One of the other teachers in our group sent along this link to an interesting article in today's NY Times about hot water in Russia; unfortunately, many of the host families went through this while we were in both Vladimir and Murom. I was fortunate-- both Katya and The Colonel had a hot water heater in their bathrooms...
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/world/europe/20cnd-moscow.html
