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Published: September 17th 2006
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Dance
All employees of Elinar, but from the different divisions. When it is 32oF outside, I am not sure how you can call it "summer" but we had the Elinar Summer Olympics yesterday. Elinar has five division, all part of Elinar Holding. Our Russian owner believes in Teamwork so twice a year he puts on an Olympics, summer and winter. We had several funny type games, but some very serious ones as well. I will not remember all of them, but there was volleyball, soccer, chess, tug-a-war/rope, jump roping, relay races, arm wrestling, weight lifting, etc. I honestly thought it was going to be a silly drinking party, which there was plenty of that, but it was a very well organized and fun day yesterday.
Everyone laughed at me because I had several coats on, my hat, sunglasses, and gloves; but after getting there, I am glad I did. I did not get cold while others were freezing. They all asked me what I was going to do when it really gets cold outside. I guess I will figure that out when it gets here. It is also amazing how much people, both men and women, were into fashion. I did not care what I looked like but everyone else
Military
The owner is very close friends with someone at the military base near by so we had the military perform as well. had to match. They did not want to borrow my jacket because it would not match and another thing, all Russians, particularly the women, all check out each others' shoes. If they do not match, they will tell you and if they do match they will tell you. It is amazing. It does not matter we are going to be standing in a field of mud, they all had to wear nice shoes.
Okay, on to the Olympics. The opening was the normal speeches by the Owner and General Directors of the different divisions, but it went quickly. They they had the Russian anthem, but no flag, which I thought was interesting. Then they raised the Elinar flag. I would have thought they would put the Russian flag up followed by the Elinar, but nope, just the Elinar one. They then had a dance team come in, which were very good!
Then after the dance team got down, you heard all of those shooting going on behind you and the military, which Egor, our Russian owner is good friends with someone at the military base near the main office. They come running in to where the dance team
Military1
They came in shooting into the air. was at and perform a corragraph (sp?) attack to music. They were very good as well. Then the games began!
I did not take pictures of everything, but one of the few Elinar-Broiler took first place was in tug-a-war. In the final match, I was down front just cheering our team on. I am sure there will be plenty more pictures/movies that others took of me. We took second in soccer which was a big disappointment as we were first last year and were the team to beat and we got beat. It was a rough match, but a very good one.
The lady in the white coat is Gaukhar, Michael's translator who I am also using now. The lady in the red, usually next to the guy with white hair, is Anna, our other translator. The white hair guy is Alan, my boss and the guy wearing the Maryland sweat shirt is Michael, the other American here. If you can not tell, Elinar-Broiler's color is green so those were all Elinar-Broiler people if you see them in green. For the chess match, that is one of my vets. He placed fourth.
I am not sure how
Military2
Then did a corragraph (sp?) fight. They were very good and a lot of fun to watch. to point the other people out, but if you want to know, just ask, otherwise I will just post pictures with captions for you. Again, it was a great event and something I think we can learn from. It would be a little harder for WF to do something like this as there would be a lot more cost involved with the travel, but I think it might be worth considering.
As I posted on my earlier blog, there was no one to take my picture until after the event was over so that is me holding my prize, cold beer, for getting my nail in the bottle the fastest. I just thought I would let you all know I have the best aim and can squat the fastest.....lol I posted a few pictures of others trying it afer me, but they did not beat my time. It actual was not timed but thought I would add that for effect.
During the games, we took an alcohol break ourselves. Michael and I were watching the volleyball when we got the call to come join the other directors for some toasts. I made sure to eat lots of bread
Tug a War
We took first place and it was a lot of fun. For the final round, I was up front and one of the biggest cheerers/supporters. as I was told there would be plenty of alcohol there, and yes there was, but honestly, it all stayed in check. Trying to be sneaky, I am sipping my "shot" until Alan notices and then makes a big deal about it. I was trying to hold off until I got low so that I could make a toast as the one making the toast has to do his whole glass even though you find most will do the entire glass anyways. Thank goodness we got called back to the field before they filled mine glass back up (to the TOP) and I had to make the toast.
I hope you all enjoy the pictures!
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Gale
non-member comment
It looks like everyone had a great time. How many years have they been doing this? At least you had alcohol to warm you, that's one thing I don't think WF would allow - lol. Glad you won something though. I'd never fit in over there, I'm not a shoe fanatic as I'm sure you know but that's an interesting thing. How are the men about their shoes?