Will have to visit Sounds like you are settling! Paige and Liam talk about you often and your new adventure in Russia. They are anxious to visit, but you wonder why we will wait until spring? Though I have the PX to shop at and find comfort in going to English post, went through much of what you are experiencing. I carry 200-300 euro in my purse almost always, plus my us dollars. It is different that the plastic. Have you considered opening an account at a local bank and having x amount from your bank transferred monthly, may be fewer fees involved than finding an ATM all the time to take out cash and then no cash advances needed. That is what I have done to pay for Liam's school, phone and internet. And yup...we have the same deal with many hotels here, they keep the key. They have the tp they have due to the poor sewage systems, something with the makeup I understand (I am sure some of it is due to cost). Keep your head up and know that you are in our prayers!
Friends This is the start of your Russia networking friends. It's so good to see you are excited about it. More will come in a short time I suspect. Happy adventure and thanks for the blog.
FUNNY Hello Vince I am galde you are settling in ok< I did try to call on friday but you were not home. it sounds like you are going to be ok their as long as you dont try to buy any personal hygene products from the pictures on the lables LOL . the reason the people stand so close that the store are small and in the winter they all want in out of the -40 below weather. LOL Every thing here is going well Stephen is also following you BLOG and we are laughing at your expence LOL . you can always put up a shower curtin in place fo the water closet door. ok I guess you need me their to do some work. you know for the right price I do travil. LOL well take care and keep up the GREAT JOUNAL it is a hoot. XOXOX
Hi,
Fun stories. Glad they are yours, lol. Send a "survival" list to the group and we will get you the neccesities. You might consider assigning some of us to "the list" so you don't end up with 300 rolls of toilet paper and no Jack!!! (however that might make the bed a little more comfy!)
Miss you!!!
been busy! Wow you have been a busy guy! Need your address so I can get a care package started for you and try to mail it this weekend. So far guess it will be TP and clothes pins. LOL
R
Thanks for the news It is so good to hear the adventure is going OK. It's NOT the USA but we wouldn't want it to be. I got a new respect for recycling, reusing, and wearing out. Small cars and small roads are the norm. We have way too much here and take it for granted. Enjoy the new experiences.
Terrific posting. And I've experienced the "up-close-and-personal" way Europeans are. Well, actually, everywhere I've been outside the states is like that. Especially China. Anyway, I will gladly send you a flyswatter and clothespins. If you put a fan or a heater blowing on your clothes while they are hanging, they will dry faster. Possibly put an extra spin cycle in the washer if you haven't already done so. Mom always hung everything outside and the breezes and sun dried the clothes. Kind of hard to do in an apartment, but do you have access to the roof? And way to go on using the public transportation! The best way to get around and explore is to dive right in. You go Vince! Looking forward to the next post. :0)
great looking place hey great looking apartment. Do they charge extra for the art work out front. :-) I have tried to send a couple of comments but they do not seem to be going through. You know how computer challenged I am. Any way we finally got some rain yesterday. of course it hit when me and two friends where half way to Dockside for dinner. Got just under 1 inch of rain and it has made a difference in the lake.Had to turn back and just hang around on the Rio Siesta deck. Overcast and very humid here today..only 80 degrees.
Hang in there and just keep smiling and nodding at the people there... some one will understand you one day. :-) Miss you bunches
Alls well here in Gainesville Hey Vince the pic of the apartment looks nice. everything is going good here the weather has been hottttt, heck I am staying home this weekend and going camping so you know it must be hot. LOL I tryed to call your apartment but it just rang. it is 12 noon here but is should know you wouldnt be home from work yet. heck it is only 8pm their (right?) and you were never home from work here by that time. take care and I will be talking with you soon. Mark
YEA! Glad you are on your way to a computer! Hopefully, it will help with the communication issues and make you feel a little warmer. Are we sure the computers come in English over there? lol.
I miss you very much, Melissa
That was a great posting! I felt there with you...mark of a budding writer! What brand of tp is your favorite? I'll send you a pack. And supposedly I can mail you alcohol. Whether it will remain in it's packaging and make it to you is another matter. Can we send you a taped course on learning Russian? I'm glad you made it safe and sound and are already exploring. Have fun!
So glad to hear from you I was getting concerned. Now I understand how the people worried with our travel blog. I just returned from Europe and all the things you say are the same in Europe. The key stays, diet is hard to find, there are few big stores, nothing is the same as America (try taco salad with endive and no cheese!), small rooms, little hot water, staying lost most of the time. You'll get used to it and have a grand adventure! Enjoy!
happy to hear from you HI THERE:
WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR YOU ARRIVED OK. LOVED READING YOUR ADVENTURES SO FAR. JUST KEEP US POSTED. YOU MAY BE FREEZING, BUT HERE IN GAINESVILLE WE ARE HOT, AND I DO MEAN HOT. TEMP TODAY 98 YESTERDAY IT WAS 102 NOW THAT IS NOT COUNTING THE HUMIDY!!! JACSON ELECTRIC WILL LOVE US THIS MONTH!!!
TAKE DEAR FRIEND AND PLEASE KEEP US POSTED.
SAY ARE YOU COMING BACK IN OCT?? IF SO WHY DON'T YOU, TONY AND I GO OUT FOR A BITE TO EAT??
LOTS OF HUGS TO YOU AND BE CAREFUL
SHERRIE
Fare thee well in Russia, my friend. I'm already looking forward to hearing about your settling-in adventures. Be sure and let us all know if you run into any cuties!
You will be missed Vince you are a great friend that has helped me and my kids alot, and we will never forget that. I had a hard time holding back the tears at the air port a few did run down my face, but I know you will be back to warm you buns here in Oct. and heck thats only what 8 weeks away.
you take care and I will be in touch soon.
Mark
I MISS YOU IN GAINESVILLE Today was the hardest day for all your friends here in GA too! It did not truely hit me till I was driving home from breakfast that my friend is gone for a year. No more two quick honks of the car horn for warning. No more "I was just out for errands and stopped by to say hello and have a JD". Mark and I went for the usual Sunday "Pig Out" at Fire Mountain and we missed you! Hope your flight was good.... Thinking of you often!
R
GOING TO MISS YOU SO VERY MCUH. WE KNOW THAT WITH YOUR OLD JOB YOU WERE HARDLY HOME BUT WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT IF NEEDED YOU YOU WERE THERE.
PLEASE KEEP US POSTED AND DON'T FORGET TO SEND US YOUR NEW ADDRESS WHEN YOU GET IT.
ALL OF OUR LOVE TO YOU AND BE SAFE DEAR FRIEND.
THE SCLAFANI'S
See you soon I know I'm not there to give you a farewell hug and wish you well in person but you're in my thoughts and wishes for the greatest year ahead. You'll be back before you know it and we can't wait to read more about your adventures along the way. Take care and we'll keep in touch.
looks like fun It looks like it was a great party! Can't wait to see more pictures. You can send the ones involving alcohol to my home e-mail! lol Good luck and I hope you have a safe trip.
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
John
non-member comment
I knew you'd make it a trip of a lifetime!