Russia 2003

Now we're done ...

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:34 EST

Ok, last pic ... now off to Wolf camera to spend a fortune.

Home again

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:33 EST

West Minster Abbey

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:32 EST

Too bad we got there to late to take a tour.

... Parliment

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:31 EST

thank you European vacation :o)

Big Ben ...

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:30 EST

Big Ben

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:29 EST

Windsor Castle 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:28 EST

Windsor Castle

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:27 EST

Outside of Windsor Castle at night.

Return thru London

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:26 EST

Saturday night: spent the night in London.

Tourists 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:25 EST

Rodney wearing "the hat with ears" in front of Moscow State University.

(ahem) He's also marking himself as a tourist.

:-p

Tourists

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:24 EST

Oooh La La!

Sara tries on a fox fur hat while we were souvenir shopping.

Jesus Christ the Savior 3

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:23 EST

Jesus Christ the Savior 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:22 EST

Jesus Christ the Savior

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:21 EST

The Church of Jesus Christ the Savior in Moscow.

Moscow mall

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:20 EST

A mall just beside Red Square.

Tomb of the Unkown Soldier

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:19 EST

This is a shot of the tomb.

Changing of the guard

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:18 EST

This is in front of the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier.

Broken Down?

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:17 EST

Crank it again Ivan, let's see if she'll fire up this time ... don't you just hate it when your car breaks down in the middle of Red Square?

Red Square

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:16 EST

Lenin's Mausoleum

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:15 EST

We just happened to be there in the 3 hour window that Lenin's body is on display. So we went inside.

What's it like seeing a guy who has been dead for 80 years? ... Don't ask.

St. Basil's

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:14 EST

St. Basil's in Red Square

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:13 EST

Kremlin

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:12 EST

Clock tower in Red Square.

Moscow

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:11 EST

Saturday: we flew to Moscow and had an 8 hour layover. We rented a taxi van and went to the Kremlin / Red Square.

This is St. Basil's

Scavenger hunt party 3

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:10 EST

The party was a huge success and a lot of pictures were taken to remember everyone.

Scavenger hunt party 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:09 EST

Pictures from the scavenger hunt.

Scavenger hunt party

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:08 EST

On Friday night, we had a scavenger hunt and send off party with all our students.

Smile Jeff

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:07 EST

Smile Jeff, I need to finish off this roll.

I had to finish off the roll so we could use my camera in the scavenger hunt. So I do not have any original pictures of that.

:-/

Fortunately I was sent some by email. Thanks to the students who sent me these next pics!

Delux accomodations

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:06 EST

Our delux accomodations. We didn't have anytime to even turn the tv on all week ... but we were a little afraid of what might be on if we did.

"Facilities"

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:05 EST

Maybe I shouldn't post this one ... but what the heck. Notice the spout is shared between the shower and the sink. And the silver coil line in the shower IS the shower. You had to hold it b/c there wasn't a place to hook it on the wall.

City founders

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:04 EST

A statue next to the river.

I also later learned that these are the founders of Yekaterinburg.

Back to Centrali Cafe 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:03 EST

Back to Centrali Cafe

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:02 EST

This was the last group of USU students that we talked to at the Centrali Cafe.

Discussion group -- Carrie

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:36:01 EST

Carrie's discussion group (left to right): Yana, Luba, Olya, Larina, Sasha, Helen, Sveta (Kompas helper), and Carrie in front.

This, again, is the lower level group. Quite a challenge for Carrie; but she did a great job ... while being sick!

Discussion group -- Sam & Slava

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:59 EST

Slava (student helper), Dima, Natali, Nastya, Pasha, Nastya, Sam (stint helper), and Rodney.

This is the higher level group.

Discussion group -- Rodney

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:58 EST

Rodney's discussion group (left to right): Natasha, Vallery, Mari, Katya, Nastya, K.C., and Rodney.

This is the middle level group.

This is the title pic from my index page.

Talk the Talk students

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:57 EST

More students of "Talk the Talk", our English course.

Left to right: Nastya, Mari, Natasha, Nastya, Nastya, and Natali

Discussion group

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:56 EST

Carrie and her discussion group.

This was the lower level English speaking group. The class is divided into 3 groups; lower, middle, and higher English speakers.

Impressive building

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:55 EST

Impressive building, huh? Wish I knew what it was.

Since 2003, I learned this is a "place of youth". It was next to a Communist party recruiting hall. I guess it was for party indoctrination?

Wedding customs

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:54 EST

Wedding custom is to ride around the city and take the wedding pictures at differnt sites. This is a wedding party visiting The Church on the Blood.

As I understand it, this tradition started when Communist rule outlawed the church and families found other ways to celebrate weddings. We also saw a lot of this in Moscow during our return trip.

Church on the Blood closeup

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:53 EST

Romanov men

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:52 EST

The Romanov men.

Romanov women

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:51 EST

The Romanov women above and Peggy, Oleg, Daniel, and Jeff below.

Why is Oleg wearing a Rice jersey?

Church on the Blood

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:50 EST

The church is built on the site where the Romanov family was murdered.

Teepee

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:49 EST

(what's a teepee doing next to the Church on the Blood?)

Romanov memorial 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:48 EST

Romanov memorial

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:47 EST

The Church on the Blood.

Trolleys 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:46 EST

... and cars smoke your "backside" while you wait.

Don't forget to duck that trolley mirror when it zooms by!

Trolleys

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:45 EST

The trolleys run right down the middle of the street ...

More fun

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:44 EST

Fun

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:43 EST

:-)

Public transportation

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:42 EST

Public transportation is very important in Yekaterinburg.

Christina

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:41 EST

High school student Christina and Rodney.

Ambitions

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:40 EST

This young lady wants to be a forrest ranger in America or Canada.

Back to the schools

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:39 EST

Carrie and some high school students.

Teachers and Student

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:38 EST

Carrie, Natali, and Rodney.

Customs

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:37 EST

Almost all the women walk arm in arm. Mothers and daughters, university friends, and of course Carrie, Sara, and Peggy.

USU again

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:36 EST

Different angle

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:35 EST

Sveta and Debbie

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:34 EST

Sveta and Darin's sister-in-law Debbie.

Daniel @ School of Tomorrow

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:33 EST

Daniel shows off his camera for Deborah and the kids.

School of Tomorrow

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:32 EST

On Wednesday and Thursday, we visited an elementary/high school. Sara and Gene sign autographs.

We all felt like rock stars!

Centrali Cafe 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:31 EST

Ok, now pose for a "funny" one.

Centrali Cafe

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:30 EST

K.C., Rodney, Carrie, Sveta, Slava, and Sam (our class helpers).

USU students 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:29 EST

In front is:: Stephan
In back is:: Carrie, Nickolas, Daniel, and Masha

USU students

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:28 EST

On Tuesday and Friday, we invited students to the Centrali Cafe across the street so we could talk to them more openly about God.

Architecture

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:27 EST

Watch out 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:26 EST

Watch out

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:25 EST

I thought it was interesting that several tons of concrete was beside the sidewalk stobbed upright by a couple of splintered wedges.

American movies

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:24 EST

Bruce Almighty is showing in Yekaterinburg.

USU 3

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:23 EST

USU 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:22 EST

We visited university classes before lunch on Tuesday and Friday.

USU

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:21 EST

Most of our English students are from USU.

Sverdlovsk

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:20 EST

Statue in front of Ural State University.

Yekaterinburg was named Sverdlovsk (after this guy) under Communist rule, his title was chairman of All-Russian Central Executive Committee (say that 10 times real fast!). This is one of the larger universities and where most of our students come from.

Konked out

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:19 EST

My roommate is konked out with jetlag and I only came back to reload my camera.

Should'a walked around with me :-)

Military town 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:18 EST

Military town

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:17 EST

Yekateringburg is a military town with several schools and some nearby bases.

Scafolding

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:16 EST

Building scafolding for repairs (don't make a wrong step).

Black Tulip 6

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:15 EST

I like how the arm extends past the boundaries of the plack.

Black Tulip 5

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:14 EST

Black Tulip -- Chechnia

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:13 EST

Newest addition to the monumemt for Chechnia.

Black Tulip 3

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:12 EST

Black Tulip 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:11 EST

Black Tulip

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:10 EST

More of the war memorial.

War memorial

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:09 EST

The Black Tulip, a war memorial for Russia and Afghanastan.

I found this while wondering around Ekat on the first day ... while others were sleeping (ahem). I'm sure this was a major missions trip "no no", but I was determined to beat jet lag.

Meet ~n Greet

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:08 EST

The resturant Argrave (sp?); which was a host for one of our classes.

First year 2003 team Deborah, Daniel, Jeff, Gene, Sara, Darin, Debbie, Carrie, Peggy, and (behind the camera) Rodney.

Yekaterinburg!

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:07 EST

Yekaterinburg! Finally after traveling for 24 hours straight. Gene is on the left and Darin McFarland is on the right.

Moscow Taxi 2

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:06 EST

Deborah and Carrie (my co-teacher)

Moscow Taxi

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:05 EST

Taxi ride in Moscow to change airports (can you see the fear in our eyes?).

Crew pics

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:04 EST

Gene, Sara, Carrie, and Jeff (my roomie)

777 to London

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:03 EST

American Airlines 777 to London

In front:: Peggy and Deborah
In back:: Carrie and Jeff

Russia 2003 Mission Trip

Sun, 21 Sep 2003 20:35:00 EST

I decided to redo my 2003 gallery with my new album program ... much better webpages and allows for comments! So leave me feedback.

Introductions: on the top is Rodney's discussion group (left to right): Natasha, Vallery, Mari, Katya, Nastya, K.C. (our English helper), and Rodney. And below (left to right): Carrie (my co-teacher), Rodney (yours truly), and the Church on the Blood

Please leave me feedback on this gallery as a whole or on individual pics.