Wednesday, June 27, 2007
On a certain day
We weren't allowed to forget that May 31st is a special date, and should be so marked in our calendars: It is Anya's birthday. She turned a sweet 17.
And was overjoyed that our Australian visitors would share it with her. She speaks English reasonably well and thrives on attention. The perfect birthday gift.
And was overjoyed that our Australian visitors would share it with her. She speaks English reasonably well and thrives on attention. The perfect birthday gift.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The not Faraway Forest
I consider myself blessed to be living on the outskirts of the city, at the edge of a forest.
The only time the forest is not a blessing is when the snow is melting- but, thank God, that season is long gone! Picnics and sunbathing by crazy Russian girls (not me, mum!!) are to be had for the thinking.
Another great point is that our drinking water is free- it just takes a little effort to fill up and carry the 19L pump bottle home. But that's the boys' job!
To walk about 100m from our front doorstep and be surrounded by trees is beautiful. It's a place of escape- from the house, from people, to pray, to think, to play...
The only time the forest is not a blessing is when the snow is melting- but, thank God, that season is long gone! Picnics and sunbathing by crazy Russian girls (not me, mum!!) are to be had for the thinking.
Another great point is that our drinking water is free- it just takes a little effort to fill up and carry the 19L pump bottle home. But that's the boys' job!
To walk about 100m from our front doorstep and be surrounded by trees is beautiful. It's a place of escape- from the house, from people, to pray, to think, to play...
Off the back of a truck
I know that the market-eers here are regulated- each store displays it's own array of certificates of approval, registration, familial protection... judging by the offical-looking blue rubber stamp adorning them.
But there is another kind of seller, which tends to move about, setting up tables outside market buildings, selling bunches of hand-picked flowers from the forests, home-made relishes, pickles, and korean salads, hand-knitted socks, booties, scarves and gloves, and cheap plastic house slippers.
There's the "cheap table"- a lady who regularly sets up a trestle table on the sidewalk and sells out-of-date (usually edible) food stuffs for minimal prices.
There's a couple who seem to grow their own produce, mostly potatoes, and sell them direct;
And there's the back of the truck.
But there is another kind of seller, which tends to move about, setting up tables outside market buildings, selling bunches of hand-picked flowers from the forests, home-made relishes, pickles, and korean salads, hand-knitted socks, booties, scarves and gloves, and cheap plastic house slippers.
There's the "cheap table"- a lady who regularly sets up a trestle table on the sidewalk and sells out-of-date (usually edible) food stuffs for minimal prices.
There's a couple who seem to grow their own produce, mostly potatoes, and sell them direct;
And there's the back of the truck.
Bussing it
When the weather's good and we don't have too much to carry, it's nice to walk. Otherwise, we take a bus.
Catching a bus in Sakhalin is an experience in itself. Most of the buses that serve the city are 15-seater minivans, and they are numbered with a list of their stops, or a circuit map, on the door. The 45 takes us to the Chinese Markets, Grace church, and home. The 16 will end up at the mental hospital. We can catch the 92 or the 63 to the airport; and to go to church on Sundays we can take the 15, 16, 81 or 105.
Good on ya, 81!
Catching a bus in Sakhalin is an experience in itself. Most of the buses that serve the city are 15-seater minivans, and they are numbered with a list of their stops, or a circuit map, on the door. The 45 takes us to the Chinese Markets, Grace church, and home. The 16 will end up at the mental hospital. We can catch the 92 or the 63 to the airport; and to go to church on Sundays we can take the 15, 16, 81 or 105.
Good on ya, 81!
A kiss of snow
We are forever grateful to Sakhalin for showing off our ski slope to the Grace team: it snowed overnight, and the snow hung around, gracing Gorny Vostok for the rest of the day
Thursday, June 14, 2007
A range of weather
A definite stress of inviting visitors to Russia, and particularly Sakhalin Island, is the registration process that we must begin (we have discovered) as soon as possible. That way the process may be completed within the first week of stay, and avoid unnecessary, inconvenient and somewhat expensive repurcussions... enough said.
On the first full day of stay, we took the team into town to register. Facefulls of sleet later, we made it panting and wet to our doorstep. I don't know that I have ever been so wet while fully dressed.
Kate met us and filled in the forms. Filling them in by hand, in duplicate, for three people takes a bit of time. But she was more than happy to take the morning off work for us. Thank you Kate!!
The team stayed in a flat we rented for 10 days. It was very close to our place, just 5 mins walk! And was the perfect place to hang out, have meetings and to pray. The kids were impressed- not only did the flat have a TV, they could watch the National Geographic Channel!!!
On the first full day of stay, we took the team into town to register. Facefulls of sleet later, we made it panting and wet to our doorstep. I don't know that I have ever been so wet while fully dressed.
Kate met us and filled in the forms. Filling them in by hand, in duplicate, for three people takes a bit of time. But she was more than happy to take the morning off work for us. Thank you Kate!!
The team stayed in a flat we rented for 10 days. It was very close to our place, just 5 mins walk! And was the perfect place to hang out, have meetings and to pray. The kids were impressed- not only did the flat have a TV, they could watch the National Geographic Channel!!!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
From an outsider's perspective
After living in a place for more than 2 weeks, first impressions begin to fade and it's very difficult to recognise the differences. Well, to some extent.
Here are some photos of the city that Dave took on the taxi ride from the airport. Note: Sakhalin is not always this overcast!
A wooden Dacha (cottage) along the road. Families often own a dacha- they are out of town, and usually don't have electricity, water, sewerage... families that live in town use their cottages as vegetable gardens and day-time or holiday get-aways. But many people do call a dacha their home. Picturesque, but terribly prone to fire.
The hospital at the top of our street.
An apartment block in less than the best state... but there are a lot of such buildings around.
View of apartment blocks from the kitchen window. Usually Russian apartments look pretty crumby on the outside, but inside can be very comfortable.
Here are some photos of the city that Dave took on the taxi ride from the airport. Note: Sakhalin is not always this overcast!
A wooden Dacha (cottage) along the road. Families often own a dacha- they are out of town, and usually don't have electricity, water, sewerage... families that live in town use their cottages as vegetable gardens and day-time or holiday get-aways. But many people do call a dacha their home. Picturesque, but terribly prone to fire.
The hospital at the top of our street.
An apartment block in less than the best state... but there are a lot of such buildings around.
View of apartment blocks from the kitchen window. Usually Russian apartments look pretty crumby on the outside, but inside can be very comfortable.
Monday, June 04, 2007
The Grace team arrived!
Sakhalin airport, May 25th 2007: Dave, Frank and Jenny (mum) take their first footsteps on Russian soil.
Sakhalin airport is very small and it does feel quite parochial, climbing down the steps of the plane to the tarmac, hand luggage clutched tightly under one arm as the other is busy ensuring your stability on the rickety staircase, pushing onto a crowded bus and getting dropped of at the immigration desk where you wait for everyone from business class to be processed before you are- but your laughter will quickly die down when you see the unblinking eyes, stilletos and gruff commands from the woman wearing a khaki suit and possibly holding a gun.
Keep your eyes cast down and pray they won't send you back to Seoul on the plane you just 'disembarked' from.
But we were there to meet them- the Harrisons and me. I'd last seen mum (and Frank and Dave) in November, 6 months before. But for the Harrisons, it had been over 12 months since having face-to-face contact with visitors from home. Very exciting.
They brought a LOT of luggage with them, and left with very little. The purpose of their trip was to encourage us, see what we do, how we live, and give us some good and Godly advice and support. The short 10 days they spent here was jam-packed full of talking and tears, jokes and laughter, sleet, sunshine, snow and mist- they left us with new ideas, fresh vision, encouraged and supported and loved. What a team! What a taste of things to come!
Sakhalin airport is very small and it does feel quite parochial, climbing down the steps of the plane to the tarmac, hand luggage clutched tightly under one arm as the other is busy ensuring your stability on the rickety staircase, pushing onto a crowded bus and getting dropped of at the immigration desk where you wait for everyone from business class to be processed before you are- but your laughter will quickly die down when you see the unblinking eyes, stilletos and gruff commands from the woman wearing a khaki suit and possibly holding a gun.
Keep your eyes cast down and pray they won't send you back to Seoul on the plane you just 'disembarked' from.
But we were there to meet them- the Harrisons and me. I'd last seen mum (and Frank and Dave) in November, 6 months before. But for the Harrisons, it had been over 12 months since having face-to-face contact with visitors from home. Very exciting.
They brought a LOT of luggage with them, and left with very little. The purpose of their trip was to encourage us, see what we do, how we live, and give us some good and Godly advice and support. The short 10 days they spent here was jam-packed full of talking and tears, jokes and laughter, sleet, sunshine, snow and mist- they left us with new ideas, fresh vision, encouraged and supported and loved. What a team! What a taste of things to come!
Paaarrrtteeeee!
Party it was for May 23rd- we'd planned and invited and it finally came together- with 30 or more guests we had a full house, and plenty of new introductions. But it was good to have everyone together. Next time we might have less people at once...
Masha, me getting older and Ira- both Masha and Ira have interpreted for us at different times, and are good friends.
Trac, Felicity, Lena and Ira
I said goodbye to Jenya and Anton before they headed out after the party.
Ryan found his favourite corner of the room and stayed there!
Trac cooked for two days straight, making everything but the cake!! Thanks for such a great party Trac.
Scott Elders, group photographer and former resident of Clifton Park- 10 mins drive away from my home in Australind!
I can't deny it any more- I'm a quarter of a century, and there is no turning back. :-(
Best to go through it with a bang!
Masha, me getting older and Ira- both Masha and Ira have interpreted for us at different times, and are good friends.
Trac, Felicity, Lena and Ira
I said goodbye to Jenya and Anton before they headed out after the party.
Ryan found his favourite corner of the room and stayed there!
Trac cooked for two days straight, making everything but the cake!! Thanks for such a great party Trac.
Scott Elders, group photographer and former resident of Clifton Park- 10 mins drive away from my home in Australind!
I can't deny it any more- I'm a quarter of a century, and there is no turning back. :-(
Best to go through it with a bang!
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