Thankful for Thanksgiving in Russia

I wasn't so sure about being here for the holidays, but God made my first thanksgiving away from home a pretty awesome one. The Orner's were (and are) a HUGE blessing! Jamie had decided that we would celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday night (we wouldn't have homework then and we usually hang out Friday nights anyway – plus, actual Thanksgiving Day took place while we were sleeping Thursday night, since it is just an American holiday). Jamie planned a feast (which was very ambitious of her, since the food here is so different and shopping for it when you don't speak Russian makes it even harder!)

I went over in the late afternoon to play the role as the sue chief (not sure how to spell that – I didn't even know what that was until Jamie started calling me one). We listened to some Christmas music I had on my computer while we cooked and eat – it was pretty cool. When I said that I missed my parent's old Christmas records, Lucas tried to look up some of the songs online for us to listen to and after a long search he actually found Connie Smith's “Go Tell it on the Mountain” (my all-time favorite!) . . . although it was only a 30 second sampler it was still stinkin awesome!

Jamie fixed corn bread (thanks to Lucas' parents who sent that Jiffy mix!), mashed potatoes (I'd been craving those!), green beans, cooked carrots and onions, the juiciest porks chops ever (mine was seriously 1 ½” thick!), apple crisp and even pumpkin pie!!! Man, I wish those of you in the states could truly realize just how amazing this accomplishment really is – Jamie as awesome! You might ask “Where's the turkey?” They are hard to find here and although one of our teachers told us where we could get one, I was a party-pooper and confessed that I didn't really like turkey (it's true – ranchers tend to like meat, not fowl) (:

And what would Thanksgiving be without football!? Well, I still don't know that answer to that one, because Lucas downloaded the Colts vs. Steelers game from a few weeks ago and we watched it after dinner! It was so awesome!

While Thanksgiving just wasn't the same, it was pretty awesome! I praise God who knows my needs and desires and always proves faithful to provide them! I praise Him for new traditions and home away from home. I also praise God for giving me a family who is willing to let me be half way around the world even during the harder holiday times. God is so good!

Vanessa's Theories on Russian Reasoning

Note: No scientific research has been done to come up with these theories. And this blog is not meant to insult or put down Russian culture or my Russian brothers and sisters – it is to share some of the differences between our cultures and hopefully bring a few smiles.

Many Babushka's die their hair a bright pinkish-red color

While this may appear to by hair die, it's really their hair follicles' reaction to 50+ years of their daily beet intake (Jamie deserves some credit for helping me develop this theory)

Women wear boots much like that sported by Julia Roberts in the 1990 movie “Pretty Women”

This is definitely a safety precaution, the stilettos make very good picks in the ice to prevent slipping (the icy sidewalks are covered with little stiletto puncture marks!)

Sour cream, curds, sour milk, white cheeses and other dairy “food” products are very popular

This is to prevent osteoporosis in the hips of all those babushkas out there braving it on the icy sidewalks

A Holstein Cow is a common holiday decoration (for the New Year's celebration)

While America has Santa coming down chimneys and stuffing stockings, the Russian Holiday Cow flies in through the window (often left open to keep from cooking in the night) and stocks the fridge with curdled-sour-white products (aka. “dairy products”). This goes to show just what a big deal dairy is here!

Toilet paper that's a cross between cardboard and crate paper

Just eat some beets and you'll know the reason for this one!

Black and other dark colors are popular clothing color choices

If you want you whites to stay white and your brights to stay bright you better not walk anywhere outside, avoid beets and get used to washing your clothes by hand (the washing machines seem to have only one temperature – HOT)!

The word for “bread” is painted on – what appear to be – military convoy trucks

I would do further research on this but fear what would happen to me if I discovered what was really being hauled by these “bread trucks”.

Men and women and children often sport mullets

While one might have the desire to have an easy hair style that will be out of the face and professional looking they might also want their neck to stay warm in the Siberian weather without the hassle of a scarf; the solution – none other then the 80's mullet

Young women wear warm winter boots, heavy fur coats, scarves, gloves, hats and mini-skirts

The cold weather reduces swelling of the legs and keeps their legs thin enough to fit into their tight tights.

There are muddy shoe prints on toilet seats

I've got nothing on this one – if you have any ideas I would love to know what they are!

I better quit with that one! Perhaps further research and observation will lead to more theories but until then I will continue to “enjoy” culture!

It's been a while...What should I blog about?

I also struggle with know what to write about, I have a lot of ideas and so much I would love to say but don't know what to write about first. I would love it if you would let me know what you would like to hear about first:

A. “You know you're in Siberia when . . .”

B. My theories on why Russians do things they do

C. Russian Mullets

D. The new year's cow (this topic will require more research on my part)

E. Blessings and Frustrations

(This is really just to buy me more time on writing. . . but it would be nice to know what you would like to hear about first).

Awaiting your vote!

I'm trying to post this again... "who needs a coat when you have blubber!"

I am excited to go shopping tomorrow for a warm winter coat that can handle the Siberian winter. Although I'm beginning to wondering if I really need one...
You see I live with a babushka, not just any babushka – a babushka who has a huge garden, is an excellent cook and doesn't take “no thank you” for an answer. Or...could it be that I am trapped in a situation similar to that of Hansel and Gretel?! If this is the case I getter get out while I can still fit through the door!!!!

She truly spoils me! I rarely cook, when I do I usually end up eating multiple lunches or dinners because she will insist on giving me me some of what she is eating too. The other night I made pancakes and offered some to her – surprisingly she took me up on my offer! However, when she realized that my pancakes were pancakes and not bleeny (a traditional Russian pancake that is a very thin like a crape) she was a little more hesitant! She said it was okay and finished eating it but she must of thought that I needed to learn how to cook one properly because the next night she made bleeny and showed me how it was done! I've also had a lesson on making palmeeny (another traditional Russian food that is kinda like a meat dumpling that they put in soup). I couldn't believe how much work goes into making those little things!

Every morning I have a very large breakfast with 7 different open-faces-mini-sandwiches (each with a different topping- roast beef, cheese, cheese spread, tomato and cheese, jam, squash spread and butter) oatmeal, a hard-boiled egg and coffee (my favorite!!!!)

On Tuesday, Baba T. had the Orner's over for the first time. I told her that my friends really wanted to meet her and I asked her if they could come over for tea sometime. Well, “tea” to Baba T. means; an amazing cabbage-meat pie, pickles, sweat roles with jam, cake and tea. I will add that pretty much everything was grown in her garden (even the herbs for the tea!) Needless to say our “tea” was excellent and she enjoyed meeting the Orner's very much. Her son and his family also came for “tea” that night and his wife, K. (an English teacher at the university) was able to translate for us.