Well, this has become ridiculous at this point...I am officially still sick. Runny nose - so runny I've had to keep tissues stuck up my nose. I had a brief phase on the weekend of feeling quite good - I thought I was all better - and I thought wrong! If I feel the same tomorrow, I will go to the doctor.
In a couple of weeks, my kids' school will start giving flu shots to any parent who wants one - enough of this crap - bring on the flu shot! (The downside? I have to be free of cold and flu symptoms to get it. We shall see...)
It may sound like a giant excuse, but I am absolutely not on track with eating in a low-calorie way or exercising. I'm just trying to feel better, as in "well enough to walk around the block a couple of times". I'm just not there yet. Some days (many days), I haven't felt up to cooking much, and salad just doesn't hold appeal when I'm sick. Yet, I've made an effort to make chicken soup and stew and a pot roast (with roasted veggies). I baked a chicken with stuffing, with vegetables on the side. Last week I made a giant batch of bran muffins with dried cranberries in them. I've been taking my vitamins. Resting...
Good Lord, I've been back here for almost a month, and I haven't felt like myself yet...sheesh. When will it end??????
On the upside, I'm completely up-to-date on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (and New Jersey). I've been slowly (very slowly) been getting my house re-organized/clean, and getting the kids signed up for their various activities (my 10-year old daughter has decided she wants to play the trumpet this year - I don't think my ears are ready for that. But at least it's not the bagpipes!)
Finally, I've been helping a young American mother (her baby is only 5 months old) get adjusted to living in Moscow. Although her husband has been here for a few months, she just moved here from London 3 weeks ago. Her husband works long hours and she doesn't have access to a car (except taxis). Believe me, this is a big deal when you live in this city. I've taken her to two grocery stores and showed her what is available (and lamenting what is not available - like normal yellow mustard, normal cereal, or hot dog buns). I think she's beginning to wonder, "Oh, what have I done in moving here?" Moving to Moscow is a little (okay, a lot) like the grieving process: shock and denial, pain, anger, depression, reconstruction/working through it, and finally...acceptance.
Spending time with this woman has reminded me of all the adjustments I've made in the past two years, in an attempt to carve out a semi-normal existence as an expat in Russia. It made me ponder all of the things I've learned (like how I can now read most Russian food names - yay!) and how I've adapted to a very unfamiliar culture. I've gone from getting very riled up at certain situations (like when the food in a restaurant is inedible, yet they still expect you to pay for it)...to now expecting stuff like that on a daily basis, so that now I'm actually surprised when things go well. For the most part, now I can shrug my shoulders when things go askew, and say, "This is Russia." Sometimes I can even smile when I say it!
So now I can see the familiar look of shock and denial on my new friend's face...as I find myself, surprisingly, mostly in the acceptance phase. (Yes, I do go back to the depression/reconstruction phases, too.) That being said, I don't think I'll ever be completely okay with living in Russia - that's just how it is.
Right now, please, oh please, I just want to be healthy!
In a couple of weeks, my kids' school will start giving flu shots to any parent who wants one - enough of this crap - bring on the flu shot! (The downside? I have to be free of cold and flu symptoms to get it. We shall see...)
It may sound like a giant excuse, but I am absolutely not on track with eating in a low-calorie way or exercising. I'm just trying to feel better, as in "well enough to walk around the block a couple of times". I'm just not there yet. Some days (many days), I haven't felt up to cooking much, and salad just doesn't hold appeal when I'm sick. Yet, I've made an effort to make chicken soup and stew and a pot roast (with roasted veggies). I baked a chicken with stuffing, with vegetables on the side. Last week I made a giant batch of bran muffins with dried cranberries in them. I've been taking my vitamins. Resting...
Good Lord, I've been back here for almost a month, and I haven't felt like myself yet...sheesh. When will it end??????
On the upside, I'm completely up-to-date on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (and New Jersey). I've been slowly (very slowly) been getting my house re-organized/clean, and getting the kids signed up for their various activities (my 10-year old daughter has decided she wants to play the trumpet this year - I don't think my ears are ready for that. But at least it's not the bagpipes!)
Finally, I've been helping a young American mother (her baby is only 5 months old) get adjusted to living in Moscow. Although her husband has been here for a few months, she just moved here from London 3 weeks ago. Her husband works long hours and she doesn't have access to a car (except taxis). Believe me, this is a big deal when you live in this city. I've taken her to two grocery stores and showed her what is available (and lamenting what is not available - like normal yellow mustard, normal cereal, or hot dog buns). I think she's beginning to wonder, "Oh, what have I done in moving here?" Moving to Moscow is a little (okay, a lot) like the grieving process: shock and denial, pain, anger, depression, reconstruction/working through it, and finally...acceptance.
Spending time with this woman has reminded me of all the adjustments I've made in the past two years, in an attempt to carve out a semi-normal existence as an expat in Russia. It made me ponder all of the things I've learned (like how I can now read most Russian food names - yay!) and how I've adapted to a very unfamiliar culture. I've gone from getting very riled up at certain situations (like when the food in a restaurant is inedible, yet they still expect you to pay for it)...to now expecting stuff like that on a daily basis, so that now I'm actually surprised when things go well. For the most part, now I can shrug my shoulders when things go askew, and say, "This is Russia." Sometimes I can even smile when I say it!
So now I can see the familiar look of shock and denial on my new friend's face...as I find myself, surprisingly, mostly in the acceptance phase. (Yes, I do go back to the depression/reconstruction phases, too.) That being said, I don't think I'll ever be completely okay with living in Russia - that's just how it is.
Right now, please, oh please, I just want to be healthy!
4 comments:
Goodness! It has become all too common to get sick after a plane trip but this has indeed lasted a long time. Hope you get better very soon.
I do hope you feel better soon, this has been going on too long.
And guess what:
MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WANTS TO PLAY THE TRUMPET TOO!
How many times have I told you that I see many similarities between us?
Oh, our dear ears!!!
Geez Debbie I hope you start feeling better soon! thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery!
Hope you are on the mend - a lingering cold/sickness is just not fun. And hello, you live in Russia - that is enough "not fun" for most people...you deserve a break!
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