Maui ... Maui ... Maui

Beautiful Maui… 

So I said to Roger…let’s not blog while we are in Maui but I keep finding myself wanting to write so I will and who knows if it will go to print or not :)  Roger and I admitted to each other on the trip here that we were not overly excited about Maui (which sounds awful) because it meant our trip is coming to an end and neither of us felt like we are ready to go home.

We arrived here Easter Sunday about 1 PM… exhausted after a very long trip.  We managed to stay awake till 8 and I slept till 8 in the morning.  And still had trouble waking up. 

Our first day we hung around the apartment relaxing.  We did go and sit by the beach for awhile in the morning and started our “debriefing”.  We wrote some questions down and are going country by country and thinking of our feelings… our surprises and challenges and highlights… what we could have done differently…. what we take from it to change our lives… how will it influence us when we get home etc.  It has been really a good process.  We are about half way thru and it has been so good for us.  On our third day here we are starting to feel drawn towards home and what will come next.  We are so thankful for what we have had the privilege of doing… going on this trip but now its time to move on to the next thing.  Whatever it may be….

Some of the people who touched our lives over the last 6 months

As we started our “debrief “ time I looked back and read some of the early entries of our blog.  Can you believe I cried as I left home… afraid of change… of feelings unsettled… of wondering how I would sleep in different beds etc.  Crazy!!  Now I am crying and grieving over the ending of this trip… concerned that “normal’ will feel strange and will I be content?  I loved being in different places…. managed well in different beds and with different foods…. now I wonder…. how will it be to get back in touch with friends… will they have moved on and will I have to start all over?  What will I cook night after night (have not done that in a long time)?  How will it be to drive again…will I go back to my old ways and not remember the many things I learned on this trip about myself… things I want to change in my life… important things that I am determined to hold on to… only with the Lord’s help can I do it, I know.  It is so good to have the hope of His help… of Christ’s continuing to work in my life… of directing me to be what He wants me to be…

I am rambling… but it feels good.  I feel hopeful… anxious to see what is next… thankful for so much…. for my husband… family and life the Lord has given me…

So thankful too for this week with Roger and celebrating 33 years with him…

So we are really in Maui enjoying the sunsets and scenery.  We have a beautiful place with a gorgeous view of the ocean and palm trees and waves to listen to. The cool breezes blow thru our apartment. We enjoy eating on our patio and just soaking in the peaceful scenery.  I don’t know if words can express what my heart and mind are going thru but it’s a blessing to be here and so thankful for it...  I guess I am feeling a bit overwhelmed as I write this because I am truly blessed and I never want to forget it!    So I put it in writing…. to hold me accountable… to remind myself I guess.  But I also declare that if I lived in a shack and had never traveled anywhere in my life....I would still be blessed....I am a child of the King....the Creator of the universe....My Hope...My Redeemer...yes!! I am truly blessed!

Easter & Long Trip - Siberia to Maui

Coloring Eggs

Saturday – we spent as much of our time as possible with Sam and Sophie... it being our last day with them for quite some time.  We colored eggs in the morning, hid them at naptime and then they hunted for them after they woke up.  It was Sophie’s first egg hunt and she got excited when she found an egg with a real sense of accomplishment. 

Jan and her taxi friend

At about 4:30 we looked out the window and it was getting very overcast and the wind was starting to whip up.  A taxi was called to pick us up at 6:00 PM but showed up at 5:30 so we decided to go ahead.  The taxi was a unique experience on its own.  Mounted on the back of the drivers seat headrest was a head of a Bobcat.  There was also a wolf head in the trunk that was pulled out of the trunk to make room for the suitcases and it was thrown in the back window.  Jan happened to take that seat so had company during the 45-minute ride to the airport.  

Enjoying the egg hunt

All went well at the airport until we got to immigration.  I got through with no trouble and was waiting for Jan to clear and there was apparently a problem.  Next I knew they asked Jan to back away from the counter as they had to check on something and then they closed the gate (a solid door you can’t see through) and we were separated.  There are several thoughts that go through your head because theoretically I was out of Russia and she was still in and we could not talk to each other.  After about 15 minutes they came back and said her visa was not valid because it indicated she was a male… which we mentioned before in the blog.  They than asked where she was going and whether she was coming back to Russia and when we told them we were going on to the US they stamped her passport and let her through.  We are so thankful they let us in initially as it would have been a major heartbreak if they had determined the visa to be invalid when we first arrived.  Anyway, we are now on our final week of our journey and there still no delays or lost luggage.

After 28 hours in airplanes and 14 hours in airports we are now in Maui and will spend the next week reviewing what we experienced in the last 5+ months, what we learned from it and how we can use it to help ourselves and others better understand what the friends we visited are doing and experiencing so together we can be more a part of each others lives.

Leaving Krasnoyarsk

With sad hearts but soooo thankful we could come we are on the way to the airport to leave Krasnoyarsk. The wind is picking up so we hope our flight is on time. The only thing that brought humor to the situation was this head mounted to the head rest in the taxi.

Banya & Happy Birthday Lucas!! - Apr 21 - 22

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Sauna

It was so cool to be here for Lucas’ birthday.  We decided to do something very Russian and go to a Banya for a few hours as a family.  The one we went to was very nice and was like a small apartment in itself…it had a large room for massages (which came in handy for Sophie’s naptime) and then a room for coats and shoes…and then a room with a table and TV and hot water pot for making tea…and then a steam room, shower room and small pool which was 2x3 meters and about 5-6 ft deep.  You pay by the hour and so we decided to try 2 hours and see how it went.  

Bucket of Ice Water (yes, we all got doused)

The time flew by as we would warm up in the sauna and then dump ice cold water on our heads from a bucket in the shower room…and then run jump in the pool which was a nice temperature…about 84 degrees or so.  Then we would repeat….sometimes with a snack break.  Sam was so excited and kept wiggling and saying “oh I am soooo ah-cited”.  When our 2 hours were nearly up we asked for another hour and it flew by as well.  We decided to order some food that was quickly delivered to the room …and quickly eaten as well and then showered and headed home.

In Swimming Pool

The only sad thing was that we forgot our bag that had our towels and suits in so Jamie had to go back (Lucas had a class in the afternoon) and that was a good hour of travel for her.  When she had left I realized I had left my watch in the shower room but did not know how to contact her so…bummer…. I lost my cheap watch that I have had for years and it is driving me crazy not to know what time it is!

Packed into the taxi

After naptime we headed to a nice Italian restaurant for dinner that was Lucas’ choice and a good one.  The funny thing here in Russia is that if you are eating out they bring the food to you as its ready…not everyone’s at once so one person may get their meal well ahead of everyone else.  So when pizza came that we ordered for Sam we all enjoyed some of it while waiting for our meals…then Lucas got his…finished it before I got mine…then Jamie got hers and then Roger was last…it kind of funny and makes for a long stretched out meal which normally is not a bad thing unless you have 2 young children with you.  The waitress was very nice and brought balloons that helped a lot!  Overall it was a great meal and fun time.

Enjoying cake on Lucas' birthday

When we got home we had chocolate cake and ice cream and gift time.  When Jamie went back the Banya to get our missing bag I made the cake and I have no idea what happened but the cake did not want to stay together for anything.  So we had a good laugh as it slowly broke apart when we put the top layer on top of the whipped cream topping and it slid off in chunks.  It reminded us of the thawing river we saw in Tuva so we named it the Siberian River melt cake.  It looked funny but tasted delicious.

Enjoying 33 years together

As I write it is Friday…..and April 22^nd that is Roger and my 33^rd anniversary.  What a blessing it is to be married to this amazing man for these years.  He is my support…my encourager…my love…and my best friend.  What a blessing it is to be on this trip around the world with him and as we come to the end of the trip to be able to celebrate 33 yrs together.  I hate the thought that we are leaving here tomorrow….it is so hard to say goodbye to our kids and grandkids and as a fellow MK who lived a life full of goodbyes…it makes it hard for me to leave knowing it is confusing to Sam to have us leave and its just the beginning of many goodbyes in his life but…on the other hand my life as an MK was also a wonderful heritage and I would not trade it for anything…and it helped me become who I am today so I embrace the goodbyes…once more ….I am sure there will be many tears but that is okay as well because I know my Father keeps them in a bottle and cares about each one….

She sure acted healthy other than than the cough

On a less sentimental note….today we had plans to do some things that did not happen because Sophie had gotten to the place where we all agreed a doctor should see her.  That is so hard in a place where you don’t know a good one and they practice medicine a bit different but Jamie called a clinic and they asked if she wanted to come in or have the dr. come here…a no brainer I would say :)  so the Dr. just left and she said Sophie had acute bronchitis….so we are glad she was looked at and will get some meds.   She has been happy as could be and sleeping well, eating fairly well so it is hard to tell she is even sick except for the slight fever and cough…so I am glad we found out before we left.  The Dr. also listened to Sam’s chest but he was fine….yeah! 

We (Lucas, Sam, Roger and I) went out later to a large mall that is full of stores with kids clothes and toys…its like Toys R Us on steroids…we were surprised at the variety of toys and things available.  There were at least 3 Lego stores!  And a lot of things we never even see in the states….I guess from European countries.  We bought a couple birthday gifts for the kids….save mailing them…ha ha ..of course I will still want to send packages…it’s too much fun!

So… where do we go next?

When we were planning our trip we thought about flying back straight to the states from here but we also thought it would be good to go somewhere else on the way back to complete the “around the world” trip.  It seemed quite extravagant at the time when we decided to go to Maui on the way home from here but now we are very thankful for this week we have allowed ourselves….not only to celebrate our anniversary but also to give us time to switch gears…debrief…and process these past several (5 and half) months.   We so loved each place we went…the people we met…the stories of those people’s lives…the things we experienced, saw and ate…and yet things are already growing muddled together and it will be good to review them…talk thru the things we have learned….look forward to what is ahead and define how this trip has changed our lives…and it has.   So all that to say we are going to enjoy a week in Maui and rest and reflect before heading home.  But….I have 24 more hours here to enjoy and I plan to go love on these grandkids as much as I can!

Tea at Vanessa’

Colorful houses in Krasnoyarsk

About 9:30 we (Jamie, Roger and I) headed to the bus that would take us to where Vanessa lives.  It is in an area that has more houses.  Many of the houses are divided into apartments that are owned like condos.  Lena (the girl she lives with) and her mom live in one of these apartments.  Vanessa met us at the bus stop to show us the way to the apt.  It was a few blocks away.  A lot of the buildings were painted bright colors that were fun to see…especially in a place where there is not too much color.  Although I must say that since the weather has warmed up the grass is turning green (tho there is not much of it) and the trees are beginning to open their buds.  Also people have cleaned up yards and common areas and it looks so much cleaner and brighter than when we first came.  I guess it helps that the snow is melted and mud is dried up as well.  

Jamie, Lena and Vanessa

So we enjoyed the walk to Vanessa’s and loved having tea there.  We were told that it would be rude not to provide a spread of several salads and goodies but she did a great job with cookies, cucumber sandwiches and tea.  It was nice to see a Russian home and I have to say that when Lena asked me about our home in America and how big it is I cringed to have to say we had 4 bedrooms…and then she wanted to know how many bathrooms and what the yard was like etc…It just reminded me how much we have that we don’t really need…a simpler life is sometimes so much easier…but also harder. 

Sam and Sophie having fun on the swings

We were there a couple hours and then took the bus home.  Jamie and Vanessa were going on to class but Roger and I had no trouble finding our way home…so proud of ourselves J Actually Roger is so good at figuring out how to get around places that it did not surprise me in the least. When we got back to the apt. we met Lucas coming out to go pick up Sam from preschool so we went with him.  Sam was thrilled to see everyone there to meet him.  After naptime Jamie came home and brought a friend who is a student with them.  He is from Inner Mongolia (China) and likes to come practice English with Lucas and Jamie.  He wanted to see some of our pictures from our trip so we showed him some. 

Enjoying playing in the car

Then Roger and I took Sam and Sophie out to the playground and had a great time with them.  Sophie will be walking soon and it will be helpful because right now she wants to keep up with Sam but its way to muddy or dirty to let her crawl around.  But it was fun anyway.  Sam was having fun going down the slide as fast as he could and would land on his bum each time... bouncing hard and then would run to the ladder rubbing his bum going “oi oi oi (ouch in Russian).”  After about a dozen times Roger suggested he land on his feet and showed him how…Sam was quite thrilled with that.  We later found out that the reason he was bouncing on his bum was from going down ice slides where there is a large extension and you could keep going off the end of it.  Why didn’t we think of that?  Ha ha!  I guess there are some things you only learn from living here in Siberia.

Heading back from Kyzyl - April 18 - 20

Sleeping in Taxi to Abakan

Monday…we had a nice breakfast in the hotel… omelet… yogurt… bread… blinis and jam and tea.  The day was drizzly and cooler but not cold… upper 50s.  Lucas went to the office where he had to buy tickets for the train ride home and then we waited for the taxi driver to come pick us up about noon.  It was nice to not be so tired on the ride back so I could enjoy the scenery a bit more.  Sam and Sophie were asleep in about 15 minutes and slept almost 2 hours!   Jamie was sitting in the front chatting in Russian to the driver and he was full of information about the areas we were driving thru which was interesting.  

Potty Break

Shaslik ad at our stop

We stopped after 3 hours and had a potty break and ate some of the delicious shaslik (kebab).  Then it was 2 more hours and we arrived at the Abakan train station.  We were able to get a locker and put our things in it so we could walk around a bit while waiting for the train that was leaving about 8 PM. 

There was a train engine on display near the station that Sam loved climbing on, eploring and examining.  He knows how to imitate the sounds of the trains… not just the clickty clack but the hisses and whistles etc…  That was probably one of the highlights for Sam and he enjoyed it with another Russian boy who was waiting with his dad.  There was also a large park across the street that was nice to walk in and we found a grocery store…. where Lucas bought a baked chicken and some wraps and we sat on a bench and made sharmas for dinner!  It was good even without the cabbage and onions :).

Sam enjoying climbing on the train engine in Abakan

The ride home was fun and I think one of my fondest memories of Russia…being with Sam on the train and seeing how exciting it is for him.  How can train noises… tickets…. opening and shutting a sliding door being on an upper bunk with his own light and eating at a little table be so much fun… but it is when you see it thru the eyes of a 3 yr old!  When we had to get off in Krasnoyarsk he just hated to leave the station.  He wants to stand and watch the trains come and go.  I mean… what little boy wouldn’t want to do that… and maybe someday Sam will realize how cool it was that he got to live so many little boy’s dreams … our hearts so thankful for this time with them and the opportunity to see Tuva and meet some of their friends. 

Sophie placing telephone with dinner on train

On a side note, Sophie has started to take her first steps since we have been here.  She took 2 – 3 steps the first day we were here and last night took about 5 – 6 steps.  She seems to do it when she is not focused on it but rather intent on getting something she wants. 

It was good to get back home and we were back in the apartment about 7am…in time for tea and breakfast!  I decided to make some banana muffins with some bananas we had left behind while laundry was started and unpacking done.  Lucas went to a class in the afternoon and the rest of us took a long nap.  

Lucas preparing sharmas in Abakan

When we got up and Lucas came home… Vanessa was with him!  It was so nice to see her and have her hang out a bit and hear some of her perspectives on life here.  She has just found out that she needs to find another place to live.  She is staying with a girl and her mother in a house and they sold the house so will now have to move.  Its a lot more complicated than I could write but the moving adds to the busyness of her life and is never fun.  But she has a great attitude and it was fun to hear of the many relationships she has built here and opportunities she has to share into people’s lives here.   Vanessa decided to invite us for tea in the morning on Wednesday (as if she does not have enough to do) so we could see a real Russian house (as opposed to an apt.) so I will write more of that later.

First Days in Kyzyl - April 16 - 17

Sunset over Siberia

Saturday afternoon, we decided to go to the local market after nap time…. markets are so interesting… they tell a story of what people in that area buy for their everyday lives.  They look and feel similar in every country… obviously because everyone needs similar things no matter where you live… like clothes, pots and pans, plastic containers, blankets, towels, toys… underwear and socks (even lingerie).  There is also a section for foods of all sorts.  It was not a long trip to the market since we had Sam and Sophie with us but it was fun and we found the necessities we had set out to buy.  

Valley Kyzyl is in

When we left we went to Bostorg…. our favorite eating place.  It was the cafeteria we wrote about earlier.  There were not very many other options of places to eat with 6 of us and it was kid friendly and had lots of options of good food.  Our favorite is ending the meal with chocolate shakes that were amazingly good.  Sam and I shared which was always fun!! 

After dinner we headed to the river to walk off the shakes and just enjoy the amazingly nice weather.  We were amazed at how much more ice had melted in the river (what did we expect when it was 80 degrees).  As usual, we (Sam and Roger) had to spend some time throwing stones in the river.  A nice ending to another great day!

Church in Kyzyl

Sunday morning we went to church.  Lucas stayed home with the kids because Sophie had not slept well at all with her cough and cold bothering her.  Both the kids slept hours in the morning so we were glad he did that.  The church was in a house which looks almost like a wood/log cabin from the outside.  One of the rooms was good size and there were wood benches for seats.  There was a mix of Tuvans and Russians and about 50 adults plus kids. (Tuvans look more like they could be from Mongolia and of course Russians look European).  It was good to have Jamie translate some for us.  There is something so amazing about being in a service with other believers even if we don’t speak the same language …we have a strong bond in the Lord.  You can tell by the tune that some of the songs are the same ones we sing.   

Oktyabrina and Jamie in marshrookta

marshrootkaAfter the service we decided to go to lunch with Oktyabrina, the friend who went to the museum with us.  She knew of a place we could go to so we hopped on a marshrootka (spelled as I hear it) and rode about 15 min.  At first we had a seat to ourselves but then as people got on we shared… sometimes 3 trying to squeeze on a seat.  Where Lucas and Jamie used to live (Novosibirsk) it was the rule of one to a seat but here…its more the rule to share.   

Local Market with all kinds of wares

When we got off we were near the market and Oktyabrina had told us she knew a store that carried traditional Tuvan fabric (we told her of our quest to find some) so we went and were able to find some nice fabric.  She said it is really made in Mongolia but that is what they wear because they don’t produce their own in Tuva.  When we left the market area we walked a ways only to find out that the place we were going to eat was closed… but guess what was a couple blocks away!!  Our favorite… Bostorg!!  So we headed there and when we got there it was about 2 PM and Lucas called and said the kids were awake so he met us there!   We had such a nice time with Oktyabrina.  She speaks very good English.  She is trying to start a school here on a college level to teach English and some other courses. 

When we went thru the line to get food Jamie and I were standing at the cash register and I said to Jamie “oh I like that girls top” and then as we were ordering drinks there were 2 other girls whispering to the cashier and they were all giggling etc (I hate to sound paranoid but I always figure they are saying something about the crazy American J).  We found out later as Oktyabrina came thru the line that the cashier understood English and her friends were trying to encourage her to speak to us but she was shy. It turns out she is married to an American who moved to Tuva…immersed himself in the language and culture and is a musician who plays with the orchestra etc.  Interesting little story.  I have learned to be careful what I say because even tho people don’t speak English they very well could understand what you’re are saying!

Meat at the street market

After we ate we walked thru a street that had stalls set up selling various things.  It was people from villages that had brought their things to the city to sell.  Very fresh meat… like cutting it off the carcass with the skin still on it… fruits and veggies… crocheted things like hats and baby booties… herbs and canned goods.  It was interesting just to have a look.  Then we headed to the river again to throw stones in the water and just walk around.   It was another amazingly warm day and again we were surprised how much the ice had melted.  It was nearly all gone except on the sides of the river.  By the time we got back to the hotel we hung out awhile in Lucas and Jamie’s room until 5:30 PM when one of Lucas and Jamie’s close Russian friends Leena came to the hotel to see us.

Typical open man holes

Leena came about 5:30 with her youngest daughter named Agatha who is just our Sophie’s age and her son Tiema who was six. Her husband is the pastor of the church we went to but was out of town so we did not get to meet him. We took a longer walk along the river with Tiema and Sam running ahead.  The two boys enjoyed themselves a lot having the opportunity to run ahead of everyone and enjoy the outdoors.   Sam loved having a friend.  It was his first question about our trip to Tuva…would there be children there?   As the boys were running full speed ahead you could not help but notice the open manholes along the way and gasp as they swerved around them.  

Soccer practice and wresting match at stadium

We walked by the Tuva stadium where there were soccer players and also three men preparing to wrestle.  Wrestling is a major sport for Tuvan’s.  After the walk we stopped by Bostorg one more time and had supper (with milk shakes) with Leena and her family.  It was a good time of discussion even though much of it had to be interpreted.  It does not seem to make a difference in our relationships and its fun to hear the stories of these sisters and brothers from Tuva.

Time in Abakan

While enjoying a short layout awaiting the train in Abakan to Krasnoyarsk we played on a train and enjoyed the nearby park.  It is a beautiful spring day here and we are enjoying it knowing we have about 10 hours on the train ahead.  It is hard to believe we are in Siberia.  More detail to follow.

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Kyzyl trip - April 14 - 16

Jan and Sophie on train

Thurs evening - We headed to the train station about 6:30 PM squished into a small taxi with Jamie, Jan, Roger, Sohpie and a back pack and handbag in the back and Lucas and Sam in the front seat with a bag in the car the size of a Toyota Corolla.  Glad it was not a long ride  but Jamie said that often the taxi they take for 5 hours is squishy like that only you are sardines with unbathed strangers and tired wiggly kids…I can’t imagine!  

Krasnoyarsk train station

We got to the train about 7 and since the weather was so nice we hung around outside in the plaza area until it was time to board…about 7:30.  We had decided to splurge and pay a bit more for the coupe so we could close the door and let the kids “free” without worrying about other people’s things and beds….Sam was so excited and showing us how things worked.  We watched the countryside as we left Krasnoyarsk which was a fun change.

Scene from train

It was a newer train with special toilets (we were told by the conductor) that doesn’t dump directly onto the tracks…meaning you could use it anytime except when it was stopped in a station.  The conductor also told us where to get hot water for tea and offered to bring us some (but we passed).  Other people were using the water for ramen noodles and such for a meal.  We had eaten a yummy dinner before we left and just had brought snacks for the trip.  So as soon as we headed out we broke out the banana muffins tho. By 9 we had made our beds with linens provided by the train.  There were 2 bunks and Jamie slept with Sophie and Sam and Lucas slept above them.  Roger and I each got our own and they were not bad at all.  Sam had a cough and was very excited and had a bit of trouble settling down but finally fell asleep.  

Abakan Station

At about 6 AM the conductor came thru to tell us our stop … Abakan … was in about 40 minutes.  It was up to us to strip the beds and fold the linens and be ready to exit the train as soon as we stopped.  It was an interesting process but we managed.  I must say sleeping on the train was quite nice for the most part.  If it never stopped….it would have been even better.  It would get very still and quiet when we stopped at a station so it would wake me up but as soon as we started rocking again and clickty clacking…I would go right back to sleep.

Snow along the road

Mountain scene during drive

Driving through the valley in near Kyzyl

When we arrived at the Abakan train station, there was a security check where they wanded us and our bags prior to going into the station after leaving the train.  We were able to get a taxi from the station that was like a station wagon… a Honda… and we were the only ones in it so that was really nice.  After about 2 hours we stopped at an eating place and had shaslik … like Kebabs.  It was delicious!  Used the toilet during the stop and Sam was glad to show me the way as he had used it earlier.  It was out house and I was very glad it was not night or cold….I will just leave it at that :)  The taxi trip took 5 hours.  We had a couple police check stops where we had to show our passports but Lucas said that has never happened before so they are not sure if something was going on that they were looking for.  When we left on the train there were a lot of police around and I just assumed it was normal but he said that is not normal either.  The taxi ride went thru a mountain range that was beautiful.  There was still snow on the mountains even tho the temps have risen quite a bit.  I would have loved to stop and just look at the scenery more but…then it would have taken even longer.  There was also a river that the road followed a lot of the way and it was so pretty with the chunks of ice still on some of it yet some of it was flowing and full from the snow melt.

Traditional Russian house in Kyzyl

Our hotel in Kyzyl

We arrived in Kyzl about noon so went out to find a café where Lucas and Jamie had been before.  It was in the upstairs of a larger grocery store and they had a lot of choices of foods in a cafeteria style buffet.  We had a variety of things to eat and all was good and then ended with chocolate milkshakes which tasted sooooo good!!  We than did a little shopping for a few things we could use for snacks and breakfast.

The hotel where we are is a typical Tuvan hotel…it is an old building and simply furnished with some funny quirks about our rooms which are quite different.  Lucas and Jamie and kids are in a larger room than we have.  They have 2 single beds, a table….an old tv…and windows facing out to the river which is snowy and icy…and a lovely cutout of a model of some sort on one wall…the most random thing you could ever see in a hotel room…it made me laugh!  Our room is smaller with small bathroom with a very blue square toilet…oh I forgot to mention there is a shower down the hall to share with others…which is fine with us…it actually has hot water so who would dare complain!  We also have a desk…2 stools….tv…2 single beds…and a random refrigerator in the corner…which we are very grateful to have to keep drinks and snacks in…I am not complaining ….just saying…very random :)

Center of Asia Monument

So we came back from lunch and took much needed naps and then went out for a walk in a nearby park and along the river.  Its very pretty there and I imagine when the trees are green it will be even prettier.  It was warm enough to take our coats off and it seemed so strange to see the river mostly frozen while we wore short sleeves.  We saw a monument there that shows that Kyzl is in the middle point of Asia which I did not know…just free trivia for you!

Kyzl is a city but much smaller than Krasynoarsk.  It is also slower paced and lower income than the bigger city.  The homes are small and rustic looking.  I think it adds to the charm of this city actually…it is definitely different then where we had come from.  There are about 100,000 people in Kyzyl and where Lucas and Jamie hope to go in the fall ... AkDuvorak there are about 10,000 people.

Scene at frozen rivier

Today is Saturday…we had a nice breakfast in the hotel which we were not expecting.  Very thankful for that.  We were planning to go to the Museum of Tuvan Culture with a friend of Lucas and Jamie’s who is Tuvan.  She speaks excellent English so that helped us out.  She did not come till about 10:30 so about 9 Roger and I took Sam for a walk down by the river and had fun throwing stones  and sticks in the water and walking around.  On the way back in Sam…who had done so well staying out of the water by the river jumped in one large puddle and managed to splash his pants so they were wet enough to be “uncomfy” so we went back to our room and put them on the heater…which we wonder why it is still heating but it is.…today it is up to 80 degrees! 

Tuva Historical Museaum

We went to the museum and it was quite interesting…First we were told it would cost 500 Rubles (exchange rate was 28 Rubles per dollar) a piece since we were tourist…then the lady lowered the price because she thought we were a tour group and the Tuvan lady was our guide and Jamie was Russian and our interpreter for the Tuvan lady…so they charged 3 of us 200 and Jamie 100 and the other lady was free….how funny!  It was fun to see some of the culture and pictures of this area and people that Jamie and Lucas have grown to love so quickly. 

Performance center plaza with Buddhist shrine, Statue of Lenin and mountain in background

Shaslik mentioned earlier

After we were done we walked to a café to meet one of their team members named Scott.  He has been here for 3 yrs and is studying at the university while doing many other things involving outreaches and starting businesses for Tuvans.   The café was a cute little place and as we sat down the lights flickered and went out.  We were told there was an explosion in the kitchen so they could not serve hot things so we had salads…and then after we left there we saw a stand selling Sharmas….a wrap with chicken and cabbage and onion in them and sauce of different kinds were available.  It topped off the small salads we had and thought we might go back another time to get some more!  We got back to the hotel about 2 and now its nap time again…

Melting in Siberia

We just went down to the frozen river in our shirt sleeves after a 10 hour train ride and 5 hours taxi ride. It is probably 75 degrees and we are sweating. More later.

Off to Kyzyl - April 14

Having fun on the playground

View from Lucas and Jamie's apartment

Thurs. - The last blog ended suddenly I think…Roger did not realize I was not done but that is okay…now I can tell you about the Chinese students coming over. There were 4 of them and one Korean woman.  I have to say it was a very strange thing to hear them speaking in Russian and then having Lucas or Jamie translate for us.  Sometimes Jamie would forget we did not speak Russian and would look at me and talk away…it was quite funny.  We enjoyed them a lot.  They wanted to see our photos from our time in China so we showed them on the computer.  It was fun to talk about the foods we saw on the pictures and places that were different then they expected them to look like.  Then they asked to see other pictures from our trip as well.  It was a lot of fun.  Another fun thing was to share our flowering Jasmine tea with them.  They were very excited to see real Chinese tea (not green tea in a bag) and they kept drinking quite a bit.  We were glad we had brought some!!

Even in Krasnoyarsk

Today is a busy day.  We are baking and packing for a trip to Tuva.  We are going to Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva province.  Tuva is the region Lucas and Jamie plan to move to when they are done with their studies here AND get a teaching contract there.  We are so glad we will get to see the area and meet some of their friends there.  The trip will be mostly by train…overnite...and then a 5 hour “taxi” ride.  We have no idea what to expect but Sam is very excited and assures us that the train will be fun and sleeping on it is fun too.  So we most likely won’t have internet while we are gone…so when we come back on Tues we will post about this fun adventure!   I am excited to finally get to ride the train!