Spring in Moscow

It's hard to describe the feeling here in Moscow after a long and rough Winter.  As much as I love snow, even I was tired of slipping and sliding after the third month of it.

But around the end of April-- everything changes.  Temperatures rise, the snow melts, and there's much more daylight.

When Spring comes, Moscow turns into a completely different city.  Parks are full, flowers are planted everywhere, and everybody just wants to be outside.  We are even planning on changing our English Movie Nights to just meeting at parks and walking.

This video can't do it justice, but it's a little slice of what's been happening and the excitement of the new season.  If you cannot see the video, click HERE.  Or try the Youtube version HERE.



Spring in Moscow from Tim Rhodes on Vimeo.

Last Kids Club

Yesterday, May 25, was  Последний звонок (Last Bell) in Russia-- the last day of school.

Last Wednesday was our last Kids Club for the semester.  Because of this we spent the entire time reviewing songs we had practiced and sang over the semester.  Every Wednesday we would spend an hour each afternoon teaching 10-18 six and seven year old's simple English words and phrases-- colors, foods, animals, and so on.  We would teach songs or games, anything that was fun and would help children remember the vocabulary.

We will miss seeing and teaching these children!

Reviewing the motions of "Hokey Pokey"

I don't remember what she was asking me--

Trying to get everyone organized for the songs

This looks completely posed but I promise I didn't know she was taking a picture.  Timofei was leading us in a song.

Singing the Hokey Pokey

Friday Night at the Park

A couple weeks ago we had a pretty unanimous idea to move our usual Friday English Movie Night outside.  Winter has been gone for over a month now, and the weather is incredible here in Moscow.  Because our friends the Friersons and Wilhelms were here visiting on their way to Prague, we decided to hang out at Парк Победы (Victory Park).  It's one of my favorite parks, and has a place where you can sit, relax, and eat sashlik!

Thanksgiving in Estonia!

Man.... so I'm finaly getting around to posting the video footage I took from Tallinn, Estonia. Beth and I went to Tallinn around Thanksgiving to visit friends. We hope you like the video! If you are receiving this post through e-mail and cannot see the video, click HERE.

Weekend with Friends

It's always a great time win the Friersons and Wilhelms come to Moscow for a visit. This weekend they were on their way to Prague for a visa run and school, but they spend a couple days taking in the sights and (mostly) foods of Moscow. Because they live in Izhevsk, and don't have the culinary varieties that we have here in Moscow, we like to spoil them just a little (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Starlite Diner, etc.). It's also a good excuse for us to hit up the good places. :-)

Victory Day in Moscow - Video Highlights

If you can't see the video, click HERE.

Victory Day 2010

One of the biggest holidays in Russia is May 9th - Victory Day.  Last year Beth and I managed to make it out to see the parade, and this year we wanted to try to see it again.  We met up with Andrea and Chris, and although we didn't make it to see the parade on the road (the crowds were immense), we were able to see the air show:

Alpha Course Weekend Away - Spring '10

A few weeks ago we took our Alpha Course out to the dacha for a weekend!  Other Gail, Andrea, Thomas, Mary-Louise, and Bob all came for three days of relaxation and worship.   Friends of Gail graciously allowed us to stay at their dacha for the weekend--only around 60 kilometers south of Moscow.

Thomas marveling the fireplace and fire he created.

We spent a lot of our time reading during the weekend.

We also spent some time walking through the woods.

We also got a little lost....  but Thomas is a master tracker.

The dacha we stayed (it was incredible!)

Thomas!

Andrea!

Mary Louise!

Speaking of Mary Louise, she led worship for the weekend.

Bob!  He was the guest speaker for the weekend.

The neighborhood

Trying to hitch a ride back to Moscow!