17

Holy crap! It's been too long! Since I've blogged, since I've had a day off, since I've had decent internet access, since I've done anything other than take care of these children. 

Since I last wrote, Artem and Olga went on vacation to southern France for a week. While they were gone, the kids, the cleaning lady Chris, babushka, and I were sent to the dacha for the week. It was a loooooooooooong week to say the least. I have no problem letting the mice play while the cat is away, but WOW these children didn't want to listen to any instructions from anyone. I'm glad the parents are back and can disciple their kids now.  Mark and Camilla weren't bothered at all by my threats (not even to be dragged by their toenails!). We've also come back to the summer house since the parents' return. It was nice to have a change of scenery but I paid a high price for it, as I feel like the children were trying to drive me crazy the whole week. 

It's been one month since I arrived and one month that I've been twerking for this family. And man has it been a long month! I'm twerking waaaaayyyyy more than expected, acting more as a mother to Camilla and Mark than an au pair. It's exhausting and not an experience I ever look forward to repeating. I am happily counting down the days until my last day of work. 

I hate to wish time away, but this is one period in my life I would really like to end sooner rather than later.  Russia has been great, but it only feels like I'm in Russia on my days off when I go into the city. Otherwise, I spend all day at the summer home speaking English, eating pretty much the same food I've always eaten. Being an au pair is not for me; thankfully I go to school to learn how to do something else. 

One thing here I am excited for is the ballet. I'm seeing Swan Lake at the Mariinsky theater tonight! I can't think of anything more Russian!