Well well well, after nearly 4 months in good old Mother Russia, I've gotten some adventure down and a good sense for more adventures. For this reason I've decided it's about (freaking time) for a mission statement, for the remaining 5 months )))
Get to Denmark n back without Vulcano issues for Christmas
AGAIN Iceland has some crazy vulcanoes about to go crazy - for this reason I've had to request my Icelandic fellow volunteer to please get the message to the others on Iceland to keep this under control 'till I get back to Russia after Christmas!
Get presents w. me to Denmark/get all presents before flight in 3 days!!
I think this is pretty selfexplainatory )))
Be English teacher in Russian Uni
I already got offered (and accepted) this job, but as it is with all things Russian, you can't be sure it will happen, before it's actually happend!
Get Medvedev portrait in Sankt Petersburg
"...a couple of years ago, I got really drunk in a bar in Saint Petersbourg. It was the night before the elections when Medvedev was candidate the first time. The owner of the bar gave me his Putin-Portrait as a present because he said he need to buy a Medvedev-Portrait anyway. I still have this mildly smiling Putin at home" a story I just got from a former volunteer. Now, in just 3 month, this will have happend 4 years ago, as the next election takes place in March 2012. Since we all know Putin will "win", I figure this bartender will have to switch portait again, and I'm gonna be there when he does!!!
Iceskate on Volga with Vodka bottle!
Do I even have to explain myself here??? In just a month or so it will be safe (read: minus 20) to walk on the Volga river´s ice. When that time comes you know where to find me ;)
Snowboard in Russian mountains
Unlike most vest Europeans I've never been skiing or snowboarding (Denmark might be in the North, but we have no montains). I think it's 'bout time. Besides, how often do you get the chance to snowboarding in the Russian mountains really?
See Sankt Petersburg
.. Get drunk, get Medvedev portrait, (meet friends, enjoy the city).
Write ONLY in Russian smilies whenever possible!
In Russia smilies have been cut down to just the brakets. It took me and my roomies quite a while to figure out all the text messages full of "))))"'s, but appearantly it translates into some along the lines of ":) :) :) :)". As this is about as annoying as LOL, ROFL and LMAO, I have to start learning!
Horseride in snow with Russian hat! //w.picture for facebook
Ever seen doctor Zhivago? If so you don't need to ask - if not GO SEE IT!!! ;)))
SPEAK SOME GOD DAMN RUSSIAN (((
Because I still fucking don't, Блядь!
Showing posts with label Russian Language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russian Language. Show all posts
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Saturday, 12 November 2011
12 November: All Quiet on the Western Front
It’s been nearly a month since Denis moved, and nearly 2 months since Clara moved from this apartment. Sabrina and I have finding our own rutines, and is making this “home” bit by bit. I must say I have come to like it. A 3 roomed apartment (excl. kitchen), just for the two of us, is not bad for two volunteers. Although we only use Denis´ (messy) room for things in our rooms we don’t like, such as a mid90s tv in the middle of my room. And after overcoming our better judgements we’ve managed to clean/disinfect the bathroom and the toilet, and even better: we’re nearly done cleaning/disin.. the entire kictchen! Cleaning this apartment after Denis´ yearlong neglect must be the biggest cleaning project in memory of mankind!
Luckily the weather has gotten better since last: From -12°C and harsh wind to 0°C, snow and mild wind, hurrah! Nevertheless that hasn’t stopped me from going out and getting myself some winterboots. Fluffy, warm and pretty they are best pair of shoes I’ve ever had! I also invested in some winterfriendly tights. So a total of 4000 Rubbels spent in the last week on keeping me warm. Speaking of which, the kidney and throat inflammations are starting to wear off. 5 days more on medicine and then I should be back to health.
We had a bit of issues (according to Anastasia) with Denis´ mother, but they seem to have been solved now. Previously we thought that Denis´s mum lived with his brother next door, but apparently she does not. Up on ‘till 1pm this day we thought Denis´ mum was the old lady (approx. 65+ years old), who regularly often visits Denis´ older brother and his wife next door - so you can imagine our surprise when a women in her early 50s rang our doorbell today and introduced herself as “Denis mama!”, and thereafter spend 10 minutes grabbing some of her winterclothes and sowing stuff like she did this every Saturday. But not to say that she was rude or uncomfortable, she wasn't.
It feels like I can finally say I’m starting to pick up a bit of Russian (not thanks to my host organisation, but) thanks to Alexa and “Rosetta Stone”, which is a brilliant program to learn languages. I have also started to use Rosetta stone to get some proper German skills (Danes a taught a little German in middle school), and I must say learning Germans goes fast!
Work is still a bummer, and I’m still used as 3 professionals rather than 1 volunteer. I’ve only been to work once since I got sick. The first thing I did after that day (Tuesday) was to call in sick for the rest of this week.
Oh, and speaking of reflection, I’ve decided to rename this blog into something that felt more fitting: “Glamorous Retrospect”, from the quote “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect” by Paul Theroux, Which couldn't be more true.
But yes, for now, all quiet and calm for us westerners occupying southwestern Russia.
Luckily the weather has gotten better since last: From -12°C and harsh wind to 0°C, snow and mild wind, hurrah! Nevertheless that hasn’t stopped me from going out and getting myself some winterboots. Fluffy, warm and pretty they are best pair of shoes I’ve ever had! I also invested in some winterfriendly tights. So a total of 4000 Rubbels spent in the last week on keeping me warm. Speaking of which, the kidney and throat inflammations are starting to wear off. 5 days more on medicine and then I should be back to health.
We had a bit of issues (according to Anastasia) with Denis´ mother, but they seem to have been solved now. Previously we thought that Denis´s mum lived with his brother next door, but apparently she does not. Up on ‘till 1pm this day we thought Denis´ mum was the old lady (approx. 65+ years old), who regularly often visits Denis´ older brother and his wife next door - so you can imagine our surprise when a women in her early 50s rang our doorbell today and introduced herself as “Denis mama!”, and thereafter spend 10 minutes grabbing some of her winterclothes and sowing stuff like she did this every Saturday. But not to say that she was rude or uncomfortable, she wasn't.
It feels like I can finally say I’m starting to pick up a bit of Russian (not thanks to my host organisation, but) thanks to Alexa and “Rosetta Stone”, which is a brilliant program to learn languages. I have also started to use Rosetta stone to get some proper German skills (Danes a taught a little German in middle school), and I must say learning Germans goes fast!Work is still a bummer, and I’m still used as 3 professionals rather than 1 volunteer. I’ve only been to work once since I got sick. The first thing I did after that day (Tuesday) was to call in sick for the rest of this week.
Last but not least I bought a ticket home (a return ticket!) so that I can spend Christmas with my family back home. The prospect of this break in my EVS really makes the bad things seem easier to overcome: In the middle of my 9 months here I will now have 2 weeks of normalcy. I look forward to going home for 2 weeks. While I don’t have problems with being far away from friends and family - Skype (which is a Danish invention btw!) doesn’t exactly make it easier to miss people - I do however miss the convenience of my life back home: No language barriers, to know the system, to know the mentality, to know people all over the country, quality public transport (and my recently sold car!) and being able to go where I please. But I asked for different, I asked for new perspective and I asked for adventure, and I got it! So I’m not complaining, I'm just reflecting.
Oh, and speaking of reflection, I’ve decided to rename this blog into something that felt more fitting: “Glamorous Retrospect”, from the quote “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect” by Paul Theroux, Which couldn't be more true.
But yes, for now, all quiet and calm for us westerners occupying southwestern Russia.
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