Svetlana Salmina

“No, no, we will obey you, and we will care for the doggy," said my grandchildren. Then their mother, my daughter, said too: “Yes, yes, they will take care of it themselves."

Okay. Soon I got an apartment and moved to live separately. It turned out that around our town there were no puppies. My daughter called and asked all her friends about a puppy, my grandchildren asked their friends. They bought a bed for a puppy, toys for puppy, different food for little dogs, clothes and many other accessories. But a puppy was no.

One time we didn’t get a puppy, because our family has two children. Another time we didn’t have a separate room for a dog.

Once my daughter called me. “Come to us. I am going to another town, we found the puppy, and I will pick it up.” Of course, I went fast to them.

The puppy was very cute. He was very young, I think, he was only 3 or 4 weeks.

"No, no, the owner said that he is 3 months, and he will not grow bigger,” my grandchildren told me.

“He is black!”

“Yes, we always dreamed only about a black dog!”

“He is a girl!”

“Yes, we always wanted only the girl dog.”

Children were happy, and their mother and I were happy too. Children named the new family member Febi.

Every time, when I came to my family, I saw that Febi was growing and growing. In the beginning, the kids said to me that soon she will finish growing, but now she is 55 (!) pounds! She knows that I always bring her a toy and snack, and she meets me by barking and jumps on me with her 55 pounds. I always greet her, “Hello, our chihuahua."

We really love our Febi. She eats the best dog’s food, plays with many new toys, but she tears them with pleasure. She sleeps on the bed with my grandson Misha, and walks a few hours every day, because everyone wants to walk with her. We worry about her health. And Febi answers us by love and devotion.

Maslenitsa

Maslenitsa is a very old Slavic holiday. Maslenitsa is a good-bye to Winter and a welcome of Spring. In the old time, Slavs were pagans and had many gods, god of Sun, of Wind, of Thunder and of Lightning. They believed that Winter needs to be driven away, and only after that can Spring come to this land. In the end of winter, in February, Slavs celebrate this holiday. They burn the scarecrow of Winter and invite Spring by dancing, singing, and playing games. The general food is blini. The round form of toasted blini looks like the Sun and symbolizes the Sun, heat, and new life of nature.

In our time, this holiday doesn’t connect with religion. This is a holiday in the end of winter when it’s very cold in February. This feast continues a whole week. During these days, people visit each other, bake the blini, and share it with all friends, relatives and neighbors. In the evening, people are walking on the streets, throwing snowballs, riding sleighs and horses, singing traditional songs. On Sunday, kids and adults all day get together in the square and have fun. They dance in a circle, old dancing and singing old songs. They play with a real bear (it is a very old activity). They compete to see which horses are the quickest, and they try to take the prize from the top of a very tall pillar. And everywhere in the squares and streets people bake blini, and all people treat themselves to blini with different supplements and very hot tea. We eat blini with honey, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, meat, caviar, smoked fish. At the end of the holiday, as many hundreds of years ago, we burn the scarecrow of Winter, and we begin to wait for Spring.

In Somerville at the Davis square cafe, you can try crepes. They are not the same, but they are very similar to Russian blini.Try them.

Thanks

Animals cannot speak. But they understand everything, even the meanings of many words. They can be sad and laugh; they can take offense and mourn. I will tell you the story about a homeless cat and a woman, my friend Maria.

Maria had a dacha -- small house with small land without heating for rest in summer. Such houses usually stand in beautiful places, near a river or the villages. Maria grew flowers and berries.

Once Maria saw the cat on her land and treated her with milk. The next day the cat came to Maria again, and began to come every day in the morning. The cat was homeless. She always was angry and ate greedily, she was thin and her fur was not brilliant. Every morning the cat waited for Maria on the path near the house, and after eating she quickly ran away.

Every time Maria told the cat, tried to pet her, wanted to leave to live at home, but the cat was running away. Maria saw the collar mark on the neck. The cat had the owner and house maybe, but later something happened, and the cat became homeless and she didn’t trust people.

One time Maria told the cat: “I feed you every day, I try to give you the best pieces. I speak with you and caress you. But you don’t answer me and try to run out. Where is your “thank you?”

In the next morning the cat waited for Maria near the house on the path again and looked past Maria. Maria said:

“Come to me, Catty. I brought you milk and a piece of chicken. I know that you like it.”

But the cat didn’t move and continued to look past Maria to the bush. Maria came to the bush and raised the branches.

Wow! The five dead strangled mice lay neatly under the bush! Maria couldn’t say a word!

The cat quickly ate food and ran away. What was it? Maybe does the cat say “thank you”?

Don’t you believe after this story that animals understand our speech?

This story has a happy ending. The cat lives with Maria in Maria’s house in the town and never catches mice.

Young Hero

I like to walk on the streets of Somerville. My favorite hobby—to look at the old houses of different styles, blooming trees and flowers, new constructions of buildings. History is my interest too, and I always pay attention to various sculptures and monuments.

Yesterday, when I walked by City Hall, I came to the monument in front of the building. It was a bust of a very young man. Who was this person, why is he the hero, when did he live?

George Dilboy. He was born in 1896, and he was twenty years old, when he was enlisted in the 26th Infantry Division and ended up in the war. He was a boy; he had friends; he didn’t have a wife and kids; he didn’t feel happy and the taste of life. He didn’t know how long or short his life would be.

Two years later, George Dilboy became a platoon leader, and he led his men into enemy territory to get information about enemy troops. He was suddenly fired upon. At once, he opened fire. He ran towards the enemies with his bayonet. George was badly injured but continued to fire. He killed two of the enemy, and the others ran away. But George was killed. It was July 18, 1918. George Dilboy was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor.

I am standing in front of the monument and seeing the young boy, who didn’t have time to see life and feel happy in life, who didn’t have family and kids. George Dilboy was only 22 years old.

Seven years later, another boy was born. He was my father Ljudvig. He grew up too and went to war too. He was a boy 17 years old! He saw death and lost friends. He didn’t kill people; he was the aircraft mechanic, but during two years he lost two of his pilots. First one, then another. They were young too, same as my father, maybe one or two years older. They wanted to live, be in love, have a wife and children. They flew away on a mission and didn’t come back. With a third pilot, my father finished the war on May 9, 1945. He was 19 years old only! He had medals and orders. He was a winner!

Later he studied in special military schools, became an officer and served in other military schools. Later he met my mum, got married, and I was born. It was in 1952.

My father wasn’t killed in the war, he returned from the war. But war caught up with him after many years. Doctors said: “It is war”. He was 58 years old only.

I want to ask, why should young boys give their lives again and again so that we can be born and live? When will it end?

My emotions When I Am Buying A New Book

When I come to the store and see the book, about which I have heard from my friends or read in he internet and which I want to buy for my home library, my heart starts to beat faster. My dream! I wrap it in paper, put it in the bag, go home and start to dream how I will read it.

I come home, carefully take my “jewel” from my bag, I open the paper. I am admiring it, I am considering its cover, I am sniffing the binding. Do you know how a new book smells? It smells like glue, paper, and typography paint. I slowly start to open the book. I hear her voice, papers start to crackle. And I start to read and don’t see and hear around me.

Dreams come true!

All my life I dreamed of working with animals. I wanted to be a teacher for animals, a doctor for them, a trainer for dogs for space etc. At last, I got my diploma, where it was written “Biologist. Teacher of biology and chemistry.” I began to work in a botanical and zoo garden in the town Kazan, 700 kilometers from my parents, friends, and my University.

I was young and had many plans for life and work. I made a fast career in the Zoo. At the beginning I worked as a tour guide and lecturer. This work was familiar and interesting for me. I told visitors, adults and kids, about animals, which they saw in cages. I read many books about animals' lives, trips to different countries. At home I had my own library about it, and it helped me to communicate with visitors, always be ready to answer all questions.

I knew every animal, his name, his history of life, character, habits. Often visitors came to the Zoo again and again; they had darlings and brought them snakes. I taught them to watch animals, to see their beauties and grace, to tell about their fixtures for life in nature. Why does the leopard have stains, tiger has stripes, but lion has none of this? Why do monkeys not become humans now? Is a dolphin a fish or a mammal? I know that a few young visitors after school went to biological departments, and I want to think that my stories and lectures helped them to find their way.

Later, when I was supervisor of this department, my staff and I did many different activities for visitors: holidays, contests, the birthdays for animals, who was born in Zoo, the exhibitions etc. I could talk about it for a long time. This work was my dream job. I went to her all my life. I was happy.

Two years later I continued to work in the Zoo, but as a researcher and later a manager of the Zoo. This work was a delight for me. But about it I will talk next time.

My city walk with my friend

My friend Lida had a birthday a few days ago. Her husband gave her a new model phone. It was fun! She had an internet on her phone! It gave new opportunities for our friendship. I offered to take a tour of Somerville.

We decided to take a walk along a street. My friend Lida didn’t see my house and with interest examined my building. She liked that the house is tall and has balconies. It is very comfortable for living.

We went along a street and I showed her houses - very individual styles and colors. I told Lida about Victorian style, that these houses were built at the end of the 19th or at the beginning of the 20th century.

Usually, these houses have a big size, because in that time families had 8 - 10 kids. Kids lived on the top floor with nannies and educators, where the temperature was more warm, the servants lived in the basement.

We considered Victorian houses, admired the columns and entrance stairs. Sometimes sculptures of leons guarded the entrance. These houses always had the large veranda around the first level, where the owners met the guests, rested on a hot day. Usually, such houses had a large plot of land , where kids played on the grass near the house between flower beds.

So we stopped before every Victorian house, exchanged views, admired decorations and gardens.

”Do you see the plaques on the hauses? It is the year of construction. Government monitors and protects historical houses”. All these houses had a good condition.

Between the two Victorian houses, we often saw Victorian-like houses. These houses were built much later, they didn’t have Victorian’s style details. In the end of the 19th century Somerville was smaller, the rich houses were far apart. But in the 20th century the land became more and more expensive, families became smaller; and rich owners started selling their land for the construction of new inexpensive houses.

Lida was very glad to walk with me and learn something new. In her country they didn’t have such houses.

“Svetlana, said my friend. - My phone is running low”. We decided to walk next time to admire blooming trees.

Yes, we both have whatsapp, and it is fun!

Blooming Lilac in Arboretum

The Arboretum is a botanical garden of Harvard University. Many students and professors study plants and do experiments there. But the territory of the garden is open for people too. Every day parents with children, groups of students, and nature lovers come to the garden and admire new and blooming plants. Every week we can see as some plant species begin to bloom, and other plants in this time begin to fade.

Yesterday we went to the Arboretum specially to admire the blooming lilac. The alley of lilac situated on the not general way, but people go to hill for enjoyment this flowers of lilac. Many bushes of the lilac different grades grow along the way. Every grade often has its own scent. The benches stand along the way, and many people sit and admire the beautiful plants. I could sit in this place for a long time, but I had to stop this amazing walk. Time finished, and our group went to our center for adult people.

Why I Think Online Classes Are Better

I feel myself at home more comfortable, than in a building of school, where I feel myself in a formal setting. At home I can get up later, I don’t go out in bad weather. I had a good mood, even if it rains and a strong wind. During lesson I can go out from lesson a few minutes, if I am needed, and come back. I like to sit in my favorite chair. I can see all my classmates and the teacher in this time and communicate with them. Sometimes I saw kids and head barking, saw your favorite flowers. At home I don’t feel the stress, I am relaxed, it is very important for learning.
Every student can organize the work place where he feels himself the most comfortable. It can be a table and chair, armchair, even a sofa. It can be a room or balcony, garden or library. Wherever there is internet, even in a car.

Time. I don’t get up early,I am not waiting for the bus, I am not afraid that I might be late, etc.
Beginning classes need blackboards in the lesson in a classroom. The level of our class (reading and writing) needs the talkers, debates, communication with classmates and the teacher. Comfortable conditions and stress-free are very important for an education. We can concentrate and not think about parking, phone calls, and etc.
I think that sometimes meetings of students with teachers in SCALE are necessary (1 time in 1 or 2 months) for screening, for individual work, or the help with\for students. We can do group work. We can walk in Somerville and talk about interesting, historical places, monuments, histories of buildings of the town, etc.
6. SCALE is a good school with high results of education. Government sponsors SCALE with money. I think that SCALE can educate more students than now, but it has problems with classrooms. Online education solves this problem and the cost of education per student decreases.

Drinking Tea With the Queen

Juri Gagarin, the first man, who ascended into space, who was first, who saw the Earth from side, was a very popular person. He was invited to more then 30 countries. He met with leaders of countries, famous people, he was received awards from many countries. When he was in Great Britain, he was invited to visit Queen Elizabeth for tea.

He was very scared, because he didn’t know how to talk with the Queen, how to stay, how to sit, at last, how to drink tea in the presence of Queen. He grew up in a simple family. His father was a carpenter and mother was milkmaid. Nobody taught him court etiquette and talking with Kings in informal setting.

The tea drinking was in not big room. There were all members of the Queen's family. There was still youngest son of Queen, who was only one year old. Elizabeth 11 was very kind. She asked about details of flight, what Yuri thinks about future spaces trips, about his plans. The conversation was very interesting and easy. Yuri told Elizabeth about his daughters, them games and toys.

When all Queen’s family set for tea drinking, Gagarin was very confused again. He set opposite Queen and was afraid to do something wrong. In front of him lay a many canteens, and he didn’t knew what is every spoon or fork for this dish. And he took “wrong” spoon. Queen understood his confusion, said to him: “I too them confusing” and … took too “wrong” canteen! And all people in room did same!

When the tea drinking finished Gagarin did still breaking the rules. He took slice of lemon from cap and… put it in mouth! And ate it! It was unheard of! Everyone froze! But Elizabeth 11 took the slice of lemon and ate it too. And said: “Good lemon”.

If you will ask me, why I like Elizabeth11, Queen of Great Britain, I will tell you this story.

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