Monday, February 15, 2010
World Famous Museum
So when I looked at what there was to do for fun in St Petersburg The Hermitage seemed to always pop up at the top. I'm not a huge museum fan (as my wife will confirm) but this place seemed to look pretty cool. Evidently in the summer the longs are very long and so I thought I would take advantage of probably the only good thing about visiting a place this far north in February - short lines.Sure enough I only waited about 5 min in line and I had tickets. While in line there was a guy that came up and started speaking in Russian. I said I don't speak Russian and he started speaking English.He explained that he would be a tour guide for us. I asked how much he wanted and he said 1000 rubles. I said no thanks. A minute later a lady came by saying something in Russian. I asked my Russian friend what she was saying. He said not to trust anything this guy said.It reminded me that tourist sites are prime targets for unsuspecting trusting people. Here are a few of the pictures I took while there.
America Around The World
Going to the computer store I noticed a McDonalds. The only thing that seemed unusual to me was that it was completely packed. The line to order was out the front door. I stopped to take a picture of the McDonalds and an older Russian lady started talking to me in Russian. I said I only speak English and walked away. I thought it might be some scam as she kept wanting me to speak close to her ear. I'm not sure what she really wanted but it was a new experience none the less.
Shopping In Russia
So I needed an adapter for my laptop plug. I asked the front desk but they didn't have one so it was time to try my hand at shopping in a foreign country that doesn't speak a lot of English. The lady at the front desk told me about 2 places. One of them was close to the subway I need in the morning and she said it was a department store so I thought I could get some bottled water at the same time. So off I went on my adventure. When I first read about going to Russia I read warnings about corrupt police and skinheads but nobody wrote about walking down sidewalks that aren't shoveled and don't have crosswalks for major intersections. I got to the store and asked if a young lady (younger = more likely to speak English) if they had an adapter. They said they didn't but that "K" had them. I recognized that name as the "other" store the concierge mentioned. I wasn't too disappointed because now I knew where the subway was and I also wanted to buy water. I found the grocery part of the "department store" and it was very interesting. The store was about the size of a 7-eleven and half the shelves were empty. The liquor section was well stocked so was was the water shelf. Now I was getting pretty good a converting USD to RUB so I thought. I just take the RUB number and divide by 3 and move the decimal point since it's 1 USD to 30 RUB right now. Well the water was 52,39 or something like that. I was quite tired and forgot to move the decimal step so I thought this bottle of water was $17 dollars instead of $1.70. But online they said buy bottled water and I even noticed locals buying it so I wasn't going to take the chance. I walked up to the cashier and put the bottled water up and tried to hand her a 1000 ruble and she looked at me like I was crazy. All I had was 3 - 1000 ruble bills and my visa credit card. I offered my visa card and she swiped it and then pointed to the machine and said "pin". I said it's a credit card not a debit card. She gave me a blank stare. I wasn't sure what to do as she and the Russian guy behind me exchanged a few words. I then offer my 1000 ruble bill again and she took it with a bit of impatience. She then counted out 950 RUB and gave it to me. As I was counting the change (as recommended online :)) I realized that the water was only 50 rubles which was less than $2. But I got my water and now some smaller bills which I now had the feeling would be a good thing. Reflecting on this I was basically offering to pay for $1.70 of good with a $33 dollar bill which doesn't sound nearly as bad as paying for a 50 rubles item with a 1000 rubles bill. Funny how bigger numbers at the same ratio feels different.
Now I had water but still no adapter. I went to the "K" store which really had about 15 letters in the name but I knew it was the computer store as it had "chip" in the name. I went in and asked a guy if he spoke English and he spoke good english (more likely if he wants to be in the computer industry). He showed me the adapter which looked right. I asked if I pay here or up front. He said I pay up front. He gave me a piece of paper with a part number on it. It reminded me of a hardware store where some things like nails don't have labels so you get a piece of paper so the cachier knows how to ring it up. I started to walk away and he said, "No you leave the part here, go up front and pay and then bring the reciept back here and I give you the part." I followed the instructions and got my part. That seems to make sence as it was a small part and I could have easily put it in my pocket and walked right past the cachier. The funniest part of the security routine was that it only cost 19 rubles which is about $0.75.
As I walked out the door of the computer store I pushed on the handle and it broke in my hand. I just let it dangle there and walked away. There are many things in Russia that are aging. When I was walking down the street I heard a loud noise that seemed like a jet overhead. As I got closer is was actually an electric rail car that was making lot's of noise and sparks flying everywhere. The water comes out a little bit brown which I think is from the rusting pipes.
Now I had water but still no adapter. I went to the "K" store which really had about 15 letters in the name but I knew it was the computer store as it had "chip" in the name. I went in and asked a guy if he spoke English and he spoke good english (more likely if he wants to be in the computer industry). He showed me the adapter which looked right. I asked if I pay here or up front. He said I pay up front. He gave me a piece of paper with a part number on it. It reminded me of a hardware store where some things like nails don't have labels so you get a piece of paper so the cachier knows how to ring it up. I started to walk away and he said, "No you leave the part here, go up front and pay and then bring the reciept back here and I give you the part." I followed the instructions and got my part. That seems to make sence as it was a small part and I could have easily put it in my pocket and walked right past the cachier. The funniest part of the security routine was that it only cost 19 rubles which is about $0.75.
As I walked out the door of the computer store I pushed on the handle and it broke in my hand. I just let it dangle there and walked away. There are many things in Russia that are aging. When I was walking down the street I heard a loud noise that seemed like a jet overhead. As I got closer is was actually an electric rail car that was making lot's of noise and sparks flying everywhere. The water comes out a little bit brown which I think is from the rusting pipes.
Traveling To Russia
(For those used to reading posts from my wife we decided for me to captures some of my experiences traveling to Russia on the blog as it's turned into a place to capture our family experiences)
At arrival to the airport in Germany I was looking for a place to eat breakfast. I saw a sign that said restaurants are up the escalator. As I was about to go up, there was 2 women standing in the way. I waited a moment but they would not move. This older lady that looked to be from somewhere in Africa made enough gestures that I understand that she wanted me to hold her arm to go up the escalator. I thought about my wallet but since it was carefully zipped away in a pocket I thought it was safe so I offered my arm. At first I thought she wanted help to balance as she was in her later years. I soon realized as she got closer to the escalator that she we quite afraid of this odd device. She squeezed extra tight as I helped her step onto the stairway. She relaxed a bit until we got about 10 feet from the top when my arm started to feel pressure as if a nurse was taking my blood pressure with a cuff. After we got off the terrifying device she didn't speak a word of English but I know she was very grateful for my help. On my way back from breakfast I was reflecting on the experience as I went back down the other side I noticed a nice glass elevator right next to the steps :)
At arrival to the airport in Germany I was looking for a place to eat breakfast. I saw a sign that said restaurants are up the escalator. As I was about to go up, there was 2 women standing in the way. I waited a moment but they would not move. This older lady that looked to be from somewhere in Africa made enough gestures that I understand that she wanted me to hold her arm to go up the escalator. I thought about my wallet but since it was carefully zipped away in a pocket I thought it was safe so I offered my arm. At first I thought she wanted help to balance as she was in her later years. I soon realized as she got closer to the escalator that she we quite afraid of this odd device. She squeezed extra tight as I helped her step onto the stairway. She relaxed a bit until we got about 10 feet from the top when my arm started to feel pressure as if a nurse was taking my blood pressure with a cuff. After we got off the terrifying device she didn't speak a word of English but I know she was very grateful for my help. On my way back from breakfast I was reflecting on the experience as I went back down the other side I noticed a nice glass elevator right next to the steps :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
I Love Where I Live
My week started out a little on the stressful side.
Saturday, way before the sun came up, Jack left to fly over the ocean to a foreign land. Then we spent the day running to the library, a birthday party, and a dinner party. We got home and went right to bed, worn out.
Sunday, it started snowing. At first, the snowflakes were minuscule. Then they started getting a little bigger. At about 9 am or so, I went upstairs to check on Rebecca, who had just gotten out of the shower. She was lying in bed, hair uncombed. (Bad sign.) Within 15 minutes, she was sick all over the bed, floor, herself... Lots of fun. By that afternoon, I was starting to come down with a cold. The snowflakes were getting bigger, but still nothing to be concerned about.
Monday, Rebecca felt better. Hallelujah! Miriam was healthy as well, so off to school they went. There was maybe an inch of snow on the driveway, and I just drove over it to take them to school. (This causes ice to form. Every time. But I didn't want to shovel.) I am feeling lousy with the cold, so I spend the day inside with Joseph wishing I could sleep. It snows all day.
Tuesday, the snow is finally finished. There is a couple inches of snow-- once again, nothing major, but I don't feel well and I really don't want to shovel. The high hits a whopping 27 degrees, and I was so grateful that this was the sight from the front of my garage as I left to pick the girls up from school.
Notice the nice, dry driveway? No ice lanes from the multiple times I drove on the snow. Totally melted. Notice the driveway across the street? It will be a long time before that melts!
I was so grateful for this blessing from the sun!
Saturday, way before the sun came up, Jack left to fly over the ocean to a foreign land. Then we spent the day running to the library, a birthday party, and a dinner party. We got home and went right to bed, worn out.
Sunday, it started snowing. At first, the snowflakes were minuscule. Then they started getting a little bigger. At about 9 am or so, I went upstairs to check on Rebecca, who had just gotten out of the shower. She was lying in bed, hair uncombed. (Bad sign.) Within 15 minutes, she was sick all over the bed, floor, herself... Lots of fun. By that afternoon, I was starting to come down with a cold. The snowflakes were getting bigger, but still nothing to be concerned about.
Monday, Rebecca felt better. Hallelujah! Miriam was healthy as well, so off to school they went. There was maybe an inch of snow on the driveway, and I just drove over it to take them to school. (This causes ice to form. Every time. But I didn't want to shovel.) I am feeling lousy with the cold, so I spend the day inside with Joseph wishing I could sleep. It snows all day.
Tuesday, the snow is finally finished. There is a couple inches of snow-- once again, nothing major, but I don't feel well and I really don't want to shovel. The high hits a whopping 27 degrees, and I was so grateful that this was the sight from the front of my garage as I left to pick the girls up from school.
Notice the nice, dry driveway? No ice lanes from the multiple times I drove on the snow. Totally melted. Notice the driveway across the street? It will be a long time before that melts!I was so grateful for this blessing from the sun!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Insanity Is...
I am trying to teach him that we do our work for the day before we do fun things. For a 2-year-old, there isn't much work to be done. But he still needs to learn.
Well, that wasn't according to his plans. So for two hours, Joseph had a huge temper tantrum about this. At one point, he ran over to the entertainment center and pushed against the glass door with both hands. Unfortunately, the door was slightly open and he got his little finger caught in the door. His finger was getting squished, it hurt, he was mad. And he kept pushing against the door as hard as he could. I rescued him from the door, and as I was comforting him, I thought about how this is so much like life.
We get worked up about things. We get frustrated, angry, annoyed. And then we get ourselves into a situation where we are hurting. If we would rationally think about the situation, we would realize that what we are doing is obviously not working, and that we need to stop this behavior and try something new. But we don't. We keep pushing, we keep trying to make it work. We are stubborn. And we get more pain inflicted on us than needed. And since we don't live in a vacuum, our choices often inflict pain on others as well.
I frequently see this in my parenting. I get frustrated, so I implement a parenting technique to stop the behavior. But then I find myself continuing to push, when perhaps giving the child some leeway, some time to calm down, or ignoring the behavior would be more effective. But my pride gets in the way.
I think of the saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."
Sunday, February 7, 2010
A Little Unsure
I have gotten used to Jack traveling for work. He heads away from home fairly frequently-- at least every couple months, it seems. Usually he is gone for about a week, but with some of his international travel, he is gone for two.
He has gone to some foreign places, like London, Ireland and Canada. He has also spent time on American soil in places like California and Washington, DC.
And really, I don't get too nervous about him going. The worst part for me is when he is actually flying. I realize that flying is a safe way to travel and he loves it, but I still get a little nervous when he is going over the ocean. (I figure if you crash over land, there is at least some chance of survival. But over the ocean, there is no chance.)
But this week, Jack is going some place really foreign. He is in St. Petersburg, Russia. I can't say rationally why this makes me more nervous than London. I keep thinking of it being a communist country (even though I know that it isn't any more). I think of the KGB detaining him and refusing to let him leave the country (but it's Russia, not Afghanistan). I think of not being able to read the signs, or even read the letters (but really, Jack is a great traveler-- I'm sure he'll do fine). I think of him not eating well because they have weird food (even though I know he's staying at a Marriott with a restaurant with American food).
But I can take all these fears and concerns and push them to the back of my mind. I remember that the Lord will take care of Jack, just like He is looking after us here at home. I know that Jack is a great traveler and he is excited to be on this trip. I realize that there are lots of irrational fears that can overpower me only if I allow them to.
And besides, just in the two days he has been gone, he's been able to help other wayward travelers. So he'll do just fine.
He has gone to some foreign places, like London, Ireland and Canada. He has also spent time on American soil in places like California and Washington, DC.
And really, I don't get too nervous about him going. The worst part for me is when he is actually flying. I realize that flying is a safe way to travel and he loves it, but I still get a little nervous when he is going over the ocean. (I figure if you crash over land, there is at least some chance of survival. But over the ocean, there is no chance.)
But this week, Jack is going some place really foreign. He is in St. Petersburg, Russia. I can't say rationally why this makes me more nervous than London. I keep thinking of it being a communist country (even though I know that it isn't any more). I think of the KGB detaining him and refusing to let him leave the country (but it's Russia, not Afghanistan). I think of not being able to read the signs, or even read the letters (but really, Jack is a great traveler-- I'm sure he'll do fine). I think of him not eating well because they have weird food (even though I know he's staying at a Marriott with a restaurant with American food).
But I can take all these fears and concerns and push them to the back of my mind. I remember that the Lord will take care of Jack, just like He is looking after us here at home. I know that Jack is a great traveler and he is excited to be on this trip. I realize that there are lots of irrational fears that can overpower me only if I allow them to.
And besides, just in the two days he has been gone, he's been able to help other wayward travelers. So he'll do just fine.
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