Privjet!
I have a lot to share with you since the last time I updated. We are wrapping up week two of being on campus and God has blessed us with the opportunity to meet a ton of Russian students. My mini team alone has been able to have over 30 conversations, many of which have transitioned into spiritual conversations. At our picnic in the park event last Saturday, we had over 25 students show up. That was a wonderful sight to behold.
I have a lot to share with you since the last time I updated. We are wrapping up week two of being on campus and God has blessed us with the opportunity to meet a ton of Russian students. My mini team alone has been able to have over 30 conversations, many of which have transitioned into spiritual conversations. At our picnic in the park event last Saturday, we had over 25 students show up. That was a wonderful sight to behold.
Our two campuses that we are responsible for are the Moscow Pedagogical University and the Moscow Sports University (Jock school). Many of you probably don't watch very much hockey, but for those who do, Alexander Ovechkin actually went to the Sports University for a year or two before beginning his professional career. Just a little fun fact for ya, the number of Mosha's I have met is now up to five and is in the lead for most people I have met with the same name. Pray for continued strength and endurance as we spend these last two weeks here in Moscow as well as for deeper spiritual conversations and, Lord willing, gospel conversations.
Next week, we will have the opportunity to hold two events called "English clubs." Basically, they are organized events that allow Russian students to be able to practice their English. It will also allow us to teach them some slang like "y'all" and "cus" as well as exchange some cultural things. It should be an exciting time. One of the things I have found out here is that Russians believe that we have several stereotypes just like we think Russians have stereotypes about Texans. They think that we say that Russians ride bears around, holding ak-47's and drink vodka. As it turns out, this isn't true. Who would've known.
Things I have learned/experienced this week:
1) I found the holy grail of food - Imagine a shish-kabob, type of meat* irrelevant, wrapped in a tortilla (not too sure what they call it here, but it isn't "tortilla"), combined with many foreign sauces you have never heard of, but your taste buds could speak volumes about them. This is what I found today. Part shashleek, part sharma (sp?); I call it the shashleemak. Better yet, we found the place that sells them while we were lost in an area of Moscow, looking for a park to meet with a student. Coincidence? I think not..more like divine intervention.
*I have heard that I wasn't supposed to buy "street shashleek" because they meat isn't known to be very high quality and owners may or may not kill cats and use their meat...regardless, it was tasty, even if it was cat.
2) I am one of the few members on our team that can take "metro naps" - I am pleased with this discovery. There's just something about the gentle rocking of a train moving high speeds underground and the aroma of this B.O. that just lulls me to sleep.
3) There is a Thai Thai in Moscow - That's right, the one Thai food restaurant I found in Moscow just so happens to have the same name as the Thai restaurant I work at in Lubbock, TX. Although this one was a bit more upscale (code for expensive), the food tasted equally delicious.
4) I always get huge ice cream cones from McDonald's compared to everyone else's. I don't know why..maybe it's because I wink sometimes..or say "pazhalsta" in my Texas accent. Whatever the reason may be, I'm not complaining.
5) At a Mcdonald's near the Sports University, I ordered a large coke and I got, I kid you not, at least 30 pieces of ice. 30! Those of you who have been to Europe know just how precious this moment was.
Well, that's all I have for now. Peace out.
Next week, we will have the opportunity to hold two events called "English clubs." Basically, they are organized events that allow Russian students to be able to practice their English. It will also allow us to teach them some slang like "y'all" and "cus" as well as exchange some cultural things. It should be an exciting time. One of the things I have found out here is that Russians believe that we have several stereotypes just like we think Russians have stereotypes about Texans. They think that we say that Russians ride bears around, holding ak-47's and drink vodka. As it turns out, this isn't true. Who would've known.
Things I have learned/experienced this week:
1) I found the holy grail of food - Imagine a shish-kabob, type of meat* irrelevant, wrapped in a tortilla (not too sure what they call it here, but it isn't "tortilla"), combined with many foreign sauces you have never heard of, but your taste buds could speak volumes about them. This is what I found today. Part shashleek, part sharma (sp?); I call it the shashleemak. Better yet, we found the place that sells them while we were lost in an area of Moscow, looking for a park to meet with a student. Coincidence? I think not..more like divine intervention.
*I have heard that I wasn't supposed to buy "street shashleek" because they meat isn't known to be very high quality and owners may or may not kill cats and use their meat...regardless, it was tasty, even if it was cat.
2) I am one of the few members on our team that can take "metro naps" - I am pleased with this discovery. There's just something about the gentle rocking of a train moving high speeds underground and the aroma of this B.O. that just lulls me to sleep.
3) There is a Thai Thai in Moscow - That's right, the one Thai food restaurant I found in Moscow just so happens to have the same name as the Thai restaurant I work at in Lubbock, TX. Although this one was a bit more upscale (code for expensive), the food tasted equally delicious.
4) I always get huge ice cream cones from McDonald's compared to everyone else's. I don't know why..maybe it's because I wink sometimes..or say "pazhalsta" in my Texas accent. Whatever the reason may be, I'm not complaining.
5) At a Mcdonald's near the Sports University, I ordered a large coke and I got, I kid you not, at least 30 pieces of ice. 30! Those of you who have been to Europe know just how precious this moment was.
Well, that's all I have for now. Peace out.
Here are some other words you will want to be sure and pass on to the Russians:
ReplyDelete-bootylicious
-Snooki
-lol
I know why you are able to sleep in gently rocking, B.O. laden metro cars...the testosterhome has prepared you well.
And...I was/am under the impression that all Russians fall into two categories - KGB or Olympic ice skaters/gymnasts...you're telling me that's not true?!