Siberia

Hello Friends,

I cant believe it has taken me so long to start this blogging thing; I really like it. Although, it took me so long to read all of the original posts that I hadn't read. Anyways, this seems like the perfect way to make sure Toast is still alive up there.

Anyways, I am packing for Russia today. I leave tomorrow and I will (hopefully) get back on or near the 15th of August. It should be quite the experience, I will be rafting down a river (actually its a north flowing river, the Kotuy) that is a tad south of Khatanga, Russia. I really have no idea how long we will be on the river and what the terrain will be like but I am going to study the shit out of these communist rocks. I have also recently found out that there are going to be various professors of MIT and U of Montana on the trip, which makes me think I am definitely going to be the least experienced...oh well. I actually don't really even know what I am going to do in Moscow the first night before we leave for the field. I am supposed to meet this guy named "Roma" in the airport. It has also just occurred to me that I dont know a fucking word of Russian. I studied the alphabet a little bit (33 letters..."why?" I ask myself), but besides that, I am relying completely on other people to shepherd me.

So, even though this is my first entry to the blog and I am excited about it, it may remain my only post for some time, owing to the lack of wireless on my trip. But, I will have a satellite phone with me and it receives messages for FREE! (Text messages can be left on the following webpage: http://messaging.iridium.com/; phone number will be: 8816-3164-7092; don't type hyphens in) I can't reply to them at all, but it would be nice to have a small bit of entertainment when I am trying to sleep and the sun is out all day.

I moved into a New Haven apartment, too. It's fairly nice and I got a bunch of free furniture, so when (or if) I return, all should come and visit (remember, the 'Have has the "best pizza in the world").

Okay, it is time to pack. Have a lovely summer everybody, party at my house at the end of august and remember to plan on a sweet new year's reunion in Colorado again.

Fair Winds,
Taylor