Milano - Looking Back

This past May I visited the north part of Italy. Although it rained most of the time - not the usual weather - some days were sunny and favorable for exploring...

You know how sometimes in order to understand something you’ve got to be there and experience it? So is Milano. Why are people, celebrities or Russians so drawn to it? I’m not sure, but this is what I think it is:

It’s the magnificence of creation. It’s art within art.  An electrifying clash of antique and modern. 

It’s spacious, grand, luxurious, beautiful… The exuberant architecture encapsulates the diversity of clothing styles, both a hallmark of God’s gift of creativity and aesthetic to humans. No human could fail to appreciate it, because in every human soul there is a longing for beauty, a longing for greatness and a longing for fascination.

Although just an echo of eternity, it gives a glimpse of the pleasure that awaits each child of God.

Of course, there are those who can care less about this side of things. Those would use a piece of clothing bought in Italy to pump their ego, reassure themselves of their importance and try to impress.

Tell me One Thing...

Wow!!! What a great blogger I am. I'm consistently posting at a frequency of one post per year. So impressive. I'm even considering starting a second blog... Uh!

It seems that life happens at such speed and I don't have the time to sit and record it. I'm afraid to miss smth. So many stories I could have written just as great as the others about how "wonderful" life can be.

Sometimes I wonder if anybody really would like my stories, since they all have this sharp cutting edge. Perhaps you are looking for something more inspiring?.. Well, I guess whatever impresses me, I write. And some things I find shockingly impressive. Like for instance, the public minibus driver who calls a 9 year old a "debil", which really means "idiot", "retarded". Should I tell you why? Or does it really matter? Poor kid was struggling to close the door, so when it finally closed, it slammed. What is even more impressive is that none of the adults said anything to that, nobody raised to defend the child... Funny society.

Hot chocolate in the middle of the night (almost like coffee)

Or a friend tells me her supervisor is "chewing" her out. When she complained to higher authorities the response she got was: try to be manipulative, be "nicer" to her (which really meant: 'kiss her butt'). I don't know why I find this hysterically sad. Perhaps I'm pretty naive. When will I grow up finally?!

Dare...to Fail

or The Recipe for Despair

That's not easy. For some daring to fail it's unthinkable. Would you like your child like this? Get some insights into the psychological build-up of dare-to-fail failures. This will help you build up the perfect candidate out of anyone, even adults. If you dare to fail, of course! So, here are 10 rules to follow everyday:

1. Rarely greet your child. When he says Hi, don't respond.
2. When he/she walks in the room, don't look at him (never smile!).
3. When he/she ask a question, pretend you are busy and don't respond.
4. If he/she nags you, insisting, answer irritated: What do you want?
5. Never praise him/her for anything good they did.
6. In everything they do: always look for some imperfection to criticize.
7. If you don't find any flaw, simply keep a sober face and don't say a word.

My Chicken Identity & The Bribe

I'm sitting here trying to write my paper...I picked the Development of Old Age and Related Issues. I'm just curious about this topic. Besides, I don't think anybody else picked it. But, my mind is drifting away...

The statements of the psychology teacher that women have evolved from chicken are echoing in my ears... Yes, she was dead serious about it. She says she saw the comparison between brains and that they look similar. Also, she asks: "Did you notices how chicken are looking at the sun? Tilting their head on one side? Women do the same."

My great great great great great great.... grandma.

I guess there are exception, as with anything... But isn't it just so confidence-boosting? It so builds up self-esteem and helps a great deal, if one is uncertain of his/her identity. It's great to finally know you are kin-souls with a chicken; to feel the connection, when you're about to have it for dinner...

My Wonderful Life in MD: Warm Me Up with Love!

It's bloody cold. It's been like that for over 2 weeks. Lately it also started raining. I don't mind any of these. Not at all. Not if...

…if I just could return to a warm home… It's that simple. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, to be brave. I tell myself: this is not a problem, it's ok. Except, I hate the cold. I hate the way it makes me feel, the way it impairs my capacity to... anything. But... I've got to be brave. I can handle it.

I like the good intentions of our mayor to turn on the heat in the city. The only small, insignificant thing is that they don't warm me up. But I've got to be patient. It just isn't my house's turn yet. Why can’t we just turn it on when WE need it? Wasn’t c o m m u n i s m just a wonderful idea?

A Midsummer Nightmare (not by Shakespeare)

Whew! What a life! Can it really be more thrilling? Listen to this...

I'm sitting here in my little room in my big, empty house after a day of work. And what work? I'm almost afraid to say, 'cause you might get jealous. But I'll risk. Carrying clay and horse manure for my aunt who is helping me repair the stove... winter is coming. Yeah, that's what we use here for such works. I've got to mention gluing wallpaper to the walls... have I ever dreamed of anything like this? But it's worth the reason. 'Cause see...

... another exciting thing is the small group with the teen girls from the village. We talk about life and adventure and traveling and my best friend J. Oh, we also play fun games and drink hot tea. So, I'm getting the room ready. :)

However exhilarating that may sound, I must tell you, it is not the last highlight of the day yet, 'cause then I retreat to my little room to watch one of my favorite movies, the kind with spiders and magic. Yeyyyy! Spooky stuff. And... I hear some increasing noise under my sofa, around my desk, scratching and trotting... Like something is coming... Hoah! That would have scared you, but not me. I'm used to that by now - my all time companions, the mice! Now, I have to admit they are going a little over board this time...

To Laugh or Not to Laugh? USA in Retrospective (part 3)

In the US people always excuse themselves when passing in front of you, while shopping or on streets, etc. For someone not used to that it can become annoying at some point. In Moldova they will step on your toes and won’t say a word. Or ,they will yell at you to get your feet out of the way.

US boys seem bolder about inviting a girl out, no strings attached. If they like a girl they go for it, giving it a try, just for fun. They are, also, freer in expressing their affection. Christian boys won’t act so freaked out, when it comes to giving a girl an encouraging friendly hug or a good-bye hug. Ha-ha!

When boarding on a public bus in the US, the driver patiently waits for people to get off and on, usually slowly. The bus lowers to the sidewalk level, so that people can board easily; for invalids a ramp opens up. In Moldova the driver will yell at you: C’mon, move faster, up, up! Hey, old lady, what’s taking you so long?