Attack of the Babeshkas

Spring has finally started to come to Volgograd. After months of mostly gray days with a blanket of ice and snow covering the ground, I was very excited about three weeks ago to see temperatures begin to rise above freezing and the snow begin to melt during the day. To celebrate, I opened a window. Last week I was glad to see days in which, in a 24 hour period, never got below freezing. This helped to melt away all but the densest of icy patches. Now, this week, we are looking at normal day temperatures above 50 and even hitting 60. So now my balcony doors are open and I can look out at the park along the river and see Russians strolling, enjoying the beginnings of spring. Plants are also starting to take notice. Though very little is green yet, I can see buds on many trees and some plants on the ground, yellow from being covered in snow, are becoming a little brighter each day.
This is not to say, however, that all the people here have left their furs and boots behind. While many have switched to shorter jackets and there are fewer knee-high boots to be seen in the streets, bundling up still seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Sunday I decided that, as it was the first Sunday in Spring, I should be able to wear short sleeves under my wool coat. This seemed like a good plan to me and I was perfectly warm on my way to church, but as soon as I took off my coat to hang it up, several old ladies came straight towards me with shawls outstretched. I tried to explain, first in broken Russian : "no, thank you. No cold. I Okay" and then through the help of Olya's interpretation, that I would be fine. It was to no avail. A lady put her shawl on me, pronounced the effect beautiful, and then made sure I understood to stay warm. As I tried to return it, I noticed another woman ready to put her own on me, so I conceded. I just hope I don't have to continue to wear long sleeves through June.