Wedding Tree 
Irtysh River
Dostoevsky Museum
Dostoevsky ApartmentBonding Day 6 – November 11, 2007
Well, I’m finally feeling more like myself. My head is congested and I still wake up tired even though I am sleeping well at night. But, I no longer feel like I am walking around in a fog. It’s a wonder people aren’t sick more often because it is very cold outside but the buildings are very warm inside. So, your body goes from one extreme temperature to the other.
Today, BabyKaz turned 9 months old. He weighs 20 lbs 15 oz (okay, he weighs 21 lbs) and he is 27 inches tall. He is starting to sit up by himself for longer periods of time. He still loves to look at his hands and stick out his tongue. He also blows lots of bubbles. He was a little fussy because he is cutting a tooth and his gums seem to be hurting. The look on his face when we tried out the Oragel was priceless. It was quiet again in the bonding room since the other couple arrives today but they have not come in yet.
Between visits today, we visited the Dostoevsky Museum. He was the Russian author of Crime and Punishment, among other novels. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia but was exiled to Semey for about 5 years with his first wife. He lived in an apartment while in Semey and had to work for the military. His apartment is still standing and is attached to the museum.
Katya has been our translator for the last couple of days while Larissa works with other families. She is 21 years old. She is a very sweet, pretty Russian. She is also extremely knowledgeable of Semey history and culture. She has made a great tour guide.
In the afternoon, we went out to the pine forest outside of Semey to see the Wedding Trees. These trees are on the bank of the Irtysh River and the best friend of the groom has to climb the tree and hang two bottles tied together with ribbon in honor of the couple. Some best friends look pretty lazy to me because their bottles were hanging low in the tree. Also in this area is a spring that the people consider holy. They come and swim in the water and fill water jugs and believe that this water will cure all illnesses. It was so beautiful driving through the forest and along the river with the trees and the snow on the ground. It’s definitely a view you would rarely get in Columbia.
For dinner, Mom and I ate at a very good Chinese restaurant. We basically had sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. It was really delicious. Interestingly, Katya had not heard of an eggroll, so we never found out if they had it on the menu. Most of the restaurants only have menus in Russian so the translator always reviews the menu and orders for us. This particular restaurant was in the same building as a bowling alley, which seemed pretty popular. Bowling anyone?
Well, I’m finally feeling more like myself. My head is congested and I still wake up tired even though I am sleeping well at night. But, I no longer feel like I am walking around in a fog. It’s a wonder people aren’t sick more often because it is very cold outside but the buildings are very warm inside. So, your body goes from one extreme temperature to the other.
Today, BabyKaz turned 9 months old. He weighs 20 lbs 15 oz (okay, he weighs 21 lbs) and he is 27 inches tall. He is starting to sit up by himself for longer periods of time. He still loves to look at his hands and stick out his tongue. He also blows lots of bubbles. He was a little fussy because he is cutting a tooth and his gums seem to be hurting. The look on his face when we tried out the Oragel was priceless. It was quiet again in the bonding room since the other couple arrives today but they have not come in yet.
Between visits today, we visited the Dostoevsky Museum. He was the Russian author of Crime and Punishment, among other novels. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia but was exiled to Semey for about 5 years with his first wife. He lived in an apartment while in Semey and had to work for the military. His apartment is still standing and is attached to the museum.
Katya has been our translator for the last couple of days while Larissa works with other families. She is 21 years old. She is a very sweet, pretty Russian. She is also extremely knowledgeable of Semey history and culture. She has made a great tour guide.
In the afternoon, we went out to the pine forest outside of Semey to see the Wedding Trees. These trees are on the bank of the Irtysh River and the best friend of the groom has to climb the tree and hang two bottles tied together with ribbon in honor of the couple. Some best friends look pretty lazy to me because their bottles were hanging low in the tree. Also in this area is a spring that the people consider holy. They come and swim in the water and fill water jugs and believe that this water will cure all illnesses. It was so beautiful driving through the forest and along the river with the trees and the snow on the ground. It’s definitely a view you would rarely get in Columbia.
For dinner, Mom and I ate at a very good Chinese restaurant. We basically had sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. It was really delicious. Interestingly, Katya had not heard of an eggroll, so we never found out if they had it on the menu. Most of the restaurants only have menus in Russian so the translator always reviews the menu and orders for us. This particular restaurant was in the same building as a bowling alley, which seemed pretty popular. Bowling anyone?
2 comments:
Ahhhhh, the memories of the things we did in Semey....we got a shot of my husband up that wedding tree holding a bottle in each hand....I thought he was going to break his neck, but it made a great picture and memory. Pasha just laughed when my hubby climbed that tree!!
Beckie (mom to Lana....home 01/06)
They told us that the higher in the tree the bottle was hung, the longer the marriage lasted. I told them it was a good thing I was not a groomsmen in Kaz because the bottle wouldn't get hung very high.
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