No pictures...

I have been terrible about updating my blog over the last little while only because I haven't been taking pictures. However, this picture of James is a pretty good depiction of my mood over the last week. I have been very happy and I like it.


Because I do want to share with you what I've been up to, please accept this text-only update of some of the fun things I've been working on.


As most of you know, I am working in Russia as an environmental coordinator. That means I coordinate our environmental protection efforts during our 2011 offshore construction season. Over the last few weeks I have been bouncing from ship to ship providing environmental training and vessel inspections. I've trained somewhere around 250 people. It has been very fun.


Last week I boarded a large pipelay barge filled with nearly 200 burly Russian men and proceeded to give them a Sunday-school style lesson on oil spill prevention and waste management. They were so attentive, I could hardly believe my eyes. I spoke with a translator to make sure everyone understood everything they needed to hear. Then, at the end I switched to Russian to give them one last hooray. They nearly gave me a standing ovation! They were all clapping and cheering. Made me feel like a million bucks. Thanks guys. 


Our construction continues to be delayed, but I don't really mind sticking around here. It gives me the opportunity to spend more time exercising and eating well. I also have been fortunate enough to have been roped into a few other activities going on in the office. One of them is the Western Gray Whale tagging program.


A few days ago I went with the whale crew to test out their boats. They built for themselves this little extension they are calling a pulpit that allows them to walk out, over the water in front of the boat. They are hoping it will make tagging a few whales this summer much, much easier. Last year they were only able to tag one whale, and are hoping that they can take their lessons learned this year and tag a few more. Good luck everyone.


Of course there have been a lot of fun cultural things I should share as well. One, my favorite, relates directly to the whale boats. Not only are Russians kind and traditional, but they are also sometimes a little slow to try new things. I usually like this because it means that they are very resourceful. Dad would like them, too, for their Use-it-up,-wear-it-out.-Make-it-do,-or-do-without mentality.


When we arrived at the little lake we were testing the boats in (it was more like a large pond actually) I couldn't help but notice that all the biologists were practically naked. In fact, their cotton underwear did very little to hide their anatomy, if you know what I mean. It made me chuckle. I often like to compare Russians to little children. This, in my opinion, did nothing to prove the contrary. They were all very nice men. Very gentle in helping me and another, now much more Russianized, American girl get into and out of the little boats. They paddled us around for a little while (they accidentally forgot the motor) as the girls stood together out on the pulpit, trying to simulate a much larger man bouncing over waves attempting to tag a whale. As you can imagine, we had a great time.


That's all for now. Thanks for all your kind comments in future and past posts.

Out with friends...

Last weekend I walked an hour back to the Santa Hotel from the branch's Missionary Sport's Night at Oblastnaya Bolnitsa. Playing ultimate frisbee, basketball and the scary Russian version of dodgeball with the missionaries, branch members and random boys from off the street has to be one of the best things to do here. As usual, and as the only athletic girl out there, I always get asked lots of questions as to why I play all these games to well. It makes me chuckle because I'm pretty sure the group of friends I use to play basketball with in Houston probably considered me as their team's handicap 99% of the time. Good to know that even the humblest American basketball player can still take on the Russians (;

On the way home I passed by a fun park/war memorial. 

I ran into a couple cool friends from work. They were out riding bikes (which they had only learned how to ride about a year ago) and taking pictures. They let me try out their bikes and I taught them how to ride down the stairs. We had a great time.

Larisa is taking an online photography course and gave me a little lesson on how to photograph different perspectives. See how the bikes seem to stretch and lengthen?

The technique works for faces, too.

I think this one with the soldier's neck is a fun example.

  

The secret is how you use your lens. Keep the camera zoomed out and just get closer rather than zooming in from farther way. Thanks Larisa for the fun tips!

Boats-eat-oats...

I have been so busy! Here is a quick preview. I will write more soon.

 

You know you're hungry when...

I must be hungry, because I keep thinking and studying about food. Even my email is surprising me with yummy looking dishes.

For example, Healthy French Toast

Ingredients:
2 slices of Sprouted grain, spelt or rice bread
2 whole eggs
1 Tbs butter
Maple syrup or apple sauce (no sugar added)
Cinnamon to taste

Directions:
Scramble the 2 eggs in a bowl large enough to fit one slice of bread. Dip the bread and make sure it is coated generously with the egg mixture. Heat a pan (on low to medium) large enough for 1 or 2 slices of bread and add the butter. Once the butter is melted in the pan (if it begins to turn brown, you have the heat up too high) add the bread coated with the egg mixture. Cook the bread on each side for 3-4 minutes covered (you can cook it uncovered as well.) Serve with maple syrup (1 tsp per slice is more than enough) or topped with apple sauce and cinnamon.

All the ingredients are wholesome and natural. If you want more protein with your breakfast, you can add a piece of bacon, breakfast sausage or even another egg on the side. (I think this would taste most delicious after a long run... and a bit modified, Wendy style, with some raw honey, fresh peanut or almond butter and a sliced banana. Maybe a nice bowl of strawberries and blueberries on the side.)

Anyone willing to try this recipe out for me? I'm starved!

Working on ...

As a matter of civility I will not complain on this blog about work. I will not tell you about the micromanaging work style of the supervisors. I will not tell you that it took two full days to make one insignificant handout. I will not tell you that I sort of lost my patience today. That would be awful (and very un-Thompson of me.)

I will show you, however, the best part of my day. I brought my camera so I could collect and share a few snippets from my usual walk to work. As you can see, it is beautiful.

The mini railroad I cross.

The lake and mini train station I pass.

The mini "auto city" I meander through.

I dreamed of this when I was a kid.

Of course most of the pictures show my favorite part.

The stream and ancient burial ground (well, at least it looks like one.)

My office desk.

Okay. So this last one is a bit boring, but I thought you might like to see what my "office" looks like. Empty cubicle. I am starting to populate the brown 'wall' with environmental bulletins I am creating. Simple and clean. Not bad.







Looking back at these pictures I wonder, "How could I ever have a bad day?"

Sticks and Stones

Saturday I was walking in the park with two English club friends. We were just coming out of the woods when we heard a boy crying. We found him laying on the ground with an arm that was now in two pieces. We talked with him to help calm him down and told him encouraging stories like, "I've broken my arm twice," and "after I broke my elbow it was good as new in no time. In fact it is better now that before."

The boy (Yefim, 13 yrs old) had been riding his bike with two buddies down a hill when he lost control. You could tell he was in a bit of shock because he kept breaking down into tears. Not because of pain in his arm, but because he just got a new bike and he was scared about what his parents would say. We constantly had to keep reminding him not to touch his arm. The skin was still intact and he could move his fingers, but you could boldly see that both bones had been broken about 2 inches below his wrist. His forearm and hand were facing two different directions.

Eventually a nurse lady (dressed in a rosy purple uniform) showed up in a bus. She asked him if he was allergic to any medications. He said he didn't know. She said that meant no and proceeded to mix together several liquids in a syringe, pulled down his pants and gave him a shot. Then she picked up his arm (that was kind of freaky) and wrapped it over a splint with some linen. He was very brave and only screamed a little.

Note to self. Don't break arm in Russia.

Competition

There was a man running on my trail this morning. Somehow I got it into my head that it would feel really good to pass him. I ran faster, he ran faster. In the end I ran my last loop one minute faster than usual ... got him though. It was worth every step.

By the way, each loop is 3 kilometers. That was my third loop. You do the math.