It's good to be official again. Our Visa and work permit process has been achieved.The final step involved leaving the country to get a visa to come back in. This week that becomes a multi- entry working Visa, allowing us to move in and out of Russia as we need. It has been a complicated process with rules that seem to change according to who you talk to. But is all good for now.
We travelled to Moldova late in January and spent a few days with the Callanders. Australia day was spent in over a foot of snow in the Russain Embassy. hot dogs for tea with Ian & Viv after a long day of work. No lamb chops or sausages on the barbie - but good at least to spend part of the day with someone from home. The snow falls have been frequent and every where we went the ground is well covered in a blanket of white.
Then it was off to Ukraine. We took the overnight train for 'the experience' - not that you see much overnight - but the 2 border crossings made for an interesting night. We were in a 4 bed coupe and the first border of Transitria - the guard pretended to read Ron's English passport cover to cover , but gave up on mine. The second crossing which is the offcial border the process was much stricter. Our passports were taken and waited on the train wondering what we would do if they did not come back before the train took off. But with a minute to spare our passports were back in hand with the appropriate stamps and we could roll over and try for some sleep before dawn. Our days in Ukraine involved meetings at DHQ and then another 7 hour train trip to visit a Corps. We arrived in the town ofDn..............(big word) affectionaltly known as 'neppo'
This is a large rural city in central /south eastern Ukraine. An industrial city for nuclear, arms and space industries. It was a closed city until the 1990's but now has nearly 2 million people.
There is a new Corps there and the Officers have concentrated their efforts in reaching out to students. There are several Universities in the city. We had a great 2 days connecting with the young people of this Corps - both in teaching and fellowship. Sunday afternoon a dozen of them took us on a 2 hour walk through the snow to show us the scenic sights. We very much enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time in this place. The hospitality of the Officers in sharing what little they had was humbling. we were reminded again how priviledged we are to be Australians and the amazing resources we have that we take so much for granted.
It was back on an overnight train for the trip to Kiev and a flight to Moscow. We have improved our ability to work the passport control lines and Ron is finally developing more of the Russian way when queuing. Elbows out and full steam ahead. No room for being a gentleman there!!!
So here we are back in our apartment amazed to realise this month marks the half way period of our three year term. We praise God for all His provisions and for the opportunities to work in this place.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
A new year
Some 2 months has passed since my last blog. All the best intentions to keep up have failed since returning from Australia in November. So here goes a little catch up.
Our work settled back into its routine quickly as we continue in the roles allocated to us. December had the added interest of Carolling as the band had the opportunity to play at several different places. Once again we had the opportunity to play carols to the Australian Embassy as we went to the Ambassadors Christmas party at her residence. Another engagement was to play at the steps of the Lutheran cathedral to the people attending the Messiah concert. And so Christmas came and went so quickly.
Christmas day started quietly at home as we were spent the morning just the 2 of us. The evening meal was shared in the home of the Territorial Commander where main course was a Netherlands Christmas specialty - rabbit. For sweets - a plum pudding brought from home with custard. The Christmas holidays here did not start until January 1 and the break lasts for 11 days. Orthodx Christmas celbrated on Jan 7. So it was a long celebration period.
We stayed put in Moscow for the break this year and took the opportunity for some walks and gallery visits and just a quiet catch up time.
December also had Ron on the road for a 5 day visit to Georgia. Here he spent some days witht he project o & Corps Offciers intraiing and proejct review. He enjoys the travel and sharing opportunities and was a good opportunity for him to see what is happening out on the field.
Following the New Year break I headed off to Romania for a week - again supporting and reviewing project work . Most of my days were spent indoors or travelling so not too much sight seeing and few photos. My one sight seeing tour ocurred at midnight after the plane landed when we took the long way home - just to have a look around Bucharest. Not a lot to see at that hour through the foggy car windows.
Visa paperwork has kept us busy - the process of renewing the various stages & medical tests to be allowed to stay and work in Moscow. Monday sees us in the final step of the renewal that has us leaving the country to apply for a visa to allow us to come back and work for the next year. So it is off to Moldova for a few days and then on to Ukraine where we will do reviews and support visits for the Officers there. It will be good to spend Australia day with Aussies in Moldova.
The coming year will see us consolidate the work of last year and build on the oportunites to develop some good systems and resources for the Territory. Ron has completed his study and now has his Masters in Community development and is keen to share his new learnings. The Territory will welcome new Territorial Commanders in March and so can anticipate some changes and expectations - so we wait and see what that means in our roles.
So if you have stuck with us in following our blog - I will try and get back to the monthly routine and with a promise of some photos to follow - I will sign off . Thasnk you to all our supporters - for your love and prayers and the various ways you connect with us. It helps to bring us all closer together.
Lyn
Our work settled back into its routine quickly as we continue in the roles allocated to us. December had the added interest of Carolling as the band had the opportunity to play at several different places. Once again we had the opportunity to play carols to the Australian Embassy as we went to the Ambassadors Christmas party at her residence. Another engagement was to play at the steps of the Lutheran cathedral to the people attending the Messiah concert. And so Christmas came and went so quickly.
Christmas day started quietly at home as we were spent the morning just the 2 of us. The evening meal was shared in the home of the Territorial Commander where main course was a Netherlands Christmas specialty - rabbit. For sweets - a plum pudding brought from home with custard. The Christmas holidays here did not start until January 1 and the break lasts for 11 days. Orthodx Christmas celbrated on Jan 7. So it was a long celebration period.
We stayed put in Moscow for the break this year and took the opportunity for some walks and gallery visits and just a quiet catch up time.
December also had Ron on the road for a 5 day visit to Georgia. Here he spent some days witht he project o & Corps Offciers intraiing and proejct review. He enjoys the travel and sharing opportunities and was a good opportunity for him to see what is happening out on the field.
Following the New Year break I headed off to Romania for a week - again supporting and reviewing project work . Most of my days were spent indoors or travelling so not too much sight seeing and few photos. My one sight seeing tour ocurred at midnight after the plane landed when we took the long way home - just to have a look around Bucharest. Not a lot to see at that hour through the foggy car windows.
Visa paperwork has kept us busy - the process of renewing the various stages & medical tests to be allowed to stay and work in Moscow. Monday sees us in the final step of the renewal that has us leaving the country to apply for a visa to allow us to come back and work for the next year. So it is off to Moldova for a few days and then on to Ukraine where we will do reviews and support visits for the Officers there. It will be good to spend Australia day with Aussies in Moldova.
The coming year will see us consolidate the work of last year and build on the oportunites to develop some good systems and resources for the Territory. Ron has completed his study and now has his Masters in Community development and is keen to share his new learnings. The Territory will welcome new Territorial Commanders in March and so can anticipate some changes and expectations - so we wait and see what that means in our roles.
So if you have stuck with us in following our blog - I will try and get back to the monthly routine and with a promise of some photos to follow - I will sign off . Thasnk you to all our supporters - for your love and prayers and the various ways you connect with us. It helps to bring us all closer together.
Lyn
Monday, November 23, 2009
Christmas is a coming.....................
These past 2 months have flown by. Since last I wrote we journeyed to Moldova for Officers councils and then straight on a plane to head home for our 4 weeks furlough.
The councils were a great experience in meeting the territories officers in a 3 day retreat in rural Moldova. The camp setting was an excellent venue that allowed us to gather in the natural surrounds and with the freedom to take some time out to worship God. We were well looked after and the camp hosts fed us well. 150 offciers from 5 countries came together for these days and we all went away having renewed friendship and made new ones.
Our trip home signalled the end of our first year in EET and was planned to be in time for our daughters wedding. Amey & David were married on the 24th November in a beautiful ceremony. The weather was great, the families gathered , the wedding party loooked superb. It was a really great day.
Our time in Melbourne was mostly spent sorting wedding things for the first 2 weeks and having time with the kids and the grandsons. There was plenty of catchup and preparation for our return to Moscow. Our son Jeremy left in the days after the wedding for a further stint of overseas service with his military group. So we think of him as he serves in a far off land away from loved ones. Well he is not exactly far off from where we are - but it is not as iof we can get in the car to go visit him!
Family had stocked us up with Tim tams, milo and vegimite and so on the 9th November we made the trip back. We are quickly back on the job and picking up the pieces again. As well as our work at THQ our committment at the Corps as we enter into the Christmas season has us carolling for a few events and the usual social gatherings will keep us busy into the new year.
The first snow of the season came as we travelled back and in the weeks following snow has fallen again. Soon we will be surrounded by snow again. The coats hats and gloves are out and we lok forward to our second white Christmas - still does not make up for no family - but is a different experience.
So that it for now - hopefully I can get some pictures sorted before long.
Lyn
The councils were a great experience in meeting the territories officers in a 3 day retreat in rural Moldova. The camp setting was an excellent venue that allowed us to gather in the natural surrounds and with the freedom to take some time out to worship God. We were well looked after and the camp hosts fed us well. 150 offciers from 5 countries came together for these days and we all went away having renewed friendship and made new ones.
Our trip home signalled the end of our first year in EET and was planned to be in time for our daughters wedding. Amey & David were married on the 24th November in a beautiful ceremony. The weather was great, the families gathered , the wedding party loooked superb. It was a really great day.
Our time in Melbourne was mostly spent sorting wedding things for the first 2 weeks and having time with the kids and the grandsons. There was plenty of catchup and preparation for our return to Moscow. Our son Jeremy left in the days after the wedding for a further stint of overseas service with his military group. So we think of him as he serves in a far off land away from loved ones. Well he is not exactly far off from where we are - but it is not as iof we can get in the car to go visit him!
Family had stocked us up with Tim tams, milo and vegimite and so on the 9th November we made the trip back. We are quickly back on the job and picking up the pieces again. As well as our work at THQ our committment at the Corps as we enter into the Christmas season has us carolling for a few events and the usual social gatherings will keep us busy into the new year.
The first snow of the season came as we travelled back and in the weeks following snow has fallen again. Soon we will be surrounded by snow again. The coats hats and gloves are out and we lok forward to our second white Christmas - still does not make up for no family - but is a different experience.
So that it for now - hopefully I can get some pictures sorted before long.
Lyn
Sunday, September 27, 2009
September is going going going......
This month has been a busy month as the various aspects of our work have increased for different reasons.
Ron is finalising 2 essays wehich will conclude his 3 years of study to acheive his Masters in International and community development. In the midst of his Bendigo appointment and then the change to living in Moscow he has undertaken this study with a distinction average mark - well done i say!!!
In his projects work a review team from London for a week to look at the project training progress and so there was much needed to prepare and process these visitors.
For me the work has been mostly preparring for a offciers congress due to be held next week. 150 delegates from the 5 countries will come together in Moldova for 3 days of meetings. I have been tasked with the organisation of this event and so it has meant bringing together a small team and following through the needed arrangments. This is also meant a few days in Moldova last week to sort out arrrangements at that end. Added to this has been the preparation of 20 hours of cadet lectures.
So we remain with plenty of work to do .
The excitement builds as we now prepare for our trip home. Our 12 month in country anniversary had us reflecting on our arrival last year and all that has happened in this year.
The change of lifestyle, the change of work, the change of friendships, and the change of how we communicate with loved ones.
But for now it is hard to focus ...all I can say is.....
BRING ON OCTOBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ron is finalising 2 essays wehich will conclude his 3 years of study to acheive his Masters in International and community development. In the midst of his Bendigo appointment and then the change to living in Moscow he has undertaken this study with a distinction average mark - well done i say!!!
In his projects work a review team from London for a week to look at the project training progress and so there was much needed to prepare and process these visitors.
For me the work has been mostly preparring for a offciers congress due to be held next week. 150 delegates from the 5 countries will come together in Moldova for 3 days of meetings. I have been tasked with the organisation of this event and so it has meant bringing together a small team and following through the needed arrangments. This is also meant a few days in Moldova last week to sort out arrrangements at that end. Added to this has been the preparation of 20 hours of cadet lectures.
So we remain with plenty of work to do .
The excitement builds as we now prepare for our trip home. Our 12 month in country anniversary had us reflecting on our arrival last year and all that has happened in this year.
The change of lifestyle, the change of work, the change of friendships, and the change of how we communicate with loved ones.
But for now it is hard to focus ...all I can say is.....
BRING ON OCTOBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Moscow statues
Moscow has many statues. Parks everywhere usually contain a few,many of stalin & lenin and many of the proud military heritage. This particular one is a feature in a park not far from the Kremlin. The artist is trying to depict the beauty & innocence of children and the dangers that surround them.
vist to gallery
My outing today was to find one of the best art Gallerys in moscow and in particular to find a painting called 'The Trinity'
It was only one stop on the metro and short walk to the Gallery. Some amazing art work telling the russian story in pictures.
There was a section for the russian icon work and this itself tells it own story of the history of Russian and the various influences. so it was good to spend a couple of hours just wandering & wondering.
I have been studying this particular piece of art in preparation for some cadet lectures I will do next month. Check out Andrei Rublev - The Trinity on the web. This is an amazong piece of work that brings together our understanding of the trinity - and for the orthodox it is seen as one of their most iconinc and famous pieces of work from the 15th century.
It was only one stop on the metro and short walk to the Gallery. Some amazing art work telling the russian story in pictures.
There was a section for the russian icon work and this itself tells it own story of the history of Russian and the various influences. so it was good to spend a couple of hours just wandering & wondering.
I have been studying this particular piece of art in preparation for some cadet lectures I will do next month. Check out Andrei Rublev - The Trinity on the web. This is an amazong piece of work that brings together our understanding of the trinity - and for the orthodox it is seen as one of their most iconinc and famous pieces of work from the 15th century.
wedding moscow 3
the bride and groom hving locked the padlock on the tree stand together and throw the key over their shoulder - not to see where it goes to signify they are locked together forever!
Weddings Moscow style
It is now one year since we left Aus to come to Moscow. Hard to believe. Time has flown by.
This month has been a quiet month and work has been in a routine - hence the lack if blogs for the month.
Today i ventured out for a visit to an Art Gallery. Ron has been in St Petersburg for the week and I have have been 'home alone'
On the way to the gallery I came across some Russian Weddings. The custom we first saw in Lithuania but apparently a Russian custom is for the Groom to carry his bride over a bridge - together they place a padlock and then ceremoniously throw the key away. Today the weather was good and there were many weddings so i stayed a while and watched the celebrations.
It is an interesting custom. Weddings here are mostly a civil service and then for some a church blessing before the party begins. Big cars - mostly stretched limos are plentiful on any Saturday around Moscow.
As I observed at least 12 brides today i remembered that in 59 days our daughter will walk down the aisle and we will be home in Aus.
How quickly time has gone by. Our baby girl - soon to be Mrs Putt.
We continue to discover new and different cultural influences that make this place what it is.
This month has been a quiet month and work has been in a routine - hence the lack if blogs for the month.
Today i ventured out for a visit to an Art Gallery. Ron has been in St Petersburg for the week and I have have been 'home alone'
On the way to the gallery I came across some Russian Weddings. The custom we first saw in Lithuania but apparently a Russian custom is for the Groom to carry his bride over a bridge - together they place a padlock and then ceremoniously throw the key away. Today the weather was good and there were many weddings so i stayed a while and watched the celebrations.
It is an interesting custom. Weddings here are mostly a civil service and then for some a church blessing before the party begins. Big cars - mostly stretched limos are plentiful on any Saturday around Moscow.
As I observed at least 12 brides today i remembered that in 59 days our daughter will walk down the aisle and we will be home in Aus.
How quickly time has gone by. Our baby girl - soon to be Mrs Putt.
We continue to discover new and different cultural influences that make this place what it is.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
language
One of the difficulties of coming to a new country is learning the language. We have discovered that you can manage to live without the language. Sign language is universal and you can get most things with a point or fingers for counting. Our work is mostly done in English - and occasionally a translator when needing to follow up with a local. When all else fails - google translate works.
Ron has been very studious - and quite academic in his language learning. He sits with his books each evening and so is becoming quite accomplished with the theory of the language. Now he needs the practice. The russians at work often want to learn english - but in recent days have become more committed to teaching us Russian - so we share a little of each others language.
Of course with Russian it has been a whole new alphabet. for example - how many of you when reading the blog title have prounced mockba - as in mock - ba - when what it is pronounced as moscva - the russian word for moscow. m is the same - then the o sound - but a c is an S and a b is a V and the the ah sound. - confused???? It has taken me until now to have the alpahbet click in my brain. There are 5 letters that look the same as ours and are the same - about 8 that look the same but say somthing completely different and then throw in the funny shaped letters that have sounds and there you have it. It is also differnt because you cannot just replace a russian letter with an english letter - they have some english words that have differnt endings and then a whole dictionary of words you cannot guess what they are. One good thing is that they ghave phonetic spelling. But our english rules are replaced with equally difficult rules and then gender endings that change not only the nounds but the verbs and the adjectives. Now I did not take to English language learning - so all these rules for language really !!!!
Having said all that we are learniong slowly and whilst it will be a long time before we can really have a conversation - we are beginning to manage the greetings and counting - so some progress is being made.
So as I sign off tonight - I need to say - dasvedanya ( which if I had a russian keyboard would look nothing like that)
Ron has been very studious - and quite academic in his language learning. He sits with his books each evening and so is becoming quite accomplished with the theory of the language. Now he needs the practice. The russians at work often want to learn english - but in recent days have become more committed to teaching us Russian - so we share a little of each others language.
Of course with Russian it has been a whole new alphabet. for example - how many of you when reading the blog title have prounced mockba - as in mock - ba - when what it is pronounced as moscva - the russian word for moscow. m is the same - then the o sound - but a c is an S and a b is a V and the the ah sound. - confused???? It has taken me until now to have the alpahbet click in my brain. There are 5 letters that look the same as ours and are the same - about 8 that look the same but say somthing completely different and then throw in the funny shaped letters that have sounds and there you have it. It is also differnt because you cannot just replace a russian letter with an english letter - they have some english words that have differnt endings and then a whole dictionary of words you cannot guess what they are. One good thing is that they ghave phonetic spelling. But our english rules are replaced with equally difficult rules and then gender endings that change not only the nounds but the verbs and the adjectives. Now I did not take to English language learning - so all these rules for language really !!!!
Having said all that we are learniong slowly and whilst it will be a long time before we can really have a conversation - we are beginning to manage the greetings and counting - so some progress is being made.
So as I sign off tonight - I need to say - dasvedanya ( which if I had a russian keyboard would look nothing like that)
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