Last week observation I’ve not written for a week. Because I didn’t have time. I’ve started to learn Spanish. I love this language. I’ve bought an online course, and I spent all my free time on study. When I had studied at school I had learned two foreign languages – English and German. But I don’t like German, I can’t explain why. It will be easy for me to remember German because my mother and my sister are teachers of German, very good teachers. But I don’t want and I can’t to overcome my attitude. So, now I am studying Spanish. What can I say… Pronunciation of words seems to be easier vs English. Grammar from the first view is harder. Good news is that there are many similar words. But special symbols in Spanish make me crazy and I start to remember German. My keyboard doesn’t have Spanish special symbols and I sent my exercises without them; as a result I’ve obtained low marks. Also I haven’t yet understood the word order, is the second reason of low marks. Have you heard about syndrome of an A student? It’s about me, low marks make me unhappy. Hence, I am trying to improve my English and to learn Spanish at the same time.

Is it correct to say "I apologize in advance for my english"? I would like to clarify. Is it correct to say "I apologize in advance for smth"? ("My English" is only an example). I am interested in the word order. Thank you!

Is it correct to say "I can’t boast of such skill."?

Is it correct to say " I have crossed fingers for you"?

My English story I began to study English when I was 7 years old in the first class in Russian municipal school in far 1991. It was very rare in those days. This time was difficult in Russia due to restructuring and I remember that there were no study books for such young pupils. My first English teacher was the best English teacher in my life. She was strict but fair. She never overestimated our marks. English study was difficult for me; I didn’t understand why I had to study foreign language and our study program was complicated for young students. We had 3 lessons per week and it wasn’t ordinary. From time to time people from America and Canada came to our school and our teacher organized roundtable discussion. We asked questions, talked about interesting matters. It was fantastic for those times. I had confident English level. Unfortunately, in 1998 my lovely best English teacher left our school. It’s common knowledge that teacher’s salary in Russia is very low. She moved to private school. Please imagine from 1998 to 2007 I didn’t study English, I only used knowledge received previously. Every year my English level became poorer and poorer. Oh… In May 2007 I was employed in International wholesale company. Every day I saw foreign people; sometimes I received email in English. I had understood that I lost my English. So I went to English school. Ah me!!! My English level was Elementary. I was shocked… So, as I am hardworker, I made a lot of efforts to improve my English. Main problem was absence of free time. I studied day-by-day and archived Upper-Intermediated level. But last one year and a half I didn’t work and I lost some language skills especially speaking. English speaking is my weakness.

My exciting trip to Novosibirsk (part two) City center was also interesting. There were snow, lights, Christmas tree, frost and the biggest flakes of snow. What could be better? Exactly hot cup of coffee. I liked three things in Novosibirsk city center – Building of Opera, Building of history museum (please have a look at the photo attached) and Chapel of Saint Nilokolay. Building of Opera was constructed in Soviet Union time; nevertheless, it had interesting architecture style. Building of history museum reminded me Christmas advertising of Coca-Cola with truck in lights. Chapel of Saint Nicolay was geographic center of Imperial Russia. I spent in Novosibirsk two unforgettable weeks. At the end of my trip, the weather became cold. I remember the day when thermometer registered minus forty centigrade. So, It was extremally cold, I thought that I frosted my nose. (It is not a joke) Please don’t believe when somebody talk that climate in Siberia is very soft and dry and for this reason you don’t feel frost and low temperature. It’s lie! I felt frost and low temperature. So, I resume that Novosibirsk is very nice city but not in winter.

My exciting trip to Novosibirsk (part one) Have you ever heard about Novosibirsk? When I was informed about my business trip, I only knew that it’s quite big city, capital of Siberia. I have good memory and I remember that my acquaintance with Novosibirsk started in aircraft in Sheremetyevo (Moscow). My flight was delayed due to heavy snow showers in Novosibirsk. Have you ever seen how robots treated aircrafts against ice accumulation? O, it was new and interesting for me. It was December and I had expected cold weather and snow. Nevertheless, I hadn’t expected extremely cold weather, icy wind and snow everywhere. I had never seen so much snow. It was beautiful. Frost braced up. My first hotel was awful, I had problems with door lock and the room was very cold. I slept dressed in cardigan and jeans with two blanket. Fortunately, I had stayed in that hotel only for two days. I moved to the another hotel located a little bit far from city center but with beautiful view from window and with warm rooms. I saw the biggest metro bridge in the world through the river Ob from my window. Working days were not so interesting only hotel, taxi, office, hotel… But my weekend was really nice. I met my old friend from university. Firstly, she showed me Novosibirsk Zoo. It worthed my while, it was very interesting place, many animals from white bears, minks, wolves to kangaroo and tortillas. Also there was Liger (the offspring of tiger and lioness). We spent 3 hour walking through Zoo. Then we had a dinner in Restaurant “Kolyada” close to the Zoo.

My thinking I am hard worker; I had definite purpose of my life before maternity leave. I was sure about all my next steps. I could work high and low. I plan to return to work in February, hire babysitter… But I understand that things changed. I can’t work as much as previously. Also now I want spend more time with my family and I don’t want to give myself to job. I really believe that work-life balance is possible.

Current week Today is Friday. And It’s raining. I hate rainy weather. I fully recovered from cold but my daughter has running nose. I didn’t do anything special or useful for this week. I have to start preparation to winter exam session but rainy weather kill me and I can’t do anything. I’m lazy person:(