Feb 19, 2010 - Crossroads of Different Cultures

Some of these days I got acquainted with some guys from Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukrain, and Saudi Arabia. I've never thought that it is sooooooooooooooooo interesting to learn about other cultures.

And I could never estimate Byzantine singing and music or, for example, this bagpipes band:

The World of Lie

Beginning the blog I declared that it was possible to feel joy everyday. It was really so. Sure, everyone feels joy every day. But sometimes there's so little joy in the day... I started feeling that sometimes I lie posting in the blog. Why? I didn't say any lie! But there were times when I wrote something not important when I wasn't happy at all.

Despite the fact I would continue writing about the joys if I didn't feel another thing. All the idea is a way to lie to myself. Things are not always so good. Writing about joy helps to forget about sad things, not good things, awful things. And then it doesn't cure but accumulates problems.

I'm not going to finish the blog, now. But I'm not going to write any sweet stuff here anymore.

Feb 13-16, 2010 - The Joy of Creation

These days I decided to forget about the blog and devote the time for creative work. I had been composing a piece of music. Truely speaking, it was written almost 5 years ago. But now I felt that I'd like to make an arrangement for it. I added violin and cello. But I feel that the work is not over yet. I don't think that there'll be big changings, but I would add bells somewhere, for instence.

The kind of work also denotes a new part of my life. I've composed nothing at all since 2007. Maybe soon I start writing music or songs again.

Feb 12, 2010 - Never give up hope!

It is all said in itself:

Feb 11, 2010 - To See the Progress of Your Students

I think seeing the progress of the students is the most pleasant thing for any teacher. It is much more important to see it if you tutor them. And when you realize that the time was not wasted you feel joy.

Feb 10, 2010 - Take Your Breath

There are moments in my life when I can't have a joy. And I realize that I shouldn't do anything to have it then. This is the time to take my breath. I know that such moments are very important for me to continue fighting for happiness again. I just have a rest. It is very good to listen to melodious music then. Like this. Try to dissolve in the music. What do you feel? What do you feel then? Try not to force your mind. Just remember afterwards what feeling happened after you had a rest.

Feb 9, 2010 - Learn When You Teach

Today, I realized how important to learn something when you teach. I had been trying to play a... not so difficult thing from The Phantom of the Opera and couldn't. And though music and foreign language don't seem to be alike I felt how difficult it is for my students to learn new words, and new grammar. Maybe you can understand your students only then when you are in fight for new skills yourself...

Feb 8, 2010 - Imaging!

I like not standard ways. Though it is sometimes very sad to see how they become ordinary...

But here is something not so frequent yet to see.

I'm wondering how do they dub it? Are they writing a text and then pull the cat's tail, or they shoot the video first, and then try to compose something for the video. Do they edit the video to fit the words? Whether or no, it's amusing to watch such videos. Enjoy it! Treeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat!

Feb 7, 2010 - Nika. Hidden

She is so cute! I love her so much!

Feb 6, 2010 - The Spirit of a Language

Today, I've watched an interview of Jodie Foster. She is an American actress, you know. She speaks French as well. She likes to act in French, too. She says in the interview that language changes everything. To work in French is rather different than in English.

The words are true for me, too. But my native language is Russian, and my 'French' is English. It even seems to me that the language has its own spirit. I am not ready to speak on the theme thoroughly (and you may argue with me). But I see the result. For example, when I speak English I start feeling happier. It is always so. This is the reason why I like English, and this is one of the reasons why I post in the blog in English.

Today is not a happy day for me. That's why when I felt bad I switched on a Californian radio broadcasting rock music. I decided that would improve my mood a little. It did.

P.S. (written afterwards) Though, really, my mood was changed after a telephone talk with my friend.

Feb 5, 2010 - Responsiveness

I think, I am a responsive guy. Actually, I haven't always been the one. But some events that happened with me some years ago changed me.

But, you know, responsiveness takes your time and force. You just may be lazy to say 'yes'. I don't recommend you to always agree to help, or forget about your own duties. But if you are really able to help, why not to?

Sure, the way of helping would be nice. But many people skimp on good acts, alas... That's why it is a real joy to find out that someone is different. That someone is ready to help you! This day let me to see a great deal of such people! My Form 5 theirselves offered me to help in an activity during the week of foreign languages at school. Some other comrades and friends of mine also responded to help a little! And also I got help from other guys in arranging another activity connected with the Youth Center of the Church of St. Varvara in Smolensk.

Thank you all, my dear responsive friends and comrades!

Feb 4, 2010 - Silence

Usually, the twilight covers the part of the Earth where I live long before I've got something to be written in the blog. But today it was different. Already in the morning, standing on skis under the crowns of pine-trees, I knew what I would write in the evening.

Did you ever notice how much noise is there in your life? I think you did. But it happened so seldom. The more vivid the life is the more bustling it becomes.

Today, I skied without headphones in a forest near our village where there weren't any people, or cars, or any other sources of noise. Everything seemed to be alright... But after a while I stopped to have a small pause. I heard my blood pulsing, and the pulse little by little slowed down. I was looking around enjoying the view of grey cloudy winter morning in the forest. The snow under skies crunched when I shifted a little from one foot to the other. And suddenly a lot of very quiet sounds intruded into my mind. The slight groaning of the trunks of pines, the muffled dabbing of a woodpecker, the whisper of the light breeze from the lake... This all hadn't been heard by me a minute before, but suddenly filled me all. Me alone in a frozen remote place and the sounds... This all seemed to be a fairy tale at a stroke happened with me. And that was so splendid!

What a strange thing! Quiet sounds of nature seem to be so pleasant, and you relax so good when you listen to them. But we do it so seldom even then when we are in the park or in the country... The shocking world in us is constantly trying to pilfer these small things which can brighten up the life. Don't let the monster do it!

Feb 3, 2010 - My Skype Record

Skype. What a wonderful thing for chatting with people! I like to use it. It helps to decrease the distance between remote places.

Today, I've been chatting with my friend Alexey L. during 90 minutes. That's a record for me. I usually didn't talk with anyone longer than during half an hour.

And one more time I've though of the thing: you may be far away from a person but to be much closer to him than to someone who is so near...

Feb 2, 2010 - Progress

It is very good when you see your progress. I think that progress makes you much happier than achieving a good result. I mean, you may have won the game you wanted, or got the desirable position. But if you finish your movement after that, the life becomes not so interesting, doesn't it? You've got always have a goal, and you are to constantly work on your progress, and need to see it. If you do then you feel joy, if not then you don't.

It isn't an axiom but it is not a bad way to be happy!

Feb 1, 2010 - A Book

I've read a book... Now, thinking over it...

...

(the following is written after a while)

The book is Ловчий желаний (The Catcher of Wishes) by Sergey Volnov.

At first time I wanted to write a lot. Well, it seemed to me so... But now I feel that I don't need to do it.

The book was advised to be read by my friend Vitaly. Actually, it was his X-mas gift to me. He wanted me to feel the book, to see the changing, and growing, and spiritual progress of the main character. And I did, though it was not that simple to me from the beginning.

Maybe, I'd like to mention here only one thing. The book showed me once again the way of living when every other day is like the last in your life. When you start living that way, the life becomes different. I think then you feel that you need to do a lot having so little time for the great deal of things. The way ought to enrich your life, and your soal, and your spirit.

I've written nothing special about the book itself. I'm just not able to tell you about that. You need to read it yourself. There can be only one problem. I think it is not yet translated into English. But if you speak Russian, I'd advise you the reading.