Spring seems to have lost its way to Moscow. She wandered in for the span of a week, but then disappeared again with the onslaught of a cold winter wind that blew in at the end of March. I suppose she got swept away then, though now, sitting in my bedroom, I look out and see glimpses of her returning presence in Russia. The birds are tweeting as white, fluffy clouds linger in a blue sky illuminated with sunlight. Time moves on.

With the conclusion of January, life at the school cranked into overdrive as we prepared for Regional Student Convention in the final week of March. RSC is a large event where students from various schools that incorporate the ACE curriculum gather together and participate in events that showcase their talents. From photography to needlework to acting, the events span a range of interests that provide an outlet for every student to perform in a field in which he or she is strongest. Events such as this occur around the world wherever ACE is used, and from these regional conventions, students who excel in specific areas may be invited to the International Student Convention in the USA. This provides an amazing opportunity for the children in our school here in Moscow, so many of the students in my class highly anticipate the Regional Student Convention.

With less than two months to prepare for RSC, however, we had to whip ourselves into gear as one-act plays scripts were memorized, artwork painted, photographs developed, essays written, Quiz Bowl questions studied, and athletic teams trained. I was placed in charge of three One-Act plays, each of which required hours of preparation. I also helped two girls with their Dramatic Dialogue, and aided my homeschooled student with his Poetry Recitation. By the time the final week of March arrived, I was ready to crash and burn. Convention, alas, did not allow for that.

Regional Student Convention lasts for five days at a rest place outside of Moscow, where we all stay in dormitories and have free access to the cafeteria, the rally hall, and various activity facilities. Ershovo is an ideal place for such an event, and I enjoyed my stay there. I acted as a judge for the following: Dramatic Dialogue, Famous Speech, One-Act Play, Group Bible Speaking, and Clown Act. I also aided in any other capacity I could, since my school is the one who hosts this event each year.

The week was a busy one, but at the end of it, I was content. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere outside of the traditional classroom setting. I got to know my students and fellow teachers on a deeper level, and I felt much closer to everyone because of that. The week was rewarding. I could not have been prouder to see my students running up to the stage to claim their medals as they won first, second, or third place in an event for which they had prepared so hard. Their grins and beaming eyes spoke volumes.

 

Caught in the midst of the mayhem that was preparation for Regional Student Convention, another special event happened that can not be overlooked: My wonderful father flew out to Russia in the second week of March to spend some time with me! (Okay, technically he came to Moscow to work with some friends and their organization by speaking at different universities, but I think we all know the real reason he came, right?) Being able to share my crazy, Muscovite life with my dad was one of the best gifts God could have given me. We explored the city together, enjoyed Krispy Kreme donuts just a few steps from Red Square, wandered through a museum going the opposite way of the crowd, made new American friends together, and much more than can possibly fit into a blog post. Honestly though, the best part was just spending time with my dad. I had missed our conversations, both silly and serious, and even the smallest thing, like receiving a text message just before bed saying “I love you” were some of my favourite bits of his visit. It’s never the big things that make a memory. It’s always the little ones.

Clinging to the coat tails of March on the 28^th, my birthday dawned with sunlight, a cold wind that blew through my jean jacket, and a terrible head cold that kept my pockets full of crumpled tissues. Still, the cold spring day that felt like winter passed with much fun and laughter, culminating in a dinner with good friends from the US and South Africa. Gathered around a table in TGI Fridays, we enjoyed our steaks and burgers while speaking English with our waiter, a Russian who, when speaking English, spoke with an accent carried across the ocean from New Zealand. Sundaes piled with whipped cream and an unexpected birthday song sung in English by the Russian restaurant staff drew the evening to a close. I would say my 26^th year bloomed into existence with a beautiful beginning. Who knows what happens next?