Caddy corner to the hotel was Tchaikovsky. Which is a play on words; "Chai-Cofe-ski" ... chai = tea, cofe = coffee; aka. a coffee and tea house kind of like Starbucks.

The zoo.

This is the Ekat zoo. Another one of the excursions that our students took us on. We had a lot of fun this year; not only seeing the city but forming great friendships that I hope will last for a long time.

Lindsey and Holly in the park.

This is another park that I had not seen in the 2 previous years. It was outside the big mall and supermarket.

Natasha's boyfriend Dima joined us on the retreat. Unfortunately that was after I dropped my camera. If I can get their pictures from some of the other teachers, I will post it later.

Natasha, one of my first year students who has become very active in Kompas.

School #13, another school we visited during our stay in Ekat.

Hotel Iset from the lookout point of the tallest building in Ekat. This is the title pic from my index page.

Oleg and Sana's flat (source of the blini).

T-Bone enjoys some blini (Russian pancakes).

Good times.

Borst, pickled peppers, mushroom salad, and a cake for dessert.

On Saturday, Renata and her roommate invited Jen, Julie, and me to their flat for borst. They really rolled out the red carpet for us. We had a great time and some great soup too.

Across the Iset, the moon was rising to the left of the church On The Blood.

After the party, we hung out with the students. We went down by the Iset river and the lights reflecting off the water was beautiful. I set my camera to night time exposure and tried a shot. I'm glad it came out as good as it did, I wasn't expecting too much.

More winners.

Guess what the winners got? A reserved spot at Centralni Dvor and 5 pizzas ... yes more pizza!

Victors' shot.

Guess who won??? If you guess our team ... then you'd be spot on!!

Counting up the score.

More pics from the scavenger hunt.

On Friday we had a scavenger hunt. This picture is from the meeting place before we heard the results.

This isn't a self portrait but a shot of our hotel elevator (or lift).

This is also me burning off the last picture from a roll of film ... "roll of film", remember those?!?

Another shot that is becoming tradition, breakfast.

The chef sent out several plates of their different desserts.

Deb and ...... hmmmm, oh yeah! Rodney.

Phil and Darin.

Ashley???, Jen, and Mark.

Amy and Deb (Darin's sister-in-law).

Jamie and Amy.

Daniel and Tim ... nice parsley action going there T-Bone.

Julie and Phil.

Ashley and Kelly (Mike's wife).

Kathy and Nancy ... you can find them here.

Ok, so for some fair airtime, they might be more happy to see you visit here.

Hangin at the Balkan grill. Daniel and Tim (or as I like to call him, "T-Bone").

Sousha

Games; Leena and Katya

Scharades; Dina and Sousha

Class time.

More of the game, Dina looks at the camera instead of the game.

We are playing one of the games in the Talk the Talk class. Left to right: Ann, Jen, Sousha, Katya, and Ivan.

Jen is one of the American stinters and was working with us in the classes. She and the other 5 stinters will be doing a lot of follow up this next year. They have the same appeal to the Russian students as we did, and that is speaking English with native speakers. I really think they will have an awesome impact this year!

This is on the wall of the building where I was teaching.

This young lady was upset and crying because none of the Americans got to come by and hear her do her tests. Time just ran out. So I asked her if she'd like something none of her classmates got ... a hug and a picture. The answer was a shy and quiet, "Yes".

She's in Darin's son Bear's class and one of the students I have seen since the first grade (or first form).

More students from the School of Tomorrow.

The School of Tomorrow uses a Christian based home school curriculum written in Dallas!

More hangin out with the students after class. Iriana (on the left above Julie) was a student in our class that also worked at the Centralni Dvor.

Hangin out with the students after class.

And Amy.

And Daniel.

Hangin out in the Hotel Iset lobby; Kathy, Nancy, and Jamie.

Subway

Subway with Dina, Sousha, and Katya.

Subway

The Ekat subway ... it only had 6 stops and is the shortest subway in Russia; and probably the world. Yet it was packed.

A Russian wedding (right under Beavis and Butt-Head).

Kate is into Japanese culture and she taught Natalia origami. They each made a crane for Julie and me.

"The Thinker" ... no wait, I think that is Rodney instead.

On the island in Park Vosnesenski.

Park Vosnesenski in full autumn.

Park Vosnesenski

Note the island with the columns, we got to go out there (which you will see).

Park Vosnesenski

This is park Vosnesenski (which also means "of ascension"). The 2 students are Natalia and her friend Kate (who was in the English class next door).

You've seen this church, I've been to it for the past 2 years. But on an excursion with the students, they took us to a beautiful park next door that I have never seen.

I also got to hear the bells ring for the first time ... very lovely.

Coach taking a break.

During a scrimmage, Alex's team won and the loosers had to do rolls (which are hard to do in full gear). 1 roll for each points they lost by, these guys had to do 5. Alex was on the winning team, but they had Dima as goalie. In the second scrimmage, the goalies switched and Alex scored on Dima (The Wall)! WhoooHooo.

The Coach with Cray Ivan. The coach was a great player too and this program has turned out a lot of great players, some to the NHL. So it is a great honor for Alex to be here.

Crazy Ivan in full gear.

I don't know what this guy's name was, we nicknamed him "Crazy Ivan". He is a friend of the rink's owner. The owner said he could drop by any time and skate, so he shows up for every practice and gets out on the ice with the kids. He is so nice that no one has the heart to throw him out. :)

We were going to take his picture and he said "Wait, not without my mask".

Alex suiting up.

This is Dima, the hockey goalie on Alex's team. He is something else, nothing got past him. We nicknamed him "The Wall".

One of the mornings, some of us went to see Darin's son Alex practice hockey.

This is after the English classes. We invite students to hang out with us and go for dinner (which was usually pizza).

My discussion group again, new on the right is Ann.

More of the tasting game. This one was spreadable cheese. The vocab words would have been smooth, gooey, creamy, etc...

The lesson where Jesus feeds the 5000. We have a game where students close their eyes and we give them something to taste. Back to front : Sousha, Katya, Leena, Natalia, Renata, ???, and Julie (with her back to the camera).

Julie had to hold this pose for quite a few shots too. But I much prefer this shot of Julie to this shot of Lenin.

I couldn't zoom in enuf, but the contrail on this plane was impressive.

Ekat is a military town ya know.

Julie had to hold this pose for about 9 shots. What a trooper ... :)))

Ok, last one I promise.

Ok, enuf of the bathroom shots! But this wasn't our hotel, it was the university where my classes where held; which was the same place I was last year. I don't have a shot from last year (be thankful), but this was MAJOR improvement from last year.

Despite the improvements to the mens facilities, I have word from Julie that the ladies room has not seen the same reconstruction work.

Also on the excursion. The students take us to lunch at the Centralni Dvor (local student hangout).

In front of Ural State University; Julie, Rodney, Phil, and Ashley.

This was one of the many excursions we had about the city. Pictured are Renata, Liana, Julie, Sasha, Rodney, and Natalia.

Some Russian motorcycles. I think this was a cell phone promotion at the university.

Our shower.

I don't know why, but a bathroom shot has become a traditional part of my photo galleries. Each year has improved upon the last.

Lower right is Uri (student in the 2nd year classes), and Natasha (student in the 1st year classes). Both trusted in Jesus for their salvation after the classes were over. Natasha was in my first year discussion group and was my language helper for the second year group. She has been a big part of the Kompas student movement and a great blessing to me.

2 of the stinters at Ekat for the next year. I don't think she realized the size of the entree she ordered.

Most of the schools and some resturants only had 1/2 or 1/4 sized napkins, so Julie is showing off a full sized napkin at the Gradara.

Chillin at the Gradara.

Lunch time at the "School of Tomorrow".

BTW, the "School of Tomorrow" uses Christian home school curriculum written in Dallas.

More students from the "School of Tomorrow".

It is amazing that I have seen many of these same students during my visits. The girl on the lower left I remember quite well. Some of the students that are in the 3rd grade I have seen since the 1st. It is a lot of fun to visit the schools and see students and teachers again. And I know it is a blessing for Darin to keep in good standings with these schools too.

I love the windows in Russia, we had these last year too. The handle has 3 positions : down is locked, horizontal allows normal opening/closing motion, and up is ... well cracked. I'm sure the last position is very functional during rainy/snowy season.

Inside the Iset. A very nice room according to European standards.

This was my breakout group (the students I meet with during the comprehension half of the class).

From left to right : (in back) Ivan, Sasha, Renata, (in front) Katya, and Natalia (or Natasha).

Also on the first day of class.

Mike (front right) is on staff with Kompass and will be in Ekat for at least a year. He and the stinters will be key in following up with the students in the comming year.

Tanya (in front) is our language helper and is connected with Kompas. Iriana, behind, is a student of the class.

This is the first day of English classes known as Talk The Talk. We deliver on the promise of English lessons by talking with the students, teaching vocabulary, teaching idioms, and playing games. That is the first half of the lessons. The second half we test understanding and comprehension by reading lessons and parables out of the bible.

On Monday, we meet Darin's wife Susan for lunch at Moretti's (an Italian restaurant).

All over the city you see sidewalk vendors. Most selling fruits, vegtables, and even clothes, socks, gloves, etc...

Closer shot of the same.

This is also on "tourist day" on the other side of the Iset. You can see the church On The Blood in the background, and the green roofed building is a large bank.

Cell phones are more prevalent in Russia, even kids in and below the 3rd grade have them. This is a Motorola promotion.

Also on the Iset, while we where being tourists.

This is the Iset river. Our hotel was named after the river.

Interesting note: the tower in the background is called The Tower of Death. Too many people have tried to climb it (in a less than sober state) and fallen off. So the city has locked off the rungs on the outside to prevent further accidents.

Another shot that you may remember. It is the city founders. I learned this year that the students call them Beavis and Butt-Head. :))

Another shot with the whole week 1 team.

This is at the church On The Blood. You've meet the first week team except Julie Adcock (on the right).

She was too shy to pose for a pic on the plane ride. Hey Julie, didn't I tell ya on the plane that if you don't pose I'll let everybody know in my photo album??? Whoops, my bad. :))

This is the bell tower of the church of The Ascension of Jesus Christ. It right across the streat from the church On The Blood.

On the first day, we did the tourist thing and went around the city. You may remember this, it is the Black Tulip. It is the war memorial for Russia and Afghanastan.

The traditional / obligatory sardine shot. Daniel, Nany, Rodney, Julie, and Kathy.

After about 24 hours of traveling we arrive!! This is the first week team.

In back:

Daniel, Phil, Rodney, Julie, Jamie

In the middle:

Nancy, Amy, Mark, Ashley

In front:

Kathy and Tim.

And Amy. Amy was the other 2 week-er. Since our tickets were purchased for 2 weeks instead of 1 week like everybody else's, Amy was my traveling buddy for most of the trip. And, as it turns out, Amy was my relay co-leader at the retreat.

Hey Ames, think we can still bust out those dance moves?? Ask me later ...
:)

And Jamie, and Phil ...

And Julie ...

The obligatory plane shot. From left to right: Mark, Tim, Daniel, and Ashley.

I just loaded my camera with film before leaving for Russia and thought I'd burn off a frame with a humorous shot. What do ya think?? Is 3 baldies better than 1?

Some introductions: on the very top, the building with the butterfly is the Iset hotel where we stayed this year. It is very nice and centrally located to all the universities and schools that we visited. Under the Iset and to the left is Lindsey, my second week co-teacher. In the middle is yours truly and to my right is Julie, my first week co-teacher.

This year was very different than the past 2 years that I have been in Ekaterinburg. Instead of going to universities and schools during the day, we had free time. Free time ... ha! During our free time we would meet with students to get to know them better. The students were very enthusiastic to meet with us and show us parts of the city. I don't know how many miles we walked with the students, but I saw a lot more of the city than I had in the past 2 years combined. I think this was one of the best years yet and I am very hopeful of what this next year will bring.

Coincidently Darin and his Kompas (Campus Crusade for Christ) team got 6 stinters (short term international missions) who will be helping them with follow up contact with this year's students. That is why I think this comming year will be one of the best.

This year, for the first time, the second week team got to attend the retreat that is offered after the classes are over. Most all of the students that stayed in the classes attended, and invited friends. Unfortunately, I dropped my camera at the retreat and lost most of my second week pics. But since I was with Gene or Lindsey most of that time, I hope that I can get most of the pics back that I lost. There is one pic that I will miss ... when we got to the retreat there were some puppies at the security gates and I got a picture of Dina (one of our students) holding a puppy. It was a great shot and I am sorry I lost that one ... :( ...  But I hope you enjoy the remainder of my album.