Another divine day!

Nadia has crashed after a very good, but long day. She slept for almost twelve hours last night, and woke up around 10:00 am. I couldn't sleep so soundly -- and woke up at 6:00. This gave me plenty of time to sit in the window (literally -- the window well is about 2.5 feet deep) with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise over Moscow. Got some work done, too!

The communal kitchen is a busy and lively place. We ate our breakfast with a number of students and other guests, and we both enjoyed the company. Nadia is a social butterfly here -- she's ready to talk to anyone. I like how traveling opens up time for living in the moment. Conversations happen.

After an adventure getting lost (Nadia said, "Mommy, didn't you know? Never trust directions from the internet!", we made it to the second half of "Prince Caspian" at the "Theater on Malai Bronnoi". Getting lost has advantages, too. Walked around in a pretty ritzy area -- fascinating how much Moscow changed in 20 years -- and Nadia was compensated for the long, cold walk with a trip to McDonalds. After 4o minutes of walking in 7 degree weather with a 6-year-old in tow, one is very happy to see the golden arches.

After the show, we were treated to a private Q and A with the actors, some of whom also had roles in the play we saw yesterday. Nadia's favorite winked at her! And even better for our young traveler: we got to go backstage!!! One of the set creators took an interest in us and led the two of us on a spontaneous tour of the workshops and offices of the set designers while the rest of the group watched a rehearsal. Nadia felt very special -- and was entranced by the experience. Her favorite part was getting to touch the fake snow banks for the set of Narnia in winter, and the secret stair cases we got to take.

We went from there with two of the students to the Red Square area. HAD CHOCOLATE BLINIS, which are like skinny pancakes but much better. St. Basil's cathedral has the most perfect dusting of snow right now, adding to the fairy tale feel of this entire experience. One of the girls gave Nadia a piggy back ride to the metro.

We went home and had a very random meal of xhachapuri (Georgian cheese pie) that our friend Yeran's mother had made for us, bananas, three-dimensional mushroom-shaped cookies and lots of cherry juice. All evening we hung out in the kitchen with different groups of students coming and going. Our room is right next door to the kitchen, which is really an advantage: Nadia can go back and forth with books or little toys to show people -- and show up at just the right time to be offered a cookie.

Have I mentioned before that I love communal living?

I better sign off -- Nadia wants to be up in time to eat with the students.