The last few days have been a bit of a recap/ reflection of the past two months and everything contained therein. I'm sure writing about writing journals is exactly something exciting or useful. But that does not mean nothing is happening.
Our team was invited back to Zakamsk, our first place to visit for dinner. It was a pleasure to see all of our friends once more before preparing to leave tomorrow. So we all had a great meal, and we also stayed around and played games and just talked with people there, and we even had gifts given to us. We each received a picture of the team from Zakamsk two months before and we also received bracelets weaved in the Russian colours, white, blue and red. So for some, it was a difficult time, because, to put it plainly, was the beginning of the end (at least, of this particular outreach). So we said our goodbyes, and took a bus back to the base in Perm.
Tomorrow we finish up debrief, go out to an Uzbek restaurant, and we also do not sleep, because we leave at abour 2 in the morning. One point of prayer is that the workers at the airport are, in a word, corrupt. They will in most likelihood charge obscene fees for baggage and without the aid of a translator, we will probably have to simply nod and agree regardless of the obscenity. So if the staff there maybe decide to practice some honesty, that would be awesome.
Бока
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Пермь (Perm)
Just a quick recap of our week here in Perm.
Although it was full of many things, it was certainly not as hectic of a schedule as we've seen in other places. We are not actually working with a church this week, but we are with the YWAM base doing things.
We've gone to a couple of schools. One is an agricultural college of sorts, where I actually had to speak French for a few people who either didn't know English or at least, knew very little. The other group was an 'American club' that meets in a library downtown, and were certainly very welcome to some native speakers of English, a rarity in Russia.
Contrary to expectations, we didn't do a practice with the team here. We only played a game (indoors, the first time in a long time) and we also had our own little ice time on a rink just outside the main rink in Perm. It was to be honest a bit disappointing, but any invitation to play there is a welcome concept.
We also got to go to the ballet as well. For a lot of the guys, it didn't seem like the ideal way to spend an evening, but I, being the patron of the arts that I am, was very much intrigued by the idea. We got to see two dances, one was the classic Verdi 'The Four Seasons', and the second was the more modern American 'The Concert'. Each one paralelled the other in enjoyability, due to their own distinct merits.
Out team is also going to have a relatively active weekend, as we are going to the circus, a hockey game, and possibly, the opera. Regardless it should be an active few days before our departure.
Бока!
Although it was full of many things, it was certainly not as hectic of a schedule as we've seen in other places. We are not actually working with a church this week, but we are with the YWAM base doing things.
We've gone to a couple of schools. One is an agricultural college of sorts, where I actually had to speak French for a few people who either didn't know English or at least, knew very little. The other group was an 'American club' that meets in a library downtown, and were certainly very welcome to some native speakers of English, a rarity in Russia.
Contrary to expectations, we didn't do a practice with the team here. We only played a game (indoors, the first time in a long time) and we also had our own little ice time on a rink just outside the main rink in Perm. It was to be honest a bit disappointing, but any invitation to play there is a welcome concept.
We also got to go to the ballet as well. For a lot of the guys, it didn't seem like the ideal way to spend an evening, but I, being the patron of the arts that I am, was very much intrigued by the idea. We got to see two dances, one was the classic Verdi 'The Four Seasons', and the second was the more modern American 'The Concert'. Each one paralelled the other in enjoyability, due to their own distinct merits.
Out team is also going to have a relatively active weekend, as we are going to the circus, a hockey game, and possibly, the opera. Regardless it should be an active few days before our departure.
Бока!
Friday, February 15, 2008
кунгур (Kungur)
Our last week outside of the base in Perm was spent in the town of Kungur, a little town about 100 KM south of Perm.
The most glaring (and enjoyable) variant on this trip was we stayed in a hotel as opposed to on a church floor. It was also very central in location so our team had relatively easy access to anything in Kungur.
We didn't spend as much time at the rink as we have in past weeks, we only had 2 0r 3 practices all week. Also there was no goalie for said practices, so I was underworked and overdressed for them. A lot of the practice featured standing around, but I don't mind that too much.
We did however have a few games. Our first was with the young kids, we mixed up with them and so it wasn't really YWAM vs. Russia. The other three games were, and they were pretty good games. We won two of them and tied one. I had to do a fair bit for a couple of the games, and not much in the last one.
We also visited a few schools and like the last time we did, we ended up thrusted into a game of basketball. The result this time around was more of whay we expected, losing by a relatively large margin.
So this was a fun week, we did quite a bit and had plenty o' fun. We stay in Perm for the remainder of our time in Russia for a week of outreach and a quick stint of debriefing as well.
бока!
The most glaring (and enjoyable) variant on this trip was we stayed in a hotel as opposed to on a church floor. It was also very central in location so our team had relatively easy access to anything in Kungur.
We didn't spend as much time at the rink as we have in past weeks, we only had 2 0r 3 practices all week. Also there was no goalie for said practices, so I was underworked and overdressed for them. A lot of the practice featured standing around, but I don't mind that too much.
We did however have a few games. Our first was with the young kids, we mixed up with them and so it wasn't really YWAM vs. Russia. The other three games were, and they were pretty good games. We won two of them and tied one. I had to do a fair bit for a couple of the games, and not much in the last one.
We also visited a few schools and like the last time we did, we ended up thrusted into a game of basketball. The result this time around was more of whay we expected, losing by a relatively large margin.
So this was a fun week, we did quite a bit and had plenty o' fun. We stay in Perm for the remainder of our time in Russia for a week of outreach and a quick stint of debriefing as well.
бока!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
цернчшка (Chernushka)
This week we went to the town of Chernushka. It's not too far away from where we are, just a few hours by bus.
The situation in Churnushka regarding hockey is a bit odd. The first time YWAM went there, it was good and organized. But, in the two year gap between visits, the head coach left Churnishka, so it is a lot less organized. So I think the team there was very appreciative of some coaching, since they haven't seen any in a long time it seems.
This week there was only one goalie to work with, so I liked getting to work one-on-one, though I only had a translator half the time. His name was Paul, and he only played hockey for 2 years.
We also went to a few different schools, something that YWAM hasn't done in Chernushka. So we got to meet with classes from a higher class elementary/jr. high school and a cadet school. At these meetings we also got invited to blay basketball and soccer. Little did we know that both games were actually publicized in the school, playing against the school teams. By some miracle, we WON the basketball game, 43-39. So that was a bit crazy, and most difinately unexpected. Then right after we went outside in about -15 weather to play soccer. The team had all their equipment, cleats, shin guards etc. while we played in winter boots. Needless to say we failed miserably and lost 9-4.
We also played a few games, and we had a little reception in our church for the hockey kids and school kids after our last practice.
So it was a good fun week, and we go to Kungur next after a weekend.
Arrivederci.
The situation in Churnushka regarding hockey is a bit odd. The first time YWAM went there, it was good and organized. But, in the two year gap between visits, the head coach left Churnishka, so it is a lot less organized. So I think the team there was very appreciative of some coaching, since they haven't seen any in a long time it seems.
This week there was only one goalie to work with, so I liked getting to work one-on-one, though I only had a translator half the time. His name was Paul, and he only played hockey for 2 years.
We also went to a few different schools, something that YWAM hasn't done in Chernushka. So we got to meet with classes from a higher class elementary/jr. high school and a cadet school. At these meetings we also got invited to blay basketball and soccer. Little did we know that both games were actually publicized in the school, playing against the school teams. By some miracle, we WON the basketball game, 43-39. So that was a bit crazy, and most difinately unexpected. Then right after we went outside in about -15 weather to play soccer. The team had all their equipment, cleats, shin guards etc. while we played in winter boots. Needless to say we failed miserably and lost 9-4.
We also played a few games, and we had a little reception in our church for the hockey kids and school kids after our last practice.
So it was a good fun week, and we go to Kungur next after a weekend.
Arrivederci.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
соликамск (Solikamsk)
Our week was in a medium sized town called Solikamsk, famous for salt, churches and prisons. We came up in a bus and spent most of our time in the local rink or a church.
We started by touring some of the places near the rink. There were 3 Russian Orthodox churches and there were also some ice sculptures in the town as well, like big slides or ice and thrones and other interesting things there.
We coached three or four different teams, one of really little kids, two groups around 10-13 years old, and one older group of teenagers. We also had one game later on in the week.
We stayed in a few different places, me and 3 others stayed in a flat with a young couple named Andrey and Dasha. Andrey is a teacher of firearms for the department of internal affairs and his wife is going to school to be an english teacher. They were really great hosts and we really enjoyed staying with them.
Then throughout the week we went to different schools, one was a college for translators, and an elementry/junior high. One other teammate and I also went to another elementry/jr. High, while the rest of the team went to a different college.
I also got to run into a man named Dema, who drove me and my teammate to the school. He invited me out to Solikamsk in the summer and he might also be coming to Halifax as well.
So it was a very good week, we got a lot done, and had a lot of fun.
Arrivederci.
We started by touring some of the places near the rink. There were 3 Russian Orthodox churches and there were also some ice sculptures in the town as well, like big slides or ice and thrones and other interesting things there.
We coached three or four different teams, one of really little kids, two groups around 10-13 years old, and one older group of teenagers. We also had one game later on in the week.
We stayed in a few different places, me and 3 others stayed in a flat with a young couple named Andrey and Dasha. Andrey is a teacher of firearms for the department of internal affairs and his wife is going to school to be an english teacher. They were really great hosts and we really enjoyed staying with them.
Then throughout the week we went to different schools, one was a college for translators, and an elementry/junior high. One other teammate and I also went to another elementry/jr. High, while the rest of the team went to a different college.
I also got to run into a man named Dema, who drove me and my teammate to the school. He invited me out to Solikamsk in the summer and he might also be coming to Halifax as well.
So it was a very good week, we got a lot done, and had a lot of fun.
Arrivederci.
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