With love from Russia

Hello hello, or should I say, privyet! drasvutche! (or spelled something like that)

Paul and I are currently in a town called Omsk, which is a bit before Russia stops being Asia and becomes Europe. We have a day here (got off the train at 830 this morning) and then back on to Moscow tonight at 10:30, arriving in Moscow on the 3rd.

We have had a great adventure so far. Our first few nights on the train went really well-- we were on the Rossia, which is the nicest train of the trans-sib, it was very modern feeling and we had a kupe to ourselves. We took "train showers" bought food from vendors on the platforms during 20 minute stops, and I put a good dent into Dr. Zhivago while Paul studied Japanese. The only hiccough was when we left, and our cabin-lady person charged us money for a pillowcase and towel that we never got. Frustrating not to be able to explain ourselves, but in the end we just paid and hoped our luck would change. and it did! we had a great tour of Ulan Ude, by a guy named Sayan who is Buriyat (aka the Russia Mongolian) who was 18 and interested to learn as much as he could about foreigners while telling us random things about what we were seeing. We also sampled fermented males (yes, horse!) milk alcohol, which was kind of like drinking milky looking, cheese flavoured boooze. It was served out of a jerry can, for extra authenticity.

We had a 3 day stop in Ulan-Ude and so we decided to use our time to go to Lake Baikal, the largest freshwater lake... in the world! we arranged a stay at a mini-resort, and as we were doing so another Russia booked the same trip for her and her mother, and wouldn't you know it, she is a tour guide who speaks Japanese and some English. Paul's innate nerdiness paid off and Polina turned out to be an amazing asset for our trip to the lake. We had 2 days there with set meals (think meat. and potatoes. and meat.) and were just a 10 minute walk from the lake. Sadly the famed clarity of the lake was to be believed but not seen, as it was pretty wavy and there were no boat tours. We did however brave the icy cold water on the 2nd day and went for a 2 minute dip (That was how long it took for our feet to go numb). Another Russia family who was staying at the mini-resort decided they wanted to show us around, so they took me, Paul, Polina and her mother on a car trip to a very scenic river and bridge, to the lake (but at a nicer spot where the men jumped in to prove their manliness) and then to a hot spring. Polina came in great help when we found out that we didn't have a ride BACK to town to catch our train, and she negotiated a deal with the mini-resort owner to drive the 4 of us back for the same price as the bus.

Equipped with supplies for the 2 day journey ahead of us, (nice cheese, classic brown bread, instant noodles, fruit) we hopped on our train, this time a less classy version, but more authentic, authentically gross bathroom, but still with down pillows.I finished Dr. Zhivago and started Anna Karenina. We had the kupe to ourselves again until about 1am this morning when 2 Russians joined us, but I didn't realize this until about 4 am and realized something different was happening in the room, namely the 2 upper bunks were now occupied.

Now in Omsk we will wander the streets, after staying at an ibis hotel that just opened last Monday, for a quick shower and nap in a bed that was particularly wonderful, due to it's king size nature and wonderful down duvet. (other beds have been of squeakier, smaller and usually included a wool blanket). It's been quite nice and warm weather, until we got here and walked off the train to 5degrees. Brrrr. It is Siberia I guess.

So far Paul and I are getting along well, and sometimes he's nice enough to leave the room to fart (it happens a lot). I'm excited for Moscow, and an end to the days and nights spent on a train-- it's nice, but so is showering.

Alright, time to find a cafeteria (they being cheap, and require no Russian, just pointing!) some Lenin statues and some grocery shopping for the last leg of the train times.

Joy in Russia: Day 2

I went out and about in Vladivostock today. Saw a nice Lenon statue (one of many I'm sure), walked along the sea side (where a random carnival was happening), took the senic route back to the main streets (read: got vaugly lost), climbed through a submarine (making many Sean Connery jokes to myself), chatted with a Japanese student on tour, saw a famous arch, wandered through a famous shopping centre where everything is behind glass and you point at what you want (well, i guess usually you would tell the person behind the counter), ate some wonderful cake and coffee (oh Japan, you have so much to learn from Russia!), read more Dr. Zhivago while sitting on the pier, and then to a restaurnt for dinner (some chicken dish, 2 crepes, boullion soup with 1/2 a boiled egg and dill (dill!~ it's been so long since I had you!). Did some groceries (real bread! real cheese!) and wandered my way back to the hostel to wash my grimy feet and wait for Paul to show up. Also, am unsure about wandering the streets at night, so I am choosing to stay safer (and admitedly more boring) and relax at the hostel. (Unlike the group of Italian/German tourist guys who showed up at 11 last night, got changed and went out night clubbing).

While I do blend into the Russian population quite well (maybe too well? I need to wear a sign so they are less surprised when I look confused when I dont respond to the Russian). I'm pretty sure the very nice women who sold me coffee and cake were sure that I was and were surprised when I busted out my tried and true method of communication; pointing), there is a definate Russian style. (holy run on sentance batman!). To enrich your life, I have come up with a short list of things to consider when trying to look Russian.

Male: shirts are optional, just wear shorts and show off your hot bod.
Female: the shortest shorts of your life/practically underwear is alright for regular daytime wear. As is very tight clothing, hella cleavage and anything sparkly. Shoes can be any style but generally wear dress shoes. (Unlike Japan, heels are optional)
Children: under the age of 7 must be blond. No exceptions.
General rules: be tall, skinny (if female, musclar if male), have nice cheekbones and be atractive if you are under the age of 30. Over 30 means more cleavage (female, clearly) and a paunch.

I'm excited for Paul to show up, at the very least to save me from talking to myself (I'm doing it as I type!). And to hop on a train for three days (mm greasy hair awaits me) and tour Ulan-Ude, the next city on our adventure.

Going home the long way around...

August
18: Leave Japan via Shinkansen and overnight ferryboat
19: Arriving in Pusan, South Korea. Take KTX (Korean Shinkansen) to Seoul.
19-22: Stay with wonderful friend Myrie in Seoul, finally tour the DMZed
22: Depart for Vladivostok, Russia!
22-24: Stay in Vladivostok, meet partner in Trans Siberian adventure, Paul, on the 23rd
24: Depart on Trans Siberian railway
27: Arrive in Ulan-Ude,
27-30 tour the city, find our way to Lake Baikal, see a “village of Old Believers”
30: Depart Ulan-Ude
September
1: Stop for the day in Omsk
3: Arrive in Moscow
3-6: Tour Moscow
6: Depart Moscow, arrive St. Petersburg
6-9: St. Petersburg
9: Out of Russia!
Then hopefully Amsterdam to see my Dutch cousin, Hamburg to see Roger who I have just missed being in the same time zone by hours 3 times, and for sure Dublin to see my wonderful friend Caoimhe.
21st-ish: Back in Canada

I’m excited/nervous/can’t believe it. I know it will be great, but want to get going. Last night in Japan tonight (!!!) And so one adventure ends and another will begin…

No work, all play, aka, "funderployment" (part 1)

Between the last day of work and my departure for the homeland, I have been filling my time with a variety of activities. Most activities are not very interesting, (sleeping! going out with friends! Internet TV!) but there have been some definite highlights so far, namely last weekend.

On Friday I went with my friend Tu to Summer Sonic . We got there early to get some free stuff (ooh, sweat towels!) and see The Veronicas. Another friend of mine went to high school with them, and I'm pretty sure they recognized him (as he is over 6ft and blond, was in the front in a sea of Japanese people). After the Veronicas we went to check out Solange (aka Beyonce's little sister), because no one else we knew was playing, and she was playing in an air conditioned building. We were entertained by her, surprised to hear her call out her sound guy, and the eye rolling at her getting the crowd to sing "hey Mr. Sound guy, get your shit together". Sorry Solange, you are not good enough to be that much of a diva! We said "Solange you later." (Solange as you don't tell anyone that we went to see her at all...) and went to find some delicious festival food.

Full, and wandering, we stopped by The Vaselines, who were performing in air conditioned beauty, and then went to go check out Maximum the Hormone-- a hilarious Japanese metal band, and they opened with the one song I know-- "Koi no Mega Lover". I head banged for the first time in my life, and after a few songs had enough, and went to find some other JETs and then together went to see Lady Gaga. She put on an unsurprisingly rude and entertaining show-- lots of "I love Japan!"s and we also saw Perez Hilton there, shouted his name and got him to wave at us. Gaga was followed by more festival food and then Ne-Yo, followed by no other than Beyonce.

Beyonce put on a serious show-- complete with 3 drummers, 2 pianists, 2 guitarists, a basisit, a 3 person horn section, and 3 back up singers (all female). Her set took about 30 minutes to assemble, and she had 4 female and 4 male back up dancers. She opened well, and closed well, but the middle was some sort of "ode to marriage/Canadian singers and crazy Robo Beyonce". She had a crazy song where she sang Ave Maria, and back up dancers frolicked up and put her in a sort of wedding gown? And then another when she was wearing some sort of robot costume, and the background was snow leopard/robot Beyonce? But the close was amazing, and she left the main stage to go to a smaller one in the middle for some impressive dancing, and where I wound up being crushed but within mere inches of her. Later Tu and I were discussing that Beyonce is impressive, but she's been doing this for ages, and is so polished and it's almost creepy.

Exhausted after a full day in the sun, dancing, headbanging, sweating etc, we finally made it to Tu's place around 1:30, and then were up the next day, Tu for more Summer Sonic, and me to head up to Fukui with a Japanese friend of mine (which I shall describe in Part 2).

More lists, written on my last day at school

I've just said my last goodbye speech. Soon I'll have lunch with the staff here, and then home. And that's it. I have taken the next week off to pack, clean, and sleep in. I've cleaned my desk, written a helpful guide to my schools, and poorly pronounced Japanese words to 300 students. However, I have yet to sit through a staff meeting before lunch happens, which gives me time to come up with a few lists.

I'm going to miss:
-goodbye music (aka auld lang syne) that they play when stores close
-bowing! its great, no touching and spreading of germs, being polite to old people, what's not to love?
-the love of flowers everywhere
-the covered shopping street-- better than a mall, available in nearly every Japanese city
-seasonally flavoured everything. Apple vinegar, sweet potato, cherry etc flavoured Kitkats, never mind the changing flavours of icecream, candies and drinks
-not relying on cars to get places-- just my bike and the trains. (with occasional help from friends with cars)
-the view from my balcony. Setting sun over mountains = pretty excellent
-the view from my mountains. Valley stretching out, nestled between mountains = pretty excellent
-the Japanese love of uniforms. Sometimes it's ridiculous, but it adds a bit of professionalism to jobs, and keeps people modest, which I've come to appreciate
-konbinis, or convince stores. These places are truly convenient. Usually have a nice clean bathroom to use, great selection of snacks and msc items, drinks etc. Also a place to buy concert tickets and pay bills.

I'm looking forward to:
-seeing my family on a regular basis, not through a computer screen
-seeing my niece and nephews grow up
-buying hummus, sharp cheddar, raspberry yogurt, pie...
-coffee time at home, with whipped cream
-ok, food
-driving and singing along to the radio
-not being overly aware of English conversations of strangers. You hear English on a train, and you can't help but listen. It makes things a bit awkward sometimes.
-easy access to English books
-not watching TV or movies via crappy internet streaming sites
-having garbage cans placed in convenient places on streets