I believe that a vacation is a time for rejuvenation.  It's a time to rest my body and my mind, to recover from the demands of my regular life.  It's a time when I step away from my normal responsibilities and allow myself to breathe.  During my last vacation, I covered everything I needed to in … Continue reading Body, Mind…Spirit?

Before I left Yakutsk for my summer vacation, I was offered a promotion at school.  I was asked to take on the position of head teacher for children, and I accepted the offer. Actually, the person who recommended me for the position had told me about her recommendation several weeks before the offer was officially … Continue reading Some Things New: At Work

Good news: I'm finally done talking about my summer.  I know, right?  You were probably wondering when I'd get current.  Hallelujah, we're finally there. On the very first day of September, I boarded a flight from Kingston, Jamaica heading back to Yakutsk.  Two days later, after three flights and a long layover in Moscow during … Continue reading All Things New: At Home

I love living in a place where my skin colour doesn't matter and, in fact, is a source of fascination.  People stare at me quite a bit when I'm out and about but they're almost always respectful.  The rare idiot pops up from time to time but most people are welcoming and are obviously just … Continue reading Excellence in Small Things

OK!  So you're finally caught up on how I spent the month of July.  Let's do August, but we'll do it all in one post. One major thing to know is that during August, I circumnavigated the globe within one year yet again!  And yet again, it was one hundred percent unintentional.  The reason why it … Continue reading August in a Nutshell

I was in a beautiful setting, enjoying the experience of hiking around a small portion of the largest and most ancient of lakes.  How could there be a snake in my garden? Well, by day five I was pretty much over the trip and I just wanted to be done.  I didn't want to see … Continue reading Ancient of Lakes Part 2 – There’s That Love Thing

Failed again at the loving people thing.  Uuuugggghhh.  I'm a little bit sick of myself with this thing, to tell you the truth.  My breakthrough can't come soon enough. The weekend after my camping trip to Amga, I visited an ice field, again on the other side of the river.  It was a day trip … Continue reading Ancient of Lakes Part 1 – To The Water

It's official: I love camping.  Like, really love it.  I don't know how good I am at it but I don't care, I love it! Up until the beginning on July, I had been camping a grand total of three times in my life.  The first time was on my eight-day hike up and down … Continue reading Another River, A New Love

Since I moved to Yakutsk one year ago, I've spent most of my time in and around the city.  Of course, I've ventured out for various adventures but, other than brief camping trips, I've always returned to my flat at the end of the day.  So there I was, teaching summer camp in the city back … Continue reading Village Visit

I know, you're wondering about that word, right?  Don't worry, I'll get to it in a second. So, I attended my first summer solstice festival at the end of June.  I'm not quite sure where to start in telling you about it.  I suppose the best place is the beginning. I think that to most … Continue reading Yhyakh