her first year of undergraduate studies. She studies Tourism Management in St. Petersburgh. I feel proud of them, because they finished their semesters successfully:))) NICE
I got a feedback from Dr. Brenner on my first thoughts about my thesis which were:

The last couple of days my dad keeps calling me. It's so nice to hear a voice of my dad. He is right now working in the Arctic region, Russia. He sent a pciture of him in a place full of snow...

Weekend is over, and I am at work again:) Kind of chilly outside. I was wearing gloves, brown jacket, blue jeans, black turtleneck and Monica's sweater. So many clothes! But - felt warm. Want to have something exciting going on in my life... Over the weekend was trying to do some research for my thesis. On Sunday I was supposed to go to Niagara Falls with Monica + Juan + His Parents, but the night before had a horrible stomach ache with vomiting involved =( and the whole day kind of felt uneasy in my stomach.. so I missed the trip.
Today I dream of some trip to some part of the world. I dream of a nice job, to be done with thesis and to be working, traveling, feeling relaxed and accomplished. I want to have HIM next to me and feel peaceful... I wonder when I will have all that:)

Today we, at work, had a luncheon. It was very interesting and inspiring in a way to realize that I work among great people and I am doing a great job for a non-profit.
I also went and gave my professor who is leaving a good-bye present, a tea-set from Russia and a green tea:).
Then, I went to the thesis defence of my friend, best friend in Pittsburgh, Monica, and I really enjoyed it. She was beautiful, professional and VERY smart... She always is. I could see her working at some big environmental think tank or the United Nations. We'll see what she accomplishes.
Now I am sitting at work and trying to finish some work. Then, I will go to the Comp Lab at my school and print out some materials for research. And, at last, I will go home and get some work done.
My professor and a dear friend, Dr. Brenner, sent me his comments on my thesis outline, which has been more than helpful. I was very grateful to him for his efforts and for his help in my endeavours - all of my endeavours.

It's raining... Walking up the street to work I was dreaming of SunDay; having a comfortable apartment with huge windows - looking out of the widnow at the pouring rain.

This is an indeed interesting project. I hope to share and I want those who will be on my blog to share - to really SHARE. I don't know if that is manageable... I am doubtful, but EXcited:)