Summer has Arrived

Monday was Memorial Day in the United States — the day/weekend usually considered the beginning of summer.  A friend recently told me that we are supposed to have a hot summer here in Lithuania. If this week is any indication, we will  — high temperatures hit 28C (84F) three days in a row.

This week also marks the beginning of my last three months in Lithuania.  It’s difficult to believe that I’ve been here nine months already; time sure flies when you are having fun.  I bought my ticket back to Seattle this week and suddenly my departure from Lithuania feels very imminent.  Fortunately I work well under a deadline so hopefully this will help me focus and be productive.  I have a print out of my priority to-do list on my desk and I am trying to check off at least one item each day.

Accomplishments this week include:

• Finalized and submitted Baltic Studies Conference paper
• Drafted presentation for Baltic Studies Conference
• Found a Soviet-era novel about hippies at a used bookstore
• Transcribed an interview conducted in English
• Conducted two interviews
• Scheduled more interviews
• Looked up a few more pieces of information at the National Library