Friday, August 17th 3:10 Naushiki, Russia
We've been sitting here at the border station for over two hours. It is possible it might take another 9 hours--nobody knows. Everyone is just wandering aimlessly, wondering where to go, what to do and when we will get through! And why is this process so inefficient?
We left Irkutsk last night at about 8:45pm after saying good-bye to M, going to Moscow, at about 4pm and then Andrei and Zheniya at 8:10, going to Omsk. We had to say our good-byes to Roma, Julia and Masha from the street, in a quick good-bye. It is better that way. It was sad to see our GBT and Russia experience come to an end. It was two fabulous weeks full of hard labor and hard laughter. There were group bonding games that made me pee my pants, food that filled me to the brim, and endless hours of conversation, story-telling and jokes. There was a week-long killer game. I was killed on day three by a bomb at dinner. Then the second week we had special friends. Everyday we got a little flower bouquet, a candy, a present, or a note! It was fun and always brought a smile to everyone's face knowing someone was secretly sneaking around preparing gifts.
But even without the games and songs, people connected--stereotypes were broken and friendships were forged!
Showing posts with label irkutsk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irkutsk. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2007
Back to Irkutsk
Wednesday, August 15th Writing in an internet cafe in Irkutsk
Sitting and waiting for internet to come back up...back in a city, back in civilization, and about to check-in with the world after two weeks. Being away in the Siberian jungle made me more present, our concerns were simple and day to day. My concerns were left behind, they had to be because there was nothing I could do about them in the depths of the jungle. I just had to be and it was a wonderful thing. That didn't mean my mind didn't wander or I didn't think about the outside world, but it wasn't all consumming. No email, internet or contact with the media for two weeks, it was a great break from 'life'. But now I'm waiting to make contact and I'm waiting to see if anyone has been waiting for me. But I'm not sure what I'll tell them and what I will feel inspired to write when I'm pressured to report in. How can I communicate the experiences of the last two weeks?
Sitting and waiting for internet to come back up...back in a city, back in civilization, and about to check-in with the world after two weeks. Being away in the Siberian jungle made me more present, our concerns were simple and day to day. My concerns were left behind, they had to be because there was nothing I could do about them in the depths of the jungle. I just had to be and it was a wonderful thing. That didn't mean my mind didn't wander or I didn't think about the outside world, but it wasn't all consumming. No email, internet or contact with the media for two weeks, it was a great break from 'life'. But now I'm waiting to make contact and I'm waiting to see if anyone has been waiting for me. But I'm not sure what I'll tell them and what I will feel inspired to write when I'm pressured to report in. How can I communicate the experiences of the last two weeks?
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Vladivsotok-Irkutsk Train Journey
Here we go: Vladivostok to Irkutsk! 
Nappy Nappy!!
All boys do is sleep!
A happy (but dirty) train family!
Food stops! Delicious homemade goodies! Sunday, August 26, 2007
Vladivostok-Irkutsk Train #7
Tuesday, July 31st 6:30pm Day #2 on the Trans-Siberian
The LP warned that third class would start to look like a refugee camp after a few days, but so far so good. Although we look a bit like refugees--dirty, greasy, smelly, haven't changed or bathed in days. But we are well fed, entertained, and I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world except where I am. A few times a day the train makes a 30 minute stop in a po-dunk town literally in the middle of Siberia. We can get out and stretch our legs, buy fresh bread, sausage, hard boiled eggs, potato-dill salad and fresh berries. So far everything has agreed with me. Our American neighbors in the next carriage over weren't so lucky with the train stop food and there was a puke incident between the carriages, but he seems fully recovered now.
There was much pre-Russia speculation and warnings about sketchy men and vodka parties that we would be required to join. But so far it has been a quiet trip minus the disco fever on the ferry that resulted in a painful hangover while clearing customs and immigration the next day.
The big surprises thus far in no particular order:
1. Listening to the "blue" dance song being piped into the train carriages on repeat for hours!
2. Arriving in Vlad on a national holiday with the Navy out in the bay shooting off fireworks.
3. Siberia is rolling green hills, meandering streams and birch forests.
4. Finding 3 cars in the swimming pool on the ferry.
5. Crocs haven't hit Eastern Russia yet--they turn lots of heads (I eventually left them in Irkutsk with my new Russian friends to start the trend)
6. Russians don't speak or understand Japanese, but it's all that comes out of my mouth.
7. Instant coffee tastes great on a 3 day train.
8. We are 3 of 5 foreigners on teh train that we have seen! Maybe the others are in 1st class.
9. 3rd class is classy! We get pillows, futons, blankets, sheets and a towel--luxury!
10. I barely miss my cell phone or internet....it is so freeing to be out of touch!
But I miss showering. I think it is time to devise a system! Desperate times call for desperate measures--water bottle showers in a 3rd class bathroom! It never felt so good to be clean!
The LP warned that third class would start to look like a refugee camp after a few days, but so far so good. Although we look a bit like refugees--dirty, greasy, smelly, haven't changed or bathed in days. But we are well fed, entertained, and I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world except where I am. A few times a day the train makes a 30 minute stop in a po-dunk town literally in the middle of Siberia. We can get out and stretch our legs, buy fresh bread, sausage, hard boiled eggs, potato-dill salad and fresh berries. So far everything has agreed with me. Our American neighbors in the next carriage over weren't so lucky with the train stop food and there was a puke incident between the carriages, but he seems fully recovered now.
There was much pre-Russia speculation and warnings about sketchy men and vodka parties that we would be required to join. But so far it has been a quiet trip minus the disco fever on the ferry that resulted in a painful hangover while clearing customs and immigration the next day.
The big surprises thus far in no particular order:
1. Listening to the "blue" dance song being piped into the train carriages on repeat for hours!
2. Arriving in Vlad on a national holiday with the Navy out in the bay shooting off fireworks.
3. Siberia is rolling green hills, meandering streams and birch forests.
4. Finding 3 cars in the swimming pool on the ferry.
5. Crocs haven't hit Eastern Russia yet--they turn lots of heads (I eventually left them in Irkutsk with my new Russian friends to start the trend)
6. Russians don't speak or understand Japanese, but it's all that comes out of my mouth.
7. Instant coffee tastes great on a 3 day train.
8. We are 3 of 5 foreigners on teh train that we have seen! Maybe the others are in 1st class.
9. 3rd class is classy! We get pillows, futons, blankets, sheets and a towel--luxury!
10. I barely miss my cell phone or internet....it is so freeing to be out of touch!
But I miss showering. I think it is time to devise a system! Desperate times call for desperate measures--water bottle showers in a 3rd class bathroom! It never felt so good to be clean!
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