Normal Week

I wish I had something more interesting to write about but I'm afraid I don't, I've had a pretty normal week. Friday night a few of us met up for a beer at the aptly named "beer tent" and we saw a bar fight, possibly mafia fueled, but that was about as exciting as it got. Besides that I went to school and did homework. Yesterday was American Club, in which we discuss topics concerning Russia and America and their differences and similarities. We usually do this in English, a point which really ruffled my host mom. "You came all this way to Russia and you speak English... I just don't understand it." I tried to argue that the Russians who come know more English than we know Russian, and then she told me they're just using us as practice, which I'm pretty ok with. She's a really bossy person and tries to give me life lessons every day concerning health and well being. Yesterday when I had a headache and said that I thought I was dehydrated, she gave me a skeptical look. "No, that's not it. You might be catching a cold." I said that in the States I tend to drink more water than I have been able to do here, and that I feel as though this often affects my body negatively. "No, you drink water in the states because it's hot there. It's cold here, so we only drink three cups of tea a day." I argued that it's not because it's hot, it's just what we do, that we believe you should drink mostly water and a lot of it. She was about to beat me down again but then I stressed the words "it's our OPINION" and she settled down. She has also told me to let the dog lick any open wounds I have. The dog smells worse than any homeless man I've ever encountered, so I think I'll pass.

The dog also is very old, and I think he's probably dying. He looks so uncomfortable all the time, is lethargic and doesn't want to eat his usual food. She thinks he has a stomach problem and is taking him to the vet but I think he's on his way out. I don't know if he'll last until December, which is too bad. He's a really good, really gentle dog. I think he's 15 years old or something.

Anyways, now I'm going to the Circus School, so I hope you're all well and I'll write again later.