To Moscow we go

We were up early and ready to get out of this dorm. 5 days with no hot water for a shower had done us in. We had 4 hours on an extremley bumpy bus to look forward to. It was raining when we got to town but we were so happy to see our nice motel we didn't care. We quickly left on the shuttle to the bus to get to down town. We had to ride a bus for about 45 minutes and then take the metro for about 30minutes to get to Red Square. First we got out to see the Bocho Theatre, the headquarters of the KGB and a famous hotel where lots of spy stories have taken place==like James Bond and Jason Bourne. There were lots of people out and about on Monday. We got into the Kremlim and saw the churches where all the Tsars got their crowns and were married. We also saw the church where they all are buried. We got to hear some monks sing and it was beautiful. We then went to find Obama nesting dolls and lots of the girls and guys bought them. From there we went to Arbat St. It's a cool long street with lots of shops and places to hang out. We shopped for about two hours and finished up all the gifts we needed to buy for people. We then we to see the world's largest Mc Donald's before we made our way back to the hotel. We were ready to get packed and headed home.

Last Day in Ryazan

I've been back for several days and I feel the need to finish this up before I forget what I did. I know I've only left off about 2 and 1/2 days but each day was so filled with activites I still have lots to tell. The last day in Ryazan we started out by going to eat and then look for a bank to get more rubbles on a Sunday. We went all over town, I took a big fall as we were trying to find a place. It had started to rain and I just had on some cheap flip flops. They use smooth tiles and they are really slick. I only fell down three stairs and didn't end up hurting myself that much. We went to an art musuem and I didn't want to miss out on that. It was great. After all of our travels it was interesting to see Russia expressed in art. We saw all kinds of art( of course I liked the photography best). We then we to a huge open market, I've never seen so many pairs of shoes in my life. I didn't end up buying anything because I was so overwhelmed I couldn't decide on anything. I did buy a wrap. I had to tell them three times net!!! to more mayo and it still had to much on it for me to eat. They love mayo!!! We had a short time to rest and then out to the dasha for the farewell dinner.

Farewell Dinner

We just returned from a wonderful farewell dinner at Lena's parent's dasha in the country. It was about a twenty minute drive and a world of difference from the city. Lena loves flowers and she had a beautiful garden. Sasha fired up the grill for shashlik, while the dad took the guys and then the mom took the girls in for a banya. They had a huge picnic table that they filled with food. All fresh--tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melon, watermelon, breads filled with cabbage and others with apples. Salami, cheese, chips. They served beer, wine, soft drinks and a drink made from grasses in Georgia. Then came the grilled pork on sticks. After all that eating we had tea and coffee along with a special Barbie birthday cake for Alona, who was turning 12. The cake was fruit and had a whipped cream icing. Everything was so great. Alona opened her gifts and she loved them all especially the bubbles. I must go internet is closing will finish later

Fulbright Members

Sasha, Alona, Lena, her parents, and Tim the dog
Dr. Brooks Green-Conway
Dayan-Fayetteville
Darla-Mena
Cindy-Conway
Karla-Fayetteville

Connie-Bryant
Amy-Bryant
Tim-Elkins
Chris-Rogers
Norma-Jonesboro
Shelia-Hagarsville
Cindy-Conway
Sharon-Bryant

Typical Russian Village house

Poet Sergei Esenin

A visit to the Russian Graceland

I know that I've talked way to much about the bathroom situation in this country, but each day brings a new experience in one of the most basic elements of life. Again today I've been scared for life. I've taken pictures of many tiolets for you guys, but the worst ones are so bad I'm having to try to survive and forget about taking pictures until hours later after I have recovered. I'm sorry, but you will just have to travel in the Russian countryside for yourselves to get a picture. I also just learned yesterday how to properly squat on the things. I also just learned another interesting bit of info about the banya( remember the sauna experience) I had seen something for sale in a store--the hat i had worn and the glove for scrubbing--they also had a placemat made out of the wool-felt and I wondered why you would need a placemat. I was informed yesterday that is a butt matt. We had used our towels and had no idea such a thing exsisted. I'm learning more everyday. Anyway to my day--Saturday August 1st. We headed out to a men's monastry in the country. The cool experience today was we got in on a service. As I told you they don't have seats. The priests were wearing beautiful robes and chanting as they stood in a circle. The people were standing around, every few minutes they will bow and make the sign of the cross. Im talking 50 times in the short time I was in there. Some would bend over and touch the floor. As they enter and light candles they kiss the picture of the icon. i mean everyone does. No wonder their death rate is high ---I bet they get sick from that. This church was new inside and very very beautiful. I'm glad we had that experience. We were then off for the boyhood home of Sergei Esenin. I've mentioned him before. He is a famous poet from this area. He was only 30 years old when he died. He had married isadora duncan who was an American and the founder of modern dance. We saw the house of his patron. She was the rich land onwer , we saw his school and his boyhood home. He lived 1895-1925. Sasha says its a dark story. No one knows because of the Soviets just what happened. They said he hanged himself, but then others say it was a gun shot. There was this gaint photo of him over looking the river valley. People were everywhere just like at Graceland. We then went for McDonald's again. We worked on our pamphlets and powerpoints on our subject matter. I then spent some time walking around by myself, which was a nice welcome change. One more day here going to an Art museum and then for a farewell dinner at the dasha. On Monday we will travel to moscow--4hours by bus. Then Tuesday we will start the 24 or more hours journey home. I've so ready to see everyone and take a shower. This morning while i was trying to get clean I realized I live the closest to the airport and will be the first one in the shower. yeah!!!!!!!! Love to all.

more pictures

Very stylish couple taking pictures around town. I've crashed about 15 weddings in my 30 days here

Random pictures

This little russian man had walked up the hill from the dasha below

cool pic--you looked through this door at the monastry and saw the dasha down below--in the next pic

A babushka selling us something

Monastry we went to today in the Russian country side

Random pictures

We have a coffee bar and salon set up in our room. Everyone comes there for coffee or tea and to fix their hair.

I've had to heat water in a coffee pot and pour into pink dish pan then use that to try to get clean. all 10 of us use this one shower. It doesn't take that long because no one wants to take a long cold shower!!

I've learned to wash out all my clothes by hand

Our latest dorm room--no air conditioning

A wedding palace ---very busy on Fridays and Saturdays in Russia

Basketballs and jerseys we gave to Alona's School for the Deaf

A Dig by university students in the Kremlin in Ryazan

Random pictures

A Church in the Krelim in Ryazan that is being restored--built in 1698

Handmade dolls by a famous doll maker Elena Kolodkinoj

I finally learned that to use these you are suppose to face the wall and squat Who knew??????

Globus---like WalMart

The time is ticking away in Russia

I now understand why the people with Fulbright Hayes insist that people stay for 30 days. After all this time I've began to form opinions for myself and not because of the influence of the media, but because I've lived it and experienced it for myself. My Russian friends surpised me with a wonderful cake last night. Amy and Connie spent much time trying to figure out what was in the cake before they bought it. Cindy laughed and said it probably had cucumbers in it. I said dill also. (Inside Russian jokes) It was great but it did have a few surprises like raisins and nuts. We had a hard time trying to clean the dishes since we have no hot water, so we just had to throw everything away. It was a MAJOR ordeal this morning when I tried to ask a Russian woman where and how we throw away the trash from two days of American women. Through many gestures and acting out I finally understood what to do. We took off for the university for our last lectures this morning. We have had at least 30 hrs of lectures and 10 hours of language lessons. These are formal. many many more informal. I'm begining to read. I've learned on this trip I'm a very observate person. i watch where i'm going and notice and can read just about everything I need to survive. I can't speak but about 3 phrases, but a smile works in any langauge. We first had a history lesson and it was very interesting. Ryazan is one of the oldest cities in Russia. it was founded in 1095. I learned all about princeapalities, feudal times, tatars and tzars. We must keep in mind that so much of this history is sooooomuch older than anything we learn about Americian History. We heard of Ivan the terrible, Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, Alex the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Nicholas 1st and 2nd. I've always heard so much about Soviet times, but this was only a 70 year period in Russian History and there is so much more than that. He spent most time on 18th century because this is when so much changed for Russia. Before this time there was mongolian and Asian influnence. Peter the Great brought the European influnce to Russia. He changed everything and how it was done. He made the men shave their beards and become more Europe like. By the end of the 18th century Catherine the Great had mad ethe tzars have absolute power. but by the 1860,s they had had to give freedoms to the peasants. By the end of the 19th century Russia was a world power. They moved to Imperialism with factory work and engaged in wars to gain power in the economy and political areas. Around the early 1900's they had lost a major war with Japan and had a civil war which caused them to lose 8 million people. After that the Soviet period started. Russia is 17 million km and the largest country in the world. It has 85 regions and 142 million people that mainly live in cities. We also had a lecture about geography but I'm not as into that. We then went to a Korean place for lunch and had curry chicken. VEry good and not like anything I've ever had. We went to three malls after that. WE Hate Russian clothes. They are expensive and very small. There close look like they are made for 10 year olds in our country. WE are for sure cutting down on portion size on our return. Tomorrow we are going to a monastry and to see some people making crafts. We are winding down. We will spend Sunday with Sasha, Lena, and Alona at their dasha( summer house) for a farewell dinner. Back to Moscow on Monday and fly home on Tuesday. WE are 9 hours ahead of you guys. i may write again, but may not have another chance. we are maybe going to a computer lab to work on projects. I'm developing a list of differences. i decided today to do it like David Lettermans--10 things you should know before traveling to Russia. Anyway, thanks for the connections i've had with you guys while i've been here. Write me an email and give me your thoughts at short730@yahoo.com Love to all

Weddings in Russia

I've found it very interesting the way they celebrate weddings in Russia. I'm going to be putting together a full report after I return home.

Happy Birthday in Russia

today is my 52nd birthday. what a life I've had. It's been a really good one. Full of adventures and never the same from year to year. I wonder what is ahead for next year??? I woke up to lots of birthday wishes. Amy had brought me a card all the way from america, Norma gave me a coke and my roomie made my bed and put the cutest design on it with all of my stuff. I'll send a pic. I had a super cold shower---I'll never get use to that. Bugs were flying in the windows last night. We were picked up at nine and taken to their idea of Wal-Mart-Capitalism has hit russia with a force. We were so excited to see this huge clean wonderful store. We ate breakfast there and are headed back there as soon as we finish here. why do we impart American ideas all over the world?????? do we really all want to be the same. Some deep questions for this shopper to think of on her birthday after a life filled with shopping. We took off for Ryazan State University. this is were Lela is a Dr. of geography and sasha is a Dr. of Computer Science. Dr. Brooks met with the president while they took us on a tour of their offices and class rooms. You may think you haven't heard of this town but the name of the university is after the husband of Isadora Duncan( the famous dancer). It is also the home town of Povlo the famous behavioral scienctist(remember Palov's dog) we all learned that freshman year. this town has 530,000 people. every town in russia has a Lenin Street. We then when to a guys house to see these dolls his wife( who has died made). They were beautiful handmade work and very expensive. I liked seeing an apartment. I've wondered about it. VEry , very small. About 500 sq. ft. Very depressing to my standards--I guess, if I didn't know any different. WE then went to the Kremlin. A Krelim is the old fortress of the city. This city was founded in 1095. WE went in a church from 1698--very old beautiful buildings. About 8 churches in the area. we got to go in a great museum of russian clothing. All the beautiful lace!!!!! Red and beautiful were the same word in old Russian language , so that is why you see so much red in their clothes. WE went to lunch at a wonderful place--it was beautiful and they had a buffet. very good birthday lunch. well you know i've talked way to much about bathrooms on this blog. We have developed a number system to rank bathrooms. This one was a 6. The top score ever. WE all were taking pictures of it. I know those people thought we were crazy, but we were so happy to have something that we are use to. We then went to Alona's school for the Deaf. What a great experience on my birthday--after I've given 30 years of my life to helping children with disablities. I had to speak and they were so interested in what I had to say. I told them that we have really had to work to move children into their spot in the regular class, but to keep on trying because it's best for the child. they treated us like kings and queens. They had a tea laid out for us. what a nice day. I love ya'll and will be home soon. Thanks for all my birthday wishes.

Ryazzan Opera House