Pot luck in Vladimir!

June 29, 2007

Sleep is happening better and better as the jet lag wears off a bit each day! Beautiful sunny morning with very mild temps. American teachers here say that it has been uncharacteristically warm in Vladimir for the last three weeks. So warm that they don't even check the weather any more and just expect it to be warm.

In the morning, we took more language lessons and discussed Russian names. Ron Pope, our illustrious leader, gave us a talk with PowerPoint about why the Soviet Union failed. Some of the answers include The Beatles, McDonalds, Reagan, the economy, the failure of the economy, but it is probably an intricate combinatioin of all of the above and more.

Lunch is becoming very predictable: salad, soup, meat with potatoes, tea. We took some free time to become more acquainted with the town of Vladimir. We then took a guided tour of the old water tower, which is located directly behind the American Home. It has been converted into a museum that has an interior winding staircase that leads to multiple floors of history. At the top is the prize! A panoramic view of the city of Vladimir. Spectacular!

Later in the afternoon, we toured the Palace of Culture, a kind of performing arts center sponsored by one of the factories in town. Singing, folk music and dancing, modern dance, painting, and concerts were activities that are sponsored by the center. Our last class was a Russian folk song learning class! We learned three Russian folk songs and sang them with a Kareoke machine. On the screen, there were background pictures that did not go along with the songs. Bikini clad women on the beach took the attention of the men and the women on the last song. Unusual pictures to go along with Kareoke!

The evening was a big hit! The American Home sponsored a 'pot luck' dinner. All the hosts brought Russian food. We ate, we drank vodka and kvass, and even pitched horseshoes! After dinner there was a special surprise: A wonderful musician, a balalaika soloist gave a concert. He was amazing. There were many standing ovations and several Americans were buying CDs at the end of the evening!

Easy bus riding in the evening keeps everyone calm and cool! Tea and sweets, stories and jokes! Life is good in Russia! Bedtime before midnight!!