From the beginning-

Instead of starting this blog right away I originally decided to just send some email updates home to family and friends. They are really the best way to start this blog so I'm posting them first and then we'll get caught up. My apologies to the friends and family who already read our first few updates.

My first week in Moscow went something like this:

• It snowed 2 inches in an hour.
• David's "school bag" was stolen in a cafe while he was intensely studying the Russian language. We became some what sad and angry at Russia for a day. We thought of all kinds of government conspiracy theories for why the bag was taken. Then a lovely Russian man called and said he had the bag-he found it on the street and wanted to get it back to the owner (David's press i.d. was in the bag). There was an early morning hand-off where we presented the man with flowers and chocolates in thanks-we bought them with sincere hope that he was not actually going to kidnap us (that was part of one of the conspiracy theories). The bag was intact with the exception of David's IPod and tape recorder.
• We have met quite a few Canadian, American and British expats who have adopted us and invited us to lots of things which has been really nice-we even went to a party.
• At said party I met my first real Russian girl who would actually talk to an American girl. She proceeded to explain to me why Russian girls have problems with American girls, and I quote, "You American girls just don't dress the part. You know we Russian women take care of ourselves all the time". We will not be friends. I went back to talk to the Canadians after that.
• Old women (real babushkas) here push you out of their way with their shopping carts at the grocery store and then grab the cheese you were going to buy. I think that qualifies as assault in New York.
• We had a drink on the Ritz Carlton roof top which has a most beautiful view of Moscow-we'll show you when you visit....
• We went to a "Mexican" cantina-they put cabbage on their nachos. There was a band who played Eric Clapton's 'Tears in Heaven' and everyone danced. It became a strange Russian/Mexican bar mitzah.
• All 7 of our checked bags made it to Moscow from New York!
• There are only "gypsy cabs" here-you wave your hand in the street and an unmarked car stops and you get in-so far they've safely taken us home every time. It goes against everything I stand for with regard to the taxi cab industry.
• We still have a "roommate".