As a native of Western Michgian, I received my Bachelors degree from Grand Valley State University in Russian Studies. Last April I received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant and am currently teaching English at Astrakhan State University in Astrakhan, Russia. This summer I will travel to Turkey to study Turkish and in the fall I will begin my Masters at Georgetown in Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European studies. I blog about my travels and experinences at http://amongstthecaviarandwatermelons.wordpress.com/