Новосибирск 3

week 1 day 3, 13 jun 2009

Local time 1901, raining outside, 13-8 deg.

Darren ask me online how’s things here is Novosibirsk? My answer was good! Of course all things are good when you finally get hold of the wifi on your laptop. How bad can things get with the internet?!?!?!!?!? I MISS YOU SO MUCH INTERNET! Finally caught you after 2 days being wire-less. Its great that I can post my blog entries online and stop ‘fake’ blogging on word.

Last dinner Sasha made such a huge pot of chicken stew that it could feed all 4 of us EPs for 2 meals. Considering that 3 out of the 4 EPs are male except for me. In fairytales where there is always illustrations of witch pots, there is exactly a small version in our kitchen which Sasha used to make stew for us. Sounds witchy!!! But whatever, the stew is delicious – that’s the most important thing!

In Russia, all visitors (they call them migrants) must get themselves registered with the government within 3 days of their arrival. Today Natsha and Tanya brought us to the post office to get our registration done. Awww naught registration forms, they got our dear TN manager (Tanya) all so nervous that she tore up at least 3 forms just to fill it up right. After much trying and torture (for her), we finally got the registration done and here we are, in AIESEC office. All of us are typing away frantically on our laptops as we savor every moment of being able to use the internet.

*russian post office. (i got scolded for taking pics in the post office. it is not allowed to take photos in governmental buildings)

I especially want to talk about the lunch we had today. We had 'Phynyet'(Russian dumplings) (the spelling might be wrong, but is sounds something like that) dipped into ketchup / mayonise (they treat mayonise like its our light sauce, they put it in everything they eat! Their mayonise have a wide range of flavours) Small cute little dumplings with meat stuffed inside and shaped into something like a hat. (its something like the Italian pasta dumplings) You can eat these dumplings like pasta. Its one of the signature dish in Russia. Shasha claims that he knows how to make those dumplings too! Make it for us soon!!!

Its been about 3 days here and its like holidaying in Novosibirsk! Well real internship will start proper coming Monday.

Rita and Natsha (the slimmer one) had come over in the afternoon to tidy up the place for us and have said that they would stay for dinner, so we were only expecting them back at our apartment. Upon reaching, we were welcomed by a swamp or AIESECers! Practically all the AIESECers of this local committee came. This was the surprise that Natsha (the one who always help us) had told me yesterday. They had planned for a welcome party for all EPs.

*the 'welcome' poster that was stuck on the door of the living room.

*president of AIESEC giving her welcome speech

The welcome party kicked off with a traditional AIESEC dance and some other traditional Russian dance. Next on, there was some ‘skit’ put up by Zaenya, Kate(YW), Rita and Natsha (see pic). Following which, Kate (I shall call her Mama Kate, because she’s pretty much like a mama taking care of us) presented specific gifts to each one of us EPs. Chetan received a traditional Russian long spoon (because he cant cook, his duty is to eat). They gave me a handmade mirror (because I’m a girl, for me to stay pretty). Shasha was presented with a russian doll keychain (because he keeps the house key). Vincente too received a russian doll, but with 2 smaller ones inside (because he is a macho man and loves women).

*Zaenya, Kate(YW) and Rita, putting up some performace for us.

With all this, how can we forget food, the most important ingredient for parties like this. What more is the best to offer us other than traditional Russian summer salad – Okroshka. In Russian, summer is the only time they can harvest vegetables, therefore this salad is only eaten in summer. This salad contains cucumber, radish, potatoes, and some kind of Russian ‘grass’. To eat this salad, add in Kavas (that’s how you pronounce it) and mayonise, mix it and its ready to be eaten. Well, salad is not enough to fill the stomach, so our sweet LC (mama Kate, Natsa, and Rita) hand made pancakes and raspberry sauce, along with condensed milk for us to go along with. Delicious pancakes! It was so much better than Macdonald’s.

*Okroshka - Russian Summer salad

*(left): Nastya, mama Kate, Rita.

Nastya's holding a bowl of condense milk, mama Kate's holing the pancakes, and Rita with the homemade raspberry jam.

Then, more dancing, more vodka, more beer, more cocktail

*my TN manager (Tatiana or in short Tanya) and me

During the party, I made friends with 2 Russian EPs – Margarita (Fann Wong look-alike), and Vitalina (white hair pretty lady). (see picture) They major in English and Japanese, so it was effortless talking to them. Since they were both 20 years old (most of the AIESECers are between the ages of 17-19), so it was great talking to both of them, and especially since Margarita’s mother has been to Singapore and is very impressed by our sunny island. Being in Russia, its almost all about alcohol, so naturally Vitalina treated me to their favourite cocktail. This cocktail is a mixture of small amount of vodka, half a cup of cherry nectar (or fruit juice), and coke. It taste like gummy bear sweets. Such nice cocktail, I would like to know its name, but unfortunately there wasn’t any for it. Upon this, my new made friends decided to name it ‘Joanne’ since they were very glad to meet me in Russia and to be friends. Awww, how sweet of them!!!

Of course, ‘Joanne’ was not the only ‘treat’ that I had that day. Sasha (Russia) offered me all sorts of alcoholic drink he had, from ‘activate energy’ to traditional Russian beer. ‘Activate Energy’ smelled like medicine (antibiotics) and tasted bland. Traditional Russian beer on the other hand did not have any (strong/significant) smell and likewise, tasted bland too. Don’t understand why Russian guys like these kind of beer. For your information, he managed to drink almost the entire bottle (2.5L)!

*(left):Margarita, me, and Vitalina

*(front left): Sasha, Zaenya

(back left): Margarita, me, Vitalina, Tanya

As usual, girls being girls, we like to have small chat sessions during party, so I had a really enjoyable cultural exchange session with them. At this point of time, I want to thank Kiwie! Thank him for kindly offering to design my name-card and suggesting that I give it to my acquaintances in Russia. My Russian friends were really impressed by it and it inspired them to get a box of it for themselves too. (more pictures! Some of the girls can speak real fluent English)

*all these russian girls in this picture speak reall fluent English

*Kate and me. Kate wants to perm my hair!!!

*Sasha (Alexandr) and me

*bird that Kate (wanna perm my hair one) taught me. (the bird has got 'hair'(little fingers). eyes(ring finger) and mouth (thumb and 2nd finger)

*side view of 'bird'

The party lasted about 8 hours! Eventually at about 2 am it was time for home. Russians are really ‘loving’ people. Just like what blogged previously, they love to hug each other whenever they meet of say goodbye. Once in awhile (or maybe slightly more often) they kiss each other goodbye. In Singapore hugs and kisses are not exchanged among friends or even good friends, and to do so, you will only attract the stares and disapproval. This is the exact opposite from Singapore and well, I do get my share of the Russian 'loving-ness' too (more than just hugs). I was shocked! But who cares about all these! We are in Russia, not Singapore! Put the Singaporean cultures aside for the time being and blend into the Russian culture. That’s the attitude!!! (Kate with dark curly hair said that. She likes my attitude!)