Like a house closing something comes onto the best laid plans. I called the ATM folks yesterday to tell them I'd be out of the country and found our my card had been cancelled for lack of use! Apparently I need to travel even more! They would be glad to open a new account and my card could be in Glen Ellyn in 3-5 business days! By then I'll be far from Glen Ellyn. Finally an upper level manager spotted the fact that I had a year between transactions before it should be coped and I had in fact used it last November. Those hyperactive overachievers in accounting just jumped the gun! So we are in business again.
The more I read and hear about Russia the sharper the contrast between the Asian and European influences. In our conference call the counselor mentioned the "personal space" was far less than the US. That was very true in Ondia and China but I attributed some of it to dense population. Russia has the geographic sprawl of the US but still the Asian concept of space. Fascinating!
Well personal space will be nonexistent on the flights in any event so I'll adjust!
Showing posts with label before the trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label before the trip. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
less than a week
Seems like I am ready - well, the last laundry, etc. I take one rolling duffle bag and a back pack. If I take more glue sticks, I take less underwear. And books have priority over everything!
Today we got our assignments. Unlike India where I worked in the same day care with 2-3 year old kids every day, our assignments in Russia change daily. There are 6 community centers in Yaroslav that we serve for seniors, mentally challenged adults, and kids in transition out of home to foster/adopted care. So we are told to bring a lot of craft ideas. There are also some hospital opportunities. Since this is the start of the Russia volunteer season - no one goes in winter which apparently just ended - at least they won't have made all the crafts I have in mind.
The weather looks clear and slightly warmer than Chicago! I have layers of clothing. And women must have a scarf and skirt to go into any church.
About this time I am wondering why I do this....and looking for prayers. This year is no different!
Today we got our assignments. Unlike India where I worked in the same day care with 2-3 year old kids every day, our assignments in Russia change daily. There are 6 community centers in Yaroslav that we serve for seniors, mentally challenged adults, and kids in transition out of home to foster/adopted care. So we are told to bring a lot of craft ideas. There are also some hospital opportunities. Since this is the start of the Russia volunteer season - no one goes in winter which apparently just ended - at least they won't have made all the crafts I have in mind.
The weather looks clear and slightly warmer than Chicago! I have layers of clothing. And women must have a scarf and skirt to go into any church.
About this time I am wondering why I do this....and looking for prayers. This year is no different!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Suddenly it's May!
March lasted forever and April Zoomed by - now it is departure month! Get the rubles. check the air flights. Buy travel sized shampoo.
One of my favorite parts of getting ready is assembling pictures to show of the family and parts of the our country. The hands down winner with every group is my son's dog Munster. Take a look at that face!
Russians write no small books. I am slogging through Edward Rutherfurd's Russka - think Michener without such tight editing! Like China, Russia has been a secret place, surrounded by stereotypes on our side. One of the joys of working in a community is we get to see and understand how people really live.
There will only be 3 of us at the Yarolslavl site when we arrive - this is early for Russia, but I am working around the library summer reading progam! We may not have to share a bathroom.
The program uses a lot of simple crafts - for orphange kids and adults in special assistance homes. Any suggestions using only paper, glue, and markers?
One of my favorite parts of getting ready is assembling pictures to show of the family and parts of the our country. The hands down winner with every group is my son's dog Munster. Take a look at that face!
Russians write no small books. I am slogging through Edward Rutherfurd's Russka - think Michener without such tight editing! Like China, Russia has been a secret place, surrounded by stereotypes on our side. One of the joys of working in a community is we get to see and understand how people really live.
There will only be 3 of us at the Yarolslavl site when we arrive - this is early for Russia, but I am working around the library summer reading progam! We may not have to share a bathroom.
The program uses a lot of simple crafts - for orphange kids and adults in special assistance homes. Any suggestions using only paper, glue, and markers?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Churches
April is racing by and in May the trip begins. We are now a small group - just 3 volunteers, with I think that many staff. It is early to go to Russia - it will only be in the mid 70's, but the help will be needed any time. A different opportunity.
I hope to explore lots of Orthodox Russian churches and icons. The legend of how Russia became Orthodox is that the ruler wanted to unite the country under one religious that would transcend territory so he sent emissaries to the Roman catholics and the Muslims and the Protestants, but the "requirements" for each were too much. Then they went to Constantinople and fell in love with the architecture and that was that. Moscow called itself the Third Rome and for a long time felt itself to be the spiritual leader of the world. It will be interesting to see post-Communism how the churches are doing. Many church buildings are now museums.
I hope to explore lots of Orthodox Russian churches and icons. The legend of how Russia became Orthodox is that the ruler wanted to unite the country under one religious that would transcend territory so he sent emissaries to the Roman catholics and the Muslims and the Protestants, but the "requirements" for each were too much. Then they went to Constantinople and fell in love with the architecture and that was that. Moscow called itself the Third Rome and for a long time felt itself to be the spiritual leader of the world. It will be interesting to see post-Communism how the churches are doing. Many church buildings are now museums.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Supplies
I will be limited by weight, but they allow us to bring supplies for the kids in Russia! Constuction paper, white paper, and Scotch tape - anyone want to share?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Yaroslavl, Russia
I have a brand new passport with plenty of pages and a Russian visa! Trip dates are May 21-June 12.
Yaroslavl, Russia,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl) is about 150 miles northeast of Moscow so we land there. It is one of the cities on the Golden Ring, full of architecture and icons. And 11 orphanages, homes for the handicapped, and street children. We work in all of them. Lots to see and experience.
I am traveling with Cross Cultural Solutions again. I like their method of housing us all in a volunteer home base together so we can share experiences in the evenings and find travel companions for the weekends. The food and water are safe and if you run of shampoo, someone brought extra.
The weather should be in the low 60's, but the sun is up from 4am to 10pm!
Prereading has been heavy! Russians never write small books. Anna Karenina I split between audio CD and book form and finished it! I am looking for a good movie of War and Peace. I read The Last Station, a novel of Tolstoy and From Nyet to Da about Russian business culture and Natasha's Dance about the influence of history on culture. The Russian Orthodox church is another vast subject all together, and I am looking forward to seeing icons.
So welcome to the journey!
Yaroslavl, Russia,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslavl) is about 150 miles northeast of Moscow so we land there. It is one of the cities on the Golden Ring, full of architecture and icons. And 11 orphanages, homes for the handicapped, and street children. We work in all of them. Lots to see and experience.
I am traveling with Cross Cultural Solutions again. I like their method of housing us all in a volunteer home base together so we can share experiences in the evenings and find travel companions for the weekends. The food and water are safe and if you run of shampoo, someone brought extra.
The weather should be in the low 60's, but the sun is up from 4am to 10pm!
Prereading has been heavy! Russians never write small books. Anna Karenina I split between audio CD and book form and finished it! I am looking for a good movie of War and Peace. I read The Last Station, a novel of Tolstoy and From Nyet to Da about Russian business culture and Natasha's Dance about the influence of history on culture. The Russian Orthodox church is another vast subject all together, and I am looking forward to seeing icons.
So welcome to the journey!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Journey Continues
Visa in hand at last! I'm off to Russia in May for 3 weeks of work in an orphanage.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)