Swimming at the Hotel

Some of the local boys in our neighborhood invited me to go swimming at the hotel in Snegiri. Their names were Алёша, Максим, и Денис (Alyosh, Maxim, and Denise).

THIS IS ALYOSHA AND DENNIS TAKING A BREAK FROM OUR GAME OF "DIVE IN AND FIND THE WEIGHTS"  THEY ARE COOL KIDS.

The pool was really refreshing because the temperature was almost 36 degrees (95 farenheight) We found three weights and threw them into the pool and then whoever found 2 out of the 3 won. We played for awhile and then got kicked out because one of the main ladies that worked at the hotel doesn't like Maxim ( I think they had some type of history, so it was her turn to get him) but oh well. It was still fun while it lasted.

HERE IS A GOOD PICTURE OF THE POOL. I SLID THE SLIDE ONCE. 

The boys out here in the neighborhood are lots of fun to hang out with and I feel like I can make a good impact in their lives. Truthfully in my understanding these boys don't really have good role models. That is one thing Russia is lacking is (good honorable men) and I think they would tell you the same thing. I feel like the boys out here get a sort of rotten deal because there isn't really that many men for them to learn from. I see very honest and honorable men at the church but outside of this place it seems most men drink, smoke and don't seem to kind in heart. But that doesn't mean I can't try to show them that a better way to live exists. So anyway that is one thing I have been learning out here.

ME AND DENISE TAKING A BREAK WITH OUR SCUBA MASKS.

Training and Sleeping

These are pictures of last Saturday when I went to a karate training session with my buddy Anton. I was just a spectator but it was still a lot of fun. They just use a playground in the middle of these huge high rise apartments. I really liked the grass roots approach their trainer takes to training. He doesn't have all the new and cool tools  (or even safety equipment for that matter) for teaching karate.

THIS IS THE WARM UP EXERCISES FOR ANTON'S KARATE CLASS. I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD GET KILLED PARTICIPATING... JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WAS REALLY BIG!!!

I also wanted to just mention how people here in Moscow have this awesome ability to sleep on Метро-metro. This metro is so noisy and it rocks back and forth sometimes quite violently all the while it's passengers sleep soundly like little babies. And then somehow they always wake up in time for their stop. This is one thing that puzzles me. I watched one lady as she sat there deep in sleep for 4 stops, not waking up once. Then all of a sudden the lady on the intercom said " Следушая Остановка: Сухинская" (sledooshaya ostanovka: sooxinskaya) and the lady magically woke up and walked right off the metro. I chuckled to myself. I just wonder if every once in awhile someone misses their stop? I mean it has to happen every once in awhile, right?

A LITTLE BLURRY BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY ALL 4 PEOPLE SITTING ARE SLEEPING. I ALSO HAD A Дедушка/grandpa LAY HIS HEAD ON MY SHOULDER AND SLEPT... I JUST WENT WITH THE FLOW AND ANTON LAUGHED AT ME.

Ёжeг

Last night I was standing on the balcony of our building and I saw something move in the grass across the street. I zoomed in on it with my eagle vision and lo and behold it was a Ёжeг (yozheg- hedgehog) Apparently these things are everywhere in the Russian villages. They come out at night and try to eat things in your garden. I had it on my list of things to do to catch one and then I forgot that it was on my list until I saw him last night.

When I tried to catch him at first he poked me and it actually hurt. He had a good little defense system. But not good enough... I caught him and picked him up. If he wasn't so darned prickly I would have set him on my chest and snuggle with him!!! So anyway I am proud to say that I caught my first Ёжег.

IF YOU WANT THIS IS A FUN CARTOON ABOUT RUSSIAN HEDGEHOGS BEING FRIENDS WITH RUSSIAN BEARS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moIxGjCV4CY

Grandmas and Grandpas

I wanted to dedicate today's blog to Бабушки и Дедушки (babooshki i dedooshki / grandmas and grandpas) They aren't my real grandma an grandpa, but out here in Russia that is what you call them as a show of respect. If you want to clarify that is your specific grandma you say Моя Бабушка ( moya babooshka) I forgot to take my camera to church today but next week I'll put some cool pictures of babooshkas that go to my church. They are so nice and they always make me drink tea with them and tell me stories (I think they like me because I will listen to them go on and on about stuff)

 I SAW THIS Дедушка ON THE METRO AND THOUGHT HE LOOKED REALLY COOL. OFTEN GRANDPAS WHERE MEDALS TO SHOW THEY WERE IN WWII. IT MEANS A LOT FOR RUSSIANS TO SAY THEY WERE AROUND DURING WWII. 

THIS BABOOSHKA SAT NEXT TO US ON THE ELECTRICHKA, SHE HAD GONE INTO MOSCOW TO BUY FOOD. WHEN SHE WAS GETTING READY TO GET OFF SHE HURLED ON THIS BACKPACK THAT WAS BIGGER THAN HER WHOLE TORSO. I ASKED IF SHE WANTED ME TO CARRY IT AND SHE SAID I WAS NICE BUY THERE WAS NO NEED. I COULDN'T BELEIVE THIS 100 POUND WOMAN WAS CARRYING AT LEAST A 45 POUND PACK.

Going to the Store

My camera has been with my friend Natasha for the last two weeks in Chebeksari,Russia so this is why I haven't had as many new photos to bring. However I have it back now so you can expect some good new stuff in the near future.

NATASHA TOOK MY CAMERA TO CHEIBEKSARI, RUSSIA AND SHE TOOK SOME REALLY GOOD PICTURES OF A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

 Today I went Ice Skating at the Mega Mall. Natasha wanted to go shopping so I sat down at a table and read a book and took a little cat nap. After she was done looking for a shirt under 3000 rubles (105 Dollars) which she found a few but not many, we went to АШАН (Ashan). This is basically Russia's answer to Wal-Mart. It has everything you could ever want and it is ALWAYS packed with people. Other than everyone speaking Russian, it seemed like I had been transported back to America into a crowded Wal-Mart or Fred Meyers (west coast).

                               

THE AISLES WERE VERY CROWDED AND THIS WAS ON A WORK DAY. EVERYONE TELLS ME YOU CAN HARDLY MOVE ANYWHERE ON THE WEEKENDS.

THIS WAS THE BIGGEST DAIRY AISLE I HAD EVER SEEN AND THIS WAS ONLY 50% RUSSIANS LOVE THEIR "МОЛОЧНЫЕ ПРОДУКТЫ" (Molochniye prodookti/ dairy products)

THIS IS THEIR LABEL. A LITTLE RED BIRD SAYING " Идите суда и дайте мне всё деньги" 

(eedeetye ee daitye mne vsyo dengee/  Come and give me all your money)

Waterfalls, hurt ankles and rhododendrons!

Today was a hiking trip to Ramona Falls with a great group of friends! Ramona Falls is a beautiful falls close to Mt Hood and about a 7 mile hike round trip. We were a random mixture of people, some of us long time friends, others just having met. It was a pleasant hike, only a few rain drops and one sore ankle. 

HIKING UP THE TRAIL, AMIDST A GRAND FOREST

MARLYS AND HER DAUGHTER, LAUREN. AND NO, MARLYS DIDN'T CARRY LAUREN THE WHOLE WAY. 

HERE'S OUR LOVELY GROUP! THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING!

ME, KATE, MARLYS, LAUREN, ALLIE, JANEL, AND CINDY.

AND THE RHODIES WERE STILL BLOOMING! ALL OVER THE WOODS!

Name That Restaurant

I am so excited for this post and I am even more glad to see which people choose to take my game show challenge. I noticed many restaurants here in Russia that seemed really familiar. Then I decided it would be fun to do a blog like a quiz or something where you the reader has to choose what restaurant it is. I would recommend grabbing a pencil and a piece of paper and write what restaurant you think it is then please put your answers in the comments and let's see if anyone can get 100 percent!!!

GOOD LUCK

1. Sorry I can't give any hints on this one.

2. This one is really popular on the east coast. 

3. This one is too easy for hints.

4. The flag should give this one away...

5. Too easy

6. The Star is the only hint on this one. 

REMEMBER PLEASE POST YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS, THE PERSON WHO GETS ALL RIGHT WINS A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO MINE AND WENDY'S EXCLUSIVE CLUB OF COOL, AWESOME, RAD PEOPLE. SO GOOD LUCK. 

I Finally Bought It!!!!

Today I made some calls and finally found a Russian Гармонь (Garmon) My buddy Mick Ewing was the first to show me one and I fell in love with it instantly and said to myself " If I get one thing in Russia, it will be a Garmon" At first I was having trouble finding them on the internet and then I went to moscow.ohx.ru which is like Russian Craigslist. I found a man by the name of Sergei Nikolaiovich who was a Garmon repairman. He had about 5 listed on the site so I called him and he told me to just come to his apartment and check them out.

When I got to his place I was so amazed to find that the ENTIRE apartment was filled with accordions of all types. He was a single man so you know what it is like when a single guy who has an obsession and little space to work with. Things start to get stacked on top of each other. I was totally bummed that I didn't have my camera to show you blog readers the amazing site of what must have been close to 80 accordions packed into a two room apartment looks like.

THIS IS Сергей Николайович (Sergei Nikolaiovich) ON HIS YOUTUBE PAGE GIVING TUTORIALS ON THE GARMON. THE BENCH HE IS SITTING ON IS HIS BED, AND THE ONLY... I REPEAT ONLY FREE SPACE IN HIS WHOLE APARTMENT BECAUSE THE REST IS FILLED ALMOST TO THE ROOF WITH BROKEN ACCORDIONS AND PARTS TO FIX THEM.

He was a totally nice man and as I described earlier, very enthusiastic about accordions and garmons and bayans. He gave me an 3 different options and then he showed me this one...

THIS IS MY NEW BABY. IT IS CALLED A VOLOTZ BECAUSE IT CAME FROM A CITY IN THE FAR NORTH CALLED Верхный Волоц (Verxnie Volotz) IT WAS MADE IN 1959... 3 YEARS AFTER STALIN'S DEATH. IT IS ALL THE ORIGINAL WOOD AND NEW INSIDES. IT WAS WAY TOO COOL TO PASS UP.

MY GARMON IS SO CLASSIC AND COOL. I REALLY CAN'T PLAY ANYTHING YET BUT I PLAN ON PRACTICING A LOT AND LEARNING SOME COOL RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS. 

Всё закончиться- It all ends

IF YOU SAY HARRY POTTER HERE IN RUSSIA PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU FUNNY. IT'S GARY POTTER OUT HERE WHICH REALLY DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT AT ALL.

My friend Alexei and his son Kiril invited me to go see Гарри Поттер и дары смерти часть 2 (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2) They call him Gary Potter out here in Russia which I actually thought was quite funny. For those of you who haven't seen it I'll just say that I really really enjoyed it. The only downside for me was we had to pay a little extra to see it in 3-D which sucks for me because I am colorblind and cannot see 3-D. All it looks like to me is that they blurr the screen and then make you pay 200 rubles extra to wear goofy glasses that make it normal again.

The hardest part for me was not the Russian itself, I felt like I understood 80-90 percent. The hardest part was knowing what their real voices sounded like and having to hear a Russian dub over voice. The worst character was Severus Snape, they didn't even come close to what he really sounds like. Voldomort had that raspy voice in Russian also. Hermoine was way off also. Oh yeah and their names are all off too. Hermoine is Germiniya, and He who shall not be named is Voldendomort. I can't understand why they mess with the names seeing as some of them are created names so why does the Russian need to change it? I couldn't figure this out. 

FOR THE MOST PART ONCE YOUR INSIDE THE THEATER THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO AMERICAN. ONLY THAT EVERYTHING IS IN RUSSIAN.

This was my first time going to a Russian movie theater. I think you might find a few little facts about Russian theaters interesting. The first is that the price of the tickets fluctuate depending on a few things: popularity of the film, opening weekend, and where your seat is in the theater. That is right you don't just buy a ticket you buy an actual seat, much like a baseball game, ballet, or something like this. So we tried to sit in different spots at first and about 5 minutes later this guy came up to us like they do on airplanes and said "Это место моё" (eto mesto moyo - that is my seat) so we had to get up and move to our assigned spots which was a little worse.

After the film we drove to a place called смотровкая плошадка (smotrovnaya ploshadka- the looking square) This place provides the best view of the whole city of Moscow. Since Russia is pretty flat they take advantage of any little hill they've got, which is what this place was, just a big hill. It is a pretty amazing place though because when you look one way you see this...

 THIS IS THE MOSCOW CITY-SCAPE. THE STADIUM IS FOR THE MOSCOW FUTBOL TEAM. AND YOU CAN SEE OTHER REALLY BIG BUILDINGS FROM HERE ALSO.

But then when you turn 180 degrees around you see this...

This is МГУ (Московский Государственый Университет) Moscow State University. It is the equivalent of America's Harvard or Yale. Tuition here is around  1,000,000 rubles a year (40,000 dollars) and it is next to impossible to enroll. Everyone tells me you need to know someone who knows someone just to get on a list of maybe. This is the main building on campus but there were many other like it.

Sunshine in July!

Oregon has been waiting for some heat for the whole summer! WE finally got some last week (unfortunately this week is back to slightly colder than normal weather). So, I (Wendy) took the opportunity to go camping with my family. We headed over to the Metolius River which is over near Sisters, Oregon. Here are some highlights. 

ALL OF MY SISTER'S KIDS LOVE TO FISH, NOTHING WAS CAUGHT, BUT AT LEAST THEY TRIED! HERE IS JEREMIAH, FISHING AWAY.

ISAAC AND MONTY COOLING OFF IN THE CROOKED RIVER AT SMITH ROCK STATE PARK

JEREMIAH AND NOAH

SMITH ROCK STATE PARK, A POPULAR ROCK CLIMBING LOCATION. 

MY SISTER AND FAMILY GOT A NEW PUPPY AND HE JUST LOVES TO AGGRAVATE THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER, MONTY. LUCKY FOR THE NEW PUP, MONTY IS RELATIVELY A PATIENT DOG.

MY SIS, BECKY AND GWYN

THE NEW PUP, SCOUT

THE METOLIUS RIVER WITH MT JEFFERSON IN THE BACKGROUND.

Praying that the sunshine comes back in full force soon!! 

Strange Sightings

I have wanted to start posting random funny pictures that I (and we, when Wendy was here) have taken of strange Russian cultural phenomenon and just plain weird no matter what culture your in. I don't want to bombard you with every photo all in one blog or you might think Moscow is the strangest place that exists on this planet. So I'll just try to give you little tastes at a time. 

IT IS ONE THING TO SEE POLICE PATROLLING ON A HORSE IN A CITY. HOWEVER THIS GIRL RIDING ON ARBAT ST. (CENTER OF MOSCOW) TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE TAKES IT TO A NEW LEVEL. I MEAN WHERE DID SHE COME FROM? DID SHE WAKE UP AND THINK TO HERSELF "I KNOW I'LL TAKE BULLSEYE FOR A NICE LEISURELY RIDE IN THE DEAD CENTER OF THE 5TH LARGEST CITY OF THE WORLD." IT SEEMED CRAZY TO US TOO.

If the following fashions never make there way to America, I can't say I would be too bummed out. But just know that right now in Russia at least these are the things that kids are begging their parents to buy for them at the mall. 

THESE PANTS REMIND ME OF A FLYING SQUIRREL AND EVERY TIME I SEE THEM I THINK ABOUT WHAT DO THEY IF THEY NEED TO TAKE A BIG STEP TO GET OVER A PUDDLE OR SOMETHING, THE PANTS JUST AREN'T CONDUCIVE TO WALKING. AND COME ON PEOPLE DO THEY EVEN LOOK COOL? I SAY NO!!!!!

THIS NEW STYLE IS A KNOCK AGAINST MY GENDER. THESE NEW SWEATPANTS CALLED DSQUARED ARE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. AT FIRST GLANCE THEY SEEM LIKE REGULAR SWEATS. HOWEVER UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION THEY HAVE A CONVENIENT CROTCH POCKET THAT PEOPLE INEVITABLEY PUT THINGS IN GIVING THEM LUMPS ON THEIR...WELL YOU GET THE IDEA. I JUST THINK THEY ARE REDICULOUS. 

SINCE I AM COLORBLIND I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE BUT WENDY SAW RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS GIRL HAS ON: A LEATHER COAT, A MINI SKIRT, GREEN TIGHTS, AND RUNNING SHOES. I GUESS PORTLAND ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE GOAL IS TO LOOK AS IF ROLLED OUT OF BED IN YOUR CLOTHES AND WALKED RIGHT OUT THE DOOR TO START YOUR DAY. 

Kissing

HERE IS A GOOD VILLAGE SCAPE PICTURE OF SNEGIRI. IT IS A GREAT LITTLE TOWN THAT HAS MANY NICE PEOPLE AND BECAUSE IT IS SMALL I OFTEN SEE PEOPLE I KNOW WHEN GOING TO THE STORE OR SOMEWHERE CLOSE. 

Well yesterday I went to church at the Baptist church in Dedovsk. The people there are so nice and they like seeing me, it is like I am there token American or something (which is totally fine by me). I have noticed that the men often shake hands and put their faces together for a kiss. I had heard about this strange phenomenon from my friend Brian Ewing who had some big bushy bearded Russian try to smack lips with him once ( I believe Brian chickened out and pulled back) However I had decided that if I was going to live in this culture, I do as the Romans do, or I guess it's Russians in this case. So I'll set the stage for you: There I was standing in church. I saw a man named Andrei coming towards me, almost as if in slow motion. I had to brace myself for what was about to happen. We clasped hands, and with this, there was no turning back. He started to reach his face towards mine as if to say "Oh no you silly American, you aren't getting away from this!!!" But I was ready for him and actually moved forward myself to show I was not scared. We pecked lips like you do in the fourth grade when someone dares you to kiss your crush during the recess after lunch and you have pudding on your breath. And as quickly as it began... it was all over. We talked and shared stories with each other and drank tea together. I have had many culture shocks since first coming to Russia, however kissing a grown man might very well take the cake as the strangest. Does anyone reading this have any stories of being in a foreign country and doing something like this? I would be interested to hear what other funny traditions exist out there.

A TOTALLY UNRELATED PICTURE OF A SLAVIC CHURCH IN MY TOWN. STILL QUITE A PRETTY BUILDING AND INSIDE THERE IS ALL KINDS OF PLANTS THAT PEOPLE LAY ON THE GROUND (LIKE HAY, LONG GRASS, WILLOW) I AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS FOR.

Old Friends

First off I would like to apologize since it has been 5 days since last posting. For all of you who sat at your computer hitting the reload button waiting to see what's new... I commend you, the wait has paid off. 

Well for the last 4 days I have been here in Snegiri working behind the house on a brick project. Last winter a pipe burst and so they had to pull all of these bricks up to dig 5 feet down to the pipe. That little dirt patch was the whole area until I started flattening and re-laying the bricks back down. The bricks are shaped like two hexagons stuck together, so in order for them to fit in the given area is lake playing a massive game of Tetris. I actually had them all set and then the last row wouldn't fit so I had to take about 80% out and start all over again. It was a good test of patience. But as you can see I am about 95% done and just have to do some touch up and whoo hoo... Done Project.

MY BRICK PROJECT IS ALMOST DONE. BUT THERE ARE ABOUT 4 OTHER BRICK TASKS JUST LIKE IT SO AFTER THIS, IT'S OFF TO THE NEXT.

So while doing my brick project, my friend Nadia told me about this radio station called ЭХО МОСКВЫ (Echo of Moscow) and it is just a talk radio station. I realized that while talk radio is sometimes very hard to understand 100% of what they are saying, it is a great tool for learning new words and phrases in Russian. They have several programs throughout the day. My favorite program is one like Dr. Laura in America, except this lady is a real doctor and people call in with little ailments and she gives them home remedies for things like: aching stomachs, constant headaches, sore muscles. I was thinking that if this program existed in America, eventually this program would get sued because some knucklehead would go overboard with her advice and hurt himself. But all in all Russian talk radio has been a very fun and useful tool.

I LET MY FRIEND NATASHA BORROW MY CAMERA TO GO TO CHEIBEKSARI FOR TWO WEEKS SO I TOOK THIS WITH MY COMPUTER. HERE IS MY LITTLE RADIO.

Yesterday I met some great friends of ours: Brad and Emily, down in Red Square and I got to show them some of Moscow. They are traveling from London back to Hong Kong where they live on the Trans-Siberia Railroad. You can check the progress of their trip on there blog. They are on our blogs we like link under Brad and Emily.

I really like them so much and they were a lot of fun to spend the day with. Brad really wanted to see something "Soviet" so I took him to my new favorite place in Moscow... ВВЦ Park. It really is the most Soviet place in my opinion. 

 THIS IS ME AT ВВЦ  STANDING IN FRONT OF A BUILDING THAT STALIN HAD ORDERED TO BE BUILT. IT IS CALLED PAVILLION NO. 1

LOOK IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS PICTURE AND YOU CAN SEE A YELLOW GO CART. THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT TO DRIVE AROUND THE PARK. AND PEOPLE DRIVE THEM LIKE RUSSIANS ON THE HIGHWAY (WITHOUT RULES) SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND WHEN YOU HEAR A LITTLE "MEEP MEEP" YOU GOTTA GET OUT OF THE WAY

We had such a great time together. They will be in Moscow for two more days then it's off to the far east for them (Irkutsk) where they will get on a bus and ride to an island on Lake Baikal and stay with a lady for two days who doesn't speak one word of English. Brad said he was actually a little nervous about that part because they don't speak any Russian but Brad has already learned to read Russian which is actually quite amazing. 

 THIS IS BRAD AND EMILY (NOT IN RUSSIA) THEY ARE THE BEST TRAVELERS WE KNOW AND WE REALLY WANTED TO GO WITH THEM ON THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD.

HERE IS A MAP OF THE QUEST THEY ARE EMBARKING ON. MOST PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE BONKERS FOR WANTING TO SPEND 5 DAYS SITTING ON A TRAIN STARING AT FLAT TUNDRA. I SAY THEY ARE AWESOME!!! YOU SHOULD REALLY CHECK OUT THEIR BLOG FOR DETAILS ON THEIR TRIP.