Hey y'all--

This is just the test posting from Bemidji, so that I can make sure the blog is up and running before I take off for Ekaterinburg.

You have successfully found my online home for the next year--I am going to try to write updates here at least once every couple weeks, so that you can all hear about the Russian adventure and know that I haven't fallen into a Siberian camp :)

And, for those of you who are wondering what the hell I am doing in the middle of Russia, here is the scoop:

I received a Fulbright Community Service Grant for the 2006-2007 academic year. During this time, I will be living in Ekaterinburg, Russia. As part of the grant, I'll be taking classes at the Urals State University. I will also be volunteering with some local women's organizations. All of the details are still pretty fuzzy, but I will keep you all updated as I find out, oh say, where I am going to live, who I am going to be working with, and where the last tsars were buried.