Monday, November 29, 2010

11/29/2010


200. I had an epiphany the other day: I've hardly taken any videos while in Russia. How will I ever convey the Motherland craziness to family and friends without video footage? Ask the teachers, I've probably gone a little overboard recently. Really wishing I hadn't left my flip video in the US, I've grabbed thousands of clips from the classrooms to the chaotic subways (where it is illegal to have a camera) just with my point and shoot. While walking home tonight, I was upset with myself and my new obsession. I took 15 videos today and not a single picture. Well don't worry, leave Russian craziness to Americans for a little while, and you come home to teachers daring other teachers to do insane things. Sorry Lisa your lungs felt like they collapsed after eating the spoonful of cinnamon spice, but thanks for my picture of the day.

11/28/2010


199. Blue and white scarves, flying streamers, rumbling stands, white powder smoke, hovering helicopter, waving flags, three security pat-down checks, naked drunk men, snowballs aimed at security, no empty water bottles, screaming fans, shivering bodies, paper trophies, no goals, hazardous fireworks, meaningless chants, 200+ army personnel with billy sticks, red flares, endless banners, and floating confetti. St. Petersburg loves their futbol team. The drunk on the metro said it best, Zenit Champion!

11/27/2010


198. Snow, snow, snow! It has been snowing for five days straight. A few weeks ago we were all skeptical if it would come before we left because St. Petersburg was having an unusually warm (warm to  the locals, but not to us) November. Just as Sveta had predicted, she planned to take us to Pushkin, Catherine the Great's palace, at the end of November because the snow would make the gardens beautiful. Inside the gigantic palace, which is still being restored from WWII destruction, the Baroque 18th century and Neo-Classical 19th century styles played out in every ornate room. One room was even made completely out of amber.

Friday, November 26, 2010

11/26/2010


197. And a Happy (pseudo) Thanksgiving to you! Never doubt 18-24 year old singles because we can do it all...while in Russia. Finding ingredients written in Cyrillic would normally be daunting, but it didn't stop us. Maybe to impress or so I never forget, here is what we ate: homemade crescent rolls, funeral potatoes, fruit & yogurt salad, mashed potatoes & gravy, a variety of meats (including sliced turkey), candied yams, deviled eggs, 2 berry pies, 1 apple gluten-free pie, 2 banana cream pies (1 gluten free), 1 giant pumpkin pie and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and the homemade egg nog is still to come. Masha was the only Russian local we invited to the feast, but we probably could have fed my entire neighborhood. We all are very grateful for our many blessings and opportunities, and of course for good food!

11/25/2010


196. Morning weekday adventure. Wanting a cultural experience but not technically being invited, we headed out into the snowstorm to find the place where we could watch our first Russian wedding ceremony. All Russians must have a civil ceremony where a representative of ZAGS will marry them and stamp their passport (official way of establishing marriage with the government, which must proceed any church or temple wedding). Well we were too late and we couldn't sneak into any others (believe me, Audra and I tried). Due to the heavy snowstorm, we thought it would be fun to see the outlook from St. Isaac's Cathedral tower. We lasted on that tower for maybe 4 minutes. It was pretty, but we enjoy feeling our toes, fingers and faces more, so we saught warm shelter in a Russian Orthodox cathedral soon after.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

11/24/2010


195. Soon enough, I am going to be amongst these beautiful people. I was officially accepted to be a co-country director with Help International for the summer of 2011. I will be leading a group of college students and young professionals for four months as we empower communities to become self-reliant and self-sufficient.  We will be partnering directly with local non-governmental organizations to help us generate specific projects that will be most useful for the Ugandan people. I have a lot to prepare for but I believe with my 2011 volunteers, that together we can help eradicate poverty. If you want to join the fight, join our team by applying at help-international.org or donate today.

11/23/2010


194. Last day of Russian class; I shouldn't be so excited. ILP paid for our once a week four hour class for the first five weeks. Ray, Kelsey, Sarah, Stephanee and I all paid to continue those classes for the following five weeks. Maybe I shouldn't have posted how many times I had class because, yes, I should be able to speak better than I do. We are posing with our substitute teacher (we miss Staussy pants) not because he was a great language teacher, but because he was a nice person with really awesome hair. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

11/22/2010


193. Pizza, Pizza! Okay not your typical Little Caesar's, but it was good enough for us. It was difficult to resist snacking on the toppings (I did anyway, but wanted to do more) as the Russian FHE group piled it all on, just like the elder who carefully demonstrated (elder's credentials: 5 buck pizza). I participated in the pizza building once and only once when I accidentally dumped pepper all over the sauce. The loud gasps and exasperation that followed (I found out later) was because Russians despise pepper and do not put it on any of their foods. Oops! Maybe I shouldn't have mocked the pizza elder and actually listened to him without my stubborn Rock Creek Pizza Pride. Hopefully us American girls mended some peppered hearts by sharing some spiritual thoughts for the devotional.

11/21/2010


192. Thank you Elders. We are sad to see these good men head off to their next area of the motherland (=transfers). The group of four elders have been our crutch at the Ochvinsky branch. They willingly, or maybe obliged, to translate every sacrament meeting for us. They did a great job since, well, we're all still active. Sometimes, these elders were actually funny. They'd throw in a good joke here and there. They loved saying, "And thank you for tuning into the English channel." Okay past the teasing, these young men (I can say that now since I'm five years their senior), have had great success and we're grateful for all of their service. They will be missed, especially by the teachers who had crushes on them.

11/20/2010


191. You may think we were taking a nice beach photo; When, unexpectedly, an inordinate amount of gusty wind caused the log to roll, thrusting us off and causing a disheveled family photo. (I am a seasoned traveler and I can expect the unexpected. I assume that's why I look like normal.) This was our first visit to the original citadel of St. Petersburg, Peter and Paul Fortress. It was originally built in the early 18th century to protect the new city in case of a Swedish counterattack, but it was never needed (obvious since Russia owns St. Pete and not Sweden.) Instead, the location became a garrison and a prison for political 'rebels'. Dostoevsky even found himself here at one point in time.

11/19/2010


188.  Globalization? Education? Free-markets? Retrogression? Innovation? Developing countries? Technology? Dichotomy? Corruption? Empowerment? "Alter" or "Anti" Global? 
I have been studying global economics and how the developing world is trying to fit into this chaotic mess. I think the Indian physicist Vandana Shiva says it best: "Ending poverty requires knowing how poverty is created." There is a lot of information out there about the development debate and discerning what is correct is definitely a challenge. I believe technology for everyone like Friedman might suggest is not the answer. Nor is jumping on the bandwagon with Bono and fundraising money to hand to the impoverished. The detriment the US and EU have already caused for the plight of Africans, South Americans and some Asians is tremendous. Forcing communities or individuals into privatization and the free-market world causes more of a dichotomy between the wealthy and poor and exacerbates the very issue we are trying to solve. We need to listen to the people of these countries and not to those who are sitting in their executive office at the World Bank.  We need to stop "couching them (the impoverished) in pity" and help them "assume full control over their economic and political destiny." (Dambisa Moyo). We are not going to get anywhere unless we empower these individuals. So let's stop the hand-outs and help them grasp the many means and opportunities available to them for improving the quality of life. 

11/18/2010


189. Good morning St. Petersburg! Not our first snowfall, but it was definitely the first time we've woken to a blanket of soft white powder. I didn't know there were more options, but the objects that fall from the sky in this city are different than I've seen before. We've of course had plenty of rain, sleet, hail, and some ornate snowflakes, but the other things have made us giddy like school children. No, not meatballs or gumballs, but sprinkles! If I could've bottled them up without them melting, one could easily decor their black forest cake with my tiny flower-shaped sprinkles. Or how about the gentle fall of millimeter-sized transparent globes, which usually only exist in fantasy worlds. By the look of things, I think this is just the beginning of a magical winter. 

11/17/2010


188. It had been almost two weeks since I saw these stinkers! Audra, Ray and Kailin teach at the Ð£Ð¼Ð½Ñ‹Ð¹ малыш (translates to smart youth) kindergarten. I still marvel at their unremitting abilities to commute for an hour and a half by metro and bus during the early chaotic rush hour every M, W and F. Even with my morning languor (I used to be an earlier riser, but Russia's changed me) when I join them once a week, I am never disappointed. The teachers do well with this rambunctious group. Here, Audra was teaching the group about the American holiday but I think the students took it as an opportunity to cup their mouth and run wild around the classroom. 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

11/16/2010


187. It was just we needed. I am not talking about the pizza, ice cream & peanut butter sauce, apple cake or American candy- believe me that was good too- but Steve's (ILP director) visit was just the encouragement we needed to endure our last five weeks in Russia. Not only did he take time to talk to every volunteer but he was enjoyable and fun to hang out with. He reminded us of the rare opportunity to unplug from the hustle and bustle of normal life and see things from a new perspective. Finding ways to put yourself out of your comfort zone is more difficult back home because you need to search for opportunities. We're fortunate to have had this chance to challenge ourselves while learning and growing in ways we never expected.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

11/15/2010


186. These little bundles of joy get to have English class outside for a little while because of the Russian government's new change in policy. Children in a state kindergarten can only have learning time (aka any sort of class) for forty minutes and need to be outside for two hours every morning. Well, we're trying to go around that rule by conducting our English classes outside in children's play houses. The kids may look cute in their apparel, but all in all, students don't do well learning when shiny slides, swings, birds and chipmunks are just arm's reach away.

11/14/2010


185. Who stole the spoons? I've had incredulous thoughts about the safety of my apartment ever since the day Ray mysteriously got in without needing keys. Most Russians have two doors with two locks on each one; I hardly have one working one. Even it was easy for a burglar to enter that day because I inadvertently left the door unlocked, you wouldn't think spoons would be the first to go. Nonetheless, I am missing many of them but that didn't stop us from devouring our delicious homemade boursch. We're grateful we still have our ladles, salad spoons, forks and measuring cups.

11/13/2010


184. The 900 day siege of Leningrad; certainly the most tragic period in the history of St. Petersburg. September 8, 1941 the Germans outflanked the Red Army and fully encircled Leningrad. Thousands of civilians and troops refused to surrender to these fascists even after they blocked food, fuel, transportation, electricity and water. It was a tearful event as Sveta shared stories of individuals living off a 1/4 lb. of bread for a day in some of the coldest winters in history. It wasn't till January 27, 1944 that the Siege was fully lifted, but at the expense of nearly 500,000 lives.

11/12/2010


183. Whew, that took longer than expected. I spent nearly eight hours organizing all the papers, manuals, and folders that were scattered all over the apartment. You know when you start a small project but a few hours later you find yourself with ten more time consuming projects just within that one? I became maybe a bit too detailed oriented on this one but hopefully the next head teacher will... probably not even notice.

11/11/2010


181. Enjoy the simple things in life and learn and grow from your challenges. Look for ways to find happiness and gratitude even when you think there is none. Love like a child loves- forgiving, unremitting, and unconditionally. Live like there is no tomorrow because life is short and life is fragile.

11/10/2010


181. English teachers by morning and door repairers by afternoon (internet junkies by night). On Monday morning our first day home from vacation, I got locked inside of my apartment. The door handle has had a few issues throughout the semester. As much as everyone has wanted it to happen to them so they could say 'sorry I can't teach because I am locked in', I talked to my country coordinator about the issue. I asked if she could send someone to look at it but it may just need to be oiled. Then on this fine Wednesday, she hands me a bottle of oil. Well, it wasn't what we expected but we took apart the fancy door handle and dumped oil down the holes anyway. It seems to have worked but only time will tell.

Monday, November 15, 2010

11/9/2010


180. Crayola markers, you make me happy. I buy a new package (or steal them from mom) around every six months because they go everywhere with me. They make some of the best posters, signs, cards, and pretty doodles. Writing, doodling or drawing is a great stress releaser when running around outside isn't an option. (I interviewed with Help this evening.) Here is a doodle of all the names I've been called while living abroad: El Sal-Winnie da' Pooh, Fiji- Whitney Houston, Taiwan- Shi Liang Yin and Russia- Vetnee.

11/8/2010


179. Back in St. Pete. You'd think we'd be exhausted from our trip, that we were. But, our dear friend Anton was the DJ for a gig and we promised we would come and dance. After listening to an odd band who threw out oranges, Anton rocked the small bar with some of my favorites. Audra and I had fun chatting up with some of his friends (pictured: adorable Mila) and left smelling like we had rolled around in ash trays.

11/7/2010


178. Tear, tear. I don't want to leave you Scandinavia. Trina, Audra and I finished our last night in Stockholm strong by dancing our hearts out and then hanging out with our new Turkish/Swedish friends at their hamburger shack until the sun was shining the next morning. The entire group expected something to go wrong during this vacation but nothing did! We all loved it and know that we can come back and maybe even live there illegally (yeah!) since they didn't even check our passports. I ♥ this place.

11/6/2010



177. The weather was perfect for a scenic train ride south through Stockholm's forested suburbs. While at the LDS temple, performing baptisms in Swedish, Finnish, Russian and English wasn't short of remarkable either. That afternoon I went solo to the Moderna Museet where I got chills looking at some of my most favorite 20th century art. Some of those favorites: Duchamp's 'readymades', Calder's mobiles, Dali's surrealist works, and Dadaism and Cubism.

11/5/2010


176. Swedish meatballs in Sweden. This traditional dish served with potatoes, creamy sauce and lingonberry jam was ever so tasty. A day of hanging out at Skansen (a 19th century themed park with log cabins and a zoo) proved to be rather disappointing for some of us. So, Audra and I decided to bale on more museums and parks and head for the designer shops and stores. Somehow we ended up at Ikea for our second round of meatballs for a fraction of the cost and finished with dessert of Swedish fish and chocolate.

11/4/2010


175. First (lethargic) day in hippster city Stockholm. These Swedes just seem to know how to put it all together. Hip isn't hip here, it is just a part of who they are. I knew before arriving I would love this place. Their public transportation website guides users to choose the most eco-friendly option by comparing the emissions of busses, ferries, trains and cars. Contemporary art work is omnipresent, even in the metro stations. They have some of the best recycling programs in the world. Bicycles are ubiquitous. And as for their fashion, oh their fashion just made me gawk and wish I was cool.

11/3/2010


174. Hej, Hej (Swedish hello), the ferry models are crossing the Baltic Sea. This is no ordinary ferry either. For our 17 hour ride, we paid for the most inexpensive cabins. Our closet sized rooms were at the bottom of the ship; the cars and horses were even kept a floor or two above us. Seasickness down there got to almost all of us. Trying to climb, practically from the engine room, to the ninth floor of the ship during turbulent waters nearly killed us. But it was worth it to participate in the festivities. From singing Whitney Houston karaoke style, to watching an old ladies pageant, to dancing with Finns until 4:30am; I'd say we had a pretty stellar time.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

11/2/2010


173. We welcome you to Salmonella Island. (But if look it up, it's more commonly known as Suomenlinna Island or Sveaborg.) This fortress just off the shore of Helsinki was built during Sweden reign to protect Scandinavia from nosy Russia. We explored the tunnels, the bunkers and storage units and tried to imagine its use back in the day but instead we half expected hobbits with hairy feet to start running around because this place looked just like JRR's Shire.

11/1/2010


172. Finnish: "Hey!" Me: "Oh, why, hello!" My mind: How in the world did they know I speak English? Finnish speaks again and... dang, I don't understand anything. After a few more greetings from locals, it finally clicked that "hej" is "hello" in Finnish. But these friendly locals didn't mind one bit that I couldn't speak their language. They comfortably switched to English with a smile and a friendly welcome. We loved the warmth and sincerity we felt from these people the second we stepped off our ship. Even from the outgoing and bubbly store cashier to the helpful bus driver, everyone made our stop in Helsinki a special treat. Plus, we got to stay at the temple housing and do temple work!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

10/31/2010


171. I don't say this often, but I would love to return to Estonia. (I don't say it often because I think we should be grateful for the moment we are experiencing by living and enjoying it as though it will never happen again.) There is something intriguing about small countries with new independency who are surrounded by imperious nations. This country is learning to define itself while recovering from years of rule from the Russian, Sweden and Soviet empires. During the soviet years, a train ride from St. Petersburg to Tallinn was only 7 cents. Unfortunately, it is quite a bit more these days but hopefully this view from St. Olaf's cathedral tower will entice me to return.

10/30/2010


170. Tallinn, Estonia- ever heard of the place? I never imagined I would be backpacking through the medieval city, mostly because I knew nothing about it before moving to Europe. Our first day there, we were in awe of the pastel colored stores with red roofs and old Lutheran churches. We celebrated our arrival by dining at a medieval themed restaurant called Old Hansa. Audra and I both drank foxberry, while splitting a pricey meal of rabbit (sorry again fluffy) in mushroom sauce, spelt (grain from the 12th century), turnips, and berries.

10/29/2010


169. You know you are a kindergarten teacher when you try and leave the country and a part of your job comes with you. In this case, googly eyes from our our art activities just came along for the eight hour bus ride. Audra didn't find these in her bag until we were drowsily waiting at the Russia-Estonia border for two hours from 1:30-3:30AM. That would explain why this picture was taken.

10/28/2010



168. Waking up at the crack of dawn and walking for forty minutes to Kindergarten #62 is a challenge on Thursday mornings. Oh wait, we're in the most northern city with the biggest population in the world.    That fact doesn't have much to do with anything, other than the sun (and some of the teachers) get to sleep in up here. The sun is finally greeting us at 9:30AM this Thursday morning.

10/27/2010


167. Oh, I love midnight chats with this brown-eyed boy! Lindsey is so lucky to spend a lot of time with her baby boy Peter and I am even more fortunate to catch them both awake and willing to talk. Okay, so Peter didn't do much other than wiggle his cute face in front of the camera and show off his new thumb sucking skills. But his auntie (me) will take all that she can get. I love the Boskovich family and can't wait to see them soon!

10/26/2010


166. Sensible and fashionable. Once upon a time, Ray's host family showed him a consignment store not far from our apartments. Since then, we have all shopped our hearts out for a good Russian deal. The store gets a fresh shipment (of old clothes but some aren't too shabby) on Saturday. From then on, every day there is an additional 10% off- by Friday it's 60%! Lisa looks fabulous in her leather boots and new cotton jacket ($30).