Estonian countryside, Riga, Poland

Hey there... I guess this blog seems a little ridiculous now that I've left Tuva, left my teaching, and am just traveling for pleasure, but I will write a bit nonetheless. I've temporarily surfaced in Krakow, a city that has more in common with the West than the East (I think, though I'm no expert). I had fajitas for lunch, with peanuts and have a lot of freedom. It's a different life from the one I was living in Kyzyl. But it's a season of change and movement, so it makes sense :)

After my last post I spent a couple days with a friend from college and her family in the Estonian countryside. It was really good, personalized my impressions of Estonia and I was able to ask some questions. My friend's grandfather happened to be a amateur historian and former manager of the local kolhoz (collective farm), so not only did he speak excellent Russian, he also knew a ton about local history and relationship with Russia. I enjoyed the granfather's stories and also tasting the honey from his beehives. As a gift he gave me his four novelllas he wrote about beekeeping in Estonia! Maybe oneday I will learn Estonian and be able to read them!

I also visited some of my friend's family in Tartu, and happened to luck out and get to go to an Estonian Song Festival. For more information, check this article out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Song_Festival
It was really interesting to say the least!

Then I went to Riga, and I have to say that something about Riga really resonated with me. I didn't know what to expect--mostly went there because it was on the way and I was curious about the art noveau. Well, I was quickly taken in by Riga... the mix of Soviet and pre-Soviet was really charming. The streets were wide and dark and kind of mysterious. The people were really friendly! I really recommend Riga... few cities have called my name like Riga did (maybe it's because Riga and Riley both start with R?)

Then I caught a plane to Krakow, where I've been for the past couple days. Krakow is the first place I've been that feels somewhat like home, probably because there are lots of American tourists here and also an infrastructure that has developed to cater to their tastes. Don't get me wrong--the historical stuff is amazing. But the roiling boiling crowds remind me more of Disney Land or New York city than another country. But the history here is really interesting, and hearing/trying to read Polish has been lots of fun. I'm staying at a great hostel that's really homey--I've enjoyed talking to people there and finding new friends to wander the city with.

It's weird to think that two weeks ago I left Tuva! But I also had some good news, which is that I'm coming back in August to work as a coordinator for an American study abroad program in Siberia. So I'll be able to visit Tuva and stay close to people there :-))) This is really good news for me, even though it's another change in life that's so big I can hardly start to comprehend. But I've found Siberia a pretty stimulating, interesting environment for the past year, so I'm excited to continue the adventure. Plus, the job is pretty sweet--I get to organize hiking trips around Baikal. Talk about a dream job...

I'm off to Slovakia tomorrow and then to Prague, which hopefully is not Krakow no. 2 (if it is, it will be ok though). Then back to Russia for a couple days, then HOME!!! At long last... I'm ready to see my materik (motherland) once more! But for now, kabanchiki, I'll keep on trucking... I've still some miles to go tonight, before I reach the town-o :)

Peace,
Riley