Similar to my one month celebration, this past week has been rather low key.
The most exciting thing to happen was that last tuesday into wednesday, I spent the night at a camp out in the middle of nowhere. Let me expound:
I left the school with Vitaly after work and he told me it's about a 40minute drive. What he didn't tell me is that is only about 20km (10-15miles outside of Kursk. So we drive for maybe 5-10minutes on proper roads, we cross some railroad tracks and then take an abrupt left into what I initially thought was a field. I had to look closely, but there turned out to be faint dirt road in the grass. The path (I'm going to call it a path since it was most definitely not a road) quickly led us into the woods and we continued. Now as soon as we got into the woods the path went haywire! The only thing I can relate this path to is a motorcross track, but instead of being on dirt bikes we were in a 10person van. Up and down, up and down the whole. Let me just say that this path is probably my favourite path/road ever, fun times.
Well after about 30min on the path we got within eyesight of the island, the only obstacle left was the river which made the land mass an island. Now you're probably think, obstacles left? You're already there. Ha, that's where you're wrong. They don't have bridges to this island. We forded the river in the van! Mind you where we crossed the water wasn't what you normally think of when you think of a stream, but was still fun. The water was probably about 2ft deep at its deepest and vans could make it across, but there were a few little cars parked on the other side which would've flooded had they tried to cross.
So we got to the camp safe and dry. I found that Inna (Alenna's twin sister) was working the kitchen at the camp so I hung out with her a little. I also got to meet Anastasia (don't hold me on that being her name, I find myself being introduced to people and then immediately forgetting their names ... I should probably work on that) who spent a few years living in Florida and goes to California for parts of the summer. Need less to say, she fluent, un-accented english, but it felt strange to admit to her that I had never been to any of the places she been to and I've lived in America for 6years! After a while I went off to explore the island while the kids were doing their thing and the kitchen crew were setting up for dinner.
Dinner was ramen noodles and hot dogs with a cup of tea. No real complaints there, it was pretty good. Then there was some volleyball playing. I don't know if I was just on my game or Russians aren't the best at volleyball, but I felt as if I could keep up with the volleyball skills going on and wasn't left in the dust like I normally am (that's what happens when all your friends are super athletic and both one sister was the captain of the volleyball team in HS and the other plays!).
Next up at camp was their night program, I just sat in the back for that and watched what was going on. Then it was snack time (crackers and more tea) right before bed time. I was put in a tent with a group of 8-10 year old boys and what I found is that when russian kids try and speak english with you they like to shout their words. So when I got into the tent I was greeted with "HELLO" and "WELCOME". I was able to "talk" a little with them aka ask their names, tell them mine On a sidenote, I am not going by the name Aaron (my middle name) as the russian alphabet has no real J sound, so Joel is a little difficult for most to pronounce.
Eventually everyone feel asleep and in the morning it was back to the school for work. Vitaly and a few others would commute every day, their families were staying and helping at the camp.
Vitaly and Misha went back another day and I was invited, but as much fun as it was I didn't really feel like going in the rain (the day I had gone turned out to be the only real dry day that week, score!) so I stayed back. Good thing I did. They made it to camp safely, but when coming back the next morning they came across a car that was stuck in the mud. This road is only one lane so they couldn't pass it and for some reason they couldn't go back to the island. So they ended up having to wait there on the road for a tow truck which ended up not being able to come until the next day. So their night was spent in the van. (disclaimer: while I am pretty sure that was the story Vitaly told me there was some ambiguity so I'm not 100% confident of that being the whole truth).
In other news, the monday before my one month mark I successfully exchanged money by myself which I am rather proud of. I went into the bank and told them "Please, I would like rubles" in russian of course, handed them my dollars and they handed me rubles. Of course had they said something back I would've had absolutely no clue what they said, but they didn't and it all worked out! I then used some of that money to buy a russian-english dictionary which has been helping out a whole lot!
Hmmmmm, what else ....
Last saturday I went for a walk to a lake I had seen back when I had gone to the monastery with Sasha. Since that was a while ago I was kind of guessing at every turn on how to get there, but I made it safely and it was a fun little adventure. It was an hour walk there so I'm guessing it was about 6km away.
Sunday I went to New Testament Church in the morning (the main church that meets in the school) and then Grace Church in the afternoon. Grace Church is the biggest protestant church in Kursk. I believe they have just over 300members and while I didn't understand what they were preaching on the music was excellent. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but in russia multiple people preach each day. 2 or 3 people get up and give a sermon usually 20 - 30mins with some worship in between each sermon. So from what I can tell and have experienced, services go for at least 2 hours.
On the work front, I am editing a course called Biblical Theology right now. At this moment I have forgotten the name of the professor, but he is australian and a very funny guy so it's a fun course to edit. Right now I am working on lecture 7 out of 13. I'm getting just about a lecture done a day and at this rate I will be able to finish editing this course right before I leave.
This friday John Feinberg arrives (yes that is the guy who's course I just finished editing) to teach two classes. As a result I've been moved out of my apartment and into the dorms, which are really just a cluster of apartments with no kitchens. There is a communal kitchen across the hall from me. In actuality, I like my "dorm room" better than my apartment. Originally I was going to be sharing it with a guy who was describe as "the best theological interpreter in Russia" who was going to be translating for Feinburg, but something happened with his parents and is no longer coming. I was disappointed and relieved at the same time when I heard this. Relieved, because I like having my own room, but disappointed because this guy supposedly speaks 8+ languages including russian, english, polish and esperanto ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto ) which is pretty cool.
It is a weird feeling as this whole time I have been thinking "When Dr Feinberg gets here, my time here is just about over" and now he arrives later this week so that means that I'm leaving in just over a week. While I am excited about seeing and talking to my friends and family again, there's that little part of me that is sad about leaving. Whenever I visit other countries and cultures I love trying to be a part of them as I've tried to do here. I enjoy learning Russian and then trying out my new little phrases on the people around me as well as just going out each afternoon for a walk. In no way do I miss rampand consumerism and capitalist abuses in America. I don't miss the over abundance of cars or the endless roads. And I'm definitely not looking forward to looking around me and seeing tidy and pristinely maintained surrounding.
Here, there are minimal chain stores. I have not seen a McDonalds or WalMart my entire time here. The grocery store I do most of my shopping in has a grand total of 8 aisles where my shoulders can just about touch both sides of the aisle. As for cars ... the majority of russians don't own one let alone 3 or 4. Public transportation is a blast. 10 rubles (30cents) will get me into town in 15min. Also on my walks around various places I love seeing the stands here and there selling pretty much anything as well as the Babuskas squatting against walls selling whatever vegetables they picked from their gardens that morning. Sure walls are cracked, paint may be chipping, grass growing high and tree branches hanging low, but these buildings and paths have character. Each day I take a stroll down the same route and each day I can see something new. Getting to be apart of this, albeit for a short time, is what I love about travel and I think that most of America is missing out on these things.
While Ireland and New Zealand still top my places for living once I graduate (similar experiences and atmospheres to Russia, just in english!), Russia's a pretty fun place and I like it here!
Now that I got all that out here is a media overload for you, a video AND multiple pictures!!! Yeah, you should feel pretty special.
Here is the video of the gypsies. I have a few more videos I took of them, I'll see what I can do with them and if I get them uploaded I'll post them here as well.
If you double click the video that should open YouTube in a different tab or window. Do that if you want to 1) send the URL to someone else 2) favourite the video 3) rate the video or 4)comment on the video itself.
Otherwise, just clicking play will play the video here.
Oh, I decided I want to have a beard like the old guy in that video!
Now a few pics from this last week.
This is a picture I took at the lake I found on saturday. Seeing how warm it is this weekend, swimming is a possibility!
I found all these little birds just chilling here on my walk back from the lake. I liked the sight and though of you all, so I took the picture for you.
Here is a picture on the island the camp is on. And there is the road (it was flat once on the island) and the van we used to get here.
That's about all I've got for now. Thanks everyone for all your prayers and support in all of this!!!!!
please do not swim in that lake---its a bad idea to swim in fresh water in weirdish new countries. ireland yes, russia--mrr.
ReplyDelete