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.