Super-Duper Wacky n' Tacky Euro Adventure

I'm really falling behind here. What ever happened to 'sure, I'll update every other day!'? Well, before I get into our wonderful weekend in Chubashiya, a quick anecdote to show you that no matter what, Russia always get's the best of you - even if it has nothing to do with the crippling bureacracy or people at all for that matter.

So to properly understand the summer weather here, you have to understand that it is nothing like the predictable summers you get in most places in the states. First of all, we're still very far north which means that we are susceptible to cold fronts (yes that's right) even during the summer. Another thing is that like most Northern European towns, air conditioners are just not that common here. Which means when it gets above 30 celcius (about 86) it gets rediculously hot and sweaty around these parts. And you thought Russians were stinky through the other parts of the year. The last thing is that there is a lot of rain and cool thunderstorms which always provide a great show but also make trying to predict what you're going to wear to work and deciding weather or not to bring an umbrella, a difficult task.

So anyway, my parents, with there nice March visit in Paris brought me many wonderful things from the United States - one of which is Claritin D; the allergy sufferers proverbial water from the holy grail. I take "as-is," so I thought the ten box supply would do me fine through the rest of my time in Europe. Not so much. I found the lone last pill yesterday getting ready for work. 'No,' I thought. 'I'll save it for a day when I really need it. Besides, looks like a pretty mild day out there.' It actually had been nice and mild (with a few cold ones mixed in) for awhile and the mild wind probably wouldn't provoke the flowers too much. And it didn't. The problem was it did get a bit hot yesterday. Not too bad (I think 28 celcius), but enough too fire up the ol' air conditioner in the office. No problem. Earlier in June and July I was ready to convert to air conditionology for the cool and refreshing relief that was my personal savior during the earlier heat-wave. But yesterday she turned on me. As I found out earlier, Russians aren't big on changing their filters. I don't even think they have a concept of filters. At least not in this office. Dust. Lots of it. I could almost see it spewing out from the drudges of sleepy filter-confined solitude and delightfully sprayed out in the air and swept into my sinuses. At least 9 times in a row. Well, that's what I counted. Usually I'm a one-time sneezer. I get giddy when people like my dad go over two times. Think it's the most hilarious thing in the world. By my fourth I was halfway down to the batroom after finding no tissues in my bag and the napkin-holder in the kitchen conveniently empty. It was a terrible sight. You can only imagine. Thank God I'm past that "awkward intern" stage and most people were able to laugh it off.

After returning to my desk armed with an entire roll of toilet paper, my sinuses gave my poor nose a break and only eeked out a few more over the course of an hour. The absolute worst part, however, is how my friendly co-worker Sveta (who is generally opposed to all air-conditioners) kindly reminded me how any cold air makes people sick, offering my current state as an example, and told me how I would probably be missing work tomorrow because I now have a cold. Why the mommy-medicine mentality people? Russians are big on science. I know it. Why do they cling to these outdated, unproven falsehoods? Anyway, after endless arguing earlier this summer on the same subject, I could do nothing but blow my nose, shake my head, and utter one simple word which I knew wouldn't convince her in the least bit: "dust."

I now have that last pill in my pocket and it's itching to be swallowed. Nope. High of 18 ('bout 67) today. No air conditioning necessary. Best save it for a day when I really need it.