My Second Family Part II: Family Activities - Journal Entry #8

Friday, August 18

Went out w/ Masha and Alex at 1pm yesterday to see horse racing – horses racing with the riders (jockeys?) being pulled in chariots behind. Very interesting looking – not nearly as fast as racing in the US. Very few people there as well – most just sitting in the stands drinking a beer and smoking – probably involved in the race as well (friends or whatnot).

Left and after much explaining to Masha and Alex of what I wanted to eat – we finally stopped at a café in a bowling alley (only 6 lanes). They said the prices were very cheap and were glad we picked that place. I tried to learn the words on the menu – I hate relying on translators so much – I feel so embarrassed. I had a little piece of toast w/ tomatoes, meat and cheese on top and a cabbage salad w/ tomatoes. Both very good.

After they walked me to Lyceum where I met Tatiana. We then went over to her office by the presidential palace to meet Evgeny for his first lesson. SO much easier to work with an adult – I enjoyed the lesson and am very much looking forward to the next on Sunday – he’s very nice and really wants to learn English.

From there Tatiana and I were driven by her sister Natasha to T’s friend’s house – Lyev, Oksana and their 5-year-old daughter Yeva. Had tea, cake, grapes, watermelon – discussed a journalistic possibility – me writing a column of sorts to be translated by Tatiana and published in a journal that Lyev helps put out every other month. Intriguing and I’m curious to see what comes of it. Am meeting w/ him again sometime next week. They also have a cat – Mason(k?) – a huge fluffy black tom cat. Man, I really miss Mathilda. I’m beginning to forget what it feels like to hold her.

After Lyev’s, we came home and I was picked up a little later by Yulia and Denis and we went to the cinema and saw “Click” – comedy/dramaish w/ Adam Sandler. All in Russian of course. Interesting experience – would like to see it in English now to see (hear) what I missed. Oh, and besides the obvious – being able to buy and drink beer at the theatre – we got to pick our seats – that totally surprised me – assigned seats at the movies.

Class this morning. Tatiana did most of the talking/teaching. Went MUCH better. I really am not a very good teacher. They enjoyed the poem “Ladies First” by Shel Silverstein though – I was glad – their sense of humor is not completely different.

Saturday, August 19

So yesterday after class spent the day at home – reading, finishing postcards and listening to music.

Went out around 9 w/ Yulia and Denis to a club called Bomba – in an old bomb shelter beneath a radio factory. A pretty cool place. Met their friend Ilya and his new girlfriend Katya (an English translator) – later were also joined by Nailya/Nilya (I think – it was loud when we were introduced and that is not a name I had heard before) – turns out she lives in a flat on the floor above Tatiana. So drank a lot, smoked too much and danced to bumpy, techno music – mostly in English. Celebrated the “new year” @ midnight – Santa even made an appearance – got my picture w/ him!

I really like Yulia and Denis – am so glad I have them to do things with. Today woke up feeling ill. Took shower – why does cigarette smoke so permanently adhere to hair?? Ate a strange breakfast of fried eggplant, tomatoes, toast and cheese – really, it tasted good though.

Hung around the house till 2 when I went with Tatiana, Yulia and Denis to Tchaikovsky – a town of about 100,000 near Votkinsk – named for the composer b/c of its nearness to his hometown – forgot to ask when it was founded , but am assuming it was after his birth/life/death? Will ask. (NOTE: Yes, it was a newish town.) Had dinner w/ Andrei’s (Tatiana’s husband – as yet unmet) mother. Apparently his father died only a couple months ago – Denis said they go to visit her every week now. Both were in WWII – he as a soldier, she as a nurse. Saw his many medals/awards. Ate bread, kilbasa, salad and fried potatoes and carrots – very good. Then walked around Tchaikovsky w/ Natasha (middle daughter of Andrei’s brother), her husband, and 2 children Masha and Katya.

Sunday, August 20

Met with Masha this morning and went to her apartment – met her mother, was fed all kinds of good food (had just eaten breakfast so was utterly stuffed when we left) – including cabachok (a thick slice of baked marrow/eggplantish thing with meat and tomato slice on top) and a delicious cake with a sour cream/cream cheesy filling.

Lesson with Evgeny was cancelled so just relaxed at the flat during the afternoon. Am spending the evening w/ the family again. Going to Natasha’s (Tatiana’s sister) daicha @ 6. Yulia is also going. I hope Denis too. I really enjoy talking to them and feel I can be myself around them. He and Yulia make a very cute couple.

Monday, August 21

Natasha’s last night. Denis did end up going – and the daicha was unbelievable. A huge beautiful wooden house with gardens both in front and back. It was a little sprinkly while we were there though, but hung out on the back deck for a while smoking with Denis and Natasha. Am smoking too much – Yulia says she usually doesn’t smoke and I said the same – but somehow we have ended up smoking together – ever since Bomba. Watched “Stars on Ice” – Russian version – apparently there are Russian versions of many American shows – “Who’s the Boss” and “The Nanny” (or whatever it’s called) I have seen. Even the look of the actors has tried to be duplicated.

Class today – nothing much new to say. Going alright now – Tatiana does much of the talking, which I am thankful for. She is a very good teacher.

Tonight – went with Alex and Dinara and her sister down to the reservoir and on a ferry trip around it. Nice to be on water – reminded me of home – and beautiful forest surrounding it. Very peaceful – except for the occasional very crackly and precariously-looking-hanging speakers playing mostly obnoxious music – at one point played “Take On Me” – that was OK – also played the diva’s song from “The Fifth Element” – very odd/random to hear.

After was picked up by Yulia and her friend Masha (who joined us on our first short tour of the sights – “the pelmini”) and went to Masha’s friends’ daicha – Misha and Masha. Misha then picked up Masha’s boyfriend (so many Mashas!) Dima – he was a riot. Accused me of being an American spy and taking photos of all the military plants in Izhevsk. Found out that during the cold war 2 U.S. nuclear missiles were aimed at Izhevsk b/c of all its weapons/steel production. What a crazy time.

Wednesday, August 23

Yesterday went with Julia and Tatiana shopping and finally ate at the pizza place that we had attempted to patronize earlier. Pretty good pizza – very flat crust and an unusual cheesy sauce. Afterwards had a lesson with Evgeny and then onto a lesson with Nadezhda and her adult students at the Oxford office. Yulia then picked me up and we went back to Tatiana’s for a dinner with Yulia’s ex-boss – Sasha/Alexander – just like Grant – it was scary… A hilarious man and a very fun evening.

Classes in the morning today – first with the 10^th graders and then with 11^th. Returned home to Tatiana’s flat and after a fairly brief meeting with Lyev to discuss more about what he would like from me, I went bowling with Denis, Yulia and Denis’ cousin Andrei – which was awesome – I won 3 out of 4 with scores of 115, 123, and 104 (I think) – amazing for me to break 100 3 times in a row.

Thursday, August 24

Went to Ludarvai today with Dasha. Met up with her around 12:30 and found out that we didn’t have to be at the press conference (? I knew nothing about this) until 2 or 3 or something. So we went to a café near the hamburger place Yulia and I had eaten at and hung out for a while. Got an iced mocha – very good. Walked over to the building where the press conference was being held – found out it was for the other American I had heard about, Patrick somebody – a piano blues/jazz guy from Iowa – regarding the 3 day Udmurt folk music/dance festival that was starting today at Ludarvai. Talked briefly with him – he agreed on the most frustrating things about Russia – the taking shoes off in the house thing, the nobody drinks water thing, and the lack of clean toilets with toilet seats still attached thing (public toilets are pretty bad throughout). Filmed the press conference for him with his camcorder – some journalist kept asking questions about how didn’t they all think the festival should be put off in mourning for the recent plane crash victims in Ukraine.

Finally boarded a bus and went to Ludarvai – a sort of outdoor museum, recreating what life in a typical Udmurt village would be like. The first day of a 3-day festival. Freezing cold and sprinkling. Dasha and I got something to eat from one of the vendors, looked around a little, watched a little bit of the dancing and made our way up into the windmill where it was warmer and dry. We both enjoyed watching all the people below us – kind of spying since we could see them but they couldn’t really see us. Finally saw Nadezhda – we had both thought that she wasn’t coming. Went down to see if she could take us home as the bus wasn’t supposed to leave until 10pm. Neither of us had known exactly what we were getting into. We were able to squeeze into her brother-in-law’s car – along with her sister and mother – so 6 of us total – Dasha on Nadezhda’s lap. Felt EXTREMELY lucky for this break a few days later when we found out the bus hadn’t left till 1am…

My Second Family Part I: Classes Start - Journal Entry #7

Sunday, August 13

So I’m now at Tatiana’s (teacher) – I was sad to leave this afternoon (it seems forever ago) and I could tell Tatiana (mom #1) was sad to see me go as well. She made very clear that I could come back any time (winter, spring, or fall) to visit with them again and they would be very happy to have me. Alona made me a red, white and black (Udmurtia’s colors) friendship bracelet – it’s awesome and I was very touched. She was finally beginning to warm up to me and had even begun speaking a little English. I very much hope to see that family again.

I now realize though that they were kind of a “hippie” Russian family. Very concerned with buying locally produced, organic food (I went w/ them a couple days ago to get milk from the local cow – a few blocks away – I couldn’t help but think of Tirzah on that trip and how many trips would she make to the cow in the course of a week?) and very unconcerned with material possessions. Andrey had a conversation with me today about his philosophy of life – basically trying to know as many people as you can and take the best elements of each. They are very smart people and I was happy to know how much they liked me. Andrey even said something about how he talked to me so much b/c he did like me and if he hadn’t, he would have been much more silent.

Anyway, Tatiana’s flat is very comfortable – not quite as small as I was envisioning – and I have my “own” room – basically the living room – 2 fold out couches and TV. Only she and her son Alex/Losha (from camp) live here right now. Her daughter (Yulia) lives with her boyfriend (Denis) at his parents house and her husband is living at the daicha right now. She said we will visit it at some point. I have no idea how long I will be here, but I’m guessing it will be at least a couple of weeks.

This afternoon after stopping to get some groceries and dropping my stuff off at the flat we (Tanya, Yulia, Denis and Yulia’s friend Masha) went on a short tour of interesting statues and monuments that are a little less well known in Izhevsk (Baba Yaga’s house, the pelmini, the crocodile, etc.). Then home for dinner and relaxation.

After dinner we visited Tanya’s nieces (on her husband’s side) at a nearby apartment for watermelon and tea/coffee. I was too full for anything but watermelon and hope they weren’t offended at my refusal of everything else.

Monday, August 14

Happy Birthday Heather!

Tuesday, August 15

Well yesterday was actually quite busy as was/will be today. Alex and I walked to the university yesterday – through the WWII park/memorial – and then over to the school (Lyceum) and then home – it was quite a bit of walking and I got a blister on my left foot.

Yesterday also I met w/ “my” students. Seven showed up – 3 boys, 4 girls – including one I had met at the camp – Masha – who was very interested in me and my music especially. Two of the boys seemed to know quite a bit of English and one, especially, was very comfortable talking to me. The girls spoke much less and were very giggly – pretty normal for girls that age I think.

Man I really wish I knew some people my own age – but there just aren’t any in this world of teachers and students. Very frustrating. And I don’t know what happened to Evgeny, the man I thought I was going to be meeting with in the evenings. I guess he never called. But so far I think Heather’s mojo has been with me – the Giants have been sucking since I’ve been here. Or maybe it’s my own mojo – nothing good ever happens to me at home b/c my own is all wrapped up in the Giants. Anyway, last night after getting home from meeting with the students I watched “50 First Dates” in Russian with English subtitles. A very cute movie that I enjoyed even with the strange language setup.

Thursday, August 17

So on the 15^th I met with Masha and went to Gorky Park (this is definitely the most behind I’ve ever gotten…), which is a little park in the city center that has small rides kind of like Santa Cruz. Not very crowded on a Tuesday morning. Masha was very nice but quiet – like me – so we both thought the other wasn’t having a good time. I’m going to horse races (I didn’t know there was a race track in Izhevsk) today with her and Alex. So after G.P. we walked to the monument and central square – mailed some stuff finally and bought some souvenirs. Walked home.

Met w/ Nadezhda at the flat at 2. We discussed w/ Tatiana what our plan for the class in general and the first class specifically would be.

In the evening I met w/ Nadezhda’s group at the Oxford office – Nikita, Olga and Marina (wasn’t at the first meeting w/ me). Just defined descriptive adjectives primarily. It is so hard to describe a word w/o using the word itself… So not much else of note – this dog at Tatiana’s – “Funny” or “Fanya” – is driving me crazy. As soon as Tatiana and Alex leave – and sometimes just Tatiana – she starts howling, growling, barking and whining. It’s so horrible. I’ve never heard a dog make some of the noises that she does… I try to forgive her though because she’s 17.

So I left Oxford, got on the trolley bus and started home. While waiting for the bus I was thinking to myself, “If I really had the mojo working, I would see Andrei and Dana right now.” I kept looking around for them but never saw them. So on the bus I kept thinking the same thing – please let me see them, please let me run into them. The bus stopped at maybe its 4^th stop after I boarded, I looked out the window, saw someone w/ orange hair, said to myself, that kind of looks like Andrei, thinking there was no way for it to be him, then saw the woman he was with also looked familiar and the thought burst out in my head, “THAT’S THEM!” I hesitated for a second then ran off the bus. I crossed the street to them, totally in shock and my heart beating and walked up to them. Dana saw me first and recognized me immediately and said, “Hello!” They were waiting outside a store for a friend who was buying a beer (it’s OK to drink on the street here – Andrei said it’s much cheaper than at bars – same in the U.S. I guess if it was legal).

So I walked with them a little, talking with Andrei – told him how glad I was to have shared the train with them and thanked them again for their generosity, told him a little of what I’d done in Izhevsk, etc. So needless to say I was more convinced of the luck/mojo/whatever than ever. It was like I WILLED them to be there and they were.

While walking I realized that I didn’t have Tatiana’s phone number and thought she was likely worried I hadn’t arrived home yet. I left them around the Presidential Palace and speed-walked the rest of the way home – arriving just before dark and about an hour after the Oxford class had ended – and yes, Tatiana had been worried. I told Andrei I would call him yesterday to see what they were doing – ended up having a completely full day yesterday so never did – I emailed him this morning though to explain – I’m sure he didn’t care if I called or not, but I hate being flakey like that. I wonder if I’ll ever see them again – I hope so. So at home I then watched “Along Came Polly” in Russian w/ English subtitles – I’m actually getting used to it…

So yesterday I had my first class. Very difficult. 15 year olds are not my favorite age group when in the position of trying to teach them. They didn’t want to do the activities and were all constantly talking so I felt like I was yelling half the time – Nadezhda and Tatiana left me alone – which I think may be good for future classes, but during the first, with my lack of experience, was a mistake. I hope my relationship w/ them gets better b/c right now I’m sure they think I’m completely boring.

So after class, and explaining my difficulties to N. and T., I went out to lunch with Tatiana’s daughter Yulia. We went to a little pizza place which was so crowded we went to a little hamburger joint instead. Got a little hamburger, fries and salad. Yulia paid. She is very nice and I like her and her boyfriend Denis very much.

After lunch we drove around a little and then went to the opposite end of the reservoir – nice little beach and very few people (Volushka) – Yulia said in the summer on hot days it is very crowded and the water much dirtier. We walked out on a small bridge and some guys fishing there asked us if we wanted to fish with them – funny. She showed me how when she was younger they would make little people out of thistles, sticks and flowers. Oh and on the way out there she was stopped by a cop – standing on the side of the road waving a red paddle as we passed. She got out, ran over to him and apparently was able to talk her way out of a speeding ticket – I was impressed.

So after that trip she took me home and told me she’d pick me up again later that night to go out w/ her, Denis and some of their friends. We went out to Café Adam – on the outskirts of town I think. We sat in a little outdoor hut – which we were informed by the waitress that we would have to pay extra for – very bizarre. A friend of theirs, Denis also, who Yulia met at an old job while working at the classifieds section of a local newspaper, was the DJ at this café. A tall, pretty cute (great floppy, wavy brown hair) guy who unfortunately spoke very little English. I really need to work on my Russian… We got French fries (and I explained that I had no idea why Americans called them French), meat in grape leaves w/ smetana and a drink (me and Yulia got beers, Denis juice). Denis speaks English very well and Yulia is intimidated by it I think. I tried to tell her that I DO understand her and it’s OK if she speaks slower, but she remained doubtful.

My First Family Part II: Life in Izhevsk - Journal Entry #6

Tuesday, August 8

Today was a day of relaxation. I woke at 10 – which seems to be my regular time now – and sleep at midnight – eat at 10:30 and am ready to leave the house @ 11. But today there was no plan with Nadezhda until 6 – when I had to meet her at her office downtown – or in the center of the city rather – there is no “downtown” per say. So I spent the day hanging out at home and reading Lolita – it’s an incredibly fascinating book – and it intrigues me that Nabokov wrote in both Russian and English – the former earlier in his life and the latter later (latter later – first time I’ve ever written than I think). I wonder which language he preferred.

After reading till 3:30 or so, I ate an early dinner (plof – a rice, meat and vegetable mixture with Turkish or Tatar origins – very good) and went with Tatiana to Andrey’s work where he let me use the internet for almost an hour – was able to get some financial stuff straightened out for which I was grateful – also checked my fantasy teams… Yahoo not doing so well… oh well. Then took the tram (alone for the first time!) to the center to meet Nadezhda and 2 of her students – Nikita who is 20 and Nadezhda’s daughter’s boyfriend – who recently began living with them also – and Olga, who apparently I will live with at the end of August.

Oh, yesterday evening I went with Tatiana and Andrey to the train station and they helped me get my ticket back to Moscow on the 6^th. They were buying tickets from Moscow back to Izhevsk for their trip to Italy later this month I believe. I’ll miss living with them. As Andrey said, “We are a strange family.” I told him I was from a strange family also, maybe that’s why I liked them so well.

After the class, Nikita accompanied me home on the bus – first he had to give a computer disc to some friends waiting at Nevsky – the main cathedral in town – haven’t gone inside yet – hope to someday. All his friends (2 guys, one girl) were probably 20 or so as well. So young seeming to me now. Closer to my own age than the 14 (or so) year olds I was with earlier this trip, but still not close enough.

Wednesday, August 9

Today was very quiet – read more of Lolita and talked a lot with Tatiana – she said she understood practically everything I said today which was a big improvement from a week ago. That made me glad. We discussed families, marriage, singledom, war, education, etc.

After dinner I walked with Tatiana and Andrey to the house where they get milk – the residents own 2 or maybe 3 cows. An interesting experience and was able to see a little more of the neighborhood (Tatar Bazaar) – the nearby forest (planted by former residents) and many large rebuilt brick houses – standing like giants next to the smaller, old wooden houses/huts/shacks.

Upon returning we watched “Gladiator” – with Russian dubbed on top of the English so both were audible – very interesting also. I know that movie so well that even had I not been able to hear the English I could have followed along fine – and did sometimes try to listen solely to the Russian. In the middle of the movie Dasha called – she is a young woman who is the daughter of one of the women who works at Nadezhda’s office – the Oxford books office. Dasha also works there (NOTE – she didn’t, I was mistaken – she only went there everyday to use the internet) and I met her during my first visit there on Monday with Nadezhda. When she called tonight though (to ask me to go to a museum with her and a friend tomorrow) I was so confused at receiving a call from someone – and during a movie I was involved in as well – that it took me forever to even comprehend who she was. I will have to apologize to her tomorrow.

Thursday, August 10

Today I met with Dasha and hung out with her for a few hours. It was amazing to me to realize how much I missed not only hanging out with someone closer to my age (she’s 21) but with someone who can speak English fluently (she’d lived in Cyprus for 3 years and only returned to Izhevsk about a month ago). I didn’t have to slow down my thinking or speaking around her and it was nice to have that break. We went to the arsenal museum – a building that has been around as long as Izhevsk and housed the military weapons, etc. We saw basically a history of the Udmurt people in the area as well as the history of Russians here. It was interesting even though I couldn’t read the placards and information in each exhibit. Dasha translated some – and it was probably enough – there’s always too much information to read in those kinds of museums anyway.

Friday, August 11

Today, after meeting with Tatiana (teacher) here at the house to discuss what we’ll be teaching next week, I went with Tatiana (my “mom”) to the post office and the Kalashnikov museum. The first post office (small and close) was no help – apparently not all services are available from all locations – a new concept. So we went to the main central branch – have I mentioned how impossible it is to find post cards in Izhevsk? I suppose postcards are mainly an American fascination and few Americans come here…?? I don’t know how else to explain it. Long story short (b/c it’s late and I’m tired) after about an hour at the main branch (and 30 min. at the smaller office) I got Heather’s b-day card mailed (it will take a month to get there but it’s guaranteed! Ooh aah), bought 6 flower postcards and had them stamped ready for mail and bought 5 postcards that had to be mailed in envelopes – so bought 5 envelopes and had them stamped ready to mail and bought 3 postcards that can’t be mailed at all (by accident) – basically they are just stock cards w/ info on them. I’m sure I’ll use them/give them to someone… Anyway, all in all it was a very interesting experience that made me thankful Tatiana was with me and made me more fully appreciate the US Postal Service. Through wind, rain, sleet or snow. Or whatever.

After that trying experience (the most frustrated I’ve been since arriving in Russia) we went to the gun museum. An interesting place – even w/o being able to understand a lot of Russian. Horribly disgusting and utterly sickening, but interesting. I guess the motivation behind the factory – WWII and Hitler’s invasion – is understandable – to “protect the motherland” – but knowing that these guns then were mass produced and used in bloody, fruitless slaughters (Afghanistan and Vietnam for example) is very upsetting.

I didn’t bring my camera today, which was a mistake – I think Dad and Leif would have liked to see some images inside the museum – but even more so when Kalashnikov himself appeared to cut the ribbon on a new exhibit within the museum. An old man (born 1919), very short but dignified – he spoke a little (among many others) and was filmed by the local TV cameras – a perfect time for some once-in-a-lifetime photos… oh well.

Tatiana said she really likes going places with me b/c she always sees something she’s never seen before. Later, when we picked up Andrey from work and went to the grocery store, he said, “See, I told you that you were lucky! I’VE never seen Kalashnikov!” I told him that these experiences have been very strange for me – back home in CA I’m very UNLUCKY. He said, “Well maybe this is the place for you!” Maybe…

Dinner was leftover frozen pelmini (Russian “fast food”) to which Andrey jokingly commented that it was nice to have slaves – Misha and Masha and Maya and me who prepared them all the other day (he did as well, I have to add). He really can be a funny guy. I’m leaving on Sunday at 2 to go to Tatiana’s. I’m sad but also looking forward to meeting new people. Tatiana and Andrey said they would like to have me back during the winter. I’d love to – it’s just a matter of $.

Last night also Andrey put about 1200 new songs on my iPod. It wasn’t easy to share the other way b/c of how the iPod is organized, but I’m very thankful to have this chance to experience so much new music. No Bee Gees or Barry Manilow though. Or Sparks. I had to draw the line somewhere. Oh and tonight’s movie was “Star Wars – Episode 3.” All in Russian. Totally cool. But I missed Hayden and Ewan’s voices. Especially Hayden’s final passionately angry scenes. The Russian guy dubbing it just didn’t cut it. It’s raining now and I think I will go to sleep.

Saturday, August 12

It’s very late – 12:30 (I’ve been staying up far too late – that will undoubtedly change next week) so I won’t write much. We visited a couple of jewelry shops today – didn’t see anything that jumped out at me – then went mushroom picking about an hour out of town (me, Tatiana, Andrey and Tatiana’s sister Elena). Interesting experience mushroom picking – would never dare do it with someone who didn’t KNOW which were OK to eat though.

Got home and rested a bit – Elena and Nastya came with us back home and stayed for dinner – BBQ pork, boiled potatoes and cucumber/tomato/onion/garlic salad. I told Tatiana it was very similar to a typical American meal – which it was – only a better kind of salad. Elena’s other daughter – Alexandra I think – joined us later w/ her boyfriend Ivan/Vanya – a cameraman with the local TV station who we actually saw yesterday at the Kalashnikov thing. All very nice people. Walked w/ them to the main road where they flagged a taxi down. Misty and cold – first time I’ve thought so since being here. Then back home watched “The In-Laws” w/ Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas. An amusing movie. Tomorrow I leave. I’m going to miss Frosia.

My First Family Part I: Votkinsk and the Daicha - Journal Entry #5
Slideshow of All First Family Photos

Saturday, August 5

I am now at the home of my first family – Andrey and Tatiana’s. They have 2 children – Ivan/Vanya who is 17 and Alona who is 15. They are all very into music – the two kids are very rock/punk looking with long (Vanya) or dyed (Alona) hair. The parents even too though. They have a home theatre system which is completely awesome – taking up an entire wall – probably 12 feet across. I watched part of a Bee Gee’s concert (Live By Request) with Andrey last night and then “The Langoliers” TV movie with Tatiana as well – God what an awful movie. Worst I’ve seen in a long time.

In the daytime Tatiana took me out to see some of the city and to shop for souvenirs. At the second shop we visited there was even a shop assistant who spoke English who definitely wanted to sell me everything in the store – she was very nice though. Unfortunately it was overcast and rainy the whole day so I didn’t get many pictures – I think I took 4. Oh, I also got my passport back from Svezhy Veter, but had to pay 900 rubles for the registration – seems like kind of a rip off, but whatever.

The drivers around Russia are extremely aggressive by American standards – I am not so bothered – since I am a fairly aggressive driver myself – but I can only imagine how Tirzah or Lafcadio or someone would react. There are haphazard lanes that people just sort of drift in and out of, pedestrians risk their lives when crossing streets because no one stops or even barely swerves, and cars are continually passing each other when there is barely enough room to do so.

The family also has a cat, Frosia, who is just under one year old – she is absolutely adorable, very small though – probably less than half Mathilda’s size. It’s nice to be around a cat again though – I really miss my own. Frosia even has a similar temperament to Mathilda. She can be incredibly sweet, purring, kneading and nuzzling up to you, but also has a feisty, nasty side and loves to play, chewing and clawing on your hands and feet. She is so cute and fluffy though. I think Tatiana is surprised I don’t mind her rough play and doesn’t understand how it reminds me of my own cat.

So far all the food at Tatiana’s has been excellent – chicken and pasta with a mushroom sauce, eggs, bread, homegrown cucumbers, tea and biscuits, and last night very thin “pancakes” (NOTE: blini) – closer to crepes – and smoked sausages – Andrey put them in a pan, doused them with vodka and lit them on fire – it was very interesting to watch, and something I’ll have to try sometime...

Today we’re going to a smaller nearby town where Andrey is from – will see the local sights and get some fresh fish which will be cooked tomorrow night. Andrey’s parents I believe still live out there and I may meet them. I met Tatiana’s mother the first night I was here – Vanya and Alona were going to spend a night with her before a weekend camping trip from which Alona came back last night b/c she realized she was the only girl among probably 15 other guys – so she was at the house to pick them up. She was a very nice older lady – and made some comment about how maybe they could find a husband for me while I’m here.

Another note – Russians really like cucumbers – they are for sale everywhere and they are eaten like apples – smaller than in America though.

So today we visited Votkinsk, a city of about 100,000 where Andrey was born and where his parents still live. It is also the childhood home of Tchaikovsky. As Andrey said, “I was born there. Me and Tchaikovsky.” Or something along those lines. He is a very funny man and really likes to laugh. He and Tatiana are obviously still very much in love and are very sweet together. Their house is a work in progress – they bought it cheap and are fixing it up – for the past 2 years – Andrey refers to Tatiana as his very good friend or partner when discussing the work on renovating the house.

Anyway, today we visited Tchaikovsky’s home (right) and had a very cute 12 or 13 year old boy as our guide – he spoke no English or course so Andrey and Tatiana translated. Andrei’s English is not as good, but I can understand him most of the time. With us today were Alona and her cousin (Tatiana’s niece) Nastya. They are very cute – as scared to speak English to me as I am of speaking Russian to them. Andrey says Americans speak very fast – I tried to explain that I think all foreign languages sound fast – but maybe it’s true. I do feel like I speak fast sometimes – but when I try and speak slow to them I find it harder to find the words. Strange.

At Tchaikovsky’s house there was a wedding ceremony (apparently a popular location for them) and another in the “queue” as Andrey said. We got to watch it – very interesting even though I didn’t understand much – and I was very lucky to see it. Andrey said I think that it was the first time he had seen such a traditional ceremony.

After that we went to a market to buy fish – 3 were purchased and remained in the car for the rest of the day until they were cooked in the evening – refrigeration is not as much of a concern here and I think it’s good I’m not a typical spoiled, paranoid American. I can accept seemingly less hygienic conditions easier than most. And I figure When in Rome – if they live this way and eat this way then there’s no reason I can’t as well.

Next we went to Andrey’s parent’s house/apartment/flat. A wonderful experience. The relationships Andrei had with his parents and they had with Alona and Tatiana were evidently very similar to at home – I could see my family in them and it was very comforting.

Andrey’s mother was a typical grandmother – very generous and wanting to fill everyone up with food – and what good food… a pie of sorts filled with meat and onions, a beetroot salad, a quiche of sorts topped with sort of mashed potatoes and a fabulous dessert of lady fingers covered with a sweetish sour cream mixture and bits of chocolate – absolutely delicious. I was stuffed when we left. There were also sweets and a candy made of sunflower seeds – very strange looking (a grey past clumped together, left) but very tasty.

I got to see photos of Andrey as a young boy/man and others in the family and Babulina gave me and Nastya each a loshka (spoon). A wonderful experience – did I say that already?

After that we went to the nearby very historic church (right) – about 16 km I think from Votkinsk – Andrey’s nanny apparently would walk from town to the church because she was such a “believer.” It was a very conservative Russian Orthodox Church – we had to wear veils over our heads (the women) and Nastya and I, who were wearing pants, had to wrap a “skirt” around our legs. We arrived right at the beginning of the afternoon mass – another stroke of luck – as Andrey said I got to see more in one day than he’s seen maybe ever. Another very interesting experience – listening to mass in Russian. We each then lit at least one candle, placed them in the holders and left. Alona and I each bought the same ring from the church before leaving – interesting for a church to have a “gift shop.” Selling icons, crosses, chains, books, etc.

Monday, August 7

Well yesterday I went with Tatiana and Andrey to see the oldest plant in Izhevsk (steel) and the gun factory next door. Only from the outside. The steel plant is 200-250 years old I think and the gun maybe from the early 1800s – it’s hard when your guides don’t speak English very well – I think I understand what they are saying, but then I’m not so sure. We walked down by the dam also (platina). The reservoir (they call it a pond or “prude”) of Izhevsk is apparently famous because of its size and there are ferries that take people out on tours.

After looking around the dam/plant area for a little while, we drove out to the summerhouse (daicha or "the garden," right) where Tatiana’s parents are living now. Another very interesting experience. I was shown the garden (very extensive) and the house. In the “attic” Andrey showed me his collection of records (LPs he insisted on calling them). He had MANY and many had Russian covers – i.e. with Russian language printed instead of English. Very cool. It was fascinating to me to see the Scorpions, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Pink Floyd albums with Russian print. Very very cool. Andrey is SO into music, it’s astonishing to me.

After the record collection we ate lunch – noodle soup with bread, tomatoes and raspberries (malina) with sweet sour cream (smetana) for dessert. Absolutely delicious, but one of the raspberry seeds got stuck in my tooth which caused me to rub my tongue raw trying to get it out. Very frustrating. We also walked down the lane and through the forest (starting to sound like a song) to a little swimming/fishing hole (left) where Vanya and Alona would swim when the water level was higher. A very picturesque little place.

After this visit we returned home – oh with a stop at the meat market – extraordinarily fascinating – people slopping meat around, poking, prodding and handling with ease. Tatiana would feel and examine the piece of interest to make sure it was good, it was put into a plastic bag and money was passed back and forth – no concern at all given to the meat covered hands – yet one more example of how removed we in the US are from our environment. Here they touch their food (oh – also when eating and rarely are napkins used) and pick berries and mushrooms from the forest. Everything isn’t sealed in plastic waiting for you beneath the fluorescent lights of a supermarket.

Anyway, at home we began to prepare the pelmini – basically raviolis – Andrey ground the pork and beef that Tatiana hand picked and she prepared the pasta dough. Their friends Misha and Maya and 4 year-old daughter Masha came over for dinner and helped to fill the pasta with the meat. A fun and very communal way of making dinner.

Before they arrived though, Andrey showed me his music collection here at the house – all MP3s on discs. Very impressive. He has a wide variety of musical tastes and I know thinks of my taste as too narrow and very inadequate – always saying, “You don’t know… You don’t know…” and sometimes shocked when I wouldn’t know an English band. All in good fun though. A lot of his music I would like to incorporate into my own small collection.

After dinner Tatiana played some on the piano and I took pictures of Masha with Alona (who came home while we were eating) – Masha was so cute – she kept talking to me expecting some kind of response, but I had no idea what she was saying. Tatiana tried to play some Beatles songs (which we also listened to while preparing and eating dinner – which also included 4 shots of vodka – since pelmini MUST be eaten with vodka – with Tatiana and Andrey).

After Misha and Maya left, Andrey played more music for me off his computer. Music is definitely his passion. We finally all retired around midnight.

I woke today at 10ish and met with Nadezhda (the teacher I corresponded with before coming to Russia) at 11. We took the tram into town, bought a map – with the public transportation routes indicated – and went to see her school and classroom. I feel much more comfortable with Izhevsk and the people here after today, but also a little more homesick and ready to see California again – especially after watching “Sideways” with Andrey and Tatiana this evening. Very strange to be watching a movie taking place in California while in Russia. I love my home though. Today I had to explain – or try to – why I (and many people) live in the Bay Area when it’s SO much more expensive than the rest of the country.

The Camp - Journal Entry #4
Slideshow of All Camp Photos

Tuesday, August 1

The kids here are very friendly – although definitely teenagers. They range in age from 12-17. I get the feeling they also don’t know what to say to me – and I to them. The main hindrance to my travels here will undoubtedly be my shyness and inability to start up conversations with strangers. Worse – how do you start up a conversation with someone who may or may not understand a word you are saying? I hope things get better once I am in Izhevsk – I need to become more independent and not rely on others so much. Being at this camp makes that hard though since I am so clueless as to what’s going on.

We had a “business class” this morning where I was asked to speak about my home. It’s hard to describe in short easily understandable sentences a place that almost literally has everything – variety of people, geography, imports/exports, weather, religion, etc., etc. I couldn’t even say for sure how many people live in the Bay Area – with so many cities butted right up against each other, it’s a very unique place. I guess I’m feeling a little homesick – it’s especially frustrating/difficult to talk about my favorite things – movies, music, baseball – because those mean nothing here. And no internet to keep me informed on the Giants. And even in the city they only have dial-up.

I’m starting to wonder how I’ll make it through the next 5 weeks and if I will really learn anything at all. Will people want to get to know me – will there be anyone who actually wants to speak to me? These are the same problems I have at home and they are so frustrating. It’d be nice to meet some people my own age as well – but working in this school/camp with these kids, I’m not sure how that will happen. I am happy to be here though and interested to learn more but feel trapped by this language/age/interests barrier. Like now, for example, I feel guilty that I’m in my room (shared with 2 girls, Natasha and Dinara, right) writing instead of out there trying to talk to people. We’re waiting for lunch and here I am. And what will I do after lunch?

Well it’s now after lunch and actually almost dinner time. I spent the afternoon following Dinara, Natasha and their friend Losha around. I helped them collect pinecones for their activity tomorrow, played pseudo volleyball and then helped paint the pinecones orange. I am very curious to see what these pinecones are going to be used for. Of course, being me, my immediate thought on collecting and painting these pinecones was how it was negatively affecting the local environment. Typical me – and if my companions would have understood me, I probably would have explained why. Upon returning to our room we started playing a game similar to 13-1 (with Losha/Alex – who I finally realized is Tatiana/Tanya’s son and Natasha/Natalia). Dinara hung out watching partly and thumbing through my Russian dictionary and phrasebook. She definitely seems to be becoming more comfortable with me and has warmed up considerably – she is much friendlier than she first let on. I’m glad I was put in a room with Dinara and Natasha – they are the two girls who I would have sought out in any case.

Wednesday, August 2

Some generalities and observations: Russians eat really fast – maybe it’s just because we’re at “camp” but it seems like meal time is rushed through as quickly as possible. Meals are smaller too (no big surprise) and snacks are eaten very frequently – that could be the fact that I’m around teenagers too. They also don’t drink water very much – the fact that I have water bottles is an oddity – “Is that a special kind of water?” My backpack was also completely new to them as well – and even merited a photograph of me carrying it on our “field trip” today. We went to a pond/lake about a couple miles away I’d guess (5 km?). A fire was built, we played volleyball (pseudo – just in a ring) and a couple of the girls played guitar and sang. Basically just hanging out.

I’ve found some of the girls have similar interests – I talked to many more of them today on the field trip – about music, movies, books, life and expenses in the US, and tried to learn some new Russian words – to which I was told I was very good. I forgot to mention the first question I was asked (by Mikhail during a group meeting) on my first night here was if I could pronounce “bl” as in Bbl. I tried and received a round of applause. I think my Russian would sound good if only I knew more.

Oh – the pinecones were used tonight in a game called Gold Rush – they were the gold nuggets which were hidden around down in the forest. Upon collecting them, they could be exchanged for “money” at the “bank” which could then be used to purchase goods at the store – where I was stationed with Natasha (right). It would have been more fun to see the actual game – the collecting part, but it was amusing to watch the kids agonize over what sweets they would spend their money on.

Thursday, August 3

Another observation – which may be just the fact that I’m with teenagers also – Russians need little to no sleep. I was sleeping all the time it seems in comparison – it also may be that I’m getting over the 12 hour difference from home – like right now it’s about 2 AM at home and I’m sure everyone there is asleep.