Lena's other brother Volva... It is short for Vladimir!
Friday, November 04, 2005
If you throw a friend a surprise party...
You get a kitchen sink!
I had a surpise birthday party for Lena. I found out this morning that her brother is able to install sinks! Olya came over to work this morning and to help me with the food for the party and she saw that the sink was in but not installed. When she heard the story about the why.... she got to work on the phone. My mother in law refers to me as "little" because I am shorter than her. Well, you should have seen this little Russian woman all riled up! She called Lena's brother and her own neighbor. Then we went to the store and bought parts. Then she called the store where we purchased everything and raised CAIN! I will have my oven installed on Monday. I think it is really going to happen.
As for Lena's party- Jim, Joyce and Hannah were the first guests to arrive. Lena works for them and they are all friends too. Lena had just worked over there cooking and cleaning. She had tasted the frosting for the cake and thought it was "tasty" she asked Joyce "if there would be guest for dinner" Joyce said "yes" she was at my house for dinner and there were guests!
At my house she saw Olya and I cooking stuffed mushrooms, Olivier salad, Barbequed Pork,ect.
Nathan had Lena help him purchase Internet cards and cell phone cards.
I told Lena we needed to go out and get a pork roast because Tom wanted me to make him a special dinner becuase of his surgery. (What I really needed was more meat when I counted more men were coming than women!)
You should have seen her face when she realised that dinner and the cake and all the trimmings were for her!
"I LOVE suprises!, I don't like doing my own party!"
It is traditional in Russia to make your own dinner and then clean up after! Joyce said Lena "is an American". We like it when someone else throws the party!
Lena was happy to have a party; it was her first party. She comes from a family of five brothers and maybe she would get a candy bar on her birthday. It was not about the gifts for her. It was about seeing her friends and being remembered.
Olya was glad I invited her and asked her to help me. Joyce was happy I included them. We all want to be included. We all want to be a part of. No matter who we are or where we are from! I was glad when they all came. And glad when they all left.... cuz when the men were finished eating... I got a sink!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Tom has minor surgery!
Tom had minor surgery on his foot today. The surgeon was able to remove three small pieces of plastic. Tom had to pay three rubles for the little plastic booties that they wore as they went in to the hospital!
He is resting comfortably at home. He made a friend at the hospital. He told the Russian nurse that an American nurse went in with a probe and tried to remove the objects and couldn't do it. So he had to come to the Russians to do something that the American couldn't. Due to his charm she is now coming in on her day off to change the dressing on his foot!
Tom said the surgeon revved his little saw and then asked for permission to operate! Tom asked for something to numb the pain first. After he got a shot then an incision was made and they went in. He is relieved to have this ordeal over with! The translator who went with him almost passed out at the sight of the blood....
Her English is better than her tolerance for the sight of an open wound!
One of the students at school was waiting for her (Nellie) for his Russian lesson. I told him she went with Tom to the hospital.
"O, does Tom have the flu? he asked me.
another student answered for me--
"not unless it's in his foot!"
He is resting comfortably at home. He made a friend at the hospital. He told the Russian nurse that an American nurse went in with a probe and tried to remove the objects and couldn't do it. So he had to come to the Russians to do something that the American couldn't. Due to his charm she is now coming in on her day off to change the dressing on his foot!
Tom said the surgeon revved his little saw and then asked for permission to operate! Tom asked for something to numb the pain first. After he got a shot then an incision was made and they went in. He is relieved to have this ordeal over with! The translator who went with him almost passed out at the sight of the blood....
Her English is better than her tolerance for the sight of an open wound!
One of the students at school was waiting for her (Nellie) for his Russian lesson. I told him she went with Tom to the hospital.
"O, does Tom have the flu? he asked me.
another student answered for me--
"not unless it's in his foot!"
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
The sink is going in right now!
finally....
I can hardly think due to the racket. I just had to share the good news!
I can hardly think due to the racket. I just had to share the good news!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Guests for over for Dinner and No Oven
Well it is Tuesday.
I don't have an oven.
I don't have a sink.
I had seven people here for dinner.
Alexei asked Lena how I cooked. Lena told him to ask me. I have a small convection oven that is the size of a microwave. I originally wanted to get two ovens... like a lot of homes in California. I was out shopping for a slow cooker one day when I came across the "maihleenkayah plita" (small oven) I thought it would be an nice asset to the kitchen and help out when I have large meals to make. I didn't expect it to be the ONLY oven in the house for the past two weeks!
I made ground beef and risotto. When it was done I wrap the dish in foil and then in towels and set it aside.
I started making the biscuits. I doubled my biscuit recipe- added sugar, vanilla and zucchini. I served them with butter and syrup. They were a hit! No one seemed to have a problem eating all their veggies. I put a cup and a half of zucchini in the mix!
The whole meal was hot and filling. No one left hungry. As I was cleaning up after everyone was gone I thought about all the hands that took part in our meal.
Alexei brought over cookies for desert.
Spencer made tea and served tea.
Nathan went to the store for water and juice.
Jeff D., a highschool friend, sent the syrup from America!
Judy H. told me I could use butter in place of shortening in a recipe.
Sadie C. is so good at making everyone feel welcome in her home and I am trying to follow her example.
It is often stressful here to not have things go the way we might want them to go. It will be wonderful to have the kitchen completed. But, it is also fun to be able to pull off a great meal and have everyone be amazed at how it was done! The women here in Russia are the role models for that. Enormous meals come out of the tiniest of kitchens. God gives us the grace to do that which we think cannot be done.
Our task is to keep following God's lead one day at a time!
I don't have an oven.
I don't have a sink.
I had seven people here for dinner.
Alexei asked Lena how I cooked. Lena told him to ask me. I have a small convection oven that is the size of a microwave. I originally wanted to get two ovens... like a lot of homes in California. I was out shopping for a slow cooker one day when I came across the "maihleenkayah plita" (small oven) I thought it would be an nice asset to the kitchen and help out when I have large meals to make. I didn't expect it to be the ONLY oven in the house for the past two weeks!
I made ground beef and risotto. When it was done I wrap the dish in foil and then in towels and set it aside.
I started making the biscuits. I doubled my biscuit recipe- added sugar, vanilla and zucchini. I served them with butter and syrup. They were a hit! No one seemed to have a problem eating all their veggies. I put a cup and a half of zucchini in the mix!
The whole meal was hot and filling. No one left hungry. As I was cleaning up after everyone was gone I thought about all the hands that took part in our meal.
Alexei brought over cookies for desert.
Spencer made tea and served tea.
Nathan went to the store for water and juice.
Jeff D., a highschool friend, sent the syrup from America!
Judy H. told me I could use butter in place of shortening in a recipe.
Sadie C. is so good at making everyone feel welcome in her home and I am trying to follow her example.
It is often stressful here to not have things go the way we might want them to go. It will be wonderful to have the kitchen completed. But, it is also fun to be able to pull off a great meal and have everyone be amazed at how it was done! The women here in Russia are the role models for that. Enormous meals come out of the tiniest of kitchens. God gives us the grace to do that which we think cannot be done.
Our task is to keep following God's lead one day at a time!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Best foot forward
Tom has not been feeling well. He had something in his foot and has not been able to walk for about a week. On Sunday he called a friend who is a nurse and asked if she could come over and take a look at it. She had just returned from Kiev, Ukraine and was drained. She told him she couldn't make it outside her door! So, instead we sent for the nurse at our church who only speaks Russian. I wrote a note in Russian and Spencer delivered it. He brought back the nurse Tania and a translator; Valodya's daughter Sasha. They took a look at it and went out to the pharmacy and got some antibacterial gel for it and dressing for the wound. Tania wanted Tom to go to the doctor.
On Monday Tania, Tom and Natasha went over to the hospital where Tania works. They greeted the people at the front desk and just walked on back to the surgeon's office! No charge and no checking in or waiting.
Tom sent me a text message at school letting me know that he was fine. And that all he needed to do was keep soaking it in warm baths and go back if it gets worse. There is no infection. But, when our friend the nurse asked about him.... I said "he had to get to the doctor, he really can't walk very well and I dont know how he is doing right now! I am still waiting to TALK to him!" ( that was all true I just left out the part about the text message!) Tom was thrilled. This meant she was primed for a practical joke!
I sent her a text message later in the day (at his request) asking her
"What do you know about AMPUTATION?"
Immediately my phone rang!
"AMPUTATION?" she says...
"yeah, let me have you talk to Tom"
So he laid it on thick! "They didn't really amputate your foot?!"
"I can't feel anything because of the antiseptic!"
"if they amputated your foot you would be in the hospital for about eight months..."
"Oh, should I go back?"
"How much of your foot did they cut off?"
"I dunno. Whatever the doctor said. All I see iz a bloody bandage."
"How much of your foot did they remove?"
-- long pause - no answer --
"Tom?"
"Huh?"
"How much of your foot did they remove?"
"Oh. You better talk to 'Lida again."
Like she said the logical part of your brain says, "Tom is a joker; he must be kidding" but the other part says "this is Russia and they do things differently here!" When Tom put me back on the phone I spilled the truth. I was laughing so hard I could not keep it going! However, for about 3 minutes there on the phone Tom got her!
His grandfather, Charlie, would be so proud!
On Monday Tania, Tom and Natasha went over to the hospital where Tania works. They greeted the people at the front desk and just walked on back to the surgeon's office! No charge and no checking in or waiting.
Tom sent me a text message at school letting me know that he was fine. And that all he needed to do was keep soaking it in warm baths and go back if it gets worse. There is no infection. But, when our friend the nurse asked about him.... I said "he had to get to the doctor, he really can't walk very well and I dont know how he is doing right now! I am still waiting to TALK to him!" ( that was all true I just left out the part about the text message!) Tom was thrilled. This meant she was primed for a practical joke!
I sent her a text message later in the day (at his request) asking her
"What do you know about AMPUTATION?"
Immediately my phone rang!
"AMPUTATION?" she says...
"yeah, let me have you talk to Tom"
So he laid it on thick! "They didn't really amputate your foot?!"
"I can't feel anything because of the antiseptic!"
"if they amputated your foot you would be in the hospital for about eight months..."
"Oh, should I go back?"
"How much of your foot did they cut off?"
"I dunno. Whatever the doctor said. All I see iz a bloody bandage."
"How much of your foot did they remove?"
-- long pause - no answer --
"Tom?"
"Huh?"
"How much of your foot did they remove?"
"Oh. You better talk to 'Lida again."
Like she said the logical part of your brain says, "Tom is a joker; he must be kidding" but the other part says "this is Russia and they do things differently here!" When Tom put me back on the phone I spilled the truth. I was laughing so hard I could not keep it going! However, for about 3 minutes there on the phone Tom got her!
His grandfather, Charlie, would be so proud!
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Post-KGB Russia truly dysfunctional
Ex-agent: Post-KGB Russia truly dysfunctional
By Jack Markowitz
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Want to do business in Russia? Hire an ex-KGB man. Nothing like good old-fashioned experience in the secret police to keep Russia's criminal gangs out of your shop.
Such is the implied advice of 73-year-old Moscow businessman Victor Cherkashin -- by no surprise an ex-KGB man. Even "prominent liberals," he claims, agree that the KGB produced "among the least corrupt members of the new society."
Cherkashin doesn't hide that he regrets the breakup of the KGB and, indeed, the evil empire itself.
He blames the reckless flirting with freedom of ex-President Mikhail Gorbachev, "overcome by praise" from then-President Ronald Reagan and then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Even Gorbachev's drive against the national weakness of alcoholism -- a public relations winner, you'd think -- proved "immeasurably harmful." Less vodka came from the factories, Cherkashin says, but more people died swilling "samogon," moonshine. And the Soviets' top domestic source of income dwindled.
Cherkashin has issued a book, "Spy Handler," with American journalist Gregory Feifer, highlighting his glory years in counterintelligence in Washington. It was he who "handled" two of America's worst traitors ever -- the CIA's Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen of the FBI. (Both left enough clues that the CIA and FBI should have caught them, but they're too "risk-averse," says the Russian. Public criticism, firings and scandals scare them.)
Retiring in 1991, Cherkashin badly needed a second career. He opened a leather company spun off by the government, but soon left it -- too many Communist functionaries kept butting in. He tried buying and selling surplus military uniforms, gas masks and imported cigarettes, then became security chief of First Russian Bank, set up with "an American partner," unnamed.
Mafia-type gangs were specially targeting banks that grew fat on the profits from give-away sales of state property. Bankers regularly were gunned down. Police were no help -- they were shaking victims down themselves. Only men with intelligence backgrounds had the skills needed to neutralize the Mafias. Cherkashin's security force grew to 150.
"We often feared for our lives," he writes. A man hired to negotiate with gangs was shot dead in the office. The bank had to turn to a government "special services" group in the SVR, successor to the KGB. Ironically, First Russian Bank failed anyway, due to "siphoning" of depositor accounts, including $70 million from an oil company. By then Cherkashin had formed his own private security firm, which today employs 100 workers -- many of them ex-KGB -- at shopping malls, offices and film studios.
As for current business conditions, the Russian cautiously observes: "Stability doesn't necessarily mean rule of law."
Second-term President Vladimir Putin "has done much to shut down individual purveyors of influence under his predecessor (Boris Yeltsin)," he says, but "corrupt insider politics (has) grown."
Jack Markowitz can be reached at jmarkowitz@tribweb.com
By Jack Markowitz
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Want to do business in Russia? Hire an ex-KGB man. Nothing like good old-fashioned experience in the secret police to keep Russia's criminal gangs out of your shop.
Such is the implied advice of 73-year-old Moscow businessman Victor Cherkashin -- by no surprise an ex-KGB man. Even "prominent liberals," he claims, agree that the KGB produced "among the least corrupt members of the new society."
Cherkashin doesn't hide that he regrets the breakup of the KGB and, indeed, the evil empire itself.
He blames the reckless flirting with freedom of ex-President Mikhail Gorbachev, "overcome by praise" from then-President Ronald Reagan and then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Even Gorbachev's drive against the national weakness of alcoholism -- a public relations winner, you'd think -- proved "immeasurably harmful." Less vodka came from the factories, Cherkashin says, but more people died swilling "samogon," moonshine. And the Soviets' top domestic source of income dwindled.
Cherkashin has issued a book, "Spy Handler," with American journalist Gregory Feifer, highlighting his glory years in counterintelligence in Washington. It was he who "handled" two of America's worst traitors ever -- the CIA's Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen of the FBI. (Both left enough clues that the CIA and FBI should have caught them, but they're too "risk-averse," says the Russian. Public criticism, firings and scandals scare them.)
Retiring in 1991, Cherkashin badly needed a second career. He opened a leather company spun off by the government, but soon left it -- too many Communist functionaries kept butting in. He tried buying and selling surplus military uniforms, gas masks and imported cigarettes, then became security chief of First Russian Bank, set up with "an American partner," unnamed.
Mafia-type gangs were specially targeting banks that grew fat on the profits from give-away sales of state property. Bankers regularly were gunned down. Police were no help -- they were shaking victims down themselves. Only men with intelligence backgrounds had the skills needed to neutralize the Mafias. Cherkashin's security force grew to 150.
"We often feared for our lives," he writes. A man hired to negotiate with gangs was shot dead in the office. The bank had to turn to a government "special services" group in the SVR, successor to the KGB. Ironically, First Russian Bank failed anyway, due to "siphoning" of depositor accounts, including $70 million from an oil company. By then Cherkashin had formed his own private security firm, which today employs 100 workers -- many of them ex-KGB -- at shopping malls, offices and film studios.
As for current business conditions, the Russian cautiously observes: "Stability doesn't necessarily mean rule of law."
Second-term President Vladimir Putin "has done much to shut down individual purveyors of influence under his predecessor (Boris Yeltsin)," he says, but "corrupt insider politics (has) grown."
Jack Markowitz can be reached at jmarkowitz@tribweb.com
Agriculture Minister Blasts Russian Press
Agriculture minister blasts Russian press over bird flu
28/10/2005 11:53
CHEBOSKARY, October 28 (RIA Novosti)-Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev criticized the Russia media Friday for sensationalizing the bird flu situation in the country.
"This subject will be closed and forgotten in a week or two," he told journalists.
He said he thought that there had been too much unfounded commotion in the press about bird flu and called the media's response to the scare "unprofessional".
Friday, October 28, 2005
Tuesday!!!!!
Okay, so the oven is here and Tom moved it in to the kitchen. However, Ervand is sick. So he cannot get Alexei the tools he needs until Tuesday. The dream I had of having a completed kitchen by the end of the week is no more. I have a great looking Bosch oven sitting in the kitchen.... Oh well. It won't go anywhere!
Lena came by for a tutoring session today. Spencer went to work at the Children's Home. Nathan was sick and Tom took a much needed nap. So it was just Lena and me. I was thrilled. We worked on my school work and then we listened to a worship CD in Russian and she helped me with a few words that I could not quite get. Did you ever do that back in highschool? You know, listen to a song over and over until you know all the words? Try doing it in another language it is a hoot! I finally have the words to four of the 16 songs on the CD. I made her a copy of the CD and now she can go home and listen to it. So next week when we work on it she will already know all the words. She will just be helping me figure it out!
We put in a request for funds today to buy Russian New Testaments for the Rehab Center. They have wanted them for awhile but could not afford them.
I think in about six more months I should have the language skills to start an Al-Anon meeting here. We will then put in a request for funds for literature. I am excited to be able to understand more and more each week.
Lena is asking for prayer. She has been asked to teach at the BLTC next year. Tom and I are very excited for her but she is nervous. We think she is an excellent teacher. She will teach on The Woman's Role in The Church.
Before Lena left our home today she heard Tom snoring.... he was asleep in the livingroom while we were working. She wanted me to get my dictaphone and make a recording of him! She said Alexei had done this to her once. I told her I didn't know where my dictaphone was! I didn't want Tom to be upset. We are pleased that she is getting so comfortable with us that she would even suggest something like that!
We helped her send a text message to Alexei. He is up near Nalchik doing a seminar and won't be back until Monday. Since she was writing to her "sweetheart" on my cell phone Tom made sure she signed HER name to it. He didn't want Alexei to think it came from me!
Lena came by for a tutoring session today. Spencer went to work at the Children's Home. Nathan was sick and Tom took a much needed nap. So it was just Lena and me. I was thrilled. We worked on my school work and then we listened to a worship CD in Russian and she helped me with a few words that I could not quite get. Did you ever do that back in highschool? You know, listen to a song over and over until you know all the words? Try doing it in another language it is a hoot! I finally have the words to four of the 16 songs on the CD. I made her a copy of the CD and now she can go home and listen to it. So next week when we work on it she will already know all the words. She will just be helping me figure it out!
We put in a request for funds today to buy Russian New Testaments for the Rehab Center. They have wanted them for awhile but could not afford them.
I think in about six more months I should have the language skills to start an Al-Anon meeting here. We will then put in a request for funds for literature. I am excited to be able to understand more and more each week.
Lena is asking for prayer. She has been asked to teach at the BLTC next year. Tom and I are very excited for her but she is nervous. We think she is an excellent teacher. She will teach on The Woman's Role in The Church.
Before Lena left our home today she heard Tom snoring.... he was asleep in the livingroom while we were working. She wanted me to get my dictaphone and make a recording of him! She said Alexei had done this to her once. I told her I didn't know where my dictaphone was! I didn't want Tom to be upset. We are pleased that she is getting so comfortable with us that she would even suggest something like that!
We helped her send a text message to Alexei. He is up near Nalchik doing a seminar and won't be back until Monday. Since she was writing to her "sweetheart" on my cell phone Tom made sure she signed HER name to it. He didn't want Alexei to think it came from me!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
these lessons really work!
Spencer and I went to stock up on food today. We have not really done a big shopping trip since we returned from Ukraine. So today was the day. Which meant a taxi to come home. I have gotten a taxi before but I have at times felt slightly uncomfortable because they might ask me something I don't know or I cannot quite tell them how to get to our house. Well, thanks to Lesson 12 I can now tell them exactly how to get to my house. I told the driver my building number and then my apartment number and I saw the confused look on his face. You know "the where is that?" look. I told him it was not far from Sograt and he understood. Then when we got to the right street I was able to tell him to keep going straight and where to turn. I could even tell him which entrance number was mine. I learned the word entrance in lesson 12 "podyesd" we live in Podyesd number 1. So when he stopped at number 7 I didn't have to do sign language I could say "Nyet nomer sem. Mwee zhivoot podyesd Nomer Odeen!" (Not number seven. We live at entrance number one!)
Spencer was relieved.... at first when we moved here I would have the taxi drivers drop us off at the grocery store about a block and a half from our house. Now I can direct them to our front door! If only I could get them to bring the groceries up the flour flights of stairs!!!!! Oh well, we have teens with us for at least two-three years!
Spencer was relieved.... at first when we moved here I would have the taxi drivers drop us off at the grocery store about a block and a half from our house. Now I can direct them to our front door! If only I could get them to bring the groceries up the flour flights of stairs!!!!! Oh well, we have teens with us for at least two-three years!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
My oven is here... kinda
I have an oven in the house.... right here beside me in the hallway. At least the dostofka (delivery) men brought it up the four flights of stairs. But after that we have no idea what they said to us. I spoke with him on the phone and could not understand him so I handed the phone to Lena. Lena got off the phone and said SHE could not understand him either. Four hours later when they finally show up Lena is not here and neither Tom nor I know what in the world this guy is saying so he finally just said "dosveedonyah" (goodbye) and left. Which brings me to where I have an oven sitting in the hall right in front of Nathan's doorway. Hopefully, tomorrow Alexei (Ella's husband) will show up and cut the counter tops to install the oven and sink and the kitchen will be complete.
I have learned the meaning of the Apostle Paul's words when he says "I have learned to be content..." I am ok with how we are living right now. I would love to have the kitchen finished but I know of greater trials others are going through and I can be content knowing that I do have a water source and a way to cook. We are clean, fed & housed and that is a good thing!
I have learned the meaning of the Apostle Paul's words when he says "I have learned to be content..." I am ok with how we are living right now. I would love to have the kitchen finished but I know of greater trials others are going through and I can be content knowing that I do have a water source and a way to cook. We are clean, fed & housed and that is a good thing!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Watch what you say!
In class today Madina told us that we are not supposed to say "I want you" In Russian this does not translate well and has a sexual connotation. She gave us a different phrase to use. After giving us some scripts to use she had us role play calling each on the phone but asking for a family member who was not in the room. When it was time for Janet and I to role play she told me to call and ask Janet if I could speak to Patrick ( Janet's husband). Janet looked me in the eye and said " you better not be using the wrong phrase!" Our teacher laughed so hard it took several minutes for our class to get back on track. When we finally regained composure I made sure I asked for him correctly! I don't want to cross her!
********
Later: After school a group of us went to the zoopark. It was a small one but very clean. It is strange to be in a zoo where you are so close to the animals. And the signs posted tell YOU not to frighten the animals! The only animal not really able to get near people was the crocodile. And I was grateful for that. The amount of blood visible in his cage showed the size of bunny they had just fed to him! Nathan thought that the falcon eating a bunny was pretty cool so he wanted me to see the no-headed bunny laying in the bottom of it's cage. I have that visual stuck in my head now. Thanks a lot Nathan.
I took only two pictures of the guys standing in front of the zoo sign with Liza and Natasha. They are around 21& 22. They told Jody they wanted to get their photo taken with the guys. Because they thought that Nathan and Spencer were very beautiful! Just what a mother wants to hear..... I can understand them being interested in Nathan he is close to their age. Spencer is only 15. Back away from the young one Devoshkee! (young women)
************
Language Mistakes:
*I told Lena that a my pie crust recipe had moohah (flies) instead of mookah
(flour)
*Janet asked her nanny for smetana (sour cream) instead of salfetki (napkin) to wipe her daughter's face.
*And Nathan was trying to correct me when I said Caputsin monkey incorrectly. He said I was saying kapusta (cabbage) and that Kapusta is Ketchup. I said "um... Nathan it's ok if you correct me but make sure you are saying the right word. Kapusta is not Ketchup. It's Cabbage...."
Nathan: "OH! Sorry, Mama!"
********
Later: After school a group of us went to the zoopark. It was a small one but very clean. It is strange to be in a zoo where you are so close to the animals. And the signs posted tell YOU not to frighten the animals! The only animal not really able to get near people was the crocodile. And I was grateful for that. The amount of blood visible in his cage showed the size of bunny they had just fed to him! Nathan thought that the falcon eating a bunny was pretty cool so he wanted me to see the no-headed bunny laying in the bottom of it's cage. I have that visual stuck in my head now. Thanks a lot Nathan.
I took only two pictures of the guys standing in front of the zoo sign with Liza and Natasha. They are around 21& 22. They told Jody they wanted to get their photo taken with the guys. Because they thought that Nathan and Spencer were very beautiful! Just what a mother wants to hear..... I can understand them being interested in Nathan he is close to their age. Spencer is only 15. Back away from the young one Devoshkee! (young women)
************
Language Mistakes:
*I told Lena that a my pie crust recipe had moohah (flies) instead of mookah
(flour)
*Janet asked her nanny for smetana (sour cream) instead of salfetki (napkin) to wipe her daughter's face.
*And Nathan was trying to correct me when I said Caputsin monkey incorrectly. He said I was saying kapusta (cabbage) and that Kapusta is Ketchup. I said "um... Nathan it's ok if you correct me but make sure you are saying the right word. Kapusta is not Ketchup. It's Cabbage...."
Nathan: "OH! Sorry, Mama!"
Monday, October 24, 2005
Школа!
Школа! School. Monday is normally a difficult day back and yet suprisingly everyone had a great day! It was nice for Tom and Spencer because their class was just the two of them with their other classmates out of the country right now.
Nathan and I only had half a day of class and the other half the director came in to speak with us about how we are doing so far.
We asked questions about culture and school lessons.
I asked why someone would call Spencer a помидор? (pomidor, tomato) He was wearing a red coat and it was one of the puffy ones. Tania said it was a joke! She said that it is perfectly acceptable for someone his age to wear that type of jacket.
I found out why people think I am European. It is my clothing. I have completely changed the way I dress. Most of my clothes were purchased here. I slip an American piece in occaisionally. But I look like I come from Great Britain or France. And now with cooler weather and my regularly wearing a hat... definitely French is what people are saying! Besides, people here assume that no Americans would come here because it is so far away.
Tom has decided he wants a fedora hat. He is already wearing a black leather jacket. Tim said to Tom "you know what you need to look like the Russian Mafia? Nothing! You already look like the mafia." I told him if he gets the fedora he will look like the Italianskya Mafioso!
Nathan and I only had half a day of class and the other half the director came in to speak with us about how we are doing so far.
We asked questions about culture and school lessons.
I asked why someone would call Spencer a помидор? (pomidor, tomato) He was wearing a red coat and it was one of the puffy ones. Tania said it was a joke! She said that it is perfectly acceptable for someone his age to wear that type of jacket.
I found out why people think I am European. It is my clothing. I have completely changed the way I dress. Most of my clothes were purchased here. I slip an American piece in occaisionally. But I look like I come from Great Britain or France. And now with cooler weather and my regularly wearing a hat... definitely French is what people are saying! Besides, people here assume that no Americans would come here because it is so far away.
Tom has decided he wants a fedora hat. He is already wearing a black leather jacket. Tim said to Tom "you know what you need to look like the Russian Mafia? Nothing! You already look like the mafia." I told him if he gets the fedora he will look like the Italianskya Mafioso!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Plita, Halelujah!
oo menyah yest plita! I have a stove! Finally. We went out to Krasnaya Ploshad and found a reasonably priced Bosch. We got a partial reimbursement on our expenses in Ukraine. And that gave us enough to purchase the last appliance for the kitchen. Tom can call the plumber out and we will have a full working kitchen ... maybe by the end of the week?!
When we purchased the plita we picked up two DVD's and some conditioner for the iron. We went to the front desk which is what I thought I understood we were supposed to do. Wrong. They brought out the plita and the range hood. Whoa.... we cannot get that home on the bus. When I saw it I made my eyes get big and looked at the poor guy bringing it out and said "dostofka nada" Delivery is needed! He told me to go back to the other department and arrange for delivery. Whew... that was a relief. Tom kept saying "gestapo" and I was trying to ignore him so I would not forget the word dostofka! He is so helpful.... sometimes more than others. On the way home he changed gestapo to mufasa. I told him that was at least closer!
****************
On the way home Tom was looking out the window and motioned for me to look out at this taxi driver who was standing beside his taxi eating an ice cream cone. Tom said "it's Harry Belafonte driving a taxi and eating ice cream!" Honestly, that is what it looked like!
When we purchased the plita we picked up two DVD's and some conditioner for the iron. We went to the front desk which is what I thought I understood we were supposed to do. Wrong. They brought out the plita and the range hood. Whoa.... we cannot get that home on the bus. When I saw it I made my eyes get big and looked at the poor guy bringing it out and said "dostofka nada" Delivery is needed! He told me to go back to the other department and arrange for delivery. Whew... that was a relief. Tom kept saying "gestapo" and I was trying to ignore him so I would not forget the word dostofka! He is so helpful.... sometimes more than others. On the way home he changed gestapo to mufasa. I told him that was at least closer!
****************
On the way home Tom was looking out the window and motioned for me to look out at this taxi driver who was standing beside his taxi eating an ice cream cone. Tom said "it's Harry Belafonte driving a taxi and eating ice cream!" Honestly, that is what it looked like!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Prayer concerns
Every six months we have to leave the country for visa purposes. Once a year it will be to renew the visa completely; like we just did in Ukraine. The other time it will be just to get the passport stamped and come back. Our resources were strained severely when we had to stay in Ukraine for an extended amount of time. We are looking ahead to March and are concerned about whether or not we can afford to make it to WorldVenture's Leadership Conference in Johannesburg, So Africa...
That trips hits at the time when we have to leave the country to get our passports stamped. It is not a renewal time. We will need to leave the country in March. At least for a day.
*Please pray that we will be wise in how our resources are used.
*Pray that if we are supposed to go to the Leadership Conference that the support will be provided in such a way that the answer will be clear to us!
*Pray for us as we will be undergoing testing these next few weeks over everything we have learned at language school for the past 13 weeks.
We appreciate everyone who comes here to read...
There have been over 4000 visits to this blog since July. Thank you and may God bless you richly!
That trips hits at the time when we have to leave the country to get our passports stamped. It is not a renewal time. We will need to leave the country in March. At least for a day.
*Please pray that we will be wise in how our resources are used.
*Pray that if we are supposed to go to the Leadership Conference that the support will be provided in such a way that the answer will be clear to us!
*Pray for us as we will be undergoing testing these next few weeks over everything we have learned at language school for the past 13 weeks.
We appreciate everyone who comes here to read...
There have been over 4000 visits to this blog since July. Thank you and may God bless you richly!
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