Moscow Facts

Word of the Day: zdras-tvwee-tye = hello (formal)
pree-vyet= hi (informal)

Preevyet everyone!
I copied this from a Forbes article.. my wallet is proving this to be very true, Moscow is indeed the most expensive city in the world.. We think New York is bad, but Moscow prices are 42% higher than New York. There is a building BOOOOM going on here.

In 1998, Moscow was in crisis. More than 100,000 Russians took to the streets as a slew of banks--and the life savings of millions of citizens--went bust.
But just a decade later, the global commodities boom has made Russia flush with cash, and Moscow has become a pricey place to live.
That's the finding in Mercer's 2008 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey. Moscow tops the list with a score of 142.4, up 6% from last year--and 42% higher than New York, the most expensive city in the U.S. The Russian capital is followed by Tokyo; London; Oslo, Norway; and Seoul, South Korea.
In Depth: World's Most Expensive Cities
New York fell from No. 15 to No. 22,

Moscow also happens to be Europe's largest city at over 10 million residents... It feels crowded for sure, but not like Mumbai. Mumbai is by far the most densely populated city. With more people living on the streets of Mumbai than in homes, you were totally aware of the population at all times. This is a large city with lots of room and gated communities with big big homes. Very much like home. Within the city people live in apartments, just like America.

As I go to visit Ana an hour and a half each way, I get to enjoy the forest that surrounds Moscow. "Beautiful" doesn't do it justice. It is peaceful, inviting, homey, and at the same time like a scene from a fairy tale. I am waiting for a knight or Robin hood to come galloping out. (I know, wrong part of Europe- but that is what it reminds me of).. There are so many different kinds of trees and they take my breathe away still.

Things must grow very easily here. It is incredibly lush. Very much like Tampa, but not humid and different types of plants. I love all the flowers and all the color. I need to make sure to post some orphanage photos.. they have flowers and gardens all over. Ariana loves them!! The wind blows through the forest and she blows with her mouth imitating it. You can tell she loves to be outside. I think she will miss hearing the wind in the woods and the cool and humid free weather. The weather doesn't get much better than it has been here lately. I feel so sorry for all the parents who only see Moscow in the winter. And especially those that don't get to explore very much because of the cold. June and August have been amazing times to be here.

Paka (bye bye/ informal),
Michelle