{Traveling}

The background of our story is the World. It cannot go unnoticed. This is what makes our family different, I think. Not only that I am Russian married to an American (that's not too rare anymore, right?), but also the fact that we often are neither in Russia nor in the US, thanks to my husband's work. It's both great and not so great, but mostly, we enjoy being foreigners in strange lands. Especially when we get our kids' approval. There is a lot that can be said about our unique situation but I don't want to do it here. I just want to give you an idea (and keep it fresh in my own memory) where our crazy life has taken or taking us, to create a backdrop to my diary. Catch us if you can!

My husband was born in Utah.

In 1993 he traveled to Russia for 2 years to serve his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he met me. We were "golden investigators" and very intrigued by the Mormon Church. Elder Thompson baptized our family and we became the happiest people on Earth. I was 16.

Scott went back home and we occasionally wrote to each other. It was in those far-away days when people used pens and papers to write letters, mailed them by regular post and waited months for the reply. Internet? What is it? Never heard of it!
In 1994, I had a once-in-a-lifetime chance (or so I thought) to travel to America. I visited Scott's family. I came back home after a month-and-a-half visit and started college.

1998. Scott came to Russia with the 2-week visit. We had our first and only date, after which 

we came to Finland and unexpectedly got married, surprising everybody, including ourselves. 

In May 1998 I joined Scott in the USA. Utah was our first place to live. Then we moved to Oklahoma where I got pregnant with Nadia. 

In September 2000 we relocated to Germany where Nadia was born in 2001. We lived in a small village of Auerbach, not far from Nurnberg. 

From Germany Scott was deployed to Kosovo for 7 months. I stayed put in Germany and waited for him there.

After Scott's return his parents came to visit us in Germany. We drove to Paris, France. We also spent some time at Disneyland Paris. My first time ever! It was spring 2002.

November 2002 we traveled to Czech Republic. We visited Prague and Karlovy Vary. It was really pretty, but REALLY cold! 

May 2003 was the crowning vacation of our European tour. We flew RyanAir to the UK. Toured London (incredible!). Flew to Venice (hot and muggy), then to Barcelona (Gaudi rules!), then on a ferry to Mallorca. Great times! Nadia was 2. 

(to be continued)