There seems to be a national day for everything, but as a lefty myself, I can’t argue with National Left-Handed Day. Years ago there was a huge social stigma surrounding handedness. Left-handedness was associated with the devil and children were forced to use their non-dominant hand in school. Luckily now, being a lefty is just a little quirk. About 10% of the population is left-handed, so for the rest of you, here’s what’s it’s like to be a southpaw.

1.    We got to use the special scissors

In grade school when it came time for arts and crafts there were only a few pairs of left-handed scissors. Sure, I could’ve used the regular ones but when you’re five, using the left-handed pair put you in a pretty exclusive group. They also sell left-handed flasks but those are more for older kids. Like first graders.

2.     We always have ink on our hand

Take a look at a lefty’s hand after lecture and you’ll notice a big smudge from their pinky to their wrist. When we write, our hand drags over the page and leaves a big inky mess we call the “left-handed curse”. Being on urban dictionary makes it a real term right?

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Ahh the Russians. I do love them.

Amazing vodka, awful food and some of the most wonderful people I have ever met, despite the fact that they don’t smile very often.

And at a time when I am trying my hardest to NOT procreate, the Russians are giving away cars, televisions, refrigerators and washing machines to those that do. Oh, Russia you are grand.

September 12 has been declared The Day of Conception and couples whose children are born on June 12, Russia’s National Day, will win prizes. They even get a day off just to do it. Russians are very proud of their country.

The thing that is slightly alarming is the fact that many of the Russian children I worked with while I visited were orphans. And many of their parents were still alive but just could not afford to feed, house and clothe their children.

And Russia isn’t exactly a country of grand eloquence. The summer camp I worked in was nice according to Russian standards—many of the regular campers (the orphans spent the entire summer there but didn’t really participate in camp wide activities) were of Saint Petersburg’s economical elite. And this summer camp was way, way below any of America’s standard summer camps.

Trust me when I say that it just wasn’t like anything you could ever fathom. Read More »