Alla, what am I going to do with you? Last night I arrived home to have Alla tell me she cleaned out my backpack because she had knocked it over while cleaning my room and everything spilled out. Not to call Alla a liar but, to be perfectly blunt, I don't believe her. I'm not upset. I think she's hilarious. But at least it's good to know that literally nothing I own is safe anymore. Goodbye privacy. She did write me a note the other day that began with "Laurie, my sweet". She obviously cares a great deal for me and if she's curious enough to take some liberties with my personal possessions, so be it. I'm living in her house for Christ's sake. And it's not like I have anything to hide.

There are local government elections today in Vladimir. Alla won't be home all day because she's working at the polls. A girl slept on our couch last night, but I'm still not clear on who actually she is. She left early this morning. I think her name is Zhenya. I guess it's not that important. 

I was approached by some Jehovah's Witnesses while walking down Ulitsa Mira yesterday. Honestly it was pretty neat. The men said hello and that they wanted to show me or tell me about something. Then they pulled out their literature and I saw the word "Jehovah", so I told them I was interested but I don't really speak Russian well. They took out a book with a little message in several languages and flipped to the English page, and I was completely amused by this. I know exactly how to deal with this type of situation in America but it was a little more delicate trying to explain in Russian, because they kept doing that thing where they want to get your contact information so they can hunt you down. I said "this is not my religion" and the man, even a bit irritated, explained that they weren't trying to convert me, just inform me. So I asked for a website and this seemed good enough to satisfy them, but really it was a very pleasant experience and... funny. 

I forgot to mention we accidentally came across a synagogue while in Moscow that second time. I walked right past it but the others saw and called me over. It was really amazing, actually, because I keep meaning to find the Vladimir synagogue but I haven't done it yet. It definitely reignited my interest, though, and it made me homesick only a little. I bought a Russian-Hebrew dictionary from the gift shop, though in retrospect I think I could've gotten a better souvenir. 

This is frustrating, it really is getting harder and harder to write even though I'm getting better stories. I'm sorry if I'm writing less often but I'll try to get back into the swing of things.