So it's been a week of no blogging, but a mad whirl of busyness.
The seders were great. 75 people came to the first one, and about 20 to the second one, which was held in a restaurant. Unfortunately, some people got food poisoning after the first seder, so we had a bunch of complaints, and lots of people who were expected at the second seder didn't make it. The seders were very much enjoyed, however, and people just didn't want to leave at the end.
Which of course meant that we arrived home late - midnight the first night, and 2 the second one, and only then began our sedarim. We plowed through, though, and finished our sedarim. Matza at 5:15 AM is not all that appetizing.
In other news, we bought a washing machine. It arrived 3 days before Yom Tov, which gave me plenty of time to do the bags and bags of laundry that had accumulated over the past weeks. However, after using the machine once or twice, we obviously had a problem. It made noises that sounded like plane takeoffs, and shook an enormous amount. It shook so much that the water hose became detached from the pipe, and water began leaking all over our floor and into our neighbor's downstairs. That wasn't so great. So we had a plumber over, and tried using the machine again. The problem only became worse though, and now the machine began to jump all over the room while doing a load. So we had a washing machine expert over, who told us that the machine came with the wrong feet. Then the manager of the store showed up, and told us that we had not installed the machine properly. So the machine is now properly installed, we hope. It still makes noise, and it vibrates to the point of shaking. Does anyone know if that is normal? And now it is Chol Hamoad, and we shouldn't be doing laundry - but let me tell you, we are pretty desperate.
The weather is warming up here, and all in all, it has been a wonderful beginning to both Pesach and spring.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Pesach madness
So how far along are you in your Pesach cleaning?
No competition here. I have yet to begin.
I also have 2 public seders to help prepare, cooking to do, 2 boys to host - they are coming to help us out, countless meals to prepare, a wmen's club to run today. . . and the list goes on.
I have posts all typed up, with no time to post them. So please forgive me if the blog is a bit slow over the next week.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, happy, and kosher Pesach!
No competition here. I have yet to begin.
I also have 2 public seders to help prepare, cooking to do, 2 boys to host - they are coming to help us out, countless meals to prepare, a wmen's club to run today. . . and the list goes on.
I have posts all typed up, with no time to post them. So please forgive me if the blog is a bit slow over the next week.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, happy, and kosher Pesach!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The view from Japan
On our arrival in Japan, we committed a major faux pas.
Last night we arrived in Osaka, the airport right next to Kobe. We were exhausted, having flown to Seoul, hung out in the Seoul airport, and then flown to Osaka. By this time, the kids, and especially Baila, had had enough. She was screaming, on and off.
After passing the 'bird flu' inspections, we made our way to customs. Like we do in every airport we've ever been in with kids, we asked if we could skip the like since we had a small baby. In America, in Israel, especially in Korea, and even in Russia, the airport staff is always rushes us through with the baby.
The linekeeper told us to go to the customs counter. But then the guard there went ballistic. He was furious that we had skipped the line. They called the manager, and then his manager, and they eventually closed the gate we were standing at so we would not be standing in line at all. They made us wait until the end of the entire line - and this was a huge, double decker plane - until finally letting us through.
Apparently you are to never to skip a line in Japan.
We are slowly learning about this culture.
Other than this episode, everyone has been very nice to us. When they see the baby they start smiling and cooing. We hailed a taxi last night, and for some reason still unknown to us due to the language barrier, he could not take us. So he waited with us and helped hail down another cab, only getting into his own car when he was sure the taxi would be taking us.
They are also very honest. The rabbi told us that we would not have to worry about people ripping us off. Today, we saw shoes for sale lined up outside a store. The price tag was attached, and everybody left them alone. In Russia, everything is kept under lock and key.
Last night we arrived in Osaka, the airport right next to Kobe. We were exhausted, having flown to Seoul, hung out in the Seoul airport, and then flown to Osaka. By this time, the kids, and especially Baila, had had enough. She was screaming, on and off.
After passing the 'bird flu' inspections, we made our way to customs. Like we do in every airport we've ever been in with kids, we asked if we could skip the like since we had a small baby. In America, in Israel, especially in Korea, and even in Russia, the airport staff is always rushes us through with the baby.
The linekeeper told us to go to the customs counter. But then the guard there went ballistic. He was furious that we had skipped the line. They called the manager, and then his manager, and they eventually closed the gate we were standing at so we would not be standing in line at all. They made us wait until the end of the entire line - and this was a huge, double decker plane - until finally letting us through.
Apparently you are to never to skip a line in Japan.
We are slowly learning about this culture.
Other than this episode, everyone has been very nice to us. When they see the baby they start smiling and cooing. We hailed a taxi last night, and for some reason still unknown to us due to the language barrier, he could not take us. So he waited with us and helped hail down another cab, only getting into his own car when he was sure the taxi would be taking us.
They are also very honest. The rabbi told us that we would not have to worry about people ripping us off. Today, we saw shoes for sale lined up outside a store. The price tag was attached, and everybody left them alone. In Russia, everything is kept under lock and key.
A taste of Japan
We have decided that Japanese are the polar opposites of the Russians.
We went to the photo shop today to take a picture for Baila's visa. Here's how the photo shoot went:
Photographer got Baila sent up comfortably in the stroller, lined with a white cloth. She took a few pictures and could not get Baila to smile. Still smiling, she called down another employee. Prepared with a stuffed animal, he waved it in front of Baila repeatedly and made ridiculous noises, still trying to get her to smile. We finally had it and told them to keep it as it is.
Yisroel asked how long it would take for the picture to get ready.
"10 minutes." The lady answered.
We asked if it could be done any faster. We were, of course, on a super tight deadline. Yisroel was on the way to the consulate, which closed in 1 1/2 hours, at least an hour train ride away.
"O.K." answered the lady in her best English "8 minutes".
In Russia, we would get one shot. There's no trying for better photos. And in Russia, anything can be done, anytime, anywhere, breaking all the rules, if you ask the right way, or know the right people, or pay the right amount of money.
We went to the photo shop today to take a picture for Baila's visa. Here's how the photo shoot went:
Photographer got Baila sent up comfortably in the stroller, lined with a white cloth. She took a few pictures and could not get Baila to smile. Still smiling, she called down another employee. Prepared with a stuffed animal, he waved it in front of Baila repeatedly and made ridiculous noises, still trying to get her to smile. We finally had it and told them to keep it as it is.
Yisroel asked how long it would take for the picture to get ready.
"10 minutes." The lady answered.
We asked if it could be done any faster. We were, of course, on a super tight deadline. Yisroel was on the way to the consulate, which closed in 1 1/2 hours, at least an hour train ride away.
"O.K." answered the lady in her best English "8 minutes".
In Russia, we would get one shot. There's no trying for better photos. And in Russia, anything can be done, anytime, anywhere, breaking all the rules, if you ask the right way, or know the right people, or pay the right amount of money.
Visa, Part III
Kobe, Japan, is a nice city.
Well, before I get into trouble from people who have been there, and think that Kobe is, in fact, not a nice city, let me clarify that we haven't actually seen the city. We arrived here last night, and by the time we actually got to the city, it was past midnight.
We are here, of course, to take care of Baila's visa. Invitation in hand, we decided not to risk waiting for Wednesday to go to the Russian offices to plead our case, and then possibly be stuck having to leave the country the day before Pesach. Instead, we flew to Kobe, via Seoul.
I have never before bought a ticket in the airport. We tried to by a ticket at the airline's office in Vladivostok, but by the time we had decided to make the flight- just a very few short hours before the flight - that was impossible, and we had to buy it in the airport. By then, the price of each ticket had gone up $300. So on the advice of the ticket seller (or whatever they're called - it was the kassa in Russian) we bought a ticket to Seoul only. In Seoul, we again scrambled for a ticket, and landed with comfortable seats to Kobe, at a much lower rate. Cheap, it still wasn't.
Time to take care of visa-getting. To be continued.
Well, before I get into trouble from people who have been there, and think that Kobe is, in fact, not a nice city, let me clarify that we haven't actually seen the city. We arrived here last night, and by the time we actually got to the city, it was past midnight.
We are here, of course, to take care of Baila's visa. Invitation in hand, we decided not to risk waiting for Wednesday to go to the Russian offices to plead our case, and then possibly be stuck having to leave the country the day before Pesach. Instead, we flew to Kobe, via Seoul.
I have never before bought a ticket in the airport. We tried to by a ticket at the airline's office in Vladivostok, but by the time we had decided to make the flight- just a very few short hours before the flight - that was impossible, and we had to buy it in the airport. By then, the price of each ticket had gone up $300. So on the advice of the ticket seller (or whatever they're called - it was the kassa in Russian) we bought a ticket to Seoul only. In Seoul, we again scrambled for a ticket, and landed with comfortable seats to Kobe, at a much lower rate. Cheap, it still wasn't.
Time to take care of visa-getting. To be continued.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
STARS
Sunday is STARS class day.
STARS - Student Torah Alliance for Russian Speakers.
It is a program organized throughout Russia, where, basically, kids get paid to learn.
When we first started, we looked at the requirements. Among other things, the teachers must be people who keep Shabbos and are fluent Russian speakers. There is exacly one person in the city who fits that description - and that's Yisroel. So he teaches some classes, I teach some through a translator, we show some speakers over video, and an older man in the community fills in the rest. He is a fascinating perosn - but more about him some other time.
It's very exciting to have young people coming together to learn. We started earlier this year, and it's amazing to see how much the students have learned since then.
We will be having a trip to Israel in the summer, but, of course, they need to come to classes before then. The deadline for signing up for the trip is this week, so we have extra students this week.
Lunch time. More later, hopefully.
STARS - Student Torah Alliance for Russian Speakers.
It is a program organized throughout Russia, where, basically, kids get paid to learn.
When we first started, we looked at the requirements. Among other things, the teachers must be people who keep Shabbos and are fluent Russian speakers. There is exacly one person in the city who fits that description - and that's Yisroel. So he teaches some classes, I teach some through a translator, we show some speakers over video, and an older man in the community fills in the rest. He is a fascinating perosn - but more about him some other time.
It's very exciting to have young people coming together to learn. We started earlier this year, and it's amazing to see how much the students have learned since then.
We will be having a trip to Israel in the summer, but, of course, they need to come to classes before then. The deadline for signing up for the trip is this week, so we have extra students this week.
Lunch time. More later, hopefully.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Visa, Part II
It is not what you know, but who you know. If this is true anywhere, it is doubly true in Russia.
Our secretary called the governor’s wife, a friend of ours, to see if she could do anything for us.
Her advice: Go to the office and cry. If they don’t help us, she will get the governor involved.
So we are waiting for next week, when the right people will be in the office. At the very least, we hope to get an extension, which will take us to the middle of Pesach.
Our secretary called the governor’s wife, a friend of ours, to see if she could do anything for us.
Her advice: Go to the office and cry. If they don’t help us, she will get the governor involved.
So we are waiting for next week, when the right people will be in the office. At the very least, we hope to get an extension, which will take us to the middle of Pesach.
Visa, Part I
Russia has laws that could make any lawyer’s head spin. Especially when it comes to foreigners. And every day, it seems, new laws are created. They are specially designed, perfectly suited for making our lives absolutely nuts.
I’m not a hundred percent sure that I have this right, so bear with me as I go step by step.
We need visas to come to Russia. Since we are here for an extended period of time, we get 12 month visas. Now, that used to mean that after 12 months, we were required to leave the country, obtain a new visa, and then return. But they passed a new law: we now must leave the country every 3 months. For 3 months. Since - and I’m a bit confused about this part - our visas were issued before this law, or maybe it is because we have a religious visa, we need only to leave for a minimal amount of time, and can then immediately return.
We obtained a visa for Baila in New York. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get an invitation and get a long term visa for her, so we just got a tourist visa – which expires after one month. So, it is expiring. More precisely, it is expiring 3 days before Pesach. Since she, being all of 2 months old, is such a threat to the security of the country, she must leave Russia, get a new visa, and only then can she come back.
Here comes the complicated part. The easiest thing would be to go to China, and take care of matters there, as the Chinese and Russian borders meet a mere 4 hour drive away. But, Russia just issued a new law. A foreigner may not make a visa for China while in Russia. So that option is out.
We can go to Tokyo, and get a new visa at the consulate there. But there are no flights from Vladivostok to Tokya. So we can take a boat to some city in Japan whose name escapes me now, and then a train to Tokyo. The boat ride is, our secretary explained to me today, only 36 hours each way. And it costs $1000.
So we can fly to Riga, where many American go to renew visas. The flight to Moscow is 9 hours, then another 3 or 4 to Riga. But there are no flights available from Moscow to Riga until the week before Pesach. And if there were, tickets would cost us $1400. So we can take a train from Moscow to Riga. It is only a 12 hour ride.
We can fly to Seoul, where the consulate can issue an expedited visa for us. But the flights do not go every day. And although Seoul is a 2 hour flight from Vladivostok, tickets cost about $800. And the visa itself will cost $600-$800.
My head is getting dizzy with all the options. There are loads more. After all, we have a whole globe open before us. We can fly to any city in Japan, maybe to Mongolia, or to Kazakhstan. The whole world is ours to explore, only each option is more complicated, longer, and more expensive than the rest.
And Pesach is coming ever closer. And the baby is 2 months old.
But it will work out. Somehow.
I’m not a hundred percent sure that I have this right, so bear with me as I go step by step.
We need visas to come to Russia. Since we are here for an extended period of time, we get 12 month visas. Now, that used to mean that after 12 months, we were required to leave the country, obtain a new visa, and then return. But they passed a new law: we now must leave the country every 3 months. For 3 months. Since - and I’m a bit confused about this part - our visas were issued before this law, or maybe it is because we have a religious visa, we need only to leave for a minimal amount of time, and can then immediately return.
We obtained a visa for Baila in New York. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get an invitation and get a long term visa for her, so we just got a tourist visa – which expires after one month. So, it is expiring. More precisely, it is expiring 3 days before Pesach. Since she, being all of 2 months old, is such a threat to the security of the country, she must leave Russia, get a new visa, and only then can she come back.
Here comes the complicated part. The easiest thing would be to go to China, and take care of matters there, as the Chinese and Russian borders meet a mere 4 hour drive away. But, Russia just issued a new law. A foreigner may not make a visa for China while in Russia. So that option is out.
We can go to Tokyo, and get a new visa at the consulate there. But there are no flights from Vladivostok to Tokya. So we can take a boat to some city in Japan whose name escapes me now, and then a train to Tokyo. The boat ride is, our secretary explained to me today, only 36 hours each way. And it costs $1000.
So we can fly to Riga, where many American go to renew visas. The flight to Moscow is 9 hours, then another 3 or 4 to Riga. But there are no flights available from Moscow to Riga until the week before Pesach. And if there were, tickets would cost us $1400. So we can take a train from Moscow to Riga. It is only a 12 hour ride.
We can fly to Seoul, where the consulate can issue an expedited visa for us. But the flights do not go every day. And although Seoul is a 2 hour flight from Vladivostok, tickets cost about $800. And the visa itself will cost $600-$800.
My head is getting dizzy with all the options. There are loads more. After all, we have a whole globe open before us. We can fly to any city in Japan, maybe to Mongolia, or to Kazakhstan. The whole world is ours to explore, only each option is more complicated, longer, and more expensive than the rest.
And Pesach is coming ever closer. And the baby is 2 months old.
But it will work out. Somehow.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
A day in my life
I’m up since 6 AM with the baby. What better time than this to get this blog started? So, for starters, here’s my cropped to do list for the day
To do – the shortlist:
Put a new dough up. The bread flopped. Again. Why does the bread always flop when I make it in the bread machine? My challah and handmade bread work out fine. What am I doing wrong?
Get this blog set up and the first post up. That’s you! So if you’re reading this, you know I got that done.
Prepare for women’s program. It’s called for Sunday – today is Wednesday and I have no idea what we’re doing. YIKES!!!
Call preschool directors to get a preschool direction. Somehow we are opening a preschool in September. Somehow I am in charge of this. I spent all of 3 weeks in my life working in a preschool. We will of course hire a director – from somewhere – and she’ll do the day to day stuff. Still, it’s a bit daunting. And the urgency is climbing every day. Mendel turns 2 in 3 weeks, and he’s desperate for a preschool.
Visit washing machines. We shlepped a washing machine with us from New York, the heavy duty kind that can do a massive load. We bought it from someone on Craig’s list, and thought we would save ourselves money and hassle by bringing it here on our container, and since it is electric, we would just change the voltage and have it work here. Well. A year and a half and many electrician’s visits later, we have come to the conclusion that is not practical/prohibitively expensive/dangerous to change the voltage and use this machine. So we are buying a new one. And this has urgency as well, as last weekwe sent our clothes to a laundromat, and some items came back torn, some not at all. So today is a research day. Dryers are a luxury here, so there isn’t that much choice. Everything is downsized here, so I want the biggest machine I can find. And, of course, we will pay a fortune. (Think 2 to 3 times the price of something in the U.S.)
Make dinner. Fish probably. Take out of freezer in the morning, and leave enough time clean it.
Find out about a Russian teacher. Time to resume classes. And somehow find the time in the day to take them.
Invite guests for Shabbos.
Class. I have a one-on-one class with someone. Jewish women and Hebrew reading. And it is all prepared, thank G-d.
That’s the short list. The long list is filled with lots of boring details, so I'll spare you. Better get cracking!
To do – the shortlist:
Put a new dough up. The bread flopped. Again. Why does the bread always flop when I make it in the bread machine? My challah and handmade bread work out fine. What am I doing wrong?
Get this blog set up and the first post up. That’s you! So if you’re reading this, you know I got that done.
Prepare for women’s program. It’s called for Sunday – today is Wednesday and I have no idea what we’re doing. YIKES!!!
Call preschool directors to get a preschool direction. Somehow we are opening a preschool in September. Somehow I am in charge of this. I spent all of 3 weeks in my life working in a preschool. We will of course hire a director – from somewhere – and she’ll do the day to day stuff. Still, it’s a bit daunting. And the urgency is climbing every day. Mendel turns 2 in 3 weeks, and he’s desperate for a preschool.
Visit washing machines. We shlepped a washing machine with us from New York, the heavy duty kind that can do a massive load. We bought it from someone on Craig’s list, and thought we would save ourselves money and hassle by bringing it here on our container, and since it is electric, we would just change the voltage and have it work here. Well. A year and a half and many electrician’s visits later, we have come to the conclusion that is not practical/prohibitively expensive/dangerous to change the voltage and use this machine. So we are buying a new one. And this has urgency as well, as last weekwe sent our clothes to a laundromat, and some items came back torn, some not at all. So today is a research day. Dryers are a luxury here, so there isn’t that much choice. Everything is downsized here, so I want the biggest machine I can find. And, of course, we will pay a fortune. (Think 2 to 3 times the price of something in the U.S.)
Make dinner. Fish probably. Take out of freezer in the morning, and leave enough time clean it.
Find out about a Russian teacher. Time to resume classes. And somehow find the time in the day to take them.
Invite guests for Shabbos.
Class. I have a one-on-one class with someone. Jewish women and Hebrew reading. And it is all prepared, thank G-d.
That’s the short list. The long list is filled with lots of boring details, so I'll spare you. Better get cracking!
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