It is surprising how few bugs we see here in Moscow. I have yet to see a mosquito.There are bees. Big and black and ugly bumble bee-type and regular-looking little bumble bees. We first encountered one of these black bees last summer when there was one on the bus trying to get out. We were told that they are aggressive and I was glad he didn't come near me.
It wasn't until a few days ago that we encountered our second black bumble-sized bee. This one was on the metro. He was flying clumsily around also trying to find a way out. He was making some of the passengers uncomfortable and I was practically holding my breath hoping it would keep it's distance from us.
However, the bee had other plans. We watched anxiously as this little dive bomber came in for a landing.......right on the tip of Dave's nose! It was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Dave had an alarmed look on his face and he zeroed in on the bee from both sides as his arms and hands came out to quickly push it off in a sweeping motion. It landed on the floor where it bounced once and then clumsily flew off. Fortunately, it took off and left us alone.
Across from us sat Jeannie and Ken Pierson, who hadn't noticed the commotion and the office elders who, along with a Russian man was watching this unfold. All of were laughing.
We're glad that the bee took off and that no harm was done.
I imagine the bee is flying around the metro still, bringing a bit of excitement to the passengers, so I suggest to all our metro riders to BEEEEE -ware!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Watch what you say!
The Russian language has not come easy to me and there are SO many rules and exceptions, it's enough to boggle my mind. As in English, sometimes the same word and same spelling can have different meanings. However, in Russian the emphasis is put in a different place.
Take for instance the word mooka. MOOka means torture.
MooKAH means flour.
I recently learned that for many months I asked for torture when I meant flour. Whoops. I'm glad I can recognize flour in the store and don't have to ask for it..
Thank heavens for signing. I can generally get my point across with a bit of Russian and some signing.
The girls in the productee (pronounced proDOOKtee) love to talk to me. They chatter away in Russian and I try so hard to get the gist of what they are saying (with success sometimes). Usually I just shrug my shoulders and smile and they laugh. I was able to get across yesterday that we are going home on August 30th and that I love Russia. I guess that's enough for now. They just appreciate it if you try. :o)
Take for instance the word mooka. MOOka means torture.
MooKAH means flour.
I recently learned that for many months I asked for torture when I meant flour. Whoops. I'm glad I can recognize flour in the store and don't have to ask for it..
Thank heavens for signing. I can generally get my point across with a bit of Russian and some signing.
The girls in the productee (pronounced proDOOKtee) love to talk to me. They chatter away in Russian and I try so hard to get the gist of what they are saying (with success sometimes). Usually I just shrug my shoulders and smile and they laugh. I was able to get across yesterday that we are going home on August 30th and that I love Russia. I guess that's enough for now. They just appreciate it if you try. :o)
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Business as usual
It appears to me that the Russians are hard working people. When Gohar was here we were talking about the fact that Sunday is just another day to the Russian people. There is no day off for the hair dressers and store clerks. It is just another work day. AND their work days are long. It's not unusual for an electrician to show up at your home at 10:30 at night, just about the time you are ready to go to bed. If you have an appointment with them and they are running late, they will just show up late.
Some of our young missionaries have had their landlord or landlady show up to collect the rent at 10 at night. I have mentioned before that I have seen workers out on the playground cleaning up or shoveling or raking at 6 am in the morning.
Some of our young missionaries have had their landlord or landlady show up to collect the rent at 10 at night. I have mentioned before that I have seen workers out on the playground cleaning up or shoveling or raking at 6 am in the morning.
She's crazy!
Our apartment building has a concierage. Her name is Svetlana. She takes her job very seriously. Maybe a little too seriously. The apartments around here do have someone who is a "guard" so to speak and that is a form of protection. However, I feel like we live in a very safe apartment. There is a second concerage who works a different shift. She doesn't smile much either, but is more pleasant than Svetlana. Even our landlady who owns the apartment we live in wonders what Svetlana's problem is. I am guessing that Svetlana is bored to death sitting in a little room watching the people come and go. Anyway I am sorry that she seems so unhappy.
In order to get into the apartment building in the first place there is an 8 number code to get in, a second door to go through, the "guard" to pass and up the elevator two doors each locked to go through before getting to our apartment door with 6 locks on 2 keys. Wow.
Anyway, she doesn't smile readily and watches the door like a hawk which is her job. However, she has an attitude and sometimes gives our guests a hard time. I really think Svetlana has it in for Gohar, my hairdresser, who has been to our home many times. She gives her a hard time whenever she comes to the point where she starts yelling. Hmmmm. I had to rescue Gohar this past week. I heard Svetlana yelling from the tenth floor. Gohar was standing outside the elevator door ready to jump in to get away from the icy glare of Svetlana who was watching her intently. I popped my head out so Svetlana could see me and practically pulled Gohar onto the elevator and up we went. When the elevator closed she said, SHE IS CRAZY! I think Svetlana needs to work on her social skills a bit. She has also given our visiting missionaries a hard time. However, the difference between the missionaries and Gohar, is that Gohar doesn't put up with it and talks back to her where the missionaries don't.
She seems a very unhappy person. I have gotten her to smile at me a few times and a time or two I have taken her down some homemade muffins which she takes but doesn't acknowledge. The biggest smile I got from her was when I called her by name and handed her a big candy bar. I have to remember to introduce her to the Meilstrup's, our replacements, so she will know that they now live here and doesn't give them a hard time. The Meilstrup's will move in on August 30.
In order to get into the apartment building in the first place there is an 8 number code to get in, a second door to go through, the "guard" to pass and up the elevator two doors each locked to go through before getting to our apartment door with 6 locks on 2 keys. Wow.
Anyway, she doesn't smile readily and watches the door like a hawk which is her job. However, she has an attitude and sometimes gives our guests a hard time. I really think Svetlana has it in for Gohar, my hairdresser, who has been to our home many times. She gives her a hard time whenever she comes to the point where she starts yelling. Hmmmm. I had to rescue Gohar this past week. I heard Svetlana yelling from the tenth floor. Gohar was standing outside the elevator door ready to jump in to get away from the icy glare of Svetlana who was watching her intently. I popped my head out so Svetlana could see me and practically pulled Gohar onto the elevator and up we went. When the elevator closed she said, SHE IS CRAZY! I think Svetlana needs to work on her social skills a bit. She has also given our visiting missionaries a hard time. However, the difference between the missionaries and Gohar, is that Gohar doesn't put up with it and talks back to her where the missionaries don't.
She seems a very unhappy person. I have gotten her to smile at me a few times and a time or two I have taken her down some homemade muffins which she takes but doesn't acknowledge. The biggest smile I got from her was when I called her by name and handed her a big candy bar. I have to remember to introduce her to the Meilstrup's, our replacements, so she will know that they now live here and doesn't give them a hard time. The Meilstrup's will move in on August 30.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Gorky Park
Yesterday we visited the famous Gorky Park in the heart of Moscow. We went with two sets of senior missionaries.
Gorky Park is the place where Russians go to escape the city life. It is a place to go and enjoy lounging in the grass, playing sports, listening to entertainment, boating, roller blading, bicycling...a place to just have fun away from city traffic and the confines of small apartments and steaming sidewalks.
We knew when we went here that this was a park for Russian families, not so much for tourists. As we walked along the Moscow River and observed the different activities, we definitely felt the difference.
There were huge orange bean bag chairs where many were resting, reading and snoozing in the shady grass. We came upon a race where the individuals were rollerblading but they were using poles like when one is cross-country skiing. They were flying!
There were families enjoying a ride in canopy-covered buggies that were driven by a man pedaling. We saw young families pushing baby strollers, babies learning to walk in the grass, toddling from one parent to another on wobbly legs, large sprinkler systems where little ones were screaming in delight as they played in the cool water. We saw a large stage where entertainers were singing or dancing. I wonder if this is where the Beatles performed so many years ago. There have been quite a few famous entertainers perform here.
This is the Blizzard. It is a prototype of the Blizzard, which was Russia's answer to the space shuttle. However, the Blizzard was never used, as the hangar in which it was housed, collapsed on it and another one was never built. If you look closely at it, it looks like it has a face. :)
There were paddle boats on the water and little cafes and restaurants sprinkled along the walkways, mingled with ice cream carts available with a cool treat or cold water or soda.
We stopped to rest our feet (it was hot and we walked a long way) at a rollerblading park. We sat on benches and watched the young people on bikes and skates perform and do tricks on the jumps. It was fun watching them work on their techniques. They sure were working up a sweat, but were having a great time.
The full name of the park is Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure. It was nice to see the Russian people truly relaxing and just having fun.
We enjoyed being together with our wonderful couples, Ken and Carolyn Pierson who will be leaving for home in July and work with the single adult program here in Moscow. AND the new Pierson's, Dick and Jeannie, who will be working in CES also (Church Education System).
It was a nice day and we topped it off by going to a very nice mall which has a great food court where we all had dinner.
Gorky Park has been opened since 1928 and has gone through a lot of changes over the years. I think it is wonderful that there is a place to go and get away from it all for a little while. Remember, there are millions of people in Moscow and most of them live in apartments. What a nice break to have this lovely park to go to, summer or winter (ice skating is a favorite activity in the winter) and just play and have fun!!
Gorky Park is the place where Russians go to escape the city life. It is a place to go and enjoy lounging in the grass, playing sports, listening to entertainment, boating, roller blading, bicycling...a place to just have fun away from city traffic and the confines of small apartments and steaming sidewalks.
Here is Jeannie Pierson, Barb Sutton and Carolyn Pierson.
Just having fun at Gorky Park together with our sweethearts
We knew when we went here that this was a park for Russian families, not so much for tourists. As we walked along the Moscow River and observed the different activities, we definitely felt the difference.
There were huge orange bean bag chairs where many were resting, reading and snoozing in the shady grass. We came upon a race where the individuals were rollerblading but they were using poles like when one is cross-country skiing. They were flying!
There were families enjoying a ride in canopy-covered buggies that were driven by a man pedaling. We saw young families pushing baby strollers, babies learning to walk in the grass, toddling from one parent to another on wobbly legs, large sprinkler systems where little ones were screaming in delight as they played in the cool water. We saw a large stage where entertainers were singing or dancing. I wonder if this is where the Beatles performed so many years ago. There have been quite a few famous entertainers perform here.
This is the Blizzard. It is a prototype of the Blizzard, which was Russia's answer to the space shuttle. However, the Blizzard was never used, as the hangar in which it was housed, collapsed on it and another one was never built. If you look closely at it, it looks like it has a face. :)
There were paddle boats on the water and little cafes and restaurants sprinkled along the walkways, mingled with ice cream carts available with a cool treat or cold water or soda.
We stopped to rest our feet (it was hot and we walked a long way) at a rollerblading park. We sat on benches and watched the young people on bikes and skates perform and do tricks on the jumps. It was fun watching them work on their techniques. They sure were working up a sweat, but were having a great time.
The full name of the park is Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure. It was nice to see the Russian people truly relaxing and just having fun.
We enjoyed being together with our wonderful couples, Ken and Carolyn Pierson who will be leaving for home in July and work with the single adult program here in Moscow. AND the new Pierson's, Dick and Jeannie, who will be working in CES also (Church Education System).
It was a nice day and we topped it off by going to a very nice mall which has a great food court where we all had dinner.
After a fun day together at Gorky Park, getting acquainted with
one set of Piersons (on the right) and getting ready to
say goodbye to another set of Piersons :( ,
we enjoyed dinner out at a really nice food court in a
very nice mall off Kievskaya metro stop.
What a blessing good friends are. and to think
we never would have met Ken and Carolyn Pierson
if we hadn't come on a mission to Moscow Russia!
Gorky Park has been opened since 1928 and has gone through a lot of changes over the years. I think it is wonderful that there is a place to go and get away from it all for a little while. Remember, there are millions of people in Moscow and most of them live in apartments. What a nice break to have this lovely park to go to, summer or winter (ice skating is a favorite activity in the winter) and just play and have fun!!
A one-sided conversation
Last Sunday before we got off to the bus to go Church, I recognized one of the babushkas. I asked her if she needed help w/ her bag. (no). I started walking with her. She was happy for the company and started talking - in Russian of course. She was pointing things out to me, laughing, and chatting happily. Now she knows I don't speak Russian, but she didn't care. I did ask her what her name was and I didn't get any response. I know most of them by name, but not hers. Anyway, for 10 minutes she talked and laughed and I nodded and smiled. When we got to the Church, she thanked me and we went our separate ways. She just needed to talk and I guess she figured I wouldn't interrupt or talk back. She had a good time and so did I, even though even by the end of meetings I still didn't know her name.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Starting to say goodbye
Has it really been 15 months since we arrived in Russia? I have had a relationship with the girls in the prodooctee (convenience store) which is a two minute walk from our apartment, since we arrived. Almost every time I have walked in to get some fresh bread or eggs, Zarina has been there. Our relationship went from cordial to friendly and comfortable. Initially, Zarina was with Margo, a pleasant older woman from Armenia. Then, one day about 5 months ago, Margo was gone and Lola had taken her place. Lola and I clicked right from the start. Despite the language barrier, a friendship blossomed and we have always been comfortable with each other, speaking in our prospective languages and nodding to each other as if we understand. (and sometimes we do). They are both so helpful, even carrying my grocery bag to the counter once it is full if I am still shopping with a second grocery bag.
I have learned that Zarina is married with two children and I have briefly met one of Lola's little boys. Zarina and Lola and I pass each other as I am on my way to the office and they are on their way to the store. The girls both know we are missionaries and that our "raboata" (work) is on Muravskya Street.
A few weeks ago Zarina told me that she was going away on vacation and wouldn't be back until after we had left to go back to America.
Today was the day I said goodbye to Zarina. I was surprised by how hard it was to say goodbye to this friendly young woman who has become my friend.
Today I gave both of my friends a Book of Mormon in Russian along with a pamphlet about families. They were both pleased with their gift. I was pleased to by their response. They know I care about them. They have known from the first we met that I am a missionary and sometimes Zarina would call me Sister Sutton and other times, just Barbara.
I will miss her.
There are more goodbyes to come, but for now, I will take it one new friend, or one sweet missionary at a time.
I have learned that Zarina is married with two children and I have briefly met one of Lola's little boys. Zarina and Lola and I pass each other as I am on my way to the office and they are on their way to the store. The girls both know we are missionaries and that our "raboata" (work) is on Muravskya Street.
A few weeks ago Zarina told me that she was going away on vacation and wouldn't be back until after we had left to go back to America.
Today was the day I said goodbye to Zarina. I was surprised by how hard it was to say goodbye to this friendly young woman who has become my friend.
Today I gave both of my friends a Book of Mormon in Russian along with a pamphlet about families. They were both pleased with their gift. I was pleased to by their response. They know I care about them. They have known from the first we met that I am a missionary and sometimes Zarina would call me Sister Sutton and other times, just Barbara.
I will miss her.
There are more goodbyes to come, but for now, I will take it one new friend, or one sweet missionary at a time.
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