Russia 2006 -- Talk the Talk

Traveling Home! (19 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:19 GMT

Wonder what OS they are using? :-D

Th..Th..Th..That's all folks!

Thank you so kindly for dropping in.

Traveling Home! (18 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:20 GMT

This was on the departure board in Chicago.

Traveling Home! (17 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:21 GMT

Traveling Home! (16 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:22 GMT

Traveling Home! (15 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:23 GMT

This was in London. Not often I see Tokyo, Hong Kong, Islamabad, or Copenhagen on a departure screen.

Traveling Home! (14 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:24 GMT

Traveling Home! (13 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:25 GMT

Traveling Home! (12 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:26 GMT

Traveling Home! (11 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:27 GMT

Traveling Home! (10 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:28 GMT

Traveling Home! (9 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:29 GMT

Traveling Home! (8 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:30 GMT

Traveling Home! (7 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:31 GMT

Traveling Home! (6 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:32 GMT

Traveling Home! (5 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:33 GMT

Traveling Home! (4 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:34 GMT

Traveling Home! (3 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:35 GMT

Traveling Home! (2 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:36 GMT

I was trying different modes and stuff on my camera to see which one made the best 'out the window' pic. Which one do you like? (leave a comment below please)

Traveling Home! (1 of 19)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:37 GMT

This guy sat down in John's seat to let the flight attendant pass. I was snapping pics out the window and his buddies told me to take his pic. Ok. :-D

Gas mask

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:38 GMT

Another gas mask ... not quite its intended purpose. But close enough.

Forest Fun Party (42 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:39 GMT

:-D I'll never tell!

Forest Fun Party (41 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:40 GMT

Did he do something with his hair? His beard? Clothes? ...

Forest Fun Party (40 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:41 GMT

Rodney looks so good in those pictures ...

Forest Fun Party (39 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:42 GMT

I know what you're thinking ...

Forest Fun Party (38 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:43 GMT

Forest Fun Party (37 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:44 GMT

Very cool.

Forest Fun Party (36 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:45 GMT

These are students from my class. We had quite a few come to the retreat with us.

Forest Fun Party (35 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:46 GMT

There were some very inventive routines.

Forest Fun Party (34 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:47 GMT

They are also given 4 moves they must incorporate into their dance.

Forest Fun Party (33 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:48 GMT

Forest Fun Party (32 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:49 GMT

Only thing is ... they will either have a hiphop song or a country song. They don't know which.

Forest Fun Party (31 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:50 GMT

The students formed dance teams and had about 5 minutes to create a dance routine.

Forest Fun Party (30 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:51 GMT

Forest Fun Party (29 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:52 GMT

Forest Fun Party (28 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:53 GMT

Forest Fun Party (27 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:54 GMT

Forest Fun Party (26 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:55 GMT

Forest Fun Party (25 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:56 GMT

Forest Fun Party (24 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:57 GMT

Forest Fun Party (23 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:58 GMT

Forest Fun Party (22 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:43:59 GMT

A Jeopardy-ish game.

Forest Fun Party (21 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:00 GMT

Forest Fun Party (20 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:01 GMT

Forest Fun Party (19 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:02 GMT

Anya and Natasha. Anya was a student of mine 2 years ago (middle left). She is a beliver now too! I got to talk to her and hear her testimony and about her family ... awesome!

Forest Fun Party (18 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:03 GMT

Forest Fun Party (17 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:04 GMT

We had to come up with a team name and cheer. We were the rabid sabacas (rabid dogs).

The cheer started with a howl followed by a "leg hike" and then the "burying".

[> play] this is part of the cheer.

Forest Fun Party (16 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:05 GMT

Forest Fun Party (15 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:06 GMT

At dinner

Forest Fun Party (14 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:07 GMT

Sana is an awesome organizer

Forest Fun Party (13 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:08 GMT

Tonkistka and Natasha. Tonkistka (Tanya) has been my helper before and Natasha is a student from my first year (2003) and has been my helper many times after that. Both are believers and involved with Kompas.

Forest Fun Party (12 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:09 GMT

Jenn and Leena. Leena is a student from last year.

Forest Fun Party (11 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:10 GMT

Forest Fun Party (10 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:11 GMT

At the retreat center

Forest Fun Party (9 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:12 GMT

Forest Fun Party (8 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:13 GMT

Forest Fun Party (7 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:14 GMT

Forest Fun Party (6 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:15 GMT

Forest Fun Party (5 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:16 GMT

Forest Fun Party (4 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:17 GMT

Forest Fun Party (3 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:18 GMT

Forest Fun Party (2 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:19 GMT

Forest Fun Party (1 of 42)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:20 GMT

On the bus head out into the country.

At Debbie's (6 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:21 GMT

Here are a couple of my favorite staircase pictures from 2004. These were taken in Moscow : pic #1 and pic #2

I really like this one. I just wish it had turned out better : from 2003

At Debbie's (5 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:22 GMT

I really like 'staircase pictures'.

At Debbie's (4 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:23 GMT

At Debbie's (3 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:24 GMT

Blackmail pics of Jenn :-D

At Debbie's (2 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:25 GMT

John and Mark are helping cut flags for the weekend retreat's game of 'Capture the Flag'.

At Debbie's (1 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:26 GMT

We hung out at Debbie's flat. We played some games, ordered Rostics. Rostics is KFC owned and it is pretty much what you'd expect of a KFC.

Park ? (18 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:27 GMT

This is at the park entrance. Maybe one of my Russian friends can translate for me? (post a comment below please)

Park ? (17 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:28 GMT

Park ? (16 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:29 GMT

Park ? (15 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:30 GMT

Park ? (14 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:31 GMT

"Autumn crocus"?

Park ? (13 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:32 GMT

Park ? (12 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:33 GMT

Park ? (11 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:34 GMT

Park ? (10 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:35 GMT

Park ? (9 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:36 GMT

Park ? (8 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:37 GMT

Park ? (7 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:38 GMT

Park ? (6 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:39 GMT

Park ? (5 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:40 GMT

Park ? (4 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:41 GMT

Park ? (3 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:42 GMT

Park ? (2 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:43 GMT

Park ? (1 of 18)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:44 GMT

This is a park near UPI; Ekat's technical university. I have never been in this park before. I have passed it in years gone by, so Mark and I had some free time and we decided to explore.

Wi-fi (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:45 GMT

Wi-fi (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:46 GMT

There were a couple of resturants with wi-fi access. Chris and Holly brought their laptops and we got hooked up a couple of times.

Team time

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:47 GMT

Our team time at the Hotel Iset.

Ivan (cruta chuvac)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:48 GMT

Ivan was a student of mine last year. He's a superb break dancer.

Class picture day

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:49 GMT

Graffiti near the drama center (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:50 GMT

Graffiti near the drama center (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:51 GMT

I took these for Holly, she is into urban art.

Pushkin

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:52 GMT

Pushkin is probably regarded as Russia's top poet.

Church on the Blood (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:53 GMT

The Romanov women.

Church on the Blood (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:54 GMT

The Romanov men. Note that Nicolas is carrying the sickly Alexi.

Church on the Blood (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:55 GMT

The memorial to the Tzar's family who was murdered on this site during the revolution.

Park Vosnesenski (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:56 GMT

An island in the small lake. I bet people walk out there when it is frozen over.

Park Vosnesenski (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:57 GMT

Hangin with Mark, Laura, and some of their students (2 Elizas)

[> play] see the park for yourself.

Park Vosnesenski (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:58 GMT

This park is awesome in the fall when the leaves turn.

[> play] which is probably why weddings often visit it.

Meeting at the Stinter's pad (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:44:59 GMT

Meeting at the Stinter's pad (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:00 GMT

I had brought some Slim Jims for them. Nothing like a taste from home.

Meeting at the Stinter's pad (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:01 GMT

We went to the stinters flat for their prayer team time. Very cool time.

Balkin Grill w/ the Gals

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:02 GMT

It's snowing! (5 of 5) -- Waiting for the 8 train

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:03 GMT

Too dark, I tried to shoot the people waiting in the middle of the street for the trains.

It's snowing! (4 of 5) -- The 8 train

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:04 GMT

I like this one!

It's snowing! (3 of 5)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:05 GMT

It's snowing! (2 of 5)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:06 GMT

What do you think?

It's snowing! (1 of 5)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:07 GMT

I'm taking a few night photos to test my new digital camera out.

Class pics (6 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:08 GMT

Class pics (5 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:09 GMT

The students had to come up with as many words as they could from "Education". With a couple from Darin and me, there were 48 total ... that's a lot of words!

Class pics (4 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:10 GMT

Thinking, shhhhh ....

Class pics (3 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:11 GMT

Pat your head.

Class pics (2 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:12 GMT

Touch your nose.

Class pics (1 of 6)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:13 GMT

Simon says raise your hands. At the middle right (partly hidden) is a student of John and Myra's. I forget her name, but she's one of the twins.

Going to the Supermarket

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:14 GMT

Hangin at the Studio (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:15 GMT

Hangin at the Studio (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:16 GMT

Middle of Lenina St. (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:17 GMT

It was snowing lightly today. There are some better snow pics later in the gallery.

This is the title pic from my index page.

Middle of Lenina St. (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:18 GMT

[> play] this is right in front of the hotel, next to the "circle of death".

Deborah and Ashley's pad (4 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:19 GMT

Deborah and Ashley's pad (3 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:20 GMT

And we celebrated Deborah's upcoming b-day

Deborah and Ashley's pad (2 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:21 GMT

Deborah and Ashley had us over for dinner

Deborah and Ashley's pad (1 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:22 GMT

Ashley and Debbie (note: Debbie; not Deborah)

Hangin w/ Students at Sundays' (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:23 GMT

Olga had her Bible, a Gideon's Bible, Lauren's Bible, so I threw my Clie Bible versions into the mix.

Hangin w/ Students at Sundays' (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:24 GMT

Hangin w/ Students at Sundays' (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:25 GMT

Sundays is a very western resturant. You can visit different stations and get sushi, steak, pizza, etc...

Scavenger Hunt (20 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:26 GMT

Winners get free ice cream ... yum!

Scavenger Hunt (19 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:27 GMT

More victory celebration

Scavenger Hunt (18 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:28 GMT

Photo op with Deborah

Scavenger Hunt (17 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:29 GMT

Scavenger Hunt (16 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:30 GMT

We WIN! Denise is jumping for joy :-D

[> play] see the winners!

Scavenger Hunt (15 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:31 GMT

Scavenger Hunt (14 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:32 GMT

This is one of my students. Her hands were cold so I loaned her my gloves. They swallowed her up!

Scavenger Hunt (13 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:33 GMT

Get a free ride to the gathering place

[> play] stuff 6 people into a bathroom stall.

This was supposed to be a picture but I left the camera in movie mode ...

Scavenger Hunt (12 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:34 GMT

Get a hug from a kiosk lady

[> play] sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".

Scavenger Hunt (11 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:35 GMT

Scavenger Hunt (10 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:36 GMT

Get a stranger to say "Peter Piper"

[> play] dance with a stranger.

Scavenger Hunt (9 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:37 GMT

Have a man in uniform command you to stand in a silly pose

Scavenger Hunt (8 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:38 GMT

Get a free french fry from a resturant

Scavenger Hunt (7 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:39 GMT

Scavenger Hunt (6 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:40 GMT

Swap bags with a stranger

Scavenger Hunt (5 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:41 GMT

Find movie times

Scavenger Hunt (4 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:42 GMT

Scavenger Hunt (3 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:43 GMT

Get a picture with a babushka

Scavenger Hunt (2 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:44 GMT

We had to make a nesting doll, and get a stranger to guess what we were doing.

Scavenger Hunt (1 of 20)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:45 GMT

Dang. The flash didn't go off. We were huddled up before going on the scavenger hunt.

Traffic Jam

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:46 GMT

There were at least 13 trains backed up. They were doing construction and the traffic circle gets backed up anyways. So that only made things worse.

Monument to the Invisible Man (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:47 GMT

Every once in a while the Invisible man makes an appearance :-D

Monument to the Invisible Man (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:48 GMT

Liberty and Justice

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:49 GMT

I always thought liberty and justice went hand in hand (ahem). This was in a book store window.

The Black Tulip

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:50 GMT

Another interesting perspective of the momument. You can see lettering behind the soldier. The momument has most of Russia's recent wars listed (WWII, Chechnya, etc...)

P.E. class in the park

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:51 GMT

[> play] more running in pe; a relay race I think it was.

Our Hotel's internet hotspot

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:52 GMT

This is where most of our emails and blog posts came from. They charge our room by the hour.

Hangin' out w/ Students after class (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:53 GMT

Denise and Olga

Hangin' out w/ Students after class (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:54 GMT

Meredith and Lauren (Meredith is on our NBC team and Lauren is a stinter from Kentucky).

Hangin' out w/ Students after class (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:55 GMT

City Hall (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:56 GMT

City Hall (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:57 GMT

This is near the "center". Across the street from the Lenin statue.

Meat Jello (4 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:58 GMT

Mmmmmmmmmm ... meat jello ...

Meat Jello (3 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:45:59 GMT

Meat Jello (2 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:00 GMT

Hmmmm, wonder how it tastes?

Meat Jello (1 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:01 GMT

Ok, so I already mentioned meat jello. Well here it is! (lower right)

More School Visits (4 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:02 GMT

More School Visits (3 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:03 GMT

More School Visits (2 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:04 GMT

More School Visits (1 of 4)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:05 GMT

Breakfast

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:06 GMT

My usual breakfast shot.

CIMH Graffiti?

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:07 GMT

This reminded me a lot of www.creaturesinmyhead.com . I would swear I've seen that exact guy on there.

Balkin Grill w/ the Guys (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:08 GMT

Balkin Grill w/ the Guys (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:09 GMT

The Balkin is a nice steakhouse type resturant in Ekat.

We Got Our Bags! (after 3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:10 GMT

Yup! Feelin good!!!

BTW, Chris lost the 'luggage lotto'; his was 1 of the 2 still missing. He would not get his bags until the Tuesday before we left. That's about a week and a half with no luggage! :-(

[> play] the rest of us were elated!

We Got Our Bags! (after 2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:11 GMT

Whoops, let me check that ...

We Got Our Bags! (after 1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:12 GMT

My own clothes! My own deodorant! My own razor! My own aftershave!

We Got Our Bags! (before)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:14 GMT

Ok, so it is Wednesday now (we left on Friday) and we finally got about 12 of the 14 bags. Hopefully the 2 lost bags will be freight that we were hauling for Darin. Not that he isn't important, but clean underwear would be nice!

No chapstick or shaving cream allowed on the planes. I was getting in pretty bad shape.

Denise and Darin

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:13 GMT

Denise is a student leader in Kompas. He was also a helper in my class.

School Visits (16 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:15 GMT

Since 2004 ... impressive :-D

School Visits (15 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:16 GMT

We found American Hot Pizza on the way back from school to the hotel. Guess where we ate lunch??

School Visits (14 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:17 GMT

Like what we read, listen to, do for fun, do for sports, etc.

[> play] a short clip of one student reading to us.

School Visits (13 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:18 GMT

All the students are eager to show off for us. And to ask us all sorts of questions.

School Visits (12 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:19 GMT

School Visits (11 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:20 GMT

My fabulous art work ... hope no geography teachers are reading this!!!

School Visits (10 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:21 GMT

School Visits (9 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:22 GMT

Chris and Holly talking to a class.

School Visits (8 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:23 GMT

The School of Tomorrow is a private school using the first floor of a public school building (school 94). Bear (Darin's son) attends the School of Tomorrow.

School Visits (7 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:24 GMT

There are some baked apples here too.

School Visits (6 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:25 GMT

Lunchtime at school 13. We have stuffed blini (Russian crapes/pancakes), stuffed zucchini, salad, and mashed potatoes. It was all very good.

School Visits (5 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:26 GMT

But, if somebody asks why we visit Russia; then we are free to answer honestly!

School Visits (4 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:27 GMT

We can't talk to these kids too openly about God. Russia has a law that you cannot proselytize someone 17 or under.

School Visits (3 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:28 GMT

Plus we get to talk to the students and the teachers about Kompas and about why we came to Russia.

School Visits (2 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:29 GMT

Visiting the schools is fun for us. And it helps keep Darin's relationship with them favorable. A little P.R. work never hurt.

School Visits (1 of 16)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:30 GMT

We get to visit school grades 1 thru 11 (11th grade students are seniors).

Tourists (13 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:31 GMT

The Black Tulip is a war memorial. It has been in my gallery many times. I think this angle shows how massive the soldier is (zoom in for full effect).

Tourists (12 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:33 GMT

Interesting gas mask plaque

Tourists (11 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:32 GMT

A plaque on the museum walls. There were ones with guns, tools, tanks, etc. And this next one ...

Tourists (10 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:34 GMT

Military museum

Tourists (9 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:35 GMT

This resturant is on the 1st floor of our hotel. The downstairs part is a less formal and cheaper cafeteria style resturant that we visited often (see "Meat Jello" later :-).

Tourists (8 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:36 GMT

Tourists (7 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:37 GMT

Tourists (6 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:38 GMT

Tourists (5 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:39 GMT

This keyboard was along the riverside. I don't remember it from yester-years. Either it is new; or I always walked on the other side of the river.?

Tourists (4 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:40 GMT

Whatever they were for, they're fun.

Tourists (3 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:41 GMT

Tourists (2 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:42 GMT

Mark, Holly, and I went to the supermarket while everyone else was hitting the sack. I try not to nap or jetlag will kill me later.

Tourists (1 of 13)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:43 GMT

The machines in this little "park" are from an old mint (at least that's what I think the students were telling us).

Traveling (3 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:44 GMT

So, in London the British Mediterranean folks told us to goto the AA counter and forget our connection. So we begged another AA CS agent to get us to Ekat. This guy worked for over 1/2 hour to get us booked on Lufthansa ... to Frankfurt. Finally we we on our way. I say we because somewhere along the line our bags decided to take a detour! See my beautiful chart here.

Traveling (2 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:45 GMT

We had a 3 hour layover in Chicago and our flight from DFW was 1.5 hours delayed. Still cool, right? We sat on the tarmac for over 4 hours! ... bad weather in Chicago. We raced to the last flight to London and begged the CS agent to get us on. He worked for over 1/2 hour to get us all booked on the flight ... which was also over and hour delayed. So much for our Ekat connection in London. This picture was from the Chicago to London part of our trip.

Traveling (1 of 3)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:46 GMT

Mark, John, and Meredith

Yard sale (2 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:47 GMT

You can tell how humid it is by the fog on my lens!

Yard sale (1 of 2)

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:48 GMT

My family held a yard sale and donated the money to our trip! It was raining off and on all day, but people turned out anyway and they made quite a lot of money to help us out ... Thanks!!

Russia 2006 -- Talk the Talk

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 22:46:49 GMT

The title pic is in the median of the street outside our hotel. Autum is beautiful in Russia!