Weddings, workshops, and other wonders

I’ve been at my organization for a while now, but there are tons of things that I don’t understand. Why do people change offices every couple months? Why do a minimum of 12 people a day (literally) open my door, look it, and then close it without saying anything? Everyone knows where my office is, knows that I’m usually in here by myself working – who are they looking for? If you need to see someone, try THEIR office, not mine. I finally hung a sign saying “I don’t know where Zinaida Dmitrievna is” (my director), but then my office got moved ;-) And the last thing that bothers me most at this point is being patronized as much as I am. Or perhaps people here really do just explain things over and over, beating a point well into the ground (the center of the earth). I’ve finally learned to cut people off, though, but I’m afraid I’m becoming too short with people with whom I should more friendly.

Things with Olga have been good; we had a rough spot, but we worked through it and we’re better for it, I think. Russian is coming along well, I get many compliments, especially from new people I meet who find it hard to believe I’ve only been speaking it for 1.5 years. I’d like to find a second tutor, but I need someone who won’t waste so much time telling me stories she remembers. A grammar exercise with 5 questions takes 10 minutes because after each one, I get to hear a story about something she remembered. Chances are I’ve heard it two or three times (again, literally) already.

But I do appreciate my tutor. We have fun times together – yesterday we made a box of brownies that an old friend/ former volunteer sent her and had tea and brownies with a student she is tutoring in English. Speaking of English, I’m know private tutoring two people… I broke my rule, the rule that I wouldn’t teach anyone via private lessons, but one is an acquaintance and the other is a niece of someone at work. That shouldn’t matter, but I hate appearing rude and the aunt kept yapping about it. We’ll see, I suppose if I have a little free time, I should be spending it productively and teaching English is one way to do that. I just don’t like planning lessons, but with the acquaintance I don’t have to because he knows exactly what he wants to study, brings materials with him, and does all of his homework.

With such a mild winter, it’s hard to believe that Spring is already on it’s way. The weather has been getting warmer, though still below zero and I’m looking forward to the days when I get a bike and ride around again. Spring also means that in two months, I’ll be on the sunny beaches of Key West, FL at my cousin’s wedding with family! I’ve got all my tickets and I have enough vacation days, so I’m just counting down to the next little vacation :-)

I decided not to post too many wedding pics, but here are some other recent ones and well as a link to a camera in Pavlodar.


For weddings, cars should be decorated and clean to drive around the city. Since it was Valentine's Day, we used hearts.


Greg, the groom, getting ready for a limo ride with champagne.


The famous Выкуп (Veekoop - literally, "the purchase") - the groom has to do a number of activities organized by the bride's friends. Here, he must either guess which baby picture is her or pay some money.

In this challenge, he must draw his bride with a blindfold - with Joe's (the best man) verbal help, Greg a great job!

The toughest and most embarassing (to get incorrect) challenge: guess which lips are hers. But once again, Greg guessed right on his first choice!

Greg finally gets to the apartment and to his future wife. A small celebration ensues at her apartment before everyone leaves for the "ЗАГС," (ZAGS) the marriage registration office.

Wedding cake time! Too bad Jim, another volunteer sitting at my table, ate my cake. I hope you're reading this, stealer of delicious things!

The most beautiful part of the wedding was when the the wife's veil was taken off during a song. Most girls and some others cried because the song is traditionally sung by the mother and the lyrics have to do with letting go of her daughter out of her family and into another family.

So here we all gathered 'round the bride and groom and they held an umbrella on which many had written a story or wish for them and threw thread over and created a type of web. Then the mother cut it away.

Sherali, my first Russian tutor, and I.

This is the lowest class on a train "Плацкарт" (Platzkart) - 54 seats crammed into one compartment.

I made hummus and drew an awesome face in it.

Aside from looking like a doof in this picture, I was able to find a store that sold the amazing ties that conductors on trains wear.

The ice rink beside my work after being filled.

Some ladies at work invited me to a little snack-and-shots thing after work one evening.

The dombra is a national instrument of Kazakhstan and their all made by hand. Here is one master's workshop, who sold one to Brian.

Brian with his new dombra outside the workshop.

Celebrating someone's birthday, we decided to go to a club. Looking cool.