Space Heater The problem is not finding safe space heaters but having safe electricity in the flat to run them. I have not had much problems, but I know Michael has to turn everything off in his house when he runs his otherwise he flips the breaker. I have only flipped the breaker once and it was when I was running the heater in the kitchen and use the microwave at the same time.
Thank You I may have misunderstood the comment about Polish people being Jewish because it did surprise me and the tour guide's comment may have been in reference before the WW and I did not catch that because your comments make a lot of sense.
Thanks for the reply and clarification!
hi! I was just wondering how foreign tourists find my country (I'm Polish) and came across your journal. The person who advised visiting Krakow was right - although Warsaw, as a capital, seems to be best, it actually one of less interesting places in Poland. Krakow has much more magic to it, so does Gdansk, Poznan or Torun. A lot of interesting places are located outside the cities - most of old country residences that managed to live through the WW II were later changed into museums, not that big and pathetic, yet very interesting. If you ever were to go back to Poland, I strongly advise seeing such places instead of rather boring Warsaw.
One more thing that caught me when I was reading - who told you most Polish people are Jewish? In fact, there's hardly any jewish people in Poland thes days - there were more of them in the past, and by 'past' I mean up to 19th Century. WW II came next, and whoever was saved from Holocaust, had to endure funny communistic politics which was, to say the least, unsupportive to Jewish people, especially in the '60ties. 'Thanks' to Nazis and communism (if one can use a word like 'thanks' in such context) , national minorities in Poland are literally minorities, with around 90% (+/-5%, I'm not that sure) of people here being Polish. If you met so many Jewish people who live steadily in Poland, you may consider yourself lucky!
Great pictures These were great pictures. I loved Pompei after Rome and it was because you didn't have to visualize so much. In Rome it's a few bottoms of columns and a lot of imagination. When it's whole, it's much more interesting.
Great Pics and stories Hey Vince
I am so jelous of you man I could only dream of see half of the places you have been. what a great scrap book you will have and be able tyo share with all of your friends and family. keep the great pic comming and take care.
Mark
Such beautiful pictures! I'm sure everything is more beautiful in person though but these are really nice to see. We get to see things you don't see on TV about these foreign places thanks to you. What you are doing for us is something we will never get to do or experience ourselves and I thank you so much! It's an adventure each time I get a notice that you've posted something! lol Just got back from a few days in Memphis on the Blues tour of Beale Street, Sun Studios then Graceland with Ken's family and our daughter who's been here a week. It was a nice vacation although I had to work Friday for a Silliker audit. We did good though so that was alright. Take care and keep in touch.
Not Many Pictures I have not taken many pictures, but still trying to keep everyone updated, but I will have plenty of new stories in the next of weeks. I leave on Friday for Poland and there is rumors I may have to fly to France on Sunday instead of back to Moscow. Just breaks my heart...lol Then the following Saturday, I fly to Athens via Prague for a long weekend since May 1 is a holiday here for us. I am taking advantage of as many holidays as I can. This was not a cheap ticket, but wanted to get to see Athens.
Glad to hear you have some help coming. I am still waiting for you to tell me you are coming to audit Elinar-Broiler because JIB is going to open a store in Moscow! We would not pass your audit, but from what I have seen so far at the other plants, we are light years ahead of them for sanitaiton and food safety.
Thanks Thanks for keeping the news coming! I'm living this experience vicariously through you and enjoying it! San Diego is beautiful while the rest of the US is cold.
We have a new meat person coming in Monday so I'm looking forward to handing over the beef program.
Poland Next Weekend Just rubbing it in a little bit, I am off to Warsaw next week for a long weekend. Nothing specific on my agenda but do have a full day tour lined up for next Saturday. If I can make it work, we have May 1 off for a holiday and I am seriously considering going to Athens Greece for that long holiday weekend.
All joking aside, it has been wonderful to travel and see so many places I could never have done in a short period of time had I been in the States. There is no doubt that weighed on my decision to extend my contract into 2008. I am going to take advantage of the opportunity while I can.
I will hopefully see many of you in July while I am home for a few weeks. I miss you all!
Happy Easter I can not get over how awesome it is that you are traveling to as many places as you can. I am so darn jealous I can't hardly stand myself. The only thing I have on my traveling agenda so far is Williamsburg, VA over July 4th week. It should be a lot of fun though. And the same friend - John - wants me to come to his Uncle's place in St. Thomas in October. We'll see about that one. Take care sweetie! I'm glad your back is feeling better.
Glad to hear you're feeling better and the weather is being cooperative. It is nice here in Louisiana at the moment, low to mid 60's in the morning and high 70's to low 80's during the day. We had a few thundershowers midday but it warmed up to 75 by the time I got off work. A few more weeks and then it will be hotter than hades again with the awful humidity, but that's the price you pay for a mild winter and early spring. Take care.
Middle names This was an interesting tidbit. My granddaughter's middle name is Lezah, after my mother's first name which is a God awful Hazel, only spelled backwards. My nephew has his fathers name as a middle name and his son has my father's middle name for his middle name. I didn't know we were doing it but I guess it's to honor thy father/mother. Many times a married woman changes her name to her husbands last name keeping her last name as a middle name. Hmm. I think this is just trying to keep your own identity while conforming to cultural ideas.
Sounds like such fun and amazing adventures though, even the bad times! Just keep exploring, you can't expect them all to be perfect, after all you did get to ride a camel - lol! Take care and keep posting.
I Fully Agree! Have you ever been to Egypt? I have always wanted to see the pyramids so I am glad I went even though it was not high on my list; but I have to agree with you on the travel. I am getting to see a lot more of the world than I would have imaged a year ago and the experience working in a foreign country is invaluable!
Grand time What a grand time you are having! Even with the not-so-good travels, you are still getting the travel experience of a lifetime! I'm envious!
Been Too Busy I know and it was like I was back home, but to be honest, I have not been that homesick for food. I sure do miss the endless cups of coffee though! Great suggestion!
Chased Around the Store I wanted a few wine glasses as I am tired of drinking out of juice glasses so before going to the grocery store, I stopped by the "department store" where they usually sell single glasses from sets that break pretty cheap. I grabbed two and continued my shopping, this whole time the poor girl was trying to tell me that I picked two from the set of six. I did not know exactly what she was telling me but I knew she wanted me to put them back then I realized they were part of the demo display and not for sale as individuals. She pointed me to the single ones where I should have gone in the first place, but it was funny as you followed me around the store trying to tell me something until I finally figured out she wanted me to put the glasses back...lol
More Friends Today while I was at Compass, another grocery store, picking up some candy for my niece and nephew, I ran into Anna and Andrey, the two that usually host the parties at their summer home. They neither one can speak any English, but we were able to say hello, smile, shake hands and say a few words that the other did not have any idea what the other was saying. The point is, I am starting to run into people I know all over town, which is exciting.
Seeing the Doctor Again That was one of the excercises the first doctor recommended along with hot then cold water on my back but always ending with cold when I shower in the morning. If you are not awake, you will be after you get done with the cold water here.
I am actually going to a different clinic tomorrow morning as my back feels worse and is bruised from the vacuum massage I received from the first one. It is pretty ugly, I showed Dasha and Michael last night and I have two round bruises about 3-4 inches in diameter on my back from the vacuum hoses. I can take a vacuum cleaner and stick it to my back for a lot cheaper...lol
All joking aside, it hurts and I am having trouble sleeping at night so want to see another doctor. Thanks for the suggestions!
Back problems Back problems can be a real pain. The best thing is a simple thing - while lying down, lift your knees to your chest. Do both one at a time and both together x10. This strengthens the muscles that hold us upright. The problem is when you are feeling better, it's too easy so you don't do it and that's where the trouble comes again. When you're hurting, you can's do them. If you can get a muscle relaxer like Flexiril, that helps too. Good luck!
I changed my portrait from my lastest picture from Tokyo where I saw ZED by Cirque du Soleil and even go to meet ZED.
Summer has pasted and now it is winter here in cold dark (short days with little sunshine) Russia. For those that did not hear, I signed on for another year so I will be living here in Obninsk until January 2009.
It is finally summer here in Russian so thought I would change the picture. Enjoy the stories, adventures, blunders, etc. as I live and work in Russia.
I do not want to loose any of my emails and stories, so I am just going to add to this existing one. ... full info
vkramer515
Vince Kramer
Space Heater
The problem is not finding safe space heaters but having safe electricity in the flat to run them. I have not had much problems, but I know Michael has to turn everything off in his house when he runs his otherwise he flips the breaker. I have only flipped the breaker once and it was when I was running the heater in the kitchen and use the microwave at the same time.