To Russia, with love

ruelle — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:06:34 -0800

Moscow.
A 48-hour layover end of January.
My first time in Russia. Your recommendations for a great hotel (not necessarily a hostel) near a major public transport line and near the attractions + your recommendations for what to see, where to eat, where to go out (more like russian ballet than russian roulette) and where to go shopping (where can I buy a russian fur hat for a non-touristy price).

In sum, what to do for my first time in Moscow, alone, for 48 hours in freezing January weather?
I'm so insanely excited!!

January, it's just this month, you know?

Rinku — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:57:55 -0800

I have a month in which to do a project. What kind of project, you ask? Good question. Perhaps something fun, perhaps something educational, perhaps something mind-expanding. The options, they are endless. The college I attend has a "winter term" between fall and spring semesters. It lasts through most of the month of January. The three official options for winter term are as follows:

1. Academic Study: a faculty-sponsored, academically-focused research, study, or performance project that can be conducted on- or off-campus, individually or as part of a group project.

2. Field Experience: a learning activity that could include career exploration, social or political action, community service, or an unpaid internship.

3. Personal Growth and Development: an opportunity to learn a skill, try something new, or pursue subject matter outside of traditional academic disciplines.

As you can see, the possibilities are endlessly broad, especially the third - under its banner of "personal growth and development" a student in the seventies (it is told) once etched the word "potato" into every tray in the dining hall. I'm wouldn't be surprised if this was true, considering how every single tray in the dining hall has the word "potato" etched into it. Given, these were the Seventies, and if I were to propose this to a teacher today (your project must be approved and sponsored by a teacher) I doubt they would accept.

Still, you can do pretty much anything, as long as it's more or less worthwhile. Last year I did a private study of Buddhism, where I read books and went to Buddhist services at a local shrine, but the shrine's only monk was gone on a tour of India for three weeks out of the month, and the books, they were long, they were dry, and the project devolved into me attempting to win every achievement from the Orange Box.

This January, I'm hoping for fewer gnomes in fewer rockets, that is, less boredom. Not that my project last year wasn't interesting, it was, I really enjoyed attending the few services I did, and the books were interesting, even if I didn't read as much of them as I probably should have. I am aware that no matter what project I choose, I will be a little bit bored, just because January is a long time. The exact dates you're supposed to be doing the project are January 2nd - 27th, weekdays, supposedly about 5 hours a day, but most people don't do quite that many hours. It can be all at once, too - I've heard of a group project that only took a week, but the kids were working almost solid, save sleep, during that time.

So, what do I do? I'll have access to a computer and the internet, (obviously), a good reading couch, a kitchen, and Seattle (an hour away) if I choose to do it at home, which I'm leaning towards. Travel is an option - I could go somewhere and write about it, propose it to a Journalism teacher - that works but it costs money. What projects can I do at home, on a relatively limited budget? Seattle specific recommendations would be cool (oh hey you should totally just go volunteer at ___) but, more generally... what kinds of projects could I do in a snow-locked cabin for the winter? That's really not too far off from what I'm talking about here.

The only thought I've had so far is of an "Ambient Music History and Appreciation" kind of thing, which sounds interesting in one way but also devastatingly dull in another. I've also thought of learning to play the guitar, or writing a comic of some kind, or writing songs in Reason, and while those might be fun I'm sure there are more creative ideas out there. Oh, also: I cannot get paid.

There are sponsored projects and team projects and things like that, but they haven't really started to be advertised yet. I'm asking this early because I've been thinking about it the last couple of days, and on the off chance there's some awesome program I have to apply for now, or what have you.

This is a really awesome opportunity, MeFites. Help me make the most of it. Thanks in advance.

How to kill January mosquitoes in Brooklyn?

tk — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:37:14 -0800

How do I rid my Brooklyn apartment of mosquitoes--in JANUARY?! I live in Brooklyn. I've had mosquitoes in my apartment since the summer. I've had the windows closed since September, and I have screens on the windows that I've opened to try to freeze the place out.

I get bit by mosquitoes every night. And now, I'm so high-strung about it, I wake up to their buzzing 8-10 times a night, turn on the light, get out of bed and try to hunt the m-fs down. I spray myself with bug spray, but I can't bring myself to use the extra-toxic stuff b/c then it's difficult to sleep with that smell. The non-toxic stuff apparently doesn't keep them away from me.

I thought that going away for a week over Xmas would starve them to death. No such luck. Please help me. I need to sleep.

Also, I'm wondering if any other New Yorkers are experiencing the same thing. Two of my friends are, one in Manhattan, the other also in Brooklyn.

A Year In Music?

blue_beetle — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 12:47:13 -0800

A Year In Music: Songs with a month in the title, and with lyrics that feature a month prominently? examples: 5 Days in May (Blue Rodeo), November Rain (Guns N' Roses), A Long Devember (Counting Crows). Please feed my need for the ultimate mix CD for a calendite.

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with january

To Russia, with love

January, it's just this month, you know?

How to kill January mosquitoes in Brooklyn?

A Year In Music?