I got up and got to the airport in plenty of time. It was foggy but the sun was trying to shine through so I didn’t thing too much about it. When I got to the airport and went to check-in, they said all flights had been delayed because of weather. I asked if I would make my connecting flight and they told me to get in line “over there” and change it. “Over there” was one Aeroflot counter with one young lady at the computer and 20 people waiting in line. OK. While standing in line, an acquaintance came by who was in the same boat. He was flying with Utair, which is a subsidiary of Aeroflot, but her sign said she dealt with all airline. This lady did not seem busy at all. Vladimir took me up to her and explained the situation in Russian, but she said she couldn’t help me. Meanwhile, the line behind me was growing around the corner. After two hours, I had made it to the third place in line, near the not-busy lady’s counter. I looked at her, looked at the line behind me and asked her if there was really no way she could help the poor individual who was doing all the work alone. So she took my passport and in 5 minutes I had my flight changes. But that didn’t help the other people in line.
So I went back to check-in and got done in 3 seconds. I also ran into a British guy I know who got someone to change his flight online, but they wouldn’t let him check in because he didn’t have it on paper. So he had to get into the same line I just got out of and he waited 2.5 hours. What a nightmare for everybody.
The flight wa OK but then I had to wait for 4 hours in Moscow to get my connecting flight. Meanwhile I was texting frantically to make sure everyone knew that I didn’t need to be picked up at the time I originally thought.
We finally boarded and then they had to de-ice the plane in Moscow, which should tell you something about Moscow winters. The flight’s almost over and just as I think nothing else can go wrong, the flight attendants call over the loudspeaker for medical assistance for the guy sitting a few rows ahead of me. Of course when we landed in Frankfurt, medical personnel came on board. But as it was, we were only about 30 minutes late. Since I had no check-in luggage I got out rather quickly and was glad to get picked up.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Saturday, March 23, 2019
The blah week
Compared to last week, this week was a dud. The snow melts and the streets get really slippery when it refreezes and starts to snow again. A guy ahead of my on the sidewalk took a really hard spill when he hit a patch of ice. I’ve really been tiptoeing around and walking VERY carefully.
The kids were all in a good mood this week, which means they were very active. I came home exhausted everyday. We talked about recycling this week because they are finally going to introduce it big time here in Kazan. Up until now, I’ve only seen plastic collection containers next to the normal garbage containers, although a friend told me there are paper recycling spots in the city, but you have to find them and drive to them. Some of the kids have been sorting with our little garbage can kit all week and really getting into it. We watched The Lorax and they are all very aware that, If water is dirty, fish will die.
This next week is spring vacation for the school and since my vacation schedule follows the school and not the kindergarten, I’m flying to Germany for a week. But one of the girls is headed to the Maldives with her family and a little boy and his family are headed for Portugal. It will be great to have a break. Sonia headed home to Spain last night already.
Monday night I had coffee with Dmitry, Tuesday night at stayed home, Wednesday night I went to table tennis and played a little bit. We were 5 players on two tables, so I got a chance to sit down a lot. No damage to my foot. Thursday was the opening of the German film festival here. Anna and I went to the reception before the film and then watched “Toni Erdmann”. It was a wonderful film and if you can find it somewhere on Netflix in English or with subtitles, it is worth it.
Friday night I came home from work and just zoned out. I was in Bed at 9. Today I packed my suitcase for Germany and then started packing some bags to send back to the States. It’s starting to get a little depressing. I’ve had a great time here and now it’s almost over. And I’ve collected so many things. Where is Marie Kondo when you need her? And things are generally not very upbeat at the moment, so I’ll finish up one more suitcase then I’ll clean up the apartment a little and then meet Anna for dinner, after which we will see another film at the German film festival.
Boy, do I need a vacation.
The kids were all in a good mood this week, which means they were very active. I came home exhausted everyday. We talked about recycling this week because they are finally going to introduce it big time here in Kazan. Up until now, I’ve only seen plastic collection containers next to the normal garbage containers, although a friend told me there are paper recycling spots in the city, but you have to find them and drive to them. Some of the kids have been sorting with our little garbage can kit all week and really getting into it. We watched The Lorax and they are all very aware that, If water is dirty, fish will die.
This next week is spring vacation for the school and since my vacation schedule follows the school and not the kindergarten, I’m flying to Germany for a week. But one of the girls is headed to the Maldives with her family and a little boy and his family are headed for Portugal. It will be great to have a break. Sonia headed home to Spain last night already.
Monday night I had coffee with Dmitry, Tuesday night at stayed home, Wednesday night I went to table tennis and played a little bit. We were 5 players on two tables, so I got a chance to sit down a lot. No damage to my foot. Thursday was the opening of the German film festival here. Anna and I went to the reception before the film and then watched “Toni Erdmann”. It was a wonderful film and if you can find it somewhere on Netflix in English or with subtitles, it is worth it.
Friday night I came home from work and just zoned out. I was in Bed at 9. Today I packed my suitcase for Germany and then started packing some bags to send back to the States. It’s starting to get a little depressing. I’ve had a great time here and now it’s almost over. And I’ve collected so many things. Where is Marie Kondo when you need her? And things are generally not very upbeat at the moment, so I’ll finish up one more suitcase then I’ll clean up the apartment a little and then meet Anna for dinner, after which we will see another film at the German film festival.
Boy, do I need a vacation.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
That was the week that REALLY was!
What a week. I haven’t even really had much time to write about it. Weather-wise, it’s getting to be spring. One day it’s melts, the next day it’s freeze. Not ideal conditions fo4 walking around on my sore foot.
So on Monday, I had wanted to meet Dmitry for coffee but he had to postpone. We decided to do it Thursday. Instead, I hobbled down to the tram stop to go to the big store to get some things. I was just glad to get home without falling. Then it felt good to put my foot up.
Tuesday was a funny day in school. One of the boys punch one of the girls and gave her a bloody nose. The owner’s son Immediately came to me and asked, “Would you like me to tell my mother?”
I though that was priceless! In the evening we surprised Ravil will a birthday dinner. Sonia had set it up that she was going to meet him, then a bunch of us came along without him suspecting it. It was a fun evening. But again, I was glad to get home so I could put my foot up.
Wednesday I went along to table tennis, but I didn’t play. Claudia and Frank came along for the first time. Claudia played very well. You could tell she had played in a club when she was younger. She was much more of a challenge to the other guys than I am.
Thursday Mahmoud got in touch with me and said that my bike presentation would be that evening. Yikes, we really got our wires crossed on that one. I had understood that he would give me a new date. I didn’t know it had just been postponed for a week. Quick, see if Dmitry can postpone again. Yep, we’re on for Monday.
OK, so I google map where I’m supposed to go, get to the place, and, of course can’t find the right entrance. It’s one of those deals where you have to walk around the entire building because it’s an entire city block, but the whole building is only one address. Confusing, but I happened to meet Mahmoud on the street and we went in together. It turned out to be a group of six business people who are trying to improve their English so they ask guests to come and discuss various topics. Interestingly enough, one of the women knew about me because her son used to attend our school and will be coming back in the fall. I gave my bike talk and everyone was very receptive to the idea. We discussed different things for about an hour and a half, then I headed home to clean up a little because I was having the guys over for pizza on Friday.
Friday came and we had a great time sitting around the kitchen table just talking, drinking tea and acting pizza. Ravil learned the expression “loose tea”! Tea is a really popular drink here. People drink cappuccino and lattes, but I’m thinking the first hot drink of choice is tea. And there is a LARGE variety to choose from.
I was glad that the school week was over. I wore the foot brace to school every day and only took it off when I was off my feet for awhile.
Saturday I met Ravil on the other side of town at 10 a.m. I had asked him to go to DHL with me to see what it would cost to send some of my things back. HOLY CRAP! For 100 kilos that wanted more that $3500! I mean, I know it’s in my contract that the school will pay for it, but that is just ridiculous. So Ravil suggested I just send it through the postal service. He had helped Thomas do that when Thomas left. It cost about one tenth as much! So I’m going to start packing Tuesday and get a lot of stuff out of the way. Yes, I’m really coming back. I need a break from 8-hour work days with VERY active children.
After that harrowing experience with DHL, we stopped in at MacDonald’s for a coffee. With us that always turns into an hour-long conversation. Ravil is probably one of the most intelligent, thoughtful people I have ever met.
I took the metro home and did all the dishes from the pizza party. Then I Skyped with Germany before I met Paul outside to head for Fouad’s birthday party. It had gotten so cold and icy, we decided to take a taxi because I didn’t want to risk a fall again. We managed to hold out until about 10, then we came on back home. Neither of us is a big party-goer.
Now, I’m just going to have another cup of coffee of coffee before I meet Anna At the Kremlin. We want to see an exhibit about Kasachstan at on of the museums there. After that I will stay right in town because the bosses have invited me to dinner. It was supposed to be last night, but they postponed. It’s going to be the annual meeting where they try to convince me to stay another year. This time it won’t work.
So on Monday, I had wanted to meet Dmitry for coffee but he had to postpone. We decided to do it Thursday. Instead, I hobbled down to the tram stop to go to the big store to get some things. I was just glad to get home without falling. Then it felt good to put my foot up.
Tuesday was a funny day in school. One of the boys punch one of the girls and gave her a bloody nose. The owner’s son Immediately came to me and asked, “Would you like me to tell my mother?”
I though that was priceless! In the evening we surprised Ravil will a birthday dinner. Sonia had set it up that she was going to meet him, then a bunch of us came along without him suspecting it. It was a fun evening. But again, I was glad to get home so I could put my foot up.
Wednesday I went along to table tennis, but I didn’t play. Claudia and Frank came along for the first time. Claudia played very well. You could tell she had played in a club when she was younger. She was much more of a challenge to the other guys than I am.
Thursday Mahmoud got in touch with me and said that my bike presentation would be that evening. Yikes, we really got our wires crossed on that one. I had understood that he would give me a new date. I didn’t know it had just been postponed for a week. Quick, see if Dmitry can postpone again. Yep, we’re on for Monday.
OK, so I google map where I’m supposed to go, get to the place, and, of course can’t find the right entrance. It’s one of those deals where you have to walk around the entire building because it’s an entire city block, but the whole building is only one address. Confusing, but I happened to meet Mahmoud on the street and we went in together. It turned out to be a group of six business people who are trying to improve their English so they ask guests to come and discuss various topics. Interestingly enough, one of the women knew about me because her son used to attend our school and will be coming back in the fall. I gave my bike talk and everyone was very receptive to the idea. We discussed different things for about an hour and a half, then I headed home to clean up a little because I was having the guys over for pizza on Friday.
Friday came and we had a great time sitting around the kitchen table just talking, drinking tea and acting pizza. Ravil learned the expression “loose tea”! Tea is a really popular drink here. People drink cappuccino and lattes, but I’m thinking the first hot drink of choice is tea. And there is a LARGE variety to choose from.
I was glad that the school week was over. I wore the foot brace to school every day and only took it off when I was off my feet for awhile.
Saturday I met Ravil on the other side of town at 10 a.m. I had asked him to go to DHL with me to see what it would cost to send some of my things back. HOLY CRAP! For 100 kilos that wanted more that $3500! I mean, I know it’s in my contract that the school will pay for it, but that is just ridiculous. So Ravil suggested I just send it through the postal service. He had helped Thomas do that when Thomas left. It cost about one tenth as much! So I’m going to start packing Tuesday and get a lot of stuff out of the way. Yes, I’m really coming back. I need a break from 8-hour work days with VERY active children.
After that harrowing experience with DHL, we stopped in at MacDonald’s for a coffee. With us that always turns into an hour-long conversation. Ravil is probably one of the most intelligent, thoughtful people I have ever met.
I took the metro home and did all the dishes from the pizza party. Then I Skyped with Germany before I met Paul outside to head for Fouad’s birthday party. It had gotten so cold and icy, we decided to take a taxi because I didn’t want to risk a fall again. We managed to hold out until about 10, then we came on back home. Neither of us is a big party-goer.
Now, I’m just going to have another cup of coffee of coffee before I meet Anna At the Kremlin. We want to see an exhibit about Kasachstan at on of the museums there. After that I will stay right in town because the bosses have invited me to dinner. It was supposed to be last night, but they postponed. It’s going to be the annual meeting where they try to convince me to stay another year. This time it won’t work.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Sunday, March 10, 2019
The end of the saga
We made it! We got up early and Claudia went out to start the car. It actually worked so we sat down and had breakfast and were on the road at about 8:30. I was still limping so it took me some time to get down the 4 flights of stairs to the parking lot, but once I was settle, we drove right through, only stopping shortly before Kazan to get gas. As soon as we hit town we drove to the address we had gotten for the store that sold foot braces. And it had them. I got just the sort of ankle supporter I was looking for and I will make sure I wear it as long as I am on my feet.
The streets here are a mess. This great amount of snow is melting so quickly! We drove through flooded streets and when I got out of the car I stepped in more than one puddle.
When I got in the house, I outlined my lesson plans , did two loads of wash, cooked spaghetti sauce and just basically got stuff done. Tomorrow it’s back to work. Boy, it’s the middle of March. Where is the time going? I will be home before I know it.
The streets here are a mess. This great amount of snow is melting so quickly! We drove through flooded streets and when I got out of the car I stepped in more than one puddle.
When I got in the house, I outlined my lesson plans , did two loads of wash, cooked spaghetti sauce and just basically got stuff done. Tomorrow it’s back to work. Boy, it’s the middle of March. Where is the time going? I will be home before I know it.
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